Understanding the ITS department structure

Information & Technical Services (ITS) is the engine that keeps Harvard Library running. Our work is carried out by cross-functional teams, collaborating with technical services colleagues embedded across Harvard Library. We engage with partners at Harvard and beyond to purchase, license, and provide access to the world’s information and use interoperable, international metadata standards to create and maintain discovery metadata that is shared with institutions around the globe.

As an organization, ITS is comprised of four units:

  • Metadata Management and Project Strategy

    This unit leads ITS in outreach and engagement with new technologies, development of batch processes, and distinct record formats including geospatial data, batch record ingest and transformation, metadata sharing and analysis, and the Harvard Library linked data strategy.

  • Metadata Creation

    This unit includes teams across all ITS locations and is focused on creating high quality catalog metadata through the informed application and development of standards, ensuring that our data is fit for purpose, sustainable, inclusive, and sharable. Metadata Creation consults with internal and external stakeholders on the management, use, and sharing of catalog records and associated metadata.

  • E-Resources & Serials

    This unit is responsible for facilitating our acquisition and management of continuing resources in digital and print formats and works with colleagues across Harvard Library to maintain and enhance the user experience of these materials in HOLLIS, vendor platforms, and aggregators.

  • Acquisitions

    This unit is responsible for the purchase, initial record creation, and copy cataloging for materials acquired across Harvard Library, whether by patron or selector request, approval plans, or certain standing orders. Acquisitions staff work collaboratively with Harvard Library finance, bibliographers, and vendors.

ITS staff work in a number of Harvard Library locations and leverage hybrid work arrangements wherever possible. Our physical locations include 1000 Massachusetts Avenue and the Loeb Music Library.

For more information about how ITS is organized, consult Harvard Library's Department Org Charts. A look-up directory for ITS staff is on the Harvard Library staff portal page. Additional unit-level information is also available on the ITS staff wiki.