Old schools and…read moreold trees The city of Cranston has one main public library and five small branch libraries. This review is for the Oaklawn branch of the Cranston library system. Old schoolhouses tend to make great libraries and in fact a lot of the small, local libraries had their beginnings as tiny schools. This former old schoolhouse is really old and was built back in 1838. It remained a school until 1895 when a new and larger school was built and it was decided to use this as the permanent library. Other libraries were built in Cranston but this one remains as a very cool reminder of the past. The building has had several renovations and additions during the decades but it's schoolhouse roots are still evident. Great vaulted ceilings and rambling areas that are not necessarily logical shows that this not designed from the start as a library. You can still see where the old, original part separates from the newer additions and it's easy to imagine what the original school looks like. A giant, ancient tree guards the front and I suspect the tree was old before this building or perhaps even town was a thought. Yeah, this place has books. magazine, computers, wi-fi and all the other usual library stuff. Useful, convenient and very friendly and knowledgeable librarians make this a place that still has purpose. However it's the history, spooky old tree and cool old building that makes this library special.

Awesome!!!!! We are so fortunate to have a wonderful library system here in Cranston. We have…read morebeautiful libraries and they are so full of not only books but technology and videos and reference materials that are boundless. The people who work in these libraries are amazingly knowledgeable and kind and helpful. I have never gone in to a library and a not come out with what I was looking for in some fashion. They will go above and beyond to serve your needs and to help you either look for the information that you want or to try to find it in a different way or a different place for you. I am very grateful to all of those who work in the library system and to the city of Cranston for funding the libraries. They are such a vital part of our community.

Very pleasant small library. 1 floor library that has a computer section, sitting/studying area,…read moreand coping available. Stayed here for a while as I had my car worked on. The librarians are kind to the patrons. They disinfect the computers periodically. Coffee shop around the corner which is a great location. Great place to read/study in quiet.

Books flowers and…read moremusic This review is for the Auburn branch of the Cranston Public Library system. The very first Auburn library was built in 1888 and bounced around a bit until it ended up in it's present location. The library is a very pleasant and cozy place for a branch library and although it isn't particular large it has a nice selection of a variety of books, magazines, computers and reference sources. The library is especially known for it's large selection of music. I noticed a very nice variety of bluegrass music and jazz. Although the inside of the library is nice the outside of the building is really special. A very cool garden with colorful and bright flowers in full bloom. A library that manages to separate itself and develop a unique and pleasant personality.

This is my neighborhood library and we love it. It's on the smaller side, but I like that it isn't…read morealways busy. Any negative reviews about staff baffle me, they are so helpful, but it also looks like the negative reviews are based on the reviewers wanting to break the rules and being told that they can't...so no mystery there. Highly recommend this location and it's staff

My family loves the Lincoln Library! They are always offering fun events for patrons of all ages…read more The children's section librarians are very kind, especially the one who oversees the sensory playtime on Tuesdays. I have always had very positive experiences here, it's kind of shocking to see that people had different experiences.

Only open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10-5, this library is reminiscent of the old times, with…read moreonly 3 rooms, and 3 computers. However, the staff at this library are so welcoming and helpful, that it only adds to the small town appeal of this library. Right when you enter the library there is a bookcase of books for sale ($1 for paperbacks, $2 for hardcovers) and these are not obscure books, but recent ones. Within 2 minutes I found a book I've been looking for in used books stores and was ready to leave happy. I decided to further enter the library to use a computer and found that while most RI libraries have computer areas set up, this one has only 3 - one in the main room, 1 in the RI room, and 1 in the children's section. The staff quickly got me set up on one of them and I was off and running. I wouldn't make this my go to library because of the size and limited hours, but it was a treat to experience it for the day.

Being the nerd that I am, I came here on my birthday. Since last year, I've been challenging myself…read moreto visit all public libraries in the state of Rhode Island. This was the 10th one I visited. Since it was a Friday morning, there weren't many people there. However, when we first walked in, we overheard someone teaching little kids Spanish in a very animated way; it was very cool to see important programs like this in action. We were planning on spending some time here reading, so had my book with me. A friendly librarian stopped me to tell me how good the book I had was which reassured my decision to pick it up. We went down an aisle that led to the children's library. They had fun little puzzles and announcements on the wall. I noticed that in one section, the books had stickers on the spines to categorize by genre which was really cool. I also saw they had Viola Davis' memoir, so I snatched that quickly. In the distance, we saw a table covered with a huge coloring page and color pencils. We spent about 20 minutes coloring, which was very therapeutic and fun. When we got up, we noticed a shelf with a bunch of items to loan for a week including tools and equipment, health and fitness stuff, fun and games, and electronic and technology. To give an idea, some stuff I saw included: hopscotch set, leaf blower, therapy lamp, and power drill. They were organized by category which was very helpful. The staff here were very friendly and we were very impressed with this library. They also do have EV parking/ charging stations which is cool - it might be the first library I see with that feature.

It's weird to review a library right? I'm going to blame it on COVID, like I do everything…read morenowadays. Just kidding. BUT this library really has been a lifesaver during "these trying times". They have great COVID procedures if you must enter, but they also offer curbside services - and best of all, they make these amazing craft/learning kits for preschoolers all the way up to teens. Entertaining kids this past year has been such a challenge and the letter packets this library makes for preschoolers are so fun and creative. My kid loves them. And every single librarian we've met outside the library has been friendly - even the poor gentleman who came outside in snowy, 21 degree weather to bring me a letter packet. Thank you Middletown Library! Saving parents sanity, one craft kit at a time.

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.

This is my favorite library in the greater Providence area. The selection is great, and the…read morelibrary feels open, spacious, and clean. It is easy to find what you are looking for. Of particular interest to me is that the SciFi-Fantasy section is one of two book types arrayed around the circular computer section in the center of the library, making for very easy browsing. Either because the library isn't very busy or they are great at keeping up with their book orders they always have an extensive selection of new fiction (which you can only check out for 10 days). There is a lot of seating spread around the library, although plugs for laptops are few. This library has at least 20 computers so there is always space available if you didn't bring your own. One particularly nice feature is that even though it is only one floor, the teen's section is closed off and the kid's section is on the other side of the front desk/bathroom areas, so the library is quiet even when children are using it. Bonus: I've never run into anyone super smelly or shady at this library!

I am challenging myself to visit more of the libraries around the state. I had time to spare and I…read morewas in the area so I decided to stop by. There is a few parking spaces right in front of the building, a bigger lot at the rear of the building, and plenty of street parking so lots of options. I am not sure if the park is part of the library but there is a grassy area with a huge tree in the center and a play house in the far back for kids to play. I noticed the fish tank when I walked in, and later, their library of things (appliances, games, gadgets, etc. to borrow) caught my attention. There are a few good things in their collection, but it is a bit less impressive compared to other libraries. I noticed they had a plant corner which was really cool and were giving seeds away to encourage patrons to garden. The computer lab is in the center of the library, with tables to study along the perimeter of the library and books scattered throughout organized by genre. There is a rack with puzzles where you can freely take a box and give a box which I think is a good exchange program for those like myself who like to do puzzles but not store them. I am sure there were other cool things about this library but I did not do much more exploring. I think it was one floor only. There is a kids section and they do have clean bathrooms.

Being the nerd that I am, I came here on my birthday. Since last year, I've been challenging myself…read moreto visit all public libraries in the state of Rhode Island. This was the 9th one I visited. It took us a couple seconds to figure out the entrance to the parking lot and the main entrance to the building. Since it was a Friday morning, it was almost empty and quiet. When you first walk in, the checkout counter is right in front of you and there were about two librarians who greeted us with a smile. I was gravitated towards a table on bicycling - apparently there are efforts to make at least southern RI more accessible by bike which is nice. They did have free little bike lights, so I took one. To the right of the table, the painted glass windows caught my eye. It gives a nice touch to the study tables they have there. There is a stand that has puzzles, I think to do there, but also to take home (this is perfect for people like me who like doing puzzles but don't like owning them). There is only one floor, but they have made good use of it as the material is well organized by genres and age groups. This includes movies in CD form. We did not spend too much time here but before leaving, we used the bathrooms. They are handicapped accessible, single person at a time use, and very clean.

Love this library. There's an upper and lower level. The staff is friendly and welcoming. They have…read morea section for all ages (children). They have computers that are available for use and printers as well.