YOU ARE HERE: > No appointment is necessary to use the library. Prior arrangements are required for the use of some materials such as sound recordings, film/video footage, restricted collections, and materials stored offsite. Is there a place to study at the library?
There are no study areas. The Reading Room is used exclusively for the examination of library holdings.
Where are you located?
The Library is located in Radcliffe Yard at the corner of Brattle and James Streets. The physical address is 3 James Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
What is your contact information for mail, phone, and fax?Schlesinger LibraryRadcliffe Institute
10 Garden Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Telephone: 617-495-8647
Fax: 617-496-8340 What are your hours?The library is open Monday through Saturday with extended evening hours on Wednesday and Thursday. For details please see the schedule of current hours and holiday closures. What does offsite storage mean?Due to space restrictions, not all of the Schlesinger's holdings can be housed in our building/onsite. A portion of the library's book, periodical and manuscript collections are stored at the Harvard Depository (HD), a facility outside of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Materials are retrieved from HD upon request through a delivery service. Normally, the retrieval time is less than thirty-six hours. There is no charge to readers for this service. Can I browse the library's shelves?No. The library has closed stacks. Librarians are available to assist in identifying relevant holdings from the catalog. Can I make photocopies?There is no self-service copying of any library material. You may request that copies be made. May I use a digital camera in the Reading Room?Digital cameras may be used for note-taking purposes. Please see the library?s Use of Digital Cameras policy for more information. How can I order a copy of a photograph?Please see the instructions for ordering a photograph. Are any of your books available on-line?
Yes. A portion of the library's book collection and a few manuscripts have been digitized by the Harvard University Library Open Collections Program as part of Women Working, 1870–1930 and Immigration to the United States, 1789–1930. Additionally many books in the Schlesinger collection that were published prior to 1923 were digitized by Google and are available through Google Book search.
I live too far away and can't travel to the library to do my research. What can I do?You can ask a colleague or friend who lives in the area to come and examine material for you. Alternately you could hire a freelance research assistant through the Harvard Student Agencies. In some cases, it may be possible to request a photocopy of the material in which you are interested. Does the library offer grants?Yes, the library offers a limited number of grants and fellowships.
Can you get materials for me from other Harvard libraries for use in your library?No. There is no intra-university loan. You would need to directly contact the Harvard library that has the material in which you are interested. A listing of Harvard's libraries and contact information is available. May I borrow materials from your library?
With the exception of some microfilmed manuscript collections, no library material is loaned. Library materials are non-circulating and cannot be taken out of the building. How do I cite your manuscript collections?
The preferred format is [Name of the Collection], Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University. It is also desirable to include the Box/Carton number and folder from which the material you are citing is taken. If you intend to quote from one of the library's manuscript collections, you must submit a permission to publish form. A separate form is required for the publication or broadcast of photographic and audiovisual material.
