The library is open to holders of the following cards during our open hours. Please note: Special Collections and Archives require appointments.
Call or email if you would like to confirm current policies. If you have one of the above cards and cannot enter through the outer building door, call the Public Safety booth at (401) 427-6916.
Others needing access to RISD's specialized resources must make an appointment in advance with a Research Librarian.
Visitors under 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent, teacher or guardian.
Access to the Providence Athenaeum: Show your RISD ID for access to the Athenaeum.
Access to Brown University Libraries: Show your RISD ID to access Brown libraries and register for a borrower account. Please be sure to have a working RISD Library account in good standing. Access to Brown's electronic subscription databases is available on-site via designated visitor computers at the Rockefeller and Sciences libraries. We continue to recommend using our Interlibrary Loan service to request items not locally available at RISD or Brown. See Brown's full policies here. Please contact a Research Librarian if you would like assistance on the RISD side.
Other questions? Email us at library@risd.edu.
Your library account enables off-campus access to library databases as well as tools for managing your checked-out items. The VPN provided by IT Services also enables library database access - we recommend it to anyone who uses them frequently!
Get started: Visit the library homepage and click "My Account" in the top right corner. Follow the instructions on the screen.
Your Library Account login is your RISD email login.
Still having issues? Reach out to us: researchhelp@risd.edu