Harvard Kennedy School Library Blog

Welcome back. The first phase of the Library Renovation Project is now complete. Many changes and improvements have been made throughout the library. Highlights include:

• Four new group study rooms, available 7am-1am daily
• A new space for individual study
• Additional seating
• Additional space and power for laptop use
• New lighting
• New carpeting

Please pardon our appearance while we complete the renovation process. Please feel free to leave a comment or ask a question about the renovation project below.

The Construction phase of the HKS Library Renovation project is now complete. Books and furniture are being moved in this week. The Library is still closed. We will re-open on Monday, January 25.

Library Services this week (Jan. 19-22)

• Winter Course Reserves are available in Littauer G29, Tue-Fri 9am-2pm
• Research assistance is available by e-mail library_research@hks.harvard.edu
• Call (617) 293-2723 to speak with a library staff member

January 2010 course reserves are available in Littauer G-29, in the Belfer connector (ground floor).

Hours of operation:  8:00am – 5:00pm, Monday-Friday.

Q. When is the library re-opening?
A. The Library will be closed for renovations until January 25.

Q. Where can I return books?
A. There is a large gray bin outside the library marked “HKS Library Bookdrop”. You can return any Harvard Library Book or Interlibrary Loan Item to this location.

Q. Where can I pick up my Holds/Interlibrary Loans?
A. Requesting books to be held at the HKS Library will be disabled until we re-open. If you need to pick something up, please contact us at 617-293-2723 or ksgcirc@hks.harvard.edu. Interlibrary Loans will be available for pickup at Widener Library until we re-open.

Q. I have a question. Can I call or email you?
A. Yes. You can reach us by phone at 617 293-2723.

• For questions about Circulation or Interlibrary Loan: ksgcirc@hks.harvard.edu
• For questions about Library Reserves: ksg_library_reserves@hks.harvard.edu
• For Research Help or questions about linking for course pages: library_research@hks.harvard.edu
• All other questions:
  library@hks.harvard.edu

The HKS Library renovation project has begun. A few updates on Library Services this week:

• Course reserve readings are available for 3-hour loan in the rotunda on the ground floor of Taubman.
• The hours of operation will be Dec 14-16 8am-11pm , and Thursday Dec. 17, 8am to 8pm.
• Items on hold can also be picked up in the Taubman Rotunda.
• Study space has been reserved in the Starr Auditorium (Belfer) on Dec. 14-17 (hours are posted on the door)
• Research assistance is available by e-mail (library_research@hks.harvard.edu.) or through drop-in hours
  (Also available in the Taubman Rotunda, December 14-17 1pm-5pm)

Please call (617) 293-2723 or speak with a library staff member in the Taubman Rotunda if you have any questions.

The HKS Library will be undergoing a renovation project over the holiday break and January term to optimize the use of the library space for our patrons.

Due to construction timeline changes, the HKS Library must close on December 14th in order to meet the target opening date of January 25th (the first day of Spring 2010 classes).

We apologize for this inconvenience and have taken the following steps to minimize disruption to students:

1. Reserve readings for courses with exams on Dec. 14-17 will be available in the computer lab (ground floor of Taubman) for a 3-hour loan period, beginning on Dec. 14.  Computer lab hours are 8am-midnight.
2. Study space has been reserved in the Starr Auditorium (Belfer) on Dec. 14-17 (hours will be posted on the door)
3. Research assistance is available by e-mail (library_research@hks.harvard.edu.) or through drop-in hours (1pm-5pm, Monday-Friday in the Library until December 11, and then offered in the computer lab December 14-17)

Please feel free to contact Heather McMullen or speak with a research librarian if you have any questions.

The Bound Journal Room will be closing on Thursday, November 19. The room will be used to prepare the collection for the upcoming renovation.

Please pardon the inconvenience.

The HKS Library will be undergoing a major renovation during the holiday break and January term.  The new library plans incorporate extensive feedback from students and KSSG officers on how best to maximize the use of our library space.

The new library configuration will offer:

• new group study space -available to students whenever the Littauer building is open
• additional seating for both group and individual quiet study (net gain of 36 seats)
• additional power outlets for laptop use (wireless)
• new, faster copiers/printers in dedicated rooms

IMPACT ON LIBRARY SERVICES

November 17 –  December 18

The Library staff will be preparing for both the collection and office moves during the months of November and December, starting with the closing of the bound journal room on Thursday November 19^th.  Please excuse any disruption during this time.

During this period, research help will be located in Room G16 of the Library (beside the copier room) from 1:00-5:00pm Monday-Friday, or by appointment at library_research@hks.harvard.edu.

December 18 – end of January

The Library will be closed for construction beginning on December 18 or 19 (date to be confirmed) and throughout the January term.  The anticipated opening date will be communicated once the construction timeline is finalized.  We expect a phased opening at the beginning of the Spring term, with the priority on access to course readings, circulation services, and study space as soon as possible.

January reserves materials will be available online through course websites.  The Library is working with the computer lab to offer extended hours – more information to come, once finalized.

Certain library services will continue to be available online, including:

• Access to research databases and online journals
• Scan & Deliver, a scanning service offered by Harvard Libraries
• Research assistance via e-mail (library_research@hks.harvard.edu)

HKS students have access to other Harvard libraries for research and studying:

• Libraries Map and Guide:  http://lib.harvard.edu/libraries/maps/index.html
• Harvard College Library (FAS) “What’s Open Now”:  http://hcl.harvard.edu/hours/open_now.cfm

UPDATES AND FEEDBACK

Updates on the construction will be posted on this blog. Please check back regularly for new information.

We welcome your feedback, either in-person or online at library@hks.harvard.edu

We thank you for your cooperation as we build a better library to meet the needs of HKS students, faculty and staff.  Please feel free to contact us at library@hks.harvard.edu or your KSSG Vice-President for Student Services, Imran Alimohammed, if you have any questions or comments.

Please join the Harvard Law School for their final Open Access Week event. Three speakers will discuss the significance of open access to research from a variety of perspectives.

The Significance of Open Access to Research

• Carolina Rossini, Berkman Center
• John Wilbanks, Science Commons
• Stefan Gruber, HLS Visiting Researcher

Friday, October 23rd, noon-1:30pm
Harvard Law School, Pound 108
RSVP requested, but not required: http://tinyurl.com/yzp956o

Four schools at Harvard University have adopted open access policies for their scholarly articles. In celebration of Open Access Week (http://www.openaccessweek.org/), Stuart Shieber (Faculty Director of Harvard University’s Office for Scholarly Communication), Peter Suber (Berkman Fellow and leader in the open access movement) and representatives from the schools with open access policies will be hosting a forum to answer questions you might have about Harvard’s current activities in implementing these policies and issues about open access generally.

Monday, October 19th, 11:00am-12:30pm
Harvard Law School
Ropes Gray Room (Pound Hall)
RSVP required at http://bit.ly/2AbAfL or e-mail to mpearse@law.harvard.edu (As part of the RSVP form, we encourage you to submit questions before the event.)