2658 East Main Road | Portsmouth, RI | 02871 | (401) 683-9457 | Hours

What's Happening

It's time for our annual meeting! Tuesday 12/3 at 6 pm.
Pick your time: Tuesdays at 10:45 or 12:30 pm!
As the temperatures start to drop, it's a great way to connect with other fiber fans!
It's that time of year! Please note our special hours for the Holidays.

Book Clubs

The 3rd Tuesday Book Club will be meeting on Tuesday, December 17 at 4:30 and 6:30 PM!  In December we will be reading Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.  Copies are available to borrow at the Circulation Desk.

Our Mystery Meetup Book Club is getting together on December 3rd to celebrate our first year of mystery reading!  We will also talk about possible book choices for the upcoming calendar year.  If you'd like to join us or recommend a title, email us at info@portsmouthlibrary.org.

About Us

Portsmouth Free Public Library grew from a group of people called the Thursday Evening Group who met at the Guild House of St. Paul's Church and at members' homes to discuss literature and culture.  It was proposed that a meeting be held to explore the possibility of a town library.  About 50 of the town's influential people attended this meeting on March 18, 1897, and a charter was granted by RI Secretary of State Charles P. Bennett on March 26, 1897 to form a library "for the distribution of books and other literary purposes."  In March 2022, the Library celebrated its 125th anniversary and continues to provide Portsmouth citizens of all ages the best in reading material and so much more.  

The mission of Portsmouth Free Public Library is to serve as an essential resource that grows with our community, enhances the quality of life of our users, supports lifelong learning, and offers access to information in a variety of ways. We provide outstanding customer service and a welcoming environment for all.  The Library shall enthusiastically promote its functions in the community, provide full access to a broad variety of materials and information, including beyond the local collection, and function with efficiency and courtesy to provide a pleasant experience.

The Board of Trustees is the governing body of Portsmouth Free Public Library. It consists of members who are elected from the Portsmouth Free Public Library Association.  The Board meets on the first Monday of each month at 7 PM.  In case of a Monday holiday, the Board will meet on the second Monday of the month.  The first Monday in May is the annual meeting.

Association membership is open to all residents of the Town of Portsmouth who are eighteen years of age and pay annual dues. The Portsmouth Town Council may appoint two Trustees. The Trustees serve without remuneration of any kind. Non Residents may join the Association but do not have voting rights.

Hours & Contact

   
Mon - Wed 9-8
Thurs & Fri 9-6
Sat 9-5
Sun 1-5

Website funded by The Book Nook

Address
2658 E Main Rd
Portsmouth, RI  02871
 
Email

Phone

(401) 683-9457

Fax

(401) 683-5013

Upcoming Events

Dec
05
10:30am - 11:00am
Storytime for children age 3 and up!  This storytime is a drop event; no registration is required.
Dec
09
9:00am - 10:00am
Christmas Crafts are here!  This week, teens in grades 6-12 are invited to come to grab a kit from the Teen area of the library to make your own felted candy...
Dec
09
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Now is your chance to improve your skill at cribbage!  Join experienced cribbage players Carol and Jackie and play with others, newcomers and more experienced players alike...
Dec
10
10:45am - 12:00pm
Marie is back with more chair yoga exercises!  Chair yoga is a gentle approach to Yoga that is practiced sitting in a chair, and, often, standing using our chair. ...
Dec
06
Friday, December 06
3:30pm - 4:30pm
Open to everyone! If you are any type of fiber artist (knitter, crocheter, tatting, hand sewing, felting, etc.,) please join us for an hour of camaraderie and discussion....
Dec
09
Monday, December 09
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Now is your chance to improve your skill at cribbage!  Join experienced cribbage players Carol and Jackie and play with others, newcomers and more experienced players alike...
Dec
10
Tuesday, December 10
10:45am - 12:00pm
Marie is back with more chair yoga exercises!  Chair yoga is a gentle approach to Yoga that is practiced sitting in a chair, and, often, standing using our chair. ...
Dec
10
Tuesday, December 10
12:30pm - 1:45pm
Marie is back with more chair yoga exercises!  Chair yoga is a gentle approach to Yoga that is practiced sitting in a chair, and, often, standing using our chair. ...
Dec
05
Thursday, December 05
10:30am - 11:00am
Storytime for children age 3 and up!  This storytime is a drop event; no registration is required.
Dec
10
Tuesday, December 10
10:30am - 11:00am
Story Time for babies aged 0-18 months! This storytime is a drop event; no registration is required.
Dec
10
Tuesday, December 10
6:00pm - 7:00pm
This the bi-monthly meeting for Sky Kids, presented by Skyscrapers, Inc.  Please note that this meeting is exclusively for young astronomers who have pre-...
Dec
11
Wednesday, December 11
10:30am - 11:00am
Storytime for toddlers aged 18 months to 3 years!  This storytime is a drop event; no registration is required.
Dec
06
Friday, December 06
3:30pm - 4:30pm
Open to everyone! If you are any type of fiber artist (knitter, crocheter, tatting, hand sewing, felting, etc.,) please join us for an hour of camaraderie and discussion....
Dec
09
Monday, December 09
9:00am - 10:00am
Christmas Crafts are here!  This week, teens in grades 6-12 are invited to come to grab a kit from the Teen area of the library to make your own felted candy...
Dec
16
Monday, December 16
9:00am - 10:00am
Christmas Crafts are here!  This week, teens in grades 6-12 are invited to come to grab a kit from the Teen area of the library to make your own chocolate kiss-letoe...
Dec
28
Saturday, December 28
10:00am - 12:00pm
Join Dungeon Master Naiara for a one-shot adventure!  Become a hero on a dangerous quest to search for treasure, battle deadly foes, or even carry out daring rescues.   Haven...

Home