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Library services for visitors: Special user types

Information for visitors to the MIT Libraries

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.

User types

Cross-registered students

Students at other schools who are cross-registered at MIT may borrow MIT Library materials by presenting a valid MIT ID at any information desk.

Harvard University

Harvard faculty, students, and staff may apply for MIT Libraries borrowing privileges at any MIT Library service desk. Please bring your Harvard ID and a government issued ID. You will be asked to log in to Borrow Direct with your Harvard credentials to verify eligibility.

MIT alumni/ae

May purchase Borrowing Cards for $150 per year. See Borrowing Privileges and Library Services for MIT Alumni/ae for more information.

Visiting researchers

May purchase Borrowing Cards for $500 per year. See Borrowing Privileges and Library Services for Visitors for more information.

Volpe employees

May purchase Borrowing Cards for $250 per year. See Borrowing Privileges for more information.

Wellesley College

Wellesley students, faculty, and staff may obtain MIT library cards with full borrowing privileges by presenting their Wellesley ID at any MIT library.

Borrow Direct

Borrow Direct Plus partners:

  • Brown University
  • University of Chicago
  • Columbia University
  • Cornell University
  • Dartmouth College
  • Duke University
  • Harvard University
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Princeton University
  • Yale University

Borrow Direct Plus faculty, students, and staff may obtain MIT library cards with borrowing privileges by presenting a valid university ID and demonstrating that they are a borrower in good standing by logging on to Your Account in Borrow Direct.

Please note: Harvard Borrowers should continue to apply for MIT borrowing privileges at their respective libraries prior to arriving at MIT for expedited access.

Borrow Direct Plus visitors may register Monday-Friday until 5 PM (see Library Hours) at the following libraries:

Borrowing privileges are limited to regularly circulating collections.  Some materials may not be available to visitors.