John Hay Library — Local services in Providence

I loved exploring!!! It was smaller than I expected, but maybe I don’t know how to navigate it. I did ask for a map or a guide or something, but I was told there were three floors I could explore and that was it.

I saw a study room on the first floor. I honestly didn’t see many books. The floors lead to a bunch of closed rooms (many hallways had signs warning that an alarm would sound if you went there, so you were mostly just walking down the main corridors).

There was beautiful artwork and some creative exhibits.

One section was gated off. I asked if I could go there and was told to just be careful for wet paint. 🎨. I was stopped by one person who was annoyed I had crossed the sectioning. I explained that the man at the front desk said I could, and she said okay. Not a minute later someone else came and told me to leave the section. I explained again and was told the person at the front desk did not have the authority to tell me I could go there. So I left that section. That was on the first floor.

When I ascended to the second floor, it was a bunch of closed rooms and some artwork so I enjoyed the artwork and then I went to the third floor.

On the third floor, one of the rooms was open, so I assumed I could go in it. I had a lot of artifacts from Napoleon, including a plaster face mask of him when he died. I think it’s one of the copies that was made not the original, but who knows.

There was someone in another room beyond that one with a little group of people who were getting a tour from her. When she left that room, she closed the door and then she told me I had to leave the room that I was in.

I just felt like people were really rude. Everyone kept telling me I was in the wrong spot.

I love libraries because they are places that are accessible to everyone. I think there should be better customer service at this one. People were pretty rude.

I think my favorite part was the original manuscript of George Orwell’s 1984 on the wall. I would love to see the actual one! I also appreciated the artwork demonstrating the stories of Venezuelan refugees. This is important...

It's a Private Library for Brown University. I was here to do some work in the Penthouse for my Employer NY Flooring, Seamless Epoxy Flooring Systems. So I am unable to provide any Further info other than it is not a...

The John Hay Library, open to the public, is a beautiful library with fantastic staff workers, incredible study spaces, and overall a great collection of books, manuscripts, and tons of other...