Descriptive and Historical Notes on the Library of Harvard University (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Alfred Claghorn Potter

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0331250845 ISBN 13: 9780331250848

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

A concise tour of Harvard’s Library system and its growth over time.

This edition presents the Descriptive and Historical Notes on the Library of Harvard University, outlining how Gore Hall, Special Reference Libraries, and the Departmental Libraries come together to form a unified research resource. It places emphasis on the role of donors, faculty guidance, and the steady expansion of volumes, maps, and periodicals.

From the text you’ll learn how the University Library now totals about 1,588,653 volumes and pamphlets, with major components including the Gore Hall College Library, 61,456 volumes in Special Reference Libraries, and 354,781 volumes in Departmental Libraries. It also highlights the importance of faculty support, notable gifts, and the growth of special collections across subjects like German history, Japanese studies, and law. The notes explain how classifications, access rules, and preservation efforts shape everyday use for students and scholars.
The structure of the University Library, including Gore Hall, Special Reference Libraries, and Departmental Libraries
How growth and gifts shaped major collections and notable topics
Access rules, circulation practices, and the role of faculty and librarians
Examples of key special collections and notable donors
Ideal for readers of library history, institutional growth, and the development of large research libraries.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0331250845
• ISBN 13: 9780331250848
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 75