About the Library

Brown University Library sustains all education and research programs across campus by providing the information materials, staffing, technology resources, and facilities that students and faculty require to achieve their academic goals at the highest level.

About the Library

Brown University Library sustains all education and research programs across campus by providing the information materials, staffing, technology resources, and facilities that students and faculty require to achieve their academic goals at the highest level.

The University’s mission of “discovering, communicating and preserving knowledge and understanding in a spirit of free inquiry” is also the core function of research libraries.

The Library is continually strengthening its foundational role to acquire and provide access to the vast array of disciplinary journal literature, research databases, scholarly books, and academic technology tools on which world-class teaching and research depends, along with furnishing skilled guidance for navigating the complex and ever-evolving information landscape. 

The Library also provides specialized resources and capabilities that distinctively enrich Brown’s academic mission, including digital scholarship and publication, scholarly analytics, research data services, and special collections for deep study.

Careers at the Library

A community of academic, professional, and organizational learning, the Library embraces people who span a wide range of viewpoints, life experiences, and intellectual pursuits. Together, we preserve the past and innovate for the future.

Community Engagement

Brown University Library seeks to build connections and cultivate partnerships with colleagues in K-12 schools, public libraries, archives, and Rhode Island-based literacy-adjacent community organizations to support its work with students and local communities.

John Carter Brown Library

The John Carter Brown Library is delighted to welcome you through its new digital door. Americana integrates the JCB’s digital assets, including online catalogs and exhibitions, and supports individual and collaborative projects.

Strategic Plan

The 2019-2024 strategic plan positions the Brown University Library to be a more effective organization and resource to the Brown campus. Grounded in the areas defined by the University as most critical for Brown’s overall academic excellence, the plan lays out a vision for how the Library can do more to help realize key University goals and contribute to Brown’s distinction in the wider scholarly world.