HFS Services

HFS provides a variety of services to FAS Humanities Faculty members:

Photocopying Service

Our two HFS Centers provide FREE last-minute and emergency photocopying services for course-related materials, as well as back-up or overflow copying when department photocopiers are out of order or at capacity use. Please note that HFS is not able to handle course packet production. All requests for assistance must be course-related.

HFS follows all Harvard and Federal copyright guidelines and laws when copying published materials. For more information on copyright laws, please visit our HFS Copyright Guidelines page, or the US Copyright Office website. For more detailed questions regarding copyright laws, please contact the Harvard University Office of the General Counsel for assistance.

There are many ways to request photocopying service through HFS:

  1. Faculty may send materials to be printed directly to HFS via email. HFS is able to print documents of most file types including Word, WordPerfect, Excel, and PDF formats. If you email documents to be printed after business hours (8:00 am -6:00 pm M-F), please allow at least 1 hour for production the following business morning.
  2. Drop off your bound or flat originals at one of our two HFS Center locations. Please fill out a Photocopy Work Order Form to bring with you. If you are unable to view or print the PDF File, hard copies are available at our HFS Centers.

Please specify the following information when placing your request:

  • An exact deadline for when copies need to be ready
  • Number of copies required
  • Format Instructions: One- or Two-sided printing, Stapled or Loose pages, 3-Hole punching, Booklet, Paper Size, etc.
  • Your contact information and office location
  • Preferred delivery or pick-up method for finished product

Remember, there is NO CHARGE for photocopying services through HFS!

Library Courier Service

HFS Centers provide courier service to return books to all Harvard College Libraries. To arrange pick-up, please call or email your closest HFS Center and provide the number and pick-up location of the books you wish to return. An HFS courier will then pick up the books and return them to the appropriate Harvard College Library. Faculty may also drop-off books to be returned at either of our two HFS Center locations.

Book Returns

HFS Centers provide courier service to return books to all Harvard College Libraries. To arrange pick-up, please call or email your closest HFS Center and provide the number and pick-up location of the books you wish to return. An HFS courier will then pick up the books and return them to the appropriate Harvard College Library. Faculty may also drop-off books to be returned at either of our two HFS Center locations. HFS is not responsible for late fees nor do we guarantee same day return of books.

Requesting Materials:

Widener Library requires a written request for all materials checked out by HFS. Please note that we will not be able to check out any books from Widener without a written request listing each individually, even if they are on hold under your name. There are two ways to provide a request for checkout of materials from Widener Library:

  1. By filling out a Library Material Request Form to give to an HFS employee. If you are unable to view the PDF form, hard copies are available at our two locations.
  2. By sending HFS an email requesting materials. Please include the following information in your request:
    • Faculty Member's Name
    • Faculty Member's ID Number (all nine digits!)
    • Author's Name
    • Title of Book
    • Call Number or Barcode

Checkout Procedure:

If a Faculty Member already has the requested items on hold under his or her name (i.e. recalls or Harvard Depository requests), HFS can check out materials when accompanied by a request form as outlined above.

If the requested items are not already being held, HFS will check the HOLLIS catalog for the circulation status and availability of materials and proceed accordingly:

  • Circulating materials which are available in the stacks will be checked out under requesting faculty member's ID.
  • Non-circulating materials which are available in the stacks will be placed on hold in the Philips Reading Room under requesting faculty member's ID. Please note that HFS is unable to copy non-circulating materials housed at Widener
  • Circulating Materials which are stored in the Harvard Depository and available for check-out will arrive at Widener after 3:00 pm the next business day. HFS Staff will then pick up the items and check out under requesting faculty member's ID.
  • HFS is unable to request a recall of materials checked out by another library user. Faculty Members must personally initiate a recall of checked-out materials through the HOLLIS catalog.

Letters of Reference Support

HFS Staff are available to assist with the addressing and printing of letters of reference which Humanities Faculty members have written on behalf of students.

In order to request this service, please send the prepared letter of reference to HFS via email along with a list of the addresses to which the letters will be sent. An HFS Courier will arrange pick-up of your personal stationery, then address and print each letter and its accompanying envelope. Once completed, the printed letters and envelopes will be returned to you for signature and mailing. All letters of request are performed by our full-time staff.

Package Service

HFS Couriers are available to carry packages weighing one pound or more to the nearest US Post Office or FedEx drop box. This service is available for course or department related materials and is not to be used for personal items.

The requesting Faculty Member's department will be charged for the cost of postage. Please have your 33-digit General Ledger Number available when requesting package service.

You may call or email your nearest HFS Center to arrange pick-up, or you can drop off packages at either of our two locations. Please note that HFS does not provide packaging materials or forms.

If you have questions regarding procedures or postage rates, please visit either the US Postal Service or FedEx websites.

Document Shredding

A heavy-duty document shredder is available in the Barker Center HFS office for secure and confidential document destruction.

To ensure confidentiality, documents to be shredded must be hand-delivered to an HFS Staff member in one of two ways:

  1. By dropping off materials to be destroyed at either of our two locations.
  2. By calling or emailing us in order to arrange a courier pick-up.

If boxed, documents to be destroyed should be clearly labeled. Again, please note that documents to be shredded cannot be left in a drop box nor picked up without a faculty or staff member present for confirmation.