Acquisitions and Holdings

The University’s extraordinary library system, among the world’s largest, grows apace. In fiscal year 2002, the collections grew by...

The University’s extraordinary library system, among the world’s largest, grows apace. In fiscal year 2002, the collections grew by nearly a quarter-million items—exclusive of additions to the holdings of microfilms (5.5 million), manuscripts (many millions), visual items (more than 5 million), maps (500,000), sound recordings (65,000), and thousands of shelf-feet of ephemera.

Chart by Stephen Anderson   

Most popular

Phi Beta Kappa Speakers Call Out a ‘Deeply Troubling’ Moment

Former Harvard President Lawrence Bacow and poet Meghan O’Rourke urge graduates to focus on character and “radical attention.”

AI Outperforms Doctors in Emergency Room Tasks, New Harvard Study Shows

Researchers say the technology could help physicians with triage, diagnosis.

Meet Harvard’s 2026 Student Commencement Speakers

Two undergraduates and a Ph.D. candidate will address the graduating class on May 28.

Explore More From Current Issue

Four stylized magnifying glasses arranged in a gradient background with abstract patterns.

AI Hunts For Stolen Harvard Coins

A museum curator and a computer scientist track down ancient coins taken in a legendary heist.

Woman with long hair, smiling, wearing a black sweater, in a textured beige background.

For This Poet, AI Is a Writing Partner

Sasha Stiles trained a chatbot on her manuscripts. Now, her poems rewrite themselves.