I can't believe I've been a member here for years & have yet to write a review! Yes, you heard…read moreright.. a member! This is a library that requires an annual membership to take out books from their vast collection, but the building is open to the public for browsing. In addition to many, many works of literature, the Redwood also houses an impressive collection of Newport maps and ephemera that a visiting history buff would love to see. They also offer community programming, such as classical and jazz concerts, a Shakespearean reading group, and even a Trivia Night for adults, complete with pizza and beer as part of a modest admission fee. Don't let the "members only" policy deter you from visiting! Tourists will definitely want to add this to their list, and I've known many a Newport local who's never stepped inside the Redwood, but really should. It's a truly gorgeous spot to have a peaceful respite from the hustle and bustle of the City by the Sea, and a wonderfully historic hidden gem.

This old colonial library is a beautiful piece of history here! There are so many colonial…read morepaintings hanging in the walls there, plus four from Gilbert Stewart who painted George Washington! Very interesting and very peaceful in there. It's a true work of art that goes back to the the 1740's! If you get a chance, VISIT! It is so worth it!

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.

Had the opportunity to spend some time in the library while touring the Salve Regina campus. This…read moreplace is simply breathtaking! The campus is primarily old mansion and then in the middle of it is the modern religious structure. Really large tinted windows make the inside fee open, but there's no harsh glare or heat while you're sitting and reading. They had an extensive selection of large scale children's books, the kind you would want if you were hosting circle time to 20 kids that need to be able to clearly see the illustrations. Also got to see the scarf (sash? Not sure of the correct word) that the Dali Lama gifted to the school when he gave a speech here. How cool is that? This space alone almost convinced me to attend this university. Now if I could just afford the tuition...

I am proudly a public library nerd... for decades! And I love both of my local libraries:…read moreProvidence Public Library & Warwick Public Library - Apponaug branch. PPL has an old Dewey Decimal Classification storage cabinet which they use for seed distribution in the spring. I'm so excited to try growing tomatillos! #LibrariesForTheWin

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.

My boyfriend and I are on a quest to visit every library in Rhode Island, and even after years and…read moreyears of living in the surrounding area and performing with a theatre company in town, I have actually never been to the Jamestown Philomenian Library up until yesterday! And what a mistake it was to stay away for so long! This library is smaller than some of the other ones we have visited around the state, but does not lack in charm or comfort at all. Step inside, and you'll find an ample selection of literature, lots of DVDs, and tons of community meeting space, from private conference rooms to a larger room that's used for everything from guest speakers to movie screenings (they're free! We'll be back for one soon!) There are also lots of cozy chairs to sit in and read, which is a perfect refuge for a cold island night. I could have stayed here all day! Pro tip! If you have the Ocean State Library Card, you can take out books from any of the libraries in the network, not just the one you got the card from. I learned this way too late after getting mine, and I'm glad the kind librarian here set the record straight! I ended up leaving with a stack of novels, and the greatest foodie movie of all time, Chef, on DVD. Hey, I'm a Yelper at heart, what can I say?

What exactly is a…read more Philomenian? The library on the island of Jamestown is officially called the Jamestown Philomenian Library. Everyone knows what a library is but what the hell is a Philomenian? Don't bother looking it up in a dictionary because you won't find it. That's because the word doesn't mean anything. Philomenian is a word that doesn't really exist. It seems in times past people in eccentric places like islands use to enjoy making up words to describe their organizations to distinguish themselves from other equally bizarre organizations. They wanted to sound unique and you can't get any more unique than making up your own words. In the early 1800's a group of fellows on Jamestown wanted to start a debating club. So I suppose they had a debate and decided to called themselves the Jamestown Philomenian Debating Society. A few decades later they decided the island needed a library so they each donated one dollar and started what was called the Jamestown Philomenian Library. The fact that philomenian wasn't a word didn't seem to bother anyone. At first the library was just some books kept in people's houses. Very casual and unorganized. Finally in 1971 a building was built to house the books and in 1993 it was enlarged and modernized but still kept the name Jamestown Philomenian Library. Once again no one seem to mind the library has a word in it's name that doesn't really exist. The library today is actually quite large and modern considering the small amount of people it serves. However it never lost it's friendly, idiosyncratic and eccentric island charm. It not only serves as storage for tomes but also contains the Sydney Wright Museum with some cool artifacts and several meeting rooms that have various art exhibitions, story times for kids and some very cool concerts with local talent. A friendly place not just for books, but it also serves the purpose for interacting and socializing with neighbors. Certainly not the largest or technologically advance library in the state but then that's part of the charm. The fact that the library has a word in it's name that doesn't really exist suits it quite well.

Came here with little to no expectations but it ended up being one of my favorite spots in the…read morearea. $5 suggested donation /person admission Very quiet but cozy library. Feels like an amazing place to study and take a second to read. Highly recommend a visit for anyone coming out of state. Definitely would enjoy coming back for a whole day.

What a cool gem in Providence! If you are not a member and just want to look around you can pay the…read moresuggested donation of $5/person. There is a QR code to scan for a self guided tour. Filled with history, nooks and crannies to read and study in, and so many books. Edgar Allan Poe was once a visitor with his love interest at the time. Worth a stop if you are on the East side of Providence.

I have lived in this town close to 46 years. The library has long been an excellent resource and a…read morepleasant place to go to for programs and reading materials, plus access to computers and print outs before I had my own printer!

A great library to stop and get some work done. Plenty of tables spread around the space, both on…read morethe upper and lower floors. There are also more cozy chair options if you are here to read. I love the view over the water. My only complaint is it took me a little while to find a table that had access to a power outlet - go to the lower level, take a left, and go all the way to the end! Also! They have a plant exchange!!!! Such a lovely idea. Bring a plant cutting to leave and take a new friend home :)

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.