Davisville Free Library
🏢 Ocean State Libraries Member · North Kingstown, Rhode Island
Davisville Free Library
Born from an 80-resident reading circle in 1916 and rebuilt by volunteers in 1999, Davisville Free Library is the only public building in the Davisville village — a community-owned institution at 481 Davisville Road that has anchored this historic Washington County mill community for over a century.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9:30am–5pm |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 1pm–6pm |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | 9:30am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–3pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 481 Davisville Road, North Kingstown, RI 02852
Phone: (401) 884-5524
Website: davisvillefreelibrary.org
Plus Code: 87HCJG8F+M2 (North Kingstown, RI)
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📖 About Davisville Free Library
Davisville Free Library traces its roots to January 1916, when more than 80 residents gathered to open a reading room in Pine Grove Hall championed by local schoolteacher Isabelle Gillespie. The Davisville Free Library Association was formally incorporated in March 1918. In 1921 the Dyer family donated land on Davisville Road, and major gifts from Hettie and Mary Davis — in memory of their father James M. Davis, a descendant of Davisville's founding settler Joshua Davis (who arrived in 1694) — funded a purpose-built building that opened in December 1924. The library closed in 1996 due to aging infrastructure, but community volunteers raised more than $50,000 to build an addition, replace windows and HVAC, and refinish the original oak floors; it reopened in March 1999. Today the collection of roughly 16,000 books, 1,100+ DVDs, and 300+ audiobooks circulates approximately 15,000 items per year, and the building — the only public space in the Davisville village — continues to serve as a gathering hub for scouts, arts groups, and neighbors. As a member of Ocean State Libraries (OSL), one card works at 50+ public libraries across Rhode Island.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Oldest: reading room opened January 1916 in Pine Grove Hall; purpose-built library on Davisville Road opened December 1924, funded by the Davis family (descendants of Davisville's 1694 founding settler)
- Community comeback: closed 1996 due to aging infrastructure; community volunteers raised $50,000+ and reopened March 1999 with a new addition, modern HVAC, and the original oak floors refinished
- The only public building in the Davisville village — doubles as a community meeting space for scouts, arts councils, and neighborhood groups
- Genealogy collection of local family papers for researching the Davis, Dyer, and other founding families of this historic mill village
- Member of Ocean State Libraries (OSL): one card borrows from 50+ public libraries across Rhode Island
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Davisville cardholders access digital resources through the Ocean State Libraries consortium at no charge:
📚 Services
- Free OSL library card (accepted at 50+ Rhode Island member libraries)
- Interlibrary loan through Ocean State Libraries consortium
- Genealogy collection of local family papers (Davis, Dyer, and other Davisville founding families)
- Physical book, DVD, and audiobook lending (~16,000-item collection)
- Public computers and Wi-Fi
- Community meeting room for local groups
- Quiet study space
🎸 Programs
- Summer Reading Program (annual, all ages — kick-off ice cream social, craft programs throughout summer)
- Story hour for children
- Chess club
- LEGO building programs
- Movie nights
- Tech nights
- Trivia night fundraisers
- Holiday craft programs
📍 Nearby Libraries in Washington County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in North Kingstown · Browse all Rhode Island libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Davisville Free Library part of the Town of North Kingstown's library system?
No — the Davisville Free Library is an independent institution governed by the Davisville Free Library Association (incorporated March 1918), not a town department. It receives only a partial appropriation from North Kingstown and relies on grants and donations for much of its budget. It is, however, a full member of the statewide Ocean State Libraries (OSL) consortium, so your OSL card works at all 50+ member libraries across Rhode Island — including the North Kingstown Free Library about 3.7 miles away.
What is the historical connection between this library and the Davis family?
The Davisville village itself takes its name from Joshua Davis, who settled here in 1694. The 1924 library building was largely funded by Hettie and Mary Davis in memory of their father, James M. Davis, and by Jeffrey Davis — direct descendants of the village's founding family. The Dyer family donated the land parcel on Davisville Road in 1921. The library's genealogy collection of local family papers is particularly valuable for researching these and other founding families of this historic Washington County mill community.
The library closed for several years. When did it reopen, and is the 1924 building still standing?
The 1924 building closed in 1996 due to aging infrastructure. Community volunteers refused to let it disappear: they raised more than $50,000 to construct a new addition, replace windows, rewire the building, install a modern HVAC system, and refinish the original oak floors. The library reopened at an open house in March 1999. The core 1924 structure — and its characteristic oak floors — survive inside today at 481 Davisville Road.
Can I research Rhode Island genealogy from my Davisville library card?
Yes. The library maintains a local genealogy collection of family papers for Davisville-area research. Your OSL card also unlocks AskRI (askri.org), which includes EBSCO research databases for broader genealogy work, and the Rhode Island Historical Society holds the Davis Family Papers (Mss629) for deeper archival research. For census and vital-records research, access Ancestry Library Edition free at any OSL member library with in-library computers.
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