Responding to Requests
For Tours Of/Visits to
The MIT Libraries

Granting requests for tours of or visits to the MIT Libraries can be an important public relations activity. At the same time it represents a significant time commitment on the part of library staff. The Communications Officer, in consultation with the Associate Director for Public Services, will review requests. Director's Office Administrative Assistants will manage follow-up, including scheduling and correspondence. Inquiries may be referred to the Communications Officer.

The following guidelines are to be used in conjunction with good judgment in accommodating visitors' requests.

Consideration will be given to those visitors:

a) Who have given at least two weeks' notice;
b) Whose interests are clearly stated and relevant to MIT;
c) Who are associated with MIT Libraries in some way, e.g., ARL, DLF, IFLA, etc.;
d) Who have other known MIT associations, or who have been referred by the MIT Information Center.

The normal length of visits will be limited to a maximum of two hours.

Prospective visitors whose requests cannot be accommodated will be informed that we cannot accommodate their visit, directed to our online information and resources, and invited to tour the Libraries on their own.

Drop-in visitors who appear at any library may be referred to the Director's Office. The Director's Office Administrative Assistants will provide them with an information packet that includes:

Approved by Library Council 10/25/95 and updated by Steering Committee 01/05/05.
Back to Library Policies

Last updated 050105