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

What's Happening

Saturdays Oct. 7, Oct. 21, and Nov. 4. Registration is required.
Tuesdays at 10:45 am. Registration required.
The library will be closed Sunday 10/8 and Monday 10/9
All ages can drop in for our Fiber Arts Fridays at 3:30 pm.

Book Clubs

The 3rd Tuesday Book Club will be meeting in person on Tuesday, September 19 at 4:30 PM and 6:30 PM!  The September book is Foster by Claire Keegan.  Refreshments will be served.

Our Teen Fiction Book Club will have its October meeting here in Portsmouth on Tuesday October 31st. We will discuss The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock.  For more information, please see our calendar.  This discussion is open to teens and adults that love to read YA!

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
Thu - Fri 9-6
Sat 9-5
Sun 1-5

Website funded by The Book Nook

Address
2658 E Main Rd
Portsmouth, RI
02871

Phone

(401) 683-9457

Fax

(401) 683-5013

Upcoming Events

Oct
03
9:30am - 4:00pm
Are you ready for a little un-friendly, spooky, creepy, Halloween competition? We invite Teens in grades 6-12 to submit their own horror story - the catch? It can only be two...
Oct
03
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
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. ...
Oct
14
9:30am - 1:30pm
Come join us for a variety of American and Euro style board and card games, such as Terraforming Mars, Clank!, Carcassonne, Puerto Rico, Settlers of Catan, etc. Everyone is...
Oct
03
Tuesday, October 03
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
06
Friday, October 06
3:30pm - 4:30pm
FIBER ARTS IS NOW 2X/MONTH! Are you a knitter? Crocheter? Someone who enjoys embroidery, needlepoint, or spinning? Join us on the first AND third Friday of...
Oct
07
Saturday, October 07
10:00am - 12:00pm
Whether you’re joining a painting course for the first time or refreshing your painting skill, this class is a fun intro to watercolor that will light up your way! Each...
Oct
10
Tuesday, October 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. ...
Oct
16
Monday, October 16
5:00pm - 7:30pm
Sky Puppies bi-monthly meeting!
Nov
06
Monday, November 06
5:00pm - 7:30pm
Sky Puppies bi-monthly meeting!
Nov
20
Monday, November 20
5:00pm - 7:30pm
Sky Puppies bi-monthly meeting!
Dec
04
Monday, December 04
5:00pm - 7:30pm
Sky Puppies bi-monthly meeting!
Oct
03
Tuesday, October 03
9:30am - 4:00pm
Are you ready for a little un-friendly, spooky, creepy, Halloween competition? We invite Teens in grades 6-12 to submit their own horror story - the catch? It can only be two...
Oct
21
Saturday, October 21
2:00pm - 4:00pm
CALLING ALL ADVENTURERS! Join us for a Dungeons & Dragons (5e) one-shot adventure and become a hero on dangerous quests to search for treasure, battle deadly...
Oct
31
Tuesday, October 31
6:30pm - 7:30pm
Join us for YA Book Club on the following dates: All ages welcome that can read the book! No registration required. April: Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry (we will also be...
Nov
13
Monday, November 13
2:00pm - 3:00pm
You have the day off today, so why not come over to the Library and make a fun t-shirt tote bag? Perfect for yourself, shopping, or as a gift just in time for Christmas. For...

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