MCB Library Newsletter - September 2009
New Library Hours
On August 31, 2009, the Ernst Mayr Library began new hours:
- Monday-Friday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm (closed on holidays)
- Saturday 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (closed on holiday weekends and when classes are not in session)
- Other hours by appointment
We have made these changes after carefully studying visitor patterns and staffing concerns. And as always, MCB faculty, staff and students should contact me directly and I will respond as quickly as possible regardless of whether the library is open. So please continue to take advantage of this; it is not necessary to come in person to the Library (though you are always welcome!) as I am happy to deliver and pick up books as well as to scan and email articles.
Scan & Deliver
You have probably noticed the “Scan and Deliver” buttons in HOLLIS. This is a new service that most Harvard libraries are providing, to supply journal articles or book chapters to Harvard faculty, students and staff. Here's how it works:.
- You should first register for Scan and Deliver by going to https://illiad.hul.harvard.edu/illiad/HMZ/illiad.dll. You will be asked to authenticate using your HUID and PIN. Fill out the form, being sure to fill in all required fields, and submit.
- Once you are registered, when you wish to request an article or book chapter, click the button in HOLLIS, and after authenticating fill out the form with details of your request. Submit.
- The request will enter the Ernst Mayr Library’s Borrowing queue. We will check the request and submit it to the Harvard library that owns the item you want (the holding library).
- The holding library will receive the request, pull the item, copy it, and then scan it.
- The desired article/chapter will be posted on a server and you will receive an email with the link to it. Click on the link and the article will appear.
- The process can take up to four business days.
- The service will be most useful when you want a journal article from Countway or the Harvard Depository. If you need a book, or an article from a journal that we have in the Ernst Mayr Library, it will be faster if you simply contact me directly. (If I am not available, you will get an away message directing you to the general library email and someone will respond.)
- Scan and Deliver requests are subject to copyright restrictions. That means no more than one chapter per book, or one article per journal issue. Also, patrons are limited to two requests per day, and 30 pages maximum.
The Ernst Mayr Library now has an Amazon Kindle available for you to borrow! The loan period is two weeks (with one renewal if no one has placed a hold on the device). A number of public domain books are already loaded. If there is a book that is relevant to ur collection, you may request that we purchase it from Amazon and load it for you. You may also purchase an e-book yourslef and add it to the Kindle, with the understanding that if you do not delete it when you return the device it will become part of the collection.
To request or borrow the Kindle, or for more information, please ask at the reference desk, call 5-2475, or contact me.