We all know that Harvard has one of the most extensive library systems in the world, but most of us have only ever stepped foot in Lamont or Widener. Well, today my search for sources led me to Houghton library. You know, that one right next to Lamont that no one’s seemed to have explored. I was excited to visit the tiny library, (one of my goals is to see all of Harvard’s libraries before graduation… seven down!) but I didn’t know quite what to expect. Since Houghton is Harvard’s rare books and manuscripts library, security was tight. There’s one reading room in the building and all coats, bags, and even laptop cases must be left in lockers in a separate room. Pens are not allowed in the reading room and all outside reading materials must be kept to an absolute minimum. Once I was buzzed into the reading room (because the door is always locked from the inside) I had to fill out a questionnaire with my contact info and the reason I was visiting the library. Woah. Then I filled out a card stating which book I wanted, so that a page could retrieve it from the stacks, which are underground. That’s another thing. You can’t get books from the shelves; they’re hidden underground like they’re in some sort of guarded vault. Within five minutes, my book was brought to me and I did my research. Upon leaving, I was asked to open my laptop and let the librarian rifle through my notebook to make sure I wasn’t trying to smuggle pages out of the building.

All in all, I’m glad that I finally saw Houghton Library; it’s beautiful and very, very quiet (I think I was the only undergrad out of the five people in the reading room). However, don’t visit it planning to be in and out in ten minutes; security is as intense as it is at the airport, but they let you keep your shoes on!