I still love this library- very well kept up and great resources overall…read more I took a really cool music industry class for free here- just a fantastic Downtown resource! Again- I just wish they were open later with extended hours. Clean bathrooms and nice drinking fountains to fill up your reusable water bottles... I will definitely be checking out more of their classes! *my go-to place to rent the newest movies and trendy books- they are the best!

Lately, I have been borrowing a few book from the main Library and the system is very easy to…read morenavigate. Basically you enter your library card number and you can create a list of titles that you are interested in. You can then place a hold on any of them if they are not on the shelf and they will let you know when your book is ready for pickup. Just go to the second floor and to the left of the information desk, there are self serve shelves with all the books ready to be picked up. I just looked for mine under my last name, check it out and I have three weeks to read it. Easy and free.

What a charming old library. While it is free to visit, there is a suggested donation of $5. When…read moreyou enter you'll sign in and get a visitor sticker. It seems like there are options to become a member so you can use the space to study and work. While exploring, there were quite a few people working in the space. There is a huge selection of books and I love how it's organized. I really enjoyed the basement section that held the history of the space and some of the very first books that survived the fire that burnt its predecessor. The staff is friendly and kind. There were restrooms downstairs. I loved visiting.

There's nothing really "to do" per se, but still a great way to spend some time. Weekdays are a pay…read morewhat you can model (they suggest $5). There were some old photos and some decor on display bye old card catalogs are cool. But the rare books are locked up. Maybe you can request admission but we didn't ask. Still fun to look at their collection - found some cookbooks we'd never heard of. The way they handle older copies with special bindings and boxes. Most libraries would take those out of the collection. Beautiful building. And helpful staff (we couldn't find the cookbooks).

Open for late night studying! Enjoy coming here for evening refuges working away on my laptop…read more There's also an East Asian library within this library, and during orientation week, a lot of freebies were handed out.

I tried going inside to study but apparently it's only open to Brown University students. Still on…read morethe hunt for a quiet study spot in Providence

Absolutely gorgeous architecture that makes me think of the Musee D' Orsay in Paris and the Grand…read moreCentral Station in New York. The interior design for study books and desks are very creative, as expected of a prestigious design school such as RISD. I also enjoyed the mini free exhibit they have of Snow White pop up fairy tale books.

I feel so blessed to be kissin' on someone who works for RISD and it kind enough to max out his…read morecard with me. I mean, I don't know what the limit is actually. I just know that each time I enter the building I hold my breath and touch those amazing ornate doors that are just background to the hallway where students eat cafeteria food. As one would guess, this library is amazingly curated. I am a huge Maurice Sendak fan and I found copies of works by him that I didn't know existed. Like the first translated version of a famous Czechoslovakian fairy tale that he illustrated. I always grab a comic too. They have two sections, one for typically sized comics and one for over sized comic books. Also, the student work they showcase is always interesting. As a bibliophile I feel genuinely lucky to have this library in my home state. And I'll totally marry someone who has tenure there so I can sneakily read their books till they die.

Really gorgeous library! Home to the copies/facsimiles of Lovecraft notes and manuscripts…read more I got to explore the exhibits here and work in the great hall. Since I was visiting during orientation week, I had to leave at closing at 5pm. I would love to spend late-night sessions here!

Beautiful, stately, comfortable and quiet place for Brown and RISD students to settle in and get…read moresome work done! I was allowed in during a parent weekend and was really impressed with the space, it definitely invites the studious. There are big glass windows letting in tons of natural light, as well as recessed lighting for later times in the day.

I Love and treasure my local libraries! Staff are very friendly and helpful!.. They will give you a…read moretour if you need to find your way around! Don't worry it is not that big! ;) I love the building from the XVII century...Make sure to checkout the marvelous horses at the top when you go in... And also the ceiling! :) HAPPY READING EVERYONE! :)

A book reading with music? I'm in. I found this library because they were hosting a Kristen Hersh…read morereading and performance in their basement, and I ended up being pleasantly surprised by the whole building. The Knight Memorial Library definitely stands out in the neighborhood for it's sheer size. It was designed by Edward Tilton - the same man who designed Ellis Island - and is composed of lots of marble and stone. It is definitely grand, especially for a neighborhood library. However, when you walk into the building it has a welcoming vibe. The library itself looks comfortable for people of all ages. It feels airy but also warm. I didn't get to check it out all that much that night, but I'm happy to have been introduced and I'm looking forward to coming back for other readings or just to check out a book. Go libraries!

this has become my favorite library because of the people who work here. They do so much to offer…read morearts and theater and opportunities that we can't find any place else and it is all for free.. The library saved my life during Covid and it is still doing everything it can to help our neighborhood stay up and running, and keep the community humming.

The Smith Hill Library-Providence Community Library is one of the branch libraries of the…read moreProvidence public library system. It is a single-story brick building designed by Albert Harkness and built in 1932 by contractor Clifford K. Rathbone. Stylistically the building is a mixture of Colonial Revival and Moderne features. The Smith Hill branch began as a delivery station in 1907, and had grown to occupy leased space, with an annual circulation of more than 70,000, by 1929. Circulation rose rapidly after the building's completion, reaching 119,000 in just three years. The building continues to act as a significant local community resource for those people living within a few mile radius from the library. Not only you can read or borrow books, you can also take part of the many community activities that take place in the library. As a community magnet, it is used for many events that benefit the neighbors of Smith Hill The library was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

On September 23, I attended a Sublimation Tote Bag Workshop at 5:30 pm at South Providence Library…read more Canvas tote bags, pre-printed images on sublimation paper, scissors, and heat-resistant tape were laid out on the table. There were two options to design the bag: Option A: Make a collage-style tote using pre-printed images and Option B: Create a fully custom tote using your own images (from your phone, the internet, or personal photos). I took a look at the pre-printed images and they were great for my tote bag. Great job to Sarah for picking these images! There were a great variety. After I chose the pre-printed images and created my design on the canvas tote bag, Sarah showed me how to use the heat press machine. The heat press machine needed to warm up to 390 degrees. Sarah also checked the bag to make sure they're clean and didn't have any creases. I first pressed the background on the sublimation paper face down and then I used heat-resistant tape to hold in place the characters face down on top and pressed again. The tote came out great and it didn't take long at all. The Sublimation Tote Bag Workshop at South Providence Library was so much fun and I was able to create my own one-of-a-kind tote bag using the sublimation press. Sarah was a great instructor and very friendly. Only 4 people including myself were doing the workshop. I hope more people attend the workshops in the future. South Providence Library is located on Prairie Ave and it is a two way narrow street. When I arrived about 5:30pm, it was quite busy and I parked about a block away. There is street parking available.

A historic branch…read more Most branch libraries are pretty small and undistinguished, useful but certainly not very interesting or aesthetically appealing. But there are exceptions. The South Providence Branch Library is one of those exceptions. Designed and built by Howe and Rathbone in 1930, the library was actually placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1998. Not one of the grand and stunning libraries that are so common around New England, this library does have it's charms. Nice staircases and lighting and even a fireplace or two, it's obvious that this library isn't just something thrown up by the lowest bidder. Parking can be a be iffy and the building doesn't really stand out from the outside, but this library deserves more than just a casual glance to appreciate it's beauty.

I got rejected from Brown University in high school. It was one of my dream schools back then…read more Thankfully, life had other plans, and I'm forever grateful I ended up at my other dream school, UC Berkeley. But life has a funny way of circling back with plot twists. Over a decade later, I'm thrilled to be admitted to Brown University for my Master's! I joined the inaugural cohort of their Online Master's in Data Science: Policy, Governance & Society. I didn't think I'd get into such a small, competitive program, but I shot my shot. And I got in! I was very fortunate to be able to visit the Brown campus on my own dime for grad school orientation week. Brown clearly takes very good care of its community and students. I enjoyed attending multiple events, meeting fellow Brunonians, and exploring the gorgeous New England campus. Go Bears! Once a Cal Bear, always a Cal Bear. Now officially a Brown Bear too. Head-canoning Oski and Bruno being West Coast and East Coast brothers.

First of all, Brown University has an absolutely GORGEOUS campus. Long, kind of funny story short,…read moreI stumbled upon this campus. I was exploring the area, literally, walking around taking in the beautiful scenery on a surprisingly "summer-like" fall day. And as I approached AND walked on the campus, I kept saying to myself, this has got to be a college campus... this is somebody's school. Lol! And just like that - BAM! I walked by a sign that said Brown University. My mouth dropped and I smiled big... chuckling at myself. Everything was so peaceful and well-manicured (as expected from an Ivy League school). I blended in as I perused the campus, people watching the students go about their day. I love architecture and the buildings are beautiful. It was such a pleasant time!

My first visit to Riffraff was for a book signing last weekend, but it won't be my last. I truly…read morelove the concept of this well stocked bookstore that is also a coffee shop and...get this...A BAR! The space is divided in two parts: The bookstore area and the cafe/lounge space. This is the perfect place to host a book signing or an open mic and intimate in the best way....cozy, but not crowded. It was daytime when I went, so there were plenty of pastries on display and they all looked amazing. The coffee and bar spirit selection were excellent, but I opted for a mocktail and was not disappointed I can't wait to come back and definitely want to go for one of their summer film nights in the courtyard. The movie schedule looks top-tier.

Such a lovely book and cafe/bar! I came mid afternoon, and I enjoyed my time. Mocha was perfect!…read moreMaybe if it was the end of my day, I would've enjoyed a drink but I still had a session to complete and was still on the clock. The location was a tad intimidating for me as a typical shy girl, but park at the spot inside the business, and walk towards the inner section, passing a clinic and the Troop. Didn't have time to browse too much, but I noticed others were here to study and work too~ we all seemed to be on the save vibe or getting work down. WiFi is such a cool password made me chuckle. Will come again when I'm the area.