Circulation and Resource Sharing can help you to find Library materials, not only from our own Library, but also books, articles, and other materials from other libraries. Be sure to note our policies on recalls and fines.
Borrowing and Renewing Brown Library Materials
Circulation rules vary, but the list below outlines our basic borrowing policies. Also, some Library material may be renewed online. Use the renew/checkout history button below to extend the term of your loan, if possible.
Loan terms for most items
Brown faculty: One-year loan. Material checked out or renewed during one calendar year must be returned or renewed at the Library by Sept. 30 of the following year.
Brown graduate students: academic year and summer loan. There are two due dates per year: June 15 and October 15.
Undergraduate students and staff: Eight-week loan.
All other borrowers: Four-to-eight-week loan. Materials borrowed in one month are due by the end of the following month.
Renew now, or view checkout history
Loan terms differ for special items, including certain DVDs, CDs, art books, and other materials.
You may also borrow items for use within the Library, including laptops, power cords, headphones, and more.
Some policies differ for Library visitors who are not current members of the Brown community. If you are unsure, please email rock@brown.edu.
Special Services for Faculty
Deputy borrowing: Brown faculty may assign borrowing privileges to TAs or other student assistants. Fill out the Application for Deputy Borrower Privileges to designate a deputy borrower. Email rock@brown.edu for more information.
Delivery to faculty offices: Faculty may request delivery of Library materials to their department mail rooms or administrative offices.
Borrowing Materials from Other Libraries
All Brown University faculty, students, and staff who are in good standing with Library circulation are eligible to borrow materials through our interlibrary loan systems, which allow our Library to request materials from other libraries.
Borrowing Books Not Available at the Brown Library
1. Search Josiah to make sure we don’t have the item at Brown.
2. Search for the item in WorldCat using Brown’s easyBorrow service (using this colorful search box here, or any other place you find it on Library web pages). You may need to log in to complete your search.
3. Find the item you want, and click “Request this item.” If you’re off campus, or if you don’t see “Request this item,” make sure you log in to the VPN first. That way, we know who you are, and can request the item for you.
“Request this Item” is in green text in the lower right. Click on the image to enlarge.
4. We’ll get the item for you using one of our interlibrary borrowing services, which usually takes 2-14 days. Loan lengths vary, and a return date will be printed on the band attached to the item you receive. These items are eligible for our faculty delivery service.
» Track your easyBorrow Requests.
» More about easyBorrow, including BorrowDirect and other interlibrary loan services.
Access to Articles Not Available at the Brown Library
We can usually get access to articles that we don’t have within our holdings. To make a request for an article, be sure to have as much citation information as you can, and then use our ILLiad system to request that the article be delivered to you as a PDF.
Other Borrowing Options
- Visit Area and Consortial Partner Libraries
- Ocean State Libraries
- Brown patrons may borrow some material in person with a Brown ID at other academic libraries, including:
Reminders, Recalls, and Fines
For most borrowed items, email courtesy notices are sent five days before an item is due and again after the item is due. After a lapse of 30 days, a replacement charge will be issued.
Borrowed material is subject to recall by other Library patrons. In the case of a recall, you must return the material before the new due date to avoid overdue fines.
Overdue Fines, Charges, & Penalties
• Standard replacement charges: $150 per item
• Overdue recall charge: $1 per day
• Overdue course reserve or equipment: $0.50 per hour
Library privileges may be suspended for those with overdue recalls, or with substantial outstanding bills. Extreme or repeated problems may be reported to the appropriate dean or department chair.
