Rogers Free Library
🏢 Ocean State Libraries Member · Bristol, Rhode Island
Rogers Free Library
Founded in 1877 by Maria DeWolf Rogers as a memorial to her husband Robert — once Bristol's wealthiest citizen — Rogers Free Library has anchored Hope Street for nearly 150 years, rebuilt after a devastating 1957 fire and expanded to 28,000 square feet in 2008, with a Special Collections Room tracing Bristol history back to the 1850s.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 525 Hope Street, Bristol, RI 02809
Phone: (401) 253-6948
Website: rogersfreelibrary.org
Plus Code: 87HCMPCF+G5 (Bristol, RI)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Rogers Free Library
Rogers Free Library owes its existence to Maria DeWolf Rogers, who in 1877 donated 4,000 volumes from her late husband Robert's personal collection — along with 1,200 newly purchased books — to establish a free public library in his memory. Robert Rogers (1792–1870) was a prosperous merchant, president of the Eagle Bank of Bristol, and by his death the wealthiest man in town. The original brownstone building at 525 Hope Street was designed by Stephen C. Earle of Worcester, Massachusetts — one of MIT's first architecture graduates — in a Victorian Gothic spirit influenced by H. H. Richardson; its first floor was shared with banking rooms to generate revenue for the institution. On July 27, 1957, faulty electrical wiring gutted the interior, leaving only the outer walls; after three years of community rebuilding, the library reopened. A major state-funded expansion opened in fall 2008, bringing the facility to 28,000 square feet of modern library space. As a member of Ocean State Libraries (OSL), one card borrows from 50+ Rhode Island member libraries.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1877 by Maria DeWolf Rogers in memory of her husband Robert — Eagle Bank president and Bristol's wealthiest citizen at his death
- Designed by Stephen C. Earle (MIT architecture, 1860s) in Victorian Gothic style; rebuilt after the fire of July 27, 1957 and expanded to 28,000 sq ft in 2008
- Special Collections Room (3rd floor) holds Bristol Phoenix newspaper on microfilm from the 1850s, the Richard V. Simpson Fourth of July Files, and local history photographs
- Among the earliest US libraries to allow open patron access to book stacks — a tradition of civic openness that traces back to the library's founding ideals
- Member of Ocean State Libraries (OSL): one card borrows from 50+ Rhode Island member libraries, plus free access to AskRI databases and the Ocean State eZone
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Bristol cardholders access digital resources through Ocean State Libraries at no charge:
📚 Services
- Physical book, DVD & magazine lending
- Interlibrary loan via Ocean State Libraries network
- Museum passes (free admission to regional museums)
- Mobile Wi-Fi hotspot lending
- Device lending
- Study room reservations
- Meeting room rentals
- Genealogy research tools (Ancestry Library Edition, local history files)
- High-resolution digital scanner in Special Collections
- Tax form assistance and career services
- Notary public services
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and summer reading program
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (early childhood literacy)
- Teen advisory board, D&D gaming, Minecraft & eSports programs
- Adult book club and Wednesday Night Book Club
- Bristol BookFest — community literary festival
- Chess Club
- Craft Night and Art at RFL rotating exhibitions
- Portuguese language classes for adults
- Monthly Newcomers Club
- Job fair hosting and career resources
📍 Nearby Libraries in Bristol County & Aquidneck Island
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Bristol · Browse all Rhode Island libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Rogers Free Library named after, and why was the library founded?
The library is named in memory of Robert Rogers (1792–1870), a Bristol merchant and president of the Eagle Bank who was the wealthiest citizen of Bristol at his death. His widow, Maria DeWolf Rogers, founded the library in 1877 and donated 4,000 volumes from his personal book collection — plus 1,200 she purchased — to start it. She wanted his legacy to enrich the community through free access to knowledge.
What happened to the original 1877 library building?
On the night of July 27, 1957, a fire caused by faulty electrical wiring gutted the original brownstone interior designed by architect Stephen C. Earle, leaving only the outer walls standing. The community spent three years rebuilding, reopening the library as a two-story structure. A major state-funded renovation and expansion then opened in fall 2008, bringing the building to its current 28,000-square-foot size while preserving its roots in the original 525 Hope Street location.
Can I research Bristol and Rhode Island history at Rogers Free Library?
Yes. The Special Collections Room on the third floor holds books, prints, and photographs documenting Bristol and Rhode Island history — including the Richard V. Simpson Fourth of July Files (Bristol's historic Independence Day celebration has been held since 1785, the oldest continuous 4th of July parade in the United States), the Bristol Phoenix newspaper on microfilm from the 1850s through June 2015, local high school yearbooks, and a genealogy collection. Materials are non-circulating and must remain on site; visitors must sign in.
Is a Bristol library card free if I live outside Bristol?
Bristol residents receive a free OSL card from Rogers Free Library. Because the library is a member of Ocean State Libraries (OSL), a card from any OSL member library works at all 50+ participating Rhode Island libraries. Rhode Island residents can also access AskRI databases and Ocean State eZone digital materials at no charge regardless of which OSL library issued their card.
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