走進哈佛大學(xué)：哈佛的圖書館

If we compare professors and students to the host of a university, then the library of a university can be compared to the hallway. The quality of a university, to some extent, is in direct proportion to that of its library. At Harvard, the library is an indispensible part of everybody's life. Both the quantity and the quality of the library make study an enjoyable process.

如果把教授和學(xué)生比作一所大學(xué)的主人，那么大學(xué)的圖書館就是門廳。一所大學(xué) 的質(zhì)量在一定程度上與其圖書館的質(zhì)量成正比。在哈佛，圖書館是每個人生活中不可 缺少的一部分。圖書館的數(shù)量和質(zhì)量都讓在哈佛的學(xué)習(xí)成為一個享受的過程。

Harvard Library is not only the most ancient library in the United States, but the largest university library with the largest scale. In 1638 John Harvard donated his whole library to the then Harvard College. After 300 years of development, the library now holds 10 millions of books and comprises more than 100 branch libraries. In addition to the libraries owned by each school, there are special libraries. While most of the branch libraries are on Harvard campus, some are as far as in Washington, D.C., or even in Florence of Italy. Yenching Library is famous for its collections of East Asian literature. Lamont Library is the first library in the world that is exclusively for undergraduates. Widener Library is the largest library in Harvard, only second to Library of Congress.

哈佛圖書館不僅是美國最古老的圖書館，也是世界上藏書最多、規(guī)模最大的大學(xué) 圖書館。1638年約翰哈佛把他的藏書都捐給了當(dāng)時的哈佛學(xué)院。經(jīng)過300年的發(fā)展， 圖書館現(xiàn)在擁有藏書1000多萬冊，設(shè)有100多個分館。不僅每個學(xué)院都有自己的圖 書館，還有各類專業(yè)圖書館。雖然大部分分館都在哈佛校內(nèi)，但也有一些遠在首都華盛頓，甚至在意大利的佛羅倫薩。燕京圖書館以其東亞館藏而聞名。萊蒙特圖書館是 世界上第一個本科生專用圖書館。威德納圖書館是哈佛最大的圖書館，館藏僅次于美 國國會圖書館。

What deserves to be mentioned is the system or rather the service of the libraries. Usually the libraries are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. The main libraries are open until 10 p.m.. The libraries for undergraduates will even be open all night during the examination period. The libraries also provide with students the service of preparing reading materials for all courses. At the beginning of a semester, each teacher will give a list of books to the Li_ brarians.The librarians are responsible to find out these books and put them at the places where students can easily find them.

值得一提的是各圖書館的體系，或者確切說是服務(wù)。通常圖書館從早上9點開 到晚上5點，主要的圖書館開到晚上10點。而本科生圖書館在考試期間則通宵開放。 圖書館還為學(xué)生提供所有課程的閱讀材料。在學(xué)期開始時，任課教師會給圖書館一個 書單。圖書管理員負責(zé)找出這些書，并把書放在便于學(xué)生查找的地方。

There is no limitation for the number of books that students can borrow. As the space for the library is limited, many books are stored in suburban library. Despite this, students can go to fetch the book at the appointed library within 24 hours after they submit request for that book. Even if there is only one book to be fetched from the suburban library, the libraries on campus will send someone to do the job. This kind of service which put readers in the first place is rare even in Ivy League. Therefore, study at Harvard will be an enjoyable experience.

學(xué)生借書沒有限量。因為圖書館空間有限，有很多書都存放在郊外的藏書庫。盡管如此，學(xué)生在提交索要申請后的24小時內(nèi)就可以到指定的圖書館取回書。即使只有一本書要從郊外的藏書庫提取，校內(nèi)的圖書館也會派人去取。這種讀者至上的服務(wù) 即使在常春藤聯(lián)盟也是極為難得的。所以，在哈佛學(xué)習(xí)將會是一個非常愉快的經(jīng)歷。