Libraries

With friendly staff, welcoming spaces, and the best scholarly resources available, the MIT Libraries are where the MIT community connects with information, ideas, and each other. Providing access to tens of millions of items, both physical and digital, and to collections from libraries worldwide, the Libraries can get you nearly anything you need: articles, books, ebooks, databases, and more. If we don’t already own or subscribe to an item, we can purchase or borrow it at no cost to you. 

We have librarians for every subject, from aeronautics to urban studies, and experts in data management, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), copyright, and publishing. For quick questions or in-depth research consultations, just Ask Us. Look out for our free workshops, offered during Independent Activities Period (IAP) and throughout the year, on topics like data management, research computing, GIS and citation software, and much more. 

Make an appointment with Distinctive Collections to explore rare materials, faculty papers, and Institute Archives—from oral histories of women at MIT to Buzz Aldrin’s thesis. Exhibits in the Maihaugen Gallery and Hayden Library Loft offer new perspectives on these unique collections.

The Libraries offer some of the campus’ most sought-after study spaces, offering extreme quiet, comfortable seating, and group study rooms. Barker, Hayden, and Rotch all provide spaces that are accessible 24/7, and Hayden Library also features a cafe, a teaching and event space, and an outdoor courtyard. Any student is welcome in any of our libraries, whether you are looking for expert help, to collaborate on a group project, or to simply take a break.