Welcome back to 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.
When you come to the Library, please:
- Wear a mask over your mouth and nose at all times
- Maintain social distance
Help keep Brown healthy: Get tested for COVID-19 every week if you are fully vaccinated, twice a week if you are not yet fully vaccinated or have received an exemption. Wear a mask indoors when on campus, regardless of your vaccination status, and outside if you are not vaccinated and social distancing is not possible. Learn more.
Who can access Library buildings?
Current Brown students, faculty, and staff and current Rhode Island School of Design students can access all locations as follows:
- Rockefeller Library – without a reservation
- Sciences Library – without a reservation
- Orwig Music Library – without a reservation (limited hours starting September 7)
- John Hay Library – reservations required for the Special Collections Reading Room (email [email protected]); reservations not required for individual study space in the Willis Reading Room
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 not be issued until visitors have completed the Brown University Library Visitors: Fall 2021 request form. The Library must approve requests for all visitors except those with IDs sponsored by a department or program at Brown, or Brown alumni. More information
Health Protocols
In accordance with University policy, all visitors — regardless of vaccination status — must wear masks indoors, unless in a private, non-shared space (e.g., office or dorm room). 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 whom to contact? Email [email protected] for general inquiries and [email protected] for Special Collections inquiries.
The stacks at the Rock and SciLi are open, and circulation staff are on-site to check out materials.
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
ROCKEFELLER LIBRARY
During regular hours, current Brown and RISD ID holders can swipe through the inside gate. Extended building hours are available to current Brown ID holders only by swipe access at the front door.
Regular Hours:
September 3 – 7, 2021:
- Friday, September 3: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Saturday, September 4: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Sunday, September 5: 12 noon – 7 p.m.
- Monday, September 6: Closed for Labor Day holiday
- Tuesday, September 7: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
September 8 through end of fall term:
- Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Extended Building Hours
For current Brown ID holders only, from September 8 through end of fall term:
- Monday – Thursday: 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.
- Sunday: 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.
SCIENCES LIBRARY
September 3 – 7, 2021:
- Friday, September 3: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Saturday, September 4 and Sunday, September 5: 12 noon – 5 p.m.
- Monday, September 6 – Closed for Labor Day holiday
- Tuesday, September 7: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Regular Hours
September 8 through end of fall term:
- Sunday – Thursday: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Extended Building Hours
For current Brown ID holders only, from September 8 through end of fall term:
- Sunday – Thursday: 10 p.m. – 8 a.m.
- Friday and Saturday: 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.
JOHN HAY LIBRARY
Hours:
September 3 – 7, 2021:
- Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Study in the Willis Reading Room (first floor)
- Research in the Gildor Family Special Collections Reading Room (first floor)
- Saturday and Sunday: Closed
- Monday, September 6: Closed for Labor Day holiday
September 8 through end of fall term:
- Study in the Willis Reading Room (first floor):
- Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Sunday, noon – 10 p.m.
- Research in the Gildor Family Special Collections Reading Room (first floor):
- Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Closed Saturday and Sunday
For research in the Special Collections Reading Room, please email [email protected] to request a seat reservation. We are currently limiting use of the Special Collections Reading Room to a maximum of nine (9) 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
Following an extensive infrastructure renovation, the Orwig Music Library will be open for limited weekday hours starting September 7. Please contact [email protected] or call 401-863-3759 for more information.
Reserving Study Rooms
Beginning September 8, current Brown students, staff, and faculty, and RISD students will be able to 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 always 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 [email protected].