Providence Public Library

Providence Public Library of Providence, Rhode Island was founded in 1875.

The central library building at 225 Washington Street opened in 1900 and was constructed in a Renaissance style with private donations including a large donation from John Nicholas Brown I, and a large addition was built in 1954. The Library is different from most city libraries because it is governed by a board of trustees and funded privately but serves the public.The Providence Public Library was awarded the National Medal for Museum and Library Service in 2001, for outstanding service to their community.