About Us

The Brown Bookstore is independently run, meaning all profits benefit the University and its students. Staff are well versed and trained in each department: apparel and gifts, dorm and school supplies, technology, and course materials. Working with the University, we strive to provide the best experience for all on campus.

The Brown Bookstore is located at 244 Thayer St, right in the center of College Hill. The Bookstore occupies the lower three floors of the Brown Office Building (164 Angell St), and entrances to the Bookstore are located on Thayer St as well as Angell St (across from the Brown Career Development Center).

In addition to street parking on Thayer and the surrounding streets, RIPTA buses have routes that stop near the Bookstore as well, and students, staff, and faculty can utilize the Brown University Shuttle to move between the Alpert Medical School and South Street Landing to College Hill.

We are open Monday through Friday, 9:00AM to 6:00PM.

On Saturday, we're open 10:00AM to 6:00PM, and Sundays from 10:00AM to 4:00PM.

Special hours and holiday closings are listed on our Locations & Hours page.

Everyone thinks it's brown, but it's actually blue.

Sorry, we do not ship internationally.

Current students, staff, and faculty already have accounts automatically set up with our website, simply click on the "Sign In With Your Brown Username" button on the Login page to sign in and start buying.

Parents, alumni, prospective students, and Brown fans should create an account with our website for easier shopping, order tracking, and resolving potential customer service issues. You can also opt-in to our newsletter to find out about new items, events, and promotions.

Yes you can! Our new website will still use our old gift card numbers, simply enter the last 9 digits of the card when you check out.

Orders shipped to Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico will have an additional $2.00 shipping and handling charge. Some exceptions may apply based on the items in your order, please see our Shipping page for more info.

Items can be ordered from our website and picked up in the store during our regular hours, with the exceptions of digital textbooks/course materials and Gift Cards.

Orders are processed Monday through Friday, typically within 48 hours of when you place your order. Friday afternoon and weekend orders will not ship out until the next business day.

We use FedEx Ground and USPS for shipping, so depending on where you're located, you should receive your order within 3-5 business days of placing the order.

Once your order has shipped, you will receive an email with the tracking number.

It's completely up to you! Every computer we offer on our website and in-store are models we recommend for students to help them make it through their time at Brown, and sometimes even beyond. We offer both PC and Mac, but there's no rule on what you should get. We typically recommend getting whatever you're most comfortable with.

Check with the particular departments for specifics, but it's generally recommended to get at least 16GB of RAM/memory no matter what. Students considering Engineering or Computer Science are highly recommended to purchase a PC, as some programs will not work natively on a Mac.

Purchasing from the Technology Center is the best way to get the most value for students. We offer manufacturer warranties on all machines, academic pricing, demonstration units of all models in the store, and a full service and repair center in the event your computer stops working.

Short answer: no.

While the iPad has come a long way since it was first introduced, it does not have the full capabilities required for most students to complete their coursework. However, most students do choose to purchase an iPad and Apple Pencil for note taking in their classes, as well as more convenient access to any digital course materials. All iPad, Apple Pencil, and Apple keyboard cases are academically priced at the Brown Bookstore.

If there's a particular make/model computer you're looking for that isn't on our website or in-store, reach out to us at bookstore_techcenter@brown.edu or come in and we can see what we can do for you.

Students also have the option of using their Brown Charge/Student Account to purchase a computer, or can contact the Financial Aid office for assistance.

The Brown Bookstore Technology Center is an Apple Authorized Campus Store and Service Provider. We honor AppleCare warranties and can repair all Mac computers and iPads (we do not offer service or repair on iPhones).

We also offer service and support for all PC models, and can assist in getting repairs for any in-warranty laptop we may not carry.

The technician is available 5 days a week from 9:00AM to 5:00PM (no appointment necessary), but customers can drop off their computer at any time and the technician will begin work on the next business day.

Not necessarily. Some books may be listed as optional or recommended, and may not be needed. Check with your professor or another student who has taken the class for an idea of what you may need.

Many textbooks are only kept in the store until the middle of the current semester. While you can buy your books as you need them, we cannot guarantee we will have any particular book at the end of the semester.

Many students will also order their textbooks for all their classes during shopping period, and we cannot guarantee enough copies for all students that end up enrolling in a class in addition to shopping it. For this reason, we strongly recommend getting all your required course materials early in the semester.

During the shopping period (the first two weeks of class), course materials can be returned for a full refund (with the original receipt) up until the last day of shopping period. Any course materials purchased after shopping period must be returned within 2 business days of purchase for a full refund.

Course materials must be in their original purchased condition, and textbook packages must be returned with all components and unused. Access codes and other online materials must be unopened/inactivated and returned by the end of the shopping period.

The Inclusive Access program brings digital course materials to students at affordable prices for all students in a timely manner, ensuring that no student needs to struggle to purchase their course materials and succeed in their academic pursuits. Students enrolled in an Inclusive Access course receive all their digital course materials automatically by the first day of classes. They then receive a bursar account charge for the low price negotiated by Brown University with the publishers.

Students enrolled in an Inclusive Access course can access their course materials through Canvas. No separate purchases are necessary from the Bookstore or the publisher for these materials.