Library Operations

Using the Collection
Like all rare book libraries, the John Carter Brown Library does not circulate its books. Use of the collection is restricted to qualified scholars, engaged in productive research, for whom access to the collection is essential for the advancement of their work.  All materials are examined under supervision in the MacMillan Reading Room, which is equipped with outlets for laptop computers and wireless internet access.

Registration
All researchers must register and submit at least two forms of identification, including a driver's license or passport with a photo. Students and unaffiliated scholars must also have a written endorsement of their project from an established college or university professor.  All researchers must sign an agreement to adhere to the Library’s reading room policies and procedures.

Requesting materials
All items are requested by submitting call slips, which are available in the Reference area.  Items are paged only on weekdays at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.  There is no paging on Saturdays—please request items in advance.

Researchers may request a maximum of three rare items and five reference items to be held for their use.  Please check with the Reading Room supervisor for requested items.  Only one item may be viewed at a time; all exceptions must be approved by the Reading Room supervisor.

Finding materials
Increasingly, the Library’s records for books, broadsides, and serials can be accessed online.

The holdings of the Library are accessible in two ways.

1). The Library maintains a card catalog accessible by author and title, as well as by Library of Congress subject headings.

Separate card catalogs are available at the Library for the manuscripts/codices collection, the map collection, and the print collection.

Also available are place of imprint files, chronological files, shelf-list, and provenance files.

2). The Library’s records for books, broadsides, and serials are added to the comprehensive online collections catalog of Brown University Library. This online catalog, known as JOSIAH, includes the records for the majority of the Library’s holdings of printed books. Records are continually being added to this catalog. All records in JOSIAH are also available in WorldCat.

What is in JOSIAH?

• About 85% of the Library’s rare printed material, including books, broadsides, and serials.

• About 90% of the Library’s modern reference book collection.

As JOSIAH includes records for the entire Brown University Library system, you may restrict your search to our collections by selecting “John Carter Brown Library” from the pull-down menu at “Limit search to.”

What is NOT in JOSIAH?

• The map collection
• The print collection
• The manuscript/codices collections
• The archive collection

These materials, and a small portion of the printed book collection, are accessible only through Library’s onsite card catalogues and print resources.  Separate card catalogs are available at the Library for the manuscripts/codices collection, the map collection, and the print collection. Also available are place of imprint files, chronological files, shelf-lists, and provenance files. Larger manuscript collections, such as the Brown Family Brown Family Business Papers (ca. 1735- 1914) and the John Russell Bartlett papers (ca. 1832-1886) can be accessed through printed finding aids.  The Library maintains a specialized staff ready to respond to scholarly inquiries and to assist researchers in finding materials.  

Reproductions
The Library does not photocopy rare printed material.  Photocopies of other material will be considered at the discretion of the staff.  The Library also maintains a photography department and, within certain guidelines, provides microfilms of books.   Please see Imaging Services and Permissions for more information.