Visitor Information

We offer selected services to library visitors who are not affiliated with the University of Hartford, including community members and those from libraries in the Boston Library Consortium and the Council of Connecticut Academic Library Directors.

Anyone may use equipment and materials in the library building. You may need to show identification at the security booth when you enter campus. You will need to set up a library account to check out materials.

Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult while in the Harrison Libraries.

The University retains the right to terminate guest privileges based on space needs or demands on staff time, or because of inappropriate or offensive behavior, in which event library staff will request the guest to leave.

Borrowing

Library borrowing privileges are free for the following groups. If you are a part of one of these groups, bring your ID to the Mortensen circulation desk to set up an account. For instructions and privileges, click below:

Presidents' College Fellows
Students from the Hartt Community Division
Students from: Watkinson School, University of Hartford High School, Hebrew High School of New England
Students, faculty, and staff from libraries in the Boston Library Consortium (BLC) or the Council of Connecticut Academic Library Directors (CCALD)

Other library visitors may purchase a Guest Borrower card for an annual fee of $50. To do so, visit the Mortensen circulation desk, just inside the front doors of the library building.

Alternatively, visitors wishing to borrow Harrison Libraries materials may use Interlibrary Loan through their local public library.

Privileges and Policies

Visitors with a library account may check out most print and audio-visual materials:

For more information, please see the Mortensen Borrowing and Allen Borrowing Policy pages.

Visitors may not loan equipment (laptops, etc.), use Interlibrary Services, or access databases from off campus.

Research Help

We are happy to assist visitors with reference questions and research help. Assistance may be limited during high-demand periods.

See our Research Tutorial for a basic introduction to library resources, or contact a librarian for help.

Mortensen Research (reference@hartford.libanswers.com 860.768.4142) Allen Research (rudnick@eraglobe.com, 860.768.4404)

Computers

Desktop computers are available on all three floors of the Harrison Libraries building, and may be used to do research using Library resources such as the Catalog and Databases.
Guest Borrowers and visitors may access the Internet and connect to e-mail. When all computers are in use, alumni and guests may be asked to give up their computers to current University students.
See Computers and Laptops for more information.

Photocopying, Scanning and Printing

We have scanners, copiers, and printers available. See Copy, Print, Scan for more information.

Visiting in a Group

Non-University groups should arrange visits to Harrison Libraries by appointment. Tours are self-guided, but advance notice of a planned visit is required. Groups should be limited to thirty individuals. There should be at least one supervising adult for high school groups; middle school groups should have one adult for every fifteen students; and elementary school groups should have one for every ten students. Keep in mind that a university library will not have much material of interest or value to pre-college students. If you would like to arrange a visit for a larger group, contact Research Services (860.768.4142).

Research staff may provide instruction to outside groups (high school age and older) between academic semesters (i.e., winterterm and summer). Instruction must be tied to a research assignment (e.g., a term paper) so that the information is obviously relevant to the students. Librarians will conduct a 45-minute session introducing research tools specific to the assignment. Arrangements must be made at least one week in advance.