In addition to the residential fellows, CHS and its library welcome a number of visitors throughout the year, scholars who may or may not be affiliated with Harvard. As the CHS library is a small and highly specialized library (ancient Greece, especially ancient Greek philology, philosophy, and history), visiting researchers, so called readers, must fill out an application form detailing their research needs to offer reasonable grounds for access to this library as opposed to the many larger and less specialized libraries in the area (for a list of academic and research libraries in DC, click here).
Once approved as a reader, a CHS ID card will be issued which allows readers to use the library as often or as little as they choose during the library’s opening hours, M-F 9:00 am-5:00 pm, without having to notify the CHS. The gate at 3100 Whitehaven St. is open during those hours, once you arrive at the front door, please ring the doorbell to be let in. There is no separate security building as at Dumbarton Oaks. The CHS ID card is administered in the main building by the library. Approved readers should either bring an ID photo with a white background or CHS IT staff will take a photo upon your arrival.
Reader Eligibility
Reader access is available for individuals who meet the following criteria:
- Current Harvard faculty, fellows, and students.
- Former CHS fellows.
- Scholars who are presently engaged in a specific research project which the strengths of our collection support, especially if they provide titles of books at the Center for Hellenic Studies needed for their project that cannot be found in other D.C.-area libraries, such as the Library of Congress.
Library Hours
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. except for federal and staff holidays.
Contacts
Rebecka Lindau, chief librarian
202-745-4433 rlindau@fas.harvard.edu
Sophie Boisseau, cataloguer
202-745-4413 boisseau@chs.harvard.edu