The Sidney E. Frank Digital Studio (the Studio) opened in 2016 with generous support from the Sidney E. Frank Foundation. It is designed to provide a unique and exciting intellectual hub for digitally enhanced scholarship at Brown.

Expanding on the concept and functionality of the Patrick Ma Digital Scholarship Lab, which is considered part of the Studio, the Studio facilitates both short-term and extended engagements with academic questions that benefit from the infusion of technology and new methodologies in research and learning.

The 4,500-square-foot space welcomes scholars at all levels into conversations and results-driven actions, whether they have come to consult on the content and design of digital projects, model or analyze data, create prototyped or finished multimedia presentations, learn a new tool, or explore the integration of traditional resources into novel forms of research and scholarship.

Expert staff from the Center for Digital Scholarship and around the Library assist students and researchers across the disciplines in digital imaging, iterative project design and implementation, copyright and fair use, data curation and management, archiving and repository services, digital scholarship methodologies and practices, as well as the delivery and dissemination of digital content.

Studio Location

The Studio is located on the first floor of the Rockefeller Library. From the main entrance, pass through the gate and take an immediate right turn. Pass the elevators and proceed through the glass doors. The Digital Scholarship Lab will be in front of you; the open Studio space is to the right.

Studio Areas

The Studio is the Library’s home for digital scholarship on the Brown University campus. Open to all faculty and students, the Studio features:

• Patrick Ma Digital Scholarship Lab (DSL) (Room 137) - The DSL is a campus “Zoom Room” with a video wall, built-in microphones, speakers, and room camera. Used primarily for classes taught by Center for Digital Scholarship staff, approved faculty-led courses that make substantial use of the room's technology, and library events, the DSL seats about 50 people “theatre-style” with chairs only, and about half that with tables.
• Audio/Video Recording Suite (Rooms 153 and 154) - A fully equipped, soundproof, self-service studio ideal for recording podcasts and media interviews among other uses.
• Studio open space (Rooms 155 and 156) - The open space features flexible, modular furniture including high and low work tables; counter-height chairs, desk chairs, and soft seating; and shareable display screens.
• Seminar room (Room 160) - The glass-walled seminar room seats 10 and includes a screen. Students can reserve the seminar room for group study outside of regular Monday through Friday business hours when the space is used by library staff.

Contact

CDS staff book research sessions, classes, meetings, workshops, and shows for students, faculty, and staff. 

To request time in the DSL for instruction, please contact us at digital_studio@brown.edu. To request the DSL for courses, please fill out this form. If you would like to use the DSL for an event, please contact library@brown.edu.