Fred Norris Robinson Celtic Seminar Library

FNRThe Fred Norris Robinson Celtic Seminar Library is a private departmental library within Harvard University's Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library; it houses the original collection donated to the Department of Celtic Languages and Literatures by its founder, F. N. Robinson. An endowment known as the Fred N. Robinson Celtic Fund was established on February 7, 1955, to be used by the Harvard College Library system for the care and maintenance of, and additions to, the collection in the Robinson Celtic Seminar Library, which is now housed in Widener Study K. The curatorship of the collection is provided by the Department of Celtic Languages and Literatures. The Robinson Celtic Seminar Library is a non-lending and restricted access library and study reserved for current students and faculty of the Celtic Department, and others authorized by and at the discretion of the Celtic Department chairperson. Please address access enquiries to the departmental administrator. Most books contained in the Robinson Celtic Library are also available in Widener Library and other libraries within the Harvard College Library system, and questions concerning access to these libraries should be addressed to Access Services in Widener. Please review the following policy guidelines for use of the F. N. Robinson Library, and thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Eligibility

All registered graduate students have access to the Robinson Celtic Library until they receive their degrees. Additionally current post-doctoral fellows, associates, and faculty members are granted access until their association with the Harvard Celtic Department is ended.

Extra-departmental Visitors

Access to the Robinson Celtic Library for persons who are not active members of the Celtic Department is granted at the discretion of the Chairperson of the department. Those who wish to apply for permission to use the Robinson Celtic Library should submit to the Chair a brief description of their research project, the time required for its completion, and the reason why the use of the Robinson collection is essential for it. Physical access to the library is via authorized ID card. Once permission for access is granted by the department Chair, authorization arrangements are made with the Widener Library security services. New patrons should make an appointment with the Curator of Robinson Celtic Library for an introduction to the arrangement and use of the collection. Those with short-term ID authorization who wish to continue access to the library beyond the original allotted time must apply to the Chair for renewal. New ID authorization or renewals of prior authorization will ordinarily not be provided during the summer break; however, those with access during the spring term may seek permission to renew access through the summer, which must be done before the end of the spring term exam period.

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