The John Hay Library is renovating its exterior this summer! As a result, there will be reduced access to this library and special collections. Please refer to the John Hay Library website for up-to-date hours.
Operating Schedule
May 25 to September 7, 2026
The John Hay Library will be closed.
June 8 to August 28, 2026
The special collections reading room at the Hay will be closed during this time with a temporary special collections reading room set up in the Absolute Quiet Room on level A of the Rockefeller Library.
The temporary special collections reading room will be open on the following schedule by reservation only. Please see Visiting the Brown University Special Collections for information about scheduling a reading room appointment via Aeon.
- Monday and Tuesday: 1 to 5 p.m.
- Wednesday and Thursday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Friday: 10 a.m. to noon
Closed Collections
The following collections will be closed from May 25 through September 7, 2026:
- Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection (oversized prints only)
- Corthell Engineering Library
- Damon Collection of Occult and Visionary Literature
- Albert E. Lownes Collection of Significant Books in the History of Science
- Charles Reitman Pharmacopoeia Collection
- Rhode Island Medical Society Collection
- Nineteenth century English and American drama [microfiche]
- Ethnic and native Canadian literature, 1850-1979 a bibliography of primary and secondary materials [microfiche]
Classroom Requests
Please place requests for classrooms at the Hay through the Brown University Library Instruction Request Form. Classes will be scheduled based on classroom and staff availability. There will be a limited number of library classrooms this summer due to the exterior renovation.
Requests received by May 15, 2026 will be prioritized.