Providence Public Library
🏢 Ocean State Libraries · Providence, Rhode Island
Providence Public Library
Founded in 1875 and open to the public since 1878, Providence Public Library anchors downtown Providence at 150 Empire Street. It holds over 14,000 digitized primary sources in ProvLibDigital, a 7,500-volume Updike Collection on printing history, and one of the most significant Civil War archives in New England — and stays open until 7 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 8:30am–7pm |
| Tuesday | 8:30am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 8:30am–7pm |
| Thursday | 1pm–5pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 8:30am–4pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 150 Empire Street, Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 455-8000
Website: provlib.org
Plus Code: 87HCRHCM+Q5 (Providence, RI)
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Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Providence Public Library
Providence Public Library was born in June 1871, when representatives of four Providence civic societies — The Franklin Society, the Rhode Island Society for the Encouragement of Domestic Industry, The Franklin Lyceum, and the Association of Mechanics and Manufacturers — met to establish 'a Free Public Library, Art Gallery, and a Museum of Natural History.' It first opened in February 1878 on the second floor of Butler Exchange, moved to Snow Street in 1880, and in 1900 moved into the Renaissance-style building (funded largely by a $268,500 gift from John Nicholas Brown I) that still stands today on Washington Street. The Empire Street addition, completed in 2020 after a $25 million renovation, is the library's current public entrance. Among PPL's research treasures: the Updike Collection (7,500+ volumes tracing printing history, with type specimens to the 16th century), the Caleb C. Harris Civil War Collection (10,000+ items including rare translations of Uncle Tom's Cabin), and over 800 ship's log books in its maritime holdings. PPL was designated Rhode Island's Statewide Reference Resource Center in 1989 and received the National Award for Museum and Library Services in 2001. It belongs to Ocean State Libraries, making one PPL card usable at consortia branches across Rhode Island.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1875 — one of the oldest public libraries in New England, open to the public since February 1878
- Renaissance-style main building (1900) funded by a $268,500 gift from John Nicholas Brown I; Empire Street wing renovated 2020
- Updike Collection: 7,500+ volumes on printing history, including type specimen books dating to the 16th century
- Caleb C. Harris Civil War Collection: over 10,000 items including rare international translations of Uncle Tom's Cabin
- National Award for Museum and Library Services (2001); Rhode Island Statewide Reference Resource Center since 1989
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
PPL cardholders can access Rhode Island's statewide databases and PPL's own digital collections at no charge:
📚 Services
- Updike Collection for typography and printing-history research
- Caleb C. Harris Civil War Collection and maritime log books
- Providence LGBTQ+ History Archive and community archives (AS220, RI Covid-19)
- Public computers, printing, scanning, and free Wi-Fi
- Chace Children's Discovery Library (opened 2012)
- Interlibrary loan through Ocean State Libraries consortium
- Reference and reader's advisory assistance
- Historic building tours
🎸 Programs
- Book clubs and play discussion groups
- Author talks and cultural exhibitions
- Workshops for adults and teens
- Children's storytimes and summer reading
- Creative Fellowship and Artists at PPL online gallery
- Educational and workforce development programming
📍 Nearby Libraries in Providence County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Providence · Browse all Rhode Island libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When was Providence Public Library founded, and how did it start?
PPL was founded in June 1875 when four Providence civic societies — The Franklin Society, the Rhode Island Society for the Encouragement of Domestic Industry, The Franklin Lyceum, and the Association of Mechanics and Manufacturers — met to establish a free public library. It first opened to the public in February 1878 at Butler Exchange in what is now Kennedy Plaza. That makes 2025 its 150th anniversary year.
What is the Updike Collection, and why is it significant?
The Updike Collection is PPL's world-renowned holdings on printing history, comprising more than 7,500 volumes including type specimen books dating back to the 16th century. Named for the influential American typographer and type historian Daniel Berkeley Updike, it draws designers and scholars from around the world. PPL even awards an annual Updike Prize for Student Type Design in its honor.
Which days does Providence Public Library stay open late?
The library stays open until 7 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday. Tuesday, Thursday and most other open hours close at 5 p.m. (Thursday opens at 1 p.m.). Friday and Saturday are 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m., respectively. The library is closed on Sundays.
What digital resources can I access free with a PPL card?
A Providence Public Library card unlocks AskRI.org (Rhode Island's statewide portal with Tutor.com, Mango Languages, Udemy, EBSCOhost, and the Providence Journal archive back to 1829), the Rhode Island OverDrive (Libby) collection for eBooks and audiobooks, hoopla for streaming media, and PPL's own ProvLibDigital archive of 14,000+ digitized primary sources.
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.