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.

I'm challenging myself to visit all public libraries in the state of Rhode Island this year. This…read morelibrary was the fifth one I visited. The first thing I noticed that made this library unique was the park in the backyard of the library. It's huge and beautiful, especially in the summer when the plants and trees bloom (I imagine), and there are statues and fountains. I walked around the park before heading inside to check out the library. There are so many nooks and crannies in this library, it's like everywhere you turn there's a cozy spot to do homework or read a good book. There was a book club in session while we were there. They also had a maritime museum, where they had artwork on sale and it was pretty cool. One other thing that caught my attention was these plants they had growing in little glass tubes in their plant library section. Downstairs by the entrance they also have a healthy variety of plants that look well taken care of. I really enjoyed my time here.

A grand old…read more library Westerly Public Library was opened way back in 1894 to commemorate the volunteers that fought in the civil war. It was built on land donated by Stephen Wilcox and originally held about 5,000 books. Actually a pretty large number for the time. Since then it has changed and grew and doubled in size with the additions in 1992. It now has 170,000 items including audio books, cd's and of course computers. However, even with all the modern additions and conveniences, it has never lost the cool, old feel and ambiance. The outside of the library is impressive. Like some grand old Victorian home or mansion. I have heard that when the library first opened it held a bowling alley and gymnasium. They are now long gone but it's easy to see how they could have fit because this library is huge, with all kinds of spaces, hallways and cool little study and meeting rooms. The library is a very efficient place to work and the librarians are helpful and friendly. However the real charm of the library is the building itself. Such a cool place just to walk around and look at the architecture and cool decor. Lots of places to sit by yourself and read of just look out a window. If you get tired of being inside you can stroll around the grounds or sit outside on a bench and admire the grand old building from the outside. There are lots of libraries in the world. Most are friendly and efficient places to work or get information. However few I have seen have the impressive grandeur and sense of history of the Westerly Public Library. It would be a very cool place even without the books and computers.

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.

This library is such a gem! To start off it's beautiful and I love how historic it is. Even the…read moregrounds are thoughtfully landscaped and the flowers look beautiful in the Summer. Both the children's room librarian and the checkout desk librarian were friendly. It was very easy to sign up for a card and I enjoyed hearing more about the library. The children's room is adorable and was chock full of awesome books. I appreciated the back to school book suggestion lists that they had for every age from baby to fifth grade! I checked out quite a few from the list. Parking is easy out front and if you want to stay longer than 30 minutes there is more street parking just ahead of the library and the town parking lot a block away. I look forward to more library adventures.

This place is like a second home for me. When I first moved out here, I practically lived in this…read morelibrary for a year, studying for my certification exam. Although there's only one private room, the main floor, with its comfy chairs and rows of bookshelves, is quiet and inviting. You can sit down, truly enjoy the quiet, and immerse yourself in your reading while basking in the natural light streaming through the windows. It has a soothing atmosphere that can be a real snoozer, and that's a compliment. This particular location also offers a good selection of foreign movies, which I really appreciate. The first floor below houses the computers and the children's section, complete with a friendly reference librarian. While the hours are somewhat limited compared to larger libraries, and parking can be a challenge, it's conveniently located right behind Main Street, East Greenwich. After your visit, you can head straight for a stroll. There's even a bike rack close to the entrance. The patrons are mostly older individuals who look like genuine book lovers, along with young parents and children who likely come for the activities and the dedicated children's area. Like many buildings and homes in East Greenwich, this library boasts a beautiful, historic architecture.

People from Scituate, Massachusetts settled in Scituate, Rhode Island in 1710. By 1731, it became…read morean official town. In 1915, the Scituate Reservoir was created for water supply for the people of Rhode Island. Parts of the town (38%) were demolished and burned for this to happen; many people had to move. There are about 10,000 residents currently. When driving around, the area is rural but close to everything. School system is also great. The neighborhood is safe and desirable. Every October, they host the Scituate Art Festival; tons of vendors and a popular tradition for the locals. There are some small shops, cafes, and stores in town, but not much. You would have to go to neighboring towns for leisure and shopping. There are farms and parks; just a rural small town. However, a great place to raise a family.

We took a self-guided tour of this farm on a beautiful day recently. When we arrived we were…read moregreeted by the farm's border collies. The dogs are friendly and very playful. I got the impression that we could throw sticks all day and they wouldn't tire of the game. They accompanied us for most of our walk around the property. In the barn we met a very friendly guide who told me a little about the farm and game me a map along with a detailed description of what to look for. The farm is part of Historic New England along with a couple other properties in Rhode Island and many in Massachusetts. The admission is $4 for adults, $2 for kids and $3 for seniors. We headed out for a walk through the pastures. We saw the cows and sheep that live on the farm, a cool windmill they use to water the livestock and the most amazing views of the bay and the Jamestown bridge. When we got to the rocky beach the dogs were waiting for us to throw rocks into the water. We collected shells and sea glass before we followed the dogs back to the barnyard. There is a shop with grass-fed lamb and beef as well as restrooms which we didn't use so I can't comment on the cleanliness. The farm is beautiful and the views alone are worth the price of admission.

Really awesome walking trails. It reminds me of the English or Irish country side. If your out in…read morethe Newport area check this little farm out! You might even catch the sheep sheering season!

Of course I'm a fan. It's small (one room,) and in the bottom of the Towers at the Pier in…read moreNarragansett. Come here to find some pamphlets on local attractions and businesses. I do have to say when we went in today to grab a pamphlet on the Narragansett Towers there was some activity that seemed to be focused around some kind of contest winnings or auction results; I didn't ask. Eventually a woman greeted the people that followed us through the door with a big smile and a "Can I help you with anything?" I knew what I wanted and busied myself with locating the said pamphlet. I also looked around a little more to see what other businesses they were promoting here. I also was curious about where my friend and I should eat. I have my usual haunts but I was looking for something maybe a little more interesting. Eventually I settled for the Coffee and Bagel Connection because they are very affordable and they were along the way North to Gilbert Stuart's Birthplace. My friend grabbed a booklet about fishing in Narragansett that he said his father would find interesting (he lives in France,) and an activity book of events around South County. It's a good place to stop for a little info before exploring Narragansett, South Kingstown and Charlestown.

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.