Countway Policies

Access and Privileges at Countway Library

Privileges and services vary depending on your affiliation.  If you are a Harvard ID holder at HMS, HSPH, or HSDM you have full privileges including to borrowing books, using electronic resources remotely, and requesting items through interlibrary loan.  Other users should refer to our list of affiliated groups to determine eligibility for privileges and services.

Circulation and Borrowing

Library materials may be circulated to qualified members of the Harvard community: a current Harvard University ID card or a Countway Library Special Borrowers Card is required.

The following policies apply to borrowed materials:

• Books circulate for 4 weeks and may be renewed up to 5 times (books should be renewed online whenever possible; see: Book Renewals)
• Fines for overdue regular (28-day) loan materials accumulate at $0.50 a day per book
• Fines for overdue reserve materials accumulate at $1.00 per hour per book
• Recall fines accumulate at the rate of $2.00/day from the adjusted due date.
• JOURNALS and PRE-1920 materials do not circulate
• All circulating materials are subject to recall which shortens the original due date. Minimum borrowing period is 14 days. The Library is not responsible for non-receipt of recall and other library notices. To update e-mail or other personal information, contact the following:
• Students should contact the registrar’s office for the applicable school:
• HMS (617) 432-4702
• HMSD (617) 432-1447
• HSPH (617) 432-4702
• HMS/HSDM faculty and staff can update information via eCommons, by calling (617) 432-2035 or sending e-mail to faculty_services@hms.harvard.edu.
                     
• HSPH faculty should contact Academic Affairs (617) 432-4702, HSPH staff should contact HR at (617) 432-1046.
• Countway Special Borrowers should contact the Circulation Department at (617) 432-2136.

Access to Digital Resources

Access from outside the Countway building to databases, ejournals, and other digital resources licensed by Harvard University is available only to current Harvard faculty, staff, and students, as well as to research assistants of HMS, HSDM, and HSPH faculty who hold a Countway Special Borrower card. Remote access to Harvard's digital resources requires a Harvard ID and PIN password or an eCommons username and password. 

Countway Food & Drink Policy

• Beverages must be in spill-proof containers
• Discreet snacks are allowed in general study areas (e.g., peanuts, carrots, or a candy bar)
• The Visitor’s Lounge on Level L2 is used for food that is noisy, messy, or aromatic (e.g., sandwiches, pizza, salads, or soup)
• Food or beverages are NOT allowed in the Computer Teaching Room (LL025) or in the Center for the History of Medicine
• If your food is disturbing to other users, you may be asked to refrain from eating or leave the library
• Food debris attracts pests, please take your waste with you when you leave the library

Thank you for helping to protect Countway’s collection from food residue and pests and maintaining a clean, odor-free, and comfortable space for your fellow patrons.

Donations

The Countway Library accepts gifts-in-kind, or non-monetary donations, which are compatible with the Countway's collecting philosophy and which enhance and complete its selection effort. Donations are evaluated for appropriateness under the Library's current selection policies and guidelines.

Countway has received many of its most rare and valuable holdings as gifts-in-kind. Donations of unique and valuable materials compatible with the goals and purpose of the Countway's collections are welcomed.

The Library reserves the right to limit such gifts to those which substantially benefit the Library and are cost effective to acquire, catalog, process, maintain, and preserve. The Library, through its governing institutions, assumes ownership of all donations and reserves the right to add donated material to its collections, and to exchange, sell, or discard them as appropriate. The Library accepts donated collections which must be kept intact, items offered conditionally, temporarily, or with restrictions only in unusual cases of exceptionally rare and valuable items. Appraisal and documentation of material for tax purposes is generally the responsibility of the donor. The Countway's gift policies are intended to be wholly compatible with the policies of its governance and the Internal Revenue Service