Portuguese and Brazilian Books in the John Carter Brown Library, 1537 to 1839

Anthony Grafton, among others, has written about the phenomenon, and historians in general know it well, that as important as the books or documents sought (but not always found) in libraries and archives may be, so too is the experience itself of visiting such institutions: of making time to read and reflect, of contemplating the shelves and consulting catalogues, and of speaking with librarians and meeting other readers. Gradually, one no longer is a stranger but becomes a member of the club, an institution “groupie” well known and welcomed. The John Carter Brown Library (www.jcbl.org) is one of these special places, capable of providing experiences that go far beyond mere access to books, even if those books are almost always beautiful and rare.