Harvard Widener Library Hours - Harvard University Library
Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library • Harvard University
Library Hours
Note: Hours may vary during exams, holidays, and summer sessions. Check Harvard Library website for current hours.
About Section Libraries
Harvard Widener Library is the centerpiece of the Harvard Library system and one of the world's largest university libraries. Built as a memorial to Harry Elkins Widener, Class of 1907, who perished aboard the Titanic, the library houses over 3.5 million books and serves as the primary research library for Harvard University.
The iconic neoclassical building, completed in 1915, features the largest university library collection in the United States. Widener Library is home to extensive research collections across humanities, social sciences, and area studies, making it an essential resource for scholars worldwide.
The library's ten floors house rare books, manuscripts, and special collections, including the Harry Elkins Widener Collection and the Theodore Roosevelt Collection. Multiple reading rooms provide diverse study environments for undergraduate and graduate students.
Harvard Widener Library Services
Widener Library is the centerpiece of the Harvard Library system, the largest academic library system in the world with over 17 million volumes across more than 70 libraries. Widener itself holds approximately 3.5 million volumes and serves as the primary research library for the humanities and social sciences at Harvard.
Harvard affiliates have access to an extraordinary range of digital resources, including hundreds of academic databases, millions of e-books, and the HOLLIS catalog system. The library's interlibrary loan program connects users to collections worldwide. Study facilities include individual carrels, group study rooms, and the iconic reading room on the second floor.
Public access to Widener Library is limited. Non-Harvard visitors may enter with a valid ID during regular hours for reference use, but cannot borrow materials or use computers. Researchers from other institutions can apply for a Special Borrower's Card. For nearby alternatives, consider the Boston Public Library or the MIT Hayden Library, both of which have more open visitor policies.