Brown University Library News

A new exhibit will be on view for the month of June in the lobby cases of the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, opposite circulation: “Renovating the John Hay Library: 2013-2014.” A more extensive version of the exhibit is also available online.

The John Hay Library, located at the crest of College Street opposite the Van Wickle gates, is one of Brown University’s historic landmarks. The Library was built in 1910 and served as Brown University’s main library from 1910 until 1964, when the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library opened. Today it houses the University’s Archives and Special Collections. The current renovation of this historic landmark will include a refurbishment of the magnificent first floor reading room into an open, welcoming study space for students and restoring the size and grandeur of the original design. The area which formerly housed University Archives will be converted into a new state-of-the-art special collections reading room. In addition the first floor of the Hay will host a new exhibition gallery, student lounge, and consultation room. Plans include the development of handicapped access to the front of the building through the north side lawn. This exhibit explores the evolution of the Library over the past one hundred years through a selection of materials ranging from archival photographs and drawings, to floor plans of the future Hay, scheduled for completion in Fall 2014. For more information about the current renovation visit: Library.brown.edu/hayrenovation.

A new exhibit is on view for summer 2013 in the tall cases of the Laura and David Finn Reading Room featuring student projects from Dietrich Neumann’s Spring 2013 course “Introduction to Architectural Design.”

Over the semester, students learned basic concepts of space, materials, functions, structure, and light. After a number of initial exercises, each student designed a small house for an open space on East Street in Fox Point. Students responded to the plot’s geographic location and neighborhood.

Stop by if you’re on campus this summer to see more of these models.

A new page has been created to help visitors learn about ongoing exhibits at the library.

Every semester the University Library is home to a variety of interesting exhibits. These exhibits are a great opportunity for visitors to see aspects of the library’s collection that might not otherwise be accessible.

The new exhibits page also has information about past exhibits in the rare situation that someone didn’t get a chance to view the exhibit while it was displayed.