Life in Residence

researchers work on their computers at a table in a library

Fiering House

Fiering House, a three-story Victorian house built in 1869 and beautifully renovated in 2007, serves as an intellectual and social center for JCB fellows in residence. The Library dedicated the house to Norman Fiering, Director and Librarian of the John Carter Brown Library from 1983 to 2006 in honor of his instrumental role in making the scholars' residence a reality. Fiering House is located at 79 Charlesfield Street, less than four blocks from the Library.

Fiering House has a large living room, library, dining room, and full kitchen on the ground floor. Eleven bedrooms with varying floor plans are available for fellows associated with the JCB. Six bedrooms have a  private bathroom, four bedrooms have a shared bathroom, and there is a handicapped-accessible unit on the ground floor. Each room is equipped with queen-sized bed (with the exception of the handicapped room on the first floor, which has a twin bed), desk, lamps, bed linens, and towels. 

Monthly room rates vary slightly: private rooms, $1050; semi-private rooms, $950; handicapped-accessible room, $650.  

The Fiering House rules are as follows:

  • All Fiering House rooms are for single occupancy only.
  • Smoking is prohibited in Fiering House. 
  • Please consume and store food in the common areas on the first floor.
  • Pets are not allowed.
  • Visitors are permitted in scholar rooms within reason, but we expect that residents will not have long-term guests. For safety concerns, residents expecting guests for more than two nights should notify JCB staff.
  • You must be respectful and courteous of other occupants at all times. 
  • Quiet hours begin at 11:00 pm. 

 

Fellows who find other accommodations should live within 30 miles of the Library.

 

Resources

JCB fellows receive a Brown ID that provides access to Brown's general collections at the Rockefeller Library and to e-resources. 

Fellows' personal mail should be delivered to The John Carter Brown Library, Box 1894, 94 George Street, Providence, 02912. 

Parking and transportation

Daytime on-street parking is often free, but time limits are rigorously enforced and the city of Providence prohibits on-street parking after midnight. Fellows should contact Brown's Transportation and Parking Services Office (transportation@brown.edu) for parking availability and rates. Rhode Island has a transit system (RIPTA) that covers the entire state. Schedules and fares are listed on the RIPTA website. Unfortunately, your Brown ID does not give you a free pass on the bus. However, RIPTA offers special monthly and weekly rates.