Harvard's Library System to be Restructured

The intellectually extraordinary but decentralized system needs administrative, financial, and technological reorganization, according to the Task Force on University Libraries.

The University's sprawling yet intellectually extraordinary library system needs administrative, financial, and technological restructuring, according to an official Task Force on University Libraries. The traditionally decentralized system faces particular challenges in an environment that includes tighter budgets, shifting boundaries among academic disciplines, increased interdisciplinarity, and the destabilizing influence of the digital revolution.

The task force report makes five core recommendations: adoption of a shared administrative structure; improvement to information technology systems; changes to funding models and cost-sharing among the libraries, particularly with respect to offsite storage (45 percent of the collection is held in a depository); enhanced coordination of materials collection and especially access; and increased collaboration with other institutions. The comprehensive report also calls for the immediate formation of an implementation group, whose members were named in an accompanying letter from the task force chair, University provost Steven E. Hyman.

You might also like

Veteran MIT Administrator Named University Secretary

Suzanne Glassburn will manage the work of the Corporation and Board of Overseers.

The 2025 Pulitzer Prizes Announced

Winners across five categories, from commentary on Gaza to criticism on public architecture

Harvard Medalists

Four people honored for exceptional service to the University

Most popular

Danielle Allen Debates Far-Right Blogger Curtis Yarvin

Popular monarchist debates Allen on democracy.

The New Gender Gaps

What to do as men and boys fall behind

FAS Dean Outlines Preparations for Loss of Federal Funding

“To preserve our mission, we must act now,” Hoekstra says at faculty meeting

Explore More From Current Issue

Harvard Commencement and Alumni Events 2025

Harvard Commencement and Alumni Events 2025

Brief Harvard News Spring 2025

Physician-authors address Commencement and Alumni Day, new School of Education Dean, and more

The Sum of Our Choices

On the limitations of a prevailing worldview