Distance Services Book and Article Delivery

Frequently Asked Questions

• Am I eligible to use Distance Delivery Services?
• How are materials sent to me?
• What books may I request?
• How many books may I request?
• How do I submit a book request?
• How long are loan periods?
• How do I renew books?
• How do I recall books from a distance?
• How do I return books borrowed?
• What if I lose or damage a Distance Delivery book?
• What photocopies may I request?
• How do I submit a journal article request?
• How many photocopies may I request?
• How do I obtain theses and dissertations?
• How do I obtain copies of exemplary qualifying paper proposals and dissertation proposals?

Am I eligible to use Distance Delivery Services?
This service is available to current HGSE

• Doctoral students (D3+) living more than 50 miles from Cambridge
• Urban Superintendents Program students who have completed their first year
• Faculty on Leave

How are materials sent to me?
All materials will be delivered to the address on the request form. Books are sent via FedEx 2Day delivery. (Note: FedEx will not deliver to P.O. box addresses.) Photocopies are mailed via first class mail, but will be faxed if a fax number is included on your request form.

What books may I request?
You may request books held by Gutman and Widener libraries only.

How many books may I request?
We will send you up to 10 books per semester free of charge. For any additional books sent, you will be billed for FedEx shipping and return charges.

How do I submit a book request?
Please consult HOLLIS Catalog first to verify that the book you want is available (not checked out) at Gutman or Widener. If it is available, submit a Distance Delivery book request form. Please fill out the form as completely as possible to avoid delays in processing your request.

How long are loan periods?
Loan periods are 28 days. Books checked out to faculty and eligible graduate students are charged to extended loan and are due on 9/10 or 2/10. For information about extended loan eligibility, contact Gutman Circulation. All books are subject to recall.

How do I renew books?
Books are checked out to your Harvard ID. Use the Your Account feature in the HOLLIS Catalog to review what you have checked out, the due dates, and to renew books. You may renew books five times before they must be returned to the lending library. Please note: Widener renewals are for 28 days only.

How do I recall books from a distance?
You may recall Gutman and Widener books using the request feature in the HOLLIS Catalog. When you receive e-mail notification that a book is available, submit a distance delivery book request form. Include a note that the book is being held for you, and please tell us at which library it's being held.

How do I return books borrowed?
All books borrowed must be returned by the due date via FedEx 2nd Day delivery to Distance Services, Monroe C. Gutman Library, 6 Appian Way, Cambridge, MA 02138 or to Interlibrary Loan, Widener Library, Rm 497, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138. A FedEx label will be provided.

What if I lose or damage a Distance Delivery book?
You will be billed for lost or damaged books through your term bill.

What photocopies may I request?
Always check the Citation Linker for online availability before making requests. You may request photocopies of articles in journals owned by Harvard libraries or other institutions.

How do I submit a journal Article Request?
Submit a Distance Delivery Article Request form. Please fill it out as completely as possible to avoid delays in processing your request.

How many photocopies may I request?
We will send you up to 20 photocopied articles per semester free of charge. For any additional articles sent, you will be billed $5.00 per article for articles up to 25 pages.

How do I obtain theses and dissertations?
For HGSE and other dissertations and theses written since 1997, use Dissertations and Theses Full Text (ProQuest) to download full text (instructions available online). HGSE dissertations written before 1997 may be obtained by submitting a Distance Delivery book request.

How do I obtain copies of exemplary qualifying paper proposals and dissertation proposals?
Send an e-mail to Carla Lillvik to request copies of exemplary qualifying paper and dissertation proposals on reserve at Gutman. Include your area, research interest, whether you are interested in qualitative/quantitative examples, etc.