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

What's Happening

Visiting Nurse Home and Hospice will be here for a flu clinic October 24.
Join Dr. Fred Zilian for a live reading of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow! October 28th at 6:30 PM.
Save the Date! The Taste of Portsmouth will be Friday November 7th. Tickets are on sale now!
Halloween fun for the family! October 29 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Book Clubs

The 3rd Tuesday Book Clubs will meet on Tuesday, October 21 at 4:30 PM and 6:30 PM.  We will be reading Hunting Shadows by Charles Todd. 

November's Mystery Meetup will be on Tuesday November 4 at 6:30pm.  We will be discussing Finders Keepers by Stephen King.

Copies of the book club titles are available to borrow at the circulation desk.

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

Hours  
Mon - Wed 9-8
Thu - 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

 

Upcoming Events

Oct
23
10:30am - 11:00am
Storytime for children age 3 and up!  This storytime is a drop event; no registration is required.
Oct
24
9:30am - 11:30am
The Library will host a flu clinic staffed by Visiting Nurse Home & Hospice non-profit organization. The RI Department of Health purchases and distributes flu vaccine to...
Oct
25
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...
Oct
27
1:00pm - 4:30pm
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...
Oct
24
Friday, October 24
9:30am - 11:30am
The Library will host a flu clinic staffed by Visiting Nurse Home & Hospice non-profit organization. The RI Department of Health purchases and distributes flu vaccine to...
Oct
27
Monday, October 27
1:00pm - 4:30pm
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...
Oct
28
Tuesday, October 28
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. ...
Oct
28
Tuesday, October 28
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. ...
Oct
23
Thursday, October 23
10:30am - 11:00am
Storytime for children age 3 and up!  This storytime is a drop event; no registration is required.
Oct
28
Tuesday, October 28
10:30am - 11:00am
Story Time for babies aged 0-18 months! This storytime is a drop event; no registration is required.
Oct
29
Wednesday, October 29
10:30am - 11:00am
Storytime for toddlers aged 18 months to 3 years!  This storytime is a drop event; no registration is required.
Oct
29
Wednesday, October 29
5:30pm - 7:30pm
Get ready for a night of fun and fright at the Portsmouth Free Public Library! On October 29 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, the Children's Library is hosting a Family...
Oct
25
Saturday, October 25
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...
Nov
15
Saturday, November 15
10:00am - 12:00pm
Ask, and you shall receive! Join us for our new Saturday edition of Fiber Arts - now you have TWO opportunities and times/days to join in the fun! Looking for a place to work...
Nov
25
Tuesday, November 25
6:00pm - 7:00pm
Open to grades 6-12 only! Join us to make chocolate decorative pretzels with candy to make a Thanksgiving centerpiece ... or a sweet treat just to enjoy!  Registration for...
Nov
29
Saturday, November 29
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...

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