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NOTE:
In this manual, "Houghton" should be interpreted as comprising Houghton Library, the Harvard Theatre Collection, the Poetry Room, and any other collections administered by Houghton Library, unless specific exception is made.

PRINCIPLES

1. Houghton's collections are extraordinarily rich and diverse, and they contain many unique or nearly unique items. Preserving the intellectual record, physical evidence, and history of these collections is a high priority.
2. It is impossible to predict which materials acquired today will be most highly valued by future generations.
3. Houghton's collections are highly significant for their copy-specific features. For many items, their research value lies more in these features than in the text.
4. Houghton's collections are rich in duplicates and near-duplicates, potentially affording exceptional opportunities for bibliographical comparison and discovery.
5. Houghton has a long tradition of supporting bibliographical scholarship, both by staff and by researchers.
6. Because Houghton is a closed-stack collection, researchers rely heavily on Houghton catalogers to make the library's riches known to them. The more thorough and accurate the information in HOLLIS, the more useful it will be to researchers, the more they will be able to do for themselves, both in advance of their visits and on-site, and the more cost-effective it will be for Houghton to serve them. Access to Houghton collections will be significantly impaired by items cataloged improperly or to minimal standards.
7. HOLLIS is not only a local finding aid, but a major bibliographical resource accessed worldwide by innumerable individuals who will never visit Harvard's libraries or use its collections.
8. HOLLIS gives off-site researchers considerable help in identifying precisely which items they need to consult and in planning research visits. The more thorough and accurate the information in HOLLIS, the more useful it will be to researchers, the more they will be able to do for themselves, and the more cost-effective it will be for Houghton to serve them.
9. Houghton Library benefits greatly from its participation in cooperative cataloging activities and adherence to Harvard and national standards. Likewise, it benefits greatly from its connections to the international community of scholars and librarians.

HOUGHTON MISSION STATEMENT

Houghton Library supports research and instruction by acquiring, cataloging, securing, and preserving significant literary, historical, and visual materials. The library facilitates and promotes scholarship by providing open access, expert knowledge, and informed service. The library supplements FAS academic programs through exhibitions, lectures, seminars, and publications. In fulfilling our mission, we are committed to honoring the values of Houghton Library.