General Information  [top]

• What are the library hours?
  
  
  
• What is the library mailing address? show answer
  Unless otherwise noted the library mailing address is:
  John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
  10 Prospect St. / Box A
  Providence, Rhode Island 02912 USA
  
  Other Locations:
  Sciences Library
  201 Thayer St. / Box I
  
  Orwig Music Library
    1 Young Orchard / Box A
  
  John Hay Library
  20 Prospect St. / Box A
  
  Art Slide Library
  64 College St. / Box 1855
  
  Library Collections Annex
  10 Park Lane
  
  Annmary Brown Memorial
  21 Brown Street / Box 1905
  
  John Carter Brown Library (affiliated)
  Box 1894
  
  For more information on Library locations see Locations and Hours
  
  
• Who is Josiah Carberry? show answer
  Josiah Carberry, legendary professor of psychoceramics (the study of cracked pots), was born on a bulletin board in University Hall in 1929.
  
  On Friday, May 13, 1955, an anonymous gift of $101.01 was received by the University from Professor Carberry to establish the Josiah S. Carberry Fund in memory of his "future late wife." A condition of the gift was that, henceforth, every Friday the 13th would be designated "Carberry Day," and on that day friends of the University would deposit their loose change in brown jugs to augment the fund, which is used to purchase "such books as Professor Carberry might or might not approve of."
  
  The library's online catalog - Josiah - is named for Professor Carberry.
  
  For further information see Encyclopedia Brunoniana
  
  

 Find Books  [top]

• How do I find a book? show answer
  To find a book, search Josiah, Brown's online catalog. Once you find the book you are looking for, view its record and see what the status is. If it is "Available", note the location and call number and use the stack guides to find books at the Rock, Sciences or Orwig. Stack guides are also posted near the elevators at the Rock and Sciences.
  
  To access material in the John Hay Library, complete an online paging request before you come or fill out a call slip when you get to the library. John Hay materials are building use only.
  
  If the item you want is in the Annex, select the Request This button to request a delivery of the book for next business day pick-up at the campus library of your choice.
  
  
• What if the book I want is checked out? show answer
  If the book you want is checked out, click the "Check InRhode" button in Josiah to see if it is available from another RI academic library or request it via BorrowDirect or the Virtual Catalog for delivery within 2-5 days. Alternately, you may recall the book by using the "Request This" button in Josiah. Note that recalling a book takes up to two weeks.
  
  
• What if the library doesn't own the book I need? show answer
  The fastest options for obtaining books not owned by the Library are our three direct borrowing services:

  • Borrow Direct - Books from Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton and Yale
    
  • The Virtual Catalog - Books from participating libraries of the Boston Library Consortium.
    
  • InRhode - Books from other Rhode Island academic libraries. Requests may be made directly from a Josiah search by clicking the "Check InRhode" button
    

  
  Interlibrary Loan service is also an option. Materials requested through Interlibrary Loan are slower to arrive but may generally be renewed, unlike books requested through BorrowDirect or the Virtual Catalog.
  
  The Library invites purchase suggestions from students and faculty.
  
  
• I need books in a foreign language / How do I find the english translation of this book? show answer
  To find books in a specific language, use the "Advanced Search" option in Josiah and chose a language in the appropriate box under "Limit and Sort Options."
  
  
  

 Find Journals  [top]

• How do I find a journal? show answer
  If you want to find an online journal, consult the A-Z list. All journals which Brown owns, whether in print, online, or on microform, can be found through Josiah. Search for the journal title (not the article title) in Josiah; use the drop down menu to limit your search to "Periodicals, Newspapers, Other Serials." Select the title you want and look for the location and call number in the record. If the full-text is available online, click on the link labeled "View online version; access limited to Brown University users. "
  
  To find out whether Brown owns the year/volume that you need, look at the line which reads "LIB. HAS". This shows a range of years which our subscription covers. Many journal records will also display a list of individual volumes; these lists are often incomplete, so refer to the "LIB. HAS" line to determine which years of the journal we own.
  
  
  

 Find Articles  [top]

• How do I find an article? show answer
  If you already know which article you want, use the citation linker to get to online full text, automatically search the catalog, or fill in an Interlibrary Loan request form.
  
  If you do not yet have specific information about articles, you may want to start with InfoGate . Select a Quick Set, click "View Retrieved" to see results and click the "Find it!" button to get to the article.
  
  You can also start with a periodical index for your subject area. Browse a complete list or by subject. Once you select a database, enter keywords in the search box. The results of your search will be a list of citations, which display author, title, journal title, volume, date and page number. Many databases will provide links to the full text of the article or the "Find it" button will be available for finding full text or locating the journal in the catalog. If all else fails you can search Josiah for the journal title. Josiah does not contain articles - only journal titles.
  
  
• What do I do if there is no link for the full text of an article? show answer
  If you are using a database which does not provide full text, click the "Find It" button (if available) to search for online full text, pass the search to Josiah, or place an interlibrary loan request. If there is no "Find It" button, search Josiah directly for the title of the journal.
  
  
• Why am I asked for an ID or payment when I try to view an article? show answer
  If you are off campus, make sure you are logged on through the off-campus access service. If you are off campus and using Google Scholar you must also go to "Scholar Preferences" and select "Brown".
  
  If you are on campus or already logged on, this message may occur when you try to view an article that is not included in the library's subscription. In most cases you can find out what years are included in our subscription by viewing the dates for the title in our eJournal list or on Josiah.
  
  
  
• Why can't I get the full text of an article in Ebscohost? show answer
  Use the "Find It" link, if available, to search for the article online or in print. If the library doesn't subscribe to the full text or doesn't own the publication in print you can place an interlibrary loan request through the link on the "Find IT" menu. If there is no "Find It" link, search Josiah for the publication title.
  
  Ebscohost frequently includes a combination of index-only and full text coverage for the same publication, and it often does not include full text for the latest issues due to publisher restrictions. To determine what years of a publication have full text available, click on "Publications" in Ebscohost's green menu bar and view the record for the publication in question. Look for the line which reads "Full Text"; note that these dates may differ from the years listed under "All Issues", which include both index-only and full text coverage.
  
  
• How do I find articles that aren't available in full-text online? show answer
  If the journal you are looking for is only available in print or microform, record the call number and any additional location information from the Josiah record and look for it on the shelf. The current year is shelved in the Periodicals reading room at the Rock or on level 3 at the SciLi , and back issues are filed by call number with the other books.
  
  At Orwig current periodicals are shelved in the upper reading room, and older issues are bound and shelved with books by call number in the open stacks on the lower level.
  
  If the item you want is in the Annex, select the Request This button to request an electronic delivery of the content. If Brown does not own the journal you need, you may request the article(s) through Interlibrary Loan
  
  
  

 Find Newspapers  [top]

• How do I find older newspaper articles / How can I access newspaper archives? show answer
  Brown subscribes to many online newspapers with content ranging from the 19th century to the current day. We also own many newspapers on microform. For recent newspapers (1980-present), see our Online Newspapers page. For older news coverage, see our resource guides for Historical Periodicals and Historical Newspapers.
  
  
  
• Can I access the New York Times Select and the New York Times Archives? show answer
  University students, faculty, and staff can gain free access to Times Select by registering with the New York Times using a Brown email address. This includes access to all Times Select material, as well as up to 100 articles per month from the New York Times Archives. Sign up on the NYTimes' website Brown also has access to the New York Times archives from 1851 to the present through ProQuest; choose the appropriate link on this Josiah record: http://josiah.brown.edu/record=b1743466
  
  
• Can I access the Providence Journal Archives? / How can I search past issues of the Providence Journal? show answer
  Brown has online access to the Providence Journal Archives from 1986 to the present. We also own the Providence Journal on microform from 1829 to the present; this is shelved in the periodicals reading room at the Rockefeller Library.
  
  Indexing for the Providence Journal prior to 1986 is available as part of the Rhode Island Collection at the Central Library of the Providence Public Library
  
  
  
• Does Brown subscribe to the Wall Street Journal online? show answer
  Brown has access to the Wall Street Journal online from 1889 through the present day. Choose the appropriate link on this Josiah record: The Wall Street
  Journal
  
  
  

 Find Audio & Video  [top]

• How do I find a DVD or CD? show answer
  All video (VHS, DVD) and audio (CD, LP, cassette) materials are listed in Josiah. You can search for them by using the drop-down menu to limit your search to "Audio, Video, Multimedia." A complete list of all videos and dvds is also available.
  
  The Friedman Study Center has a continuously updated collection of recent movies on DVD. This collection, made possible by the Office of Student Life and the Library, is for student use only.
  
  Media Services holds english language videos; foreign language videos are held by the
  Language Resource Center. Music-related materials are at the Orwig Music Library. The John Hay Library holds audio and videos materials related to its special collections.
  
  
  

 Find Graphics  [top]

• How do I find graphic resources?
  
  
  

 Find Maps  [top]

• How do I find maps? show answer
  See Map Collections at Brown. For online maps see: http://gis.brown.edu/onlineMaps.php
  
  

 Find Online Resources  [top]

• I'm looking for an electronic book (eBook) / Can I access this book online? show answer
  Electronic books owned by Brown may be found by searching Josiah, just like regular books. Use the drop-down menu to limit your search to "Web Resources". You can also view a list of subscription and freely available electronic books collections.
  
  
  

 Find Information on a Topic  [top]

• How can I find information on a subject? show answer
  Consult resource guides for departments, programs, subjects or contact a subject specialist for one-on-one assistance.
  
  
• Where can I find statistics? show answer
  For basic, commonly used statistics, see the Reference Resource Guide.
  For a more in depth guide to statistical information, see the Social Sciences Data Resources Guide.
  
  
  

 Doing Research  [top]

• How do I figure out which database to use? show answer
  InfoGate is a search engine that searches simultaneously across multiple databases. InfoGate Quick Sets are groups of databases in major subject areas pre-selected by librarians.
  
  In addition to an A-Z list of databases, there are resource guides for departments, programs, subjects and course guides for individual courses. These are a good starting point for e-resources.
  
  
  
• What is LibX? show answer
  LibX Brown Edition is a Firefox browser extension that provides direct access to the Library's resources from ANY page on the web. LibX comes with a toolbar that searches Josiah, E-Journals, and Google Scholar. It has a context-sensitive menu that searches highlighted text anywhere on a page. LibX also embeds a Brown logo in sources like amazon.com that, when clicked, searches Josiah.
  
  To install or learn more about LibX.go to http://www.brown.edu/Facilities/University_Library/tools/libx.html
  
  

 Getting Started  [top]

• How do I get an ID card? show answer
  See the Brown Card site for information about obtaining an ID card. Your ID card is necessary for admission to the libraries. If your ID card is lost, go to the ID Card Office at 208 Meeting St. in the Emery Dorm during business hours (8:30 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday)
  
  
• How do I get a Brown username and password? show answer
  You must activate your account to obtain a Brown Username and password. If you have forgotten your Username or password, call 863-7277 or the CIS Help Desk at 863-4357.
  
  

 Borrow/Renew/Track  [top]

• For how long can I check out a book? show answer
  If you are an undergraduate, university staff member, or holder of a non-Brown ID borrowing card: Books borrowed in one month are due at the end of the following month. Some materials circulate for shorter periods.
  
  If you are a Brown graduate student: Books borrowed between August and April are due the following June and books borrowed between May and July are due the following October. Some materials circulate for shorter periods.
  
  If you are a Brown faculty member: Books borrowed during one calendar year are due in September of the following calendar year. Some materials circulate for shorter periods.
  
  
  
• How do I renew a book? show answer
  Most Brown library materials may be renewed online by logging in to your Josiah account. InRhode materials may be renewed online one time.
  
  Books borrowed through ILLiad may be renewed by logging in to your ILLiad account; instructions are printed on the yellow band attached to the book.
  
  Books borrowed through Borrow Direct and Virtual Catalog are non-renewable, but you may place another request for the same item; if another copy is available it will be sent even if you still have a copy checked out.
  
  
  
• How will I know when the book I requested arrives? show answer
  You will be notified by email when books you have requested are ready to be picked up. This is true of recalled books, books paged from our stacks, and books requested from the Library Annex, InRhode, Borrow Direct, Virtual Catalog, and ILLIAD.
  
  You can also find out what books are on hold for you by viewing your library account. Books which have arrived will show the status as "Ready for Pickup." There is one exception: items requested through ILLIAD do not appear on your library account.
  
  
• How do I find out the status of my interlibrary loan book request? show answer
  Log in to your ILLiad account to submit, review and track your requests and renewals.
  
  
  
• Why am I not able to renew my books online? show answer
  You may be blocked from online renewal if you have any overdue recalled materials or a large outstanding fine.
  
  
• What does "restricted circ" mean? show answer
  “Restricted circ” refers to oversized art books (1- size or 2-size books with call numbers beginning with “N”). They are shelved in the stacks on level A, but may only be checked out to graduate students and faculty for two week loan periods.
  
  
• What is meant by “in process” “available soon” or “being bound”? show answer
  Items with these status designations are not currently available on the shelf. You may request them by using our online form.
  
  For a complete list of Josiah status messages see Josiah Help.
  
  
  
• What if a book is "recently returned"? show answer
  If a book is recently returned, inquire at the circulation desk about where to locate it; we can determine the best place to look for it.
  
  

 In the Stacks  [top]

• How can I get a carrel? show answer
  Brown students writing a dissertation or thesis, and Brown faculty members, may apply in the Circulation office for the use of a study carrel in the Rockefeller, Sciences or Orwig Library. Library material may be checked out to the carrel on long-term loan, for use in the library only.
  
  
• How can I get a locker? show answer
  Inquire at the circulation desk.
  
  
• What does 1-SIZE (2-SIZE, 3-SIZE) mean? show answer
  1-SIZE, 2-SIZE, and 3-SIZE (oversized) items in the Rockefeller Library are shelved in separate areas. Check the stack directories on each floor for the range location. In the Sciences Library, regular and 1-SIZE books are shelved together, while 2-SIZE and 3-SIZE are in a separate area (usually away from the elevator.)
  
  
  
  

 Away from Campus  [top]

• Can I access Brown's electronic journals, books and databases if I'm not on campus? show answer
  Most of Brown's electronic resources are accessible from off campus.
  
  To use electronic resources from anywhere in the world, log in as a Brown user on
  our Off-Campus Access Service.
  
  
• How can I use other libraries? show answer
  See Other Libraries available to Brown ID Holders for information about visiting and borrowing from other libraries.
  
  

 Classes/Instruction  [top]

• How do I get something from course reserves? / What are course reserves? show answer
  Search for physical reserves (books, cds, videos) in Josiah. Note call numbers and ask for reserve material at the circulation desk. Most course reserve items are checked out for 3 hours at a time.
  
  If a course has a WebCT / MyCourses website, there will be a link to OCRA electronic course reserves (articles, book excerpts, audio & video streaming). You do not need a password to access reserves via WebCT/MyCourses. You can also access electronic course reserves directly through the OCRA site but you will need the course password to do so. You can obtain the password from your professor or by emailing rock-reserves@brown.edu.
  
  
• How do I place material on reserve for my courses? show answer
  Use our online course reserve system, OCRA, to place requests for physical reserves (books, cds, etc.) and online reserves (articles, book excerpts, audio & video streaming).
  
  For detailed information on course reserves, see About Course Reserves .
  
  

 Copyright & Permissions  [top]

• Can I reproduce an object from one of the Library's digital collections? show answer

  Yes. Please note that while the majority of the objects in our digitized collections are in the Public Domain, you still need to receive permission from the Library to re-publish (in print or digital form) the digitized versions. Application forms are available at http://brown.edu/Facilities/University_Library/libs/hay/forms.htm.
  

  
  
  

 Alumni, Visitors, & Friends  [top]

• My parents are coming to visit. Can I arrange for them to see some of the treasures at the Hay? show answer
  By all means! Tours of the Library may be arranged by calling 401-863-3723 or e-mailing hay@brown.edu. There is permanent exhibition of miniature soldiers in the Anne S. K. Brown Gallery (tours available when staffing permits) and, with a little advance notice, we are happy to call up materials that might interest visitors.
  
  

 Staff & Employment  [top]

• What positions are open at the library?
  
  
  

 Special Collections  [top]

• What are special collections? show answer
  Special collections are materials that are shelved apart from the general collection because of their specialized subject matter, age, uniqueness, or value. For information about Brown's special collections see Collections A-Z.
  
  
• How can I find information about my old books? show answer
  One of the best sources of information for basic questions about rare books and book values is the brochure, Your Old Books, by the late Peter Van Wingen.
  
  
  
• Why are things that are neither rare nor old housed at the Hay where they cannot circulate? show answer
  In addition to housing a high proportion of rare and unique materials, the Hay also contains many thematic special collections whose individual parts may not be 'valuable' or 'rare', but, as an aggregate, constitute a historically significant body of material. Keeping these materials together as a special collection enhances their research value.
  
  For example, since many of the contemporary texts acquired for the Harris Collection of American Poetry and Plays are readily available in the marketplace it may seem puzzling that their circulation should be restricted. The collecting policy of the Harris Collection, since the 19th century, has been to acquire all materials in lyric and dramatic form produced by Americans from the earliest period to the present day. This mission (and the endowed funds and gifts that support it) has produced the most comprehensive collection of its kind in the world. Many current titles in the Harris Collection are duplicated for the circulating collections, but if you feel that the Library should own a circulating copy of a particular title, you are encouraged to fill out a Purchase Request form.
  
  
  
• Why would a recently published popular title be stored off campus and need to be used at the Hay? show answer
  In 1997 St. Martin's Press agreed to transfer their archives - thousands of publications and book and author files - to the Library. In addition to receiving the complete inventory of St. Martin's Press publications dating back to the founding of the press in 1952, the Library receives a copy of every new St. Martin's Press title as it is published. Many of these titles are popular works which would normally be out of scope for a research library collection.
  
  Because the John Hay Library has been at capacity for some time now, these materials are housed in an offsite storage facility. We are happy to retrieve these materials for you but, being part of a special collection, they do not circulate. A circulating copy may be requested through one of our direct borrowing partners. Although interlibrary loans are usually not accepted if Brown owns an item, an exception is made in the case of St. Martin's Press materials.
  
  
• What is the difference between the John Hay Library and the John Carter Brown Library? show answer
  The John Hay Library is one of the five libraries that make up the Brown University Library system. (The others are: John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Sciences Library, Orwig Music Library, and Art Slide Library.) The John Hay Library houses diverse collections spanning many subjects and time periods, with particularly strong collections in American literature and history, popular culture, military history and iconography, history of science and the art and history of the book. The John Hay Library also houses the archives of the University.
  
  The John Carter Brown Library is an independently administered and funded center, which holds primary historical sources pertaining to the Americas, both North and South, before about 1825.