Public Libraries in Portsmouth, Rhode Island

1 public library in Portsmouth, Rhode Island — real hours, addresses, phone numbers and free digital resources.

Portsmouth Free Public Library, Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Photo: Portsmouth Free Public Library, Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Source: Thirty-first Annual Report of the State Board of Education of Rhode Island, January 1901 (Providence, RI: E. L. Freeman & Sons, 1901). Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.

The Portsmouth Free Public Library is an independent association library that participates in Ocean State Libraries, Rhode Island's statewide consortium providing a shared catalog and resource sharing among member libraries.

Portsmouth Free Public Library →

📍 2658 East Main Road, Portsmouth RI 02871📞 (401) 683-9457🔗 Official website📄 Full branch details

Opening hours

Monday 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Sunday Closed

The library grew out of the Thursday Evening Club, which began through St. Paul's Church. A charter was granted by Rhode Island Secretary of State Charles P. Bennett on March 26, 1897 to form a library 'for the distribution of books and other literary purposes.' It has never been a function of town government; it originated and still operates under the Portsmouth Free Public Library Association, and celebrated its 125th anniversary in March 2022.

Services: Home to the Portsmouth History Center and historical collections, including selected items displayed from the Portsmouth Historical Society. As a member of the Ocean State Libraries (OSL) statewide network, cardholders access the shared OSL catalog and the Ocean State eZone for ebooks, digital audiobooks, and magazines.

Free Digital Resources

Anyone with a local library card can use Ocean State Libraries / AskRI.org for free: Rhode Island's statewide library resources. Ocean State Libraries (OSL) links member libraries through a shared catalog and the Ocean State eZone for ebooks, digital audiobooks, and magazines. AskRI.org, the Statewide Reference Resource Center run through the RI Office of Library and Information Services, offers all Rhode Islanders free access to EBSCOhost article databases, Flipster digital magazines, LearningExpress Library, and online language courses.

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See also: How to get a library card · Free online resources by state

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Portsmouth Free Public Library located?
It is located at 2658 East Main Road, Portsmouth, Rhode Island 02871. The phone number is (401) 683-9457.
What are the Portsmouth Free Public Library's hours?
The library is open Monday and Tuesday from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Wednesday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. It is closed on Sunday.
When was the Portsmouth Free Public Library founded?
The library traces its charter to March 26, 1897, growing out of the Thursday Evening Club. It has always operated under the independent Portsmouth Free Public Library Association rather than town government, and marked its 125th anniversary in 2022.
What free digital resources can Portsmouth residents access?
As part of Ocean State Libraries, cardholders can borrow ebooks, digital audiobooks, and magazines through the Ocean State eZone. Rhode Islanders can also use AskRI.org for free access to EBSCOhost article databases, Flipster magazines, LearningExpress Library, and online language courses.


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