Happy summer, from your Brown University Library!
Health and Safety
Operations are founded on the most up-to-date, reliable safety protocols to ensure a healthy environment for our patrons and staff. Please follow all Healthy Brown steps to keep yourself and our community well. If you aren’t feeling well, please make use of the Library’s robust slate of digital resources.
Who can access Library buildings?
Current Brown students, faculty, and staff and current Rhode Island School of Design students can access all Library locations. Reservations are required for the Special Collections Reading Room at the John Hay Library, which is open to the public on weekdays (email hay@brown.edu).
Alumni and Other Visitors
COMPLETE INFORMATION FOR ALL VISITORS
OBTAINING A LIBRARY CARD
Visitors who anticipate using the Rockefeller, Sciences, or Orwig Libraries on an ongoing basis must obtain a Brown University Library card. Cards will be issued upon receipt and approval of a completed Brown University Library Visitors request form. The Library must approve requests for visitors, excluding those with IDs sponsored by a department or program at Brown, Brown alumni, and visitors attending a Library public event. More information.
Visitors must abide by the policies on the Healthy Brown website and should review the Visitor and Guest Vaccination Requirement.
Library Support
In-person
Patrons can schedule in-person (and online) consultation appointments with a Library expert by contacting the relevant subject specialist directly. Not sure who to contact? Email rock@brown.edu for general inquiries and hay@brown.edu for Special Collections inquiries.
Online
Please continue to request materials online through BruKnow. Requested materials will be held at the service desks. Patrons will be notified when the item is available and where it should be picked up. The Library is providing document delivery through the ILLiad system.
You can also ask questions via chat, book online consultations, and make use of the many resources available on our website.
Locations and Hours
During regular hours, current Brown and RISD ID holders can swipe through the inside gate at the Rockefeller Library and the Sciences Library. Extended building hours are available to current Brown ID holders only by swipe access at the front door.
ROCKEFELLER LIBRARY
REGULAR HOURS:
Sunday: 12pm–7pm
Monday–Thursday: 8am–9pm
Friday: 8am–5pm
Saturday: 10am–5pm
SCIENCES LIBRARY
BUILDING HOURS:
Sunday: 12am–7pm
Monday–Thursday: 9am–9pm
Friday: 9am–5pm
Saturday: 10am–5pm
circulation HOURS:
Sunday: 10am–5pm
Monday–Friday: 9am–5pm
Saturday: 9:30am–5pm
JOHN HAY LIBRARY
PUBLIC ACCESS HOURS:
Monday–Friday: 9am–5pm
Saturday and Sunday: closed
GILDOR FAMILY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS READING ROOM HOURS:
Monday–Friday: 10am–5pm
Saturday and Sunday: closed
Closed daily 12pm–1pm.
For research in the Special Collections Reading Room, please email hay@brown.edu to request a seat reservation. We are currently limiting use of the Special Collections Reading Room to a maximum of nine researchers at a time. You must also request materials through Aeon one week (5 full business days) in advance of your reservation.
ORWIG MUSIC LIBRARY
Monday–Friday: 9am–5pm
Saturday and Sunday: closed
Reserving Study Rooms
Current Brown students, staff, and faculty, and RISD students can reserve group study rooms at the Rock and SciLi through libcal.brown.edu.
Graduate and Medical Student Carrels
Study carrels are available to graduate and medical students. Interested persons should inquire at the Rockefeller Library service desk.
Graduate Teaching Assistant Rooms
Graduate TAs may also access a limited number of small study/collaboration rooms to conduct online sections. Registration is required through 25Live.
Library Tutorials
Guides and videos with information about how to use the Library, conduct various aspects of research, and more are available online.
Feedback
Your Brown University Library is committed to providing all patrons with the best possible academic library experience. Throughout your engagement with Library collections, physical spaces, patron services, instruction, and web-based tools and content, you should be welcomed, valued, and respected, and be provided with equal opportunities to pursue scholarship in a spirit of free and open inquiry.
We encourage your feedback about any aspect of Library services, resources, and facilities. Feedback can be made through this anonymous form, which has an option for inputting your contact information, or you can email WelcomeToYourLibrary@brown.edu.