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William Morris Hunt Memorial Library

LIBRARY USE AND ACCESS POLICY

The Reading Room is open to MFA staff as a quiet research and study space 9am - 4pm during the week. Please note that food and drink are not permitted (with the exception of closed water bottles).

The Reading Room is not regularly staffed during these hours. You are welcome to drop by the Library office with questions or email us to set up a time for in-person reference assistance. 

Please see the Reading Room Access and Use Policy below for guidelines on using the Reading Room.

Are you new to the MFA or need a refresher on how to use the library's resources? Go here for a concise recap!

We have a new streamlined request function! Staff can request materials from any MFA location by using the "Make a Request" function in the FLO Library Catalog. The guide below gives step by step instructions. 

You will receive an email when the book is ready. Please note that it will take 12 business hours to fulfill requests for on-site materials and 72 business hours for off-site materials. Staff book pickup is located in the staff carrel space of Reading Room (173) off the Brown Gallery.

When you are finished with any materials, please return them to the Book Return in the Reading Room located near the door. 

Please contact libstaff@mfa.org with questions or or to set up a time for in-person reference assistance.

*Please note that you will need an active library account and a barcode to make requests. You will be allowed to make 20 requests at a time and this function will deactivated if you carry more than 10 lost or overdue books on your account. 

 

For any books, articles, or other materials not owned by the MFA libraries, MFA staff should use the form on the intranet or the one below. Interlibrary loan services are only available for MFA staff. All other patrons should inquire at their local library for ILL inquiries. Please provide full citation information. For any interlibrary loan questions, please reach out to the Jordan Barnes (jbarnes@mfa.org).

All MFA staff, volunteers, and interns who wish to utilize library resources must submit a new staff patron application. Please send the completed form to libstaff@mfa.org.

Acquisitions are open on a limited basis. Use the form below to submit a recommendation for a library book purchase. If you have any questions about library acquisitions at this time, please contact Hee Jung Lee (hlee@mfa.org). 

When identifying books that you would like to be considered as additions to the library collection, please completely fill out the slip below. After the book(s) have a completely filled out slip in them, a librarian will review them with consideration of our collection development policy. Please note that not all books will be added so it is important to mark if you would like books that will not be added to be returned to you or discarded by the library. if you have questions about the process or collections development plan, please contact Hee Jung Lee (hlee@mfa.org).

Remote Research Guide

Remote access is available for a majority of online resources that the MFA Library subscribes to. Login is required using a barcode assigned when creating a library account. 

For detailed instructions, please view the pdf document below. 

 

*Please note that we are still reconfiguring access to electronic databases via the intranet after our library move. Please use the A-Z Database on this site for regular access.

Harvard Libraries Access + Borrowing

The Harvard University Libraries' Special Borrowers Program reopened on October 4th 2021. Harvard Libraries has made changes to the structure including moving it to a fee-based system. Please review the information below to apply for access or access + borrowing privileges.

  • Check the attached list for your name. If you are on the list, you can continue the application process below. If your name is not on the list, please reach out to Jordan Barnes (jbarnes@mfa.org). 

  • You will need to make an appointment to sign up for your Reading Room Access Card at the Harvard Library Access and Borrowing Office in Widener Library (previously the Privileges Office).

  • Before your visit, fill out this registration form to expedite the process.

If you have any questions about this program or your status, please contact Jordan Barnes (jbarnes@mfa.org).

What to Know About Library Resources

Absolutely reach out if you have any questions or research needs.

PHYSICAL MATERIALS:

MFA BOOKS

  • Books are spread out through 8 department libraries, library storage, and an off-site depository. See here for an explanation on library location codes.
  • Place a request using our library catalog (endeavor.flo.org). Instructions are in the Book Request Tab. 
  • Receive an email that the book is ready
  • Come to the staff pickup in the Reading Room to retrieve the book
    • Anticipate about 1 day for items on site and 2-4 days for depository (MFA Off-site Book Depository) items.
  • Return the book to the book drop in the Reading Room or the three mail bins marked “Library Book Return” outside the mailroom near the staff entrance.

OTHER MATERIALS

  • Place an interlibrary loan request
  • Come to the staff pickup in the Reading Room to retrieve the book
    • Anticipate about 4-14 days for physical ILLs. Scans of articles or chapters are always quicker.
  • Return the book to the book drop in the Reading Room or the three mail bins marked “Library Book Return” outside the mailroom near the staff entrance.

DIGITAL MATERIALS:

  • Go to library.mfa.org to see our digital subscriptions and databases. This info is also on the intranet but library.mfa.org always has working links and the most up to date information.
  • EBSCO Discovery Journal Finder is the most comprehensive database of our journals and periodicals. If you search by name, it will show if we have any digital access as well as print holdings.
  • The A-Z Database on library.mfa.org has all the subscription databases we subscribe to including JSTOR, Art and Architecture Source, art sales databases, newspaper databases, and some archives.

CONTACT US

  • Please come use the Reading Room anytime! It is here for you.
  • If we are in the library, we are happy to help. Staff hours are 9am-4pm Monday – Friday. Or email us to set up an appointment (we don’t always have someone to pick up the phone but our extension is x3385).
  • Libstaff@mfa.org is our email for general email inquiries but please reach out to any of us if you have a specific need we can help you with:
    • Paul McAlpine (pmcalpine@mfa.org) for Collections Maintenance and Circulation (i.e. finding books and library account questions)
    • Jordan Barnes (jbarnes@mfa.org) for Resource Sharing and Off-Site Storage (i.e. how do I get this book?)
    • Hee Jung Lee (hlee@mfa.org) for Electronic Resources and Collections Development (i.e. this database is broken!)
    • Lisa Fackler (lfackler@mfa.org) for Cataloging (i.e. this book has the wrong call number)