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Library services for MIT Alumni/ae: Library use

Service update

Library access is limited to:

  • MIT faculty, students, and staff and their invited guests in compliance with MIT’s campus access policies.
  • Visitors who have been issued a Tim Ticket by Distinctive Collections or for Libraries business or events.

All Libraries users must be in compliance with MIT's campus access policy, including wearing masks in Libraries' spaces.

Please note: The MIT Libraries do not sponsor users in Covid Pass or issue Tim Tickets for access to Libraries’ general collections or study spaces.

Library use

The MIT Libraries encourage MIT alumni/ae to make use of the libraries during their visits to campus. Library hours and locations are available online.

Reference help

Reference and information staff can:

  • assist alumni/ae in using the online catalog.
  • answer questions about locations of library materials.
  • make referrals to appropriate library collections and services at MIT and in the greater Boston area.
  • provide brief research assistance.
  • Full reference service is provided in the use of government document depository collections.

Some limitations apply:

  • Reference services are scheduled to meet the needs of the MIT community; times of available service vary from library to library.
  • Current MIT faculty, students and staff have priority access to physical, electronic, and staff resources.
  • Alumni/ae must abide by the Library use policy.

Online help is available at all times:

  • The Virtual Reference Collection is a collection of useful reference web sites compiled by MIT librarians.
  • Research guides, created by MIT librarians, recommend web sites and resources for research in specific subject areas or on specific topics.

Borrowing privileges

Alumni/ae who want to borrow materials from the MIT Libraries' collections may apply for a Borrowing Card at a special rate.

Please note: Borrowing privileges do not include offsite access to licensed electronic material (i.e. databases and ejournals), or on-site access to licensed resources that require MIT authentication.  Privileges also do not include Interlibrary Borrowing from non-MIT insitutions.

Document delivery

For a fee, MIT alumni/ae around the world can order journal articles, MIT technical reports/working papers and theses from the MIT Libraries' extensive and unique collections.

Computer and network access

Computer use

  • Priority for computer use is given to MIT users, except for government document depository access, which is made equally available to all.
  • See the Library use policy for more information..

Electronic resources

  • Visit Search Our Collections - the Libraries' search platform
  • Be aware that, due to licensing agreements, access to many electronic resources is restricted to current MIT students, faculty, and staff.

Wireless access

For information on wireless access, consult network connectivity for MIT guests.

Scanning

Scanning is available, but there is no longer public printing. For more information see the Scan & Print guide.

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