Providence Athenaeum

The Providence Athenaeum, a unique independent, member-supported library and cultural center, welcomes and enriches the educational and cultural pursuits of its members and the community and encourages a diverse public to engage in spirited conversation. It offers a wide range of experiences by providing and conserving extraordinary collections, offering innovative and compelling programs, promoting and collaborating with the community's vibrant cultural sector, and highlighting and preserving its historic building.

The stately stone of the granite exterior opens to the warmth of wood as you enter the Athenaeum. Starting at your feet and towering overhead, books envelop you in winding canyons, deep ravines, and hidden culs-de-sac of bound paper, centuries of stories, voices, and ideas waiting to be rediscovered...

More than a place for books, the Athenaeum itself has the transcendental power of the best literature. The library holds the intrigue of a great mystery, the history of a non-fictional epic, and the delicious escape of a fiction title. We welcome visitors and members to come in and enjoy the Athenaeum's ongoing story for themselves!

The building is open to the public and all are welcome to peruse our collections while inside. Many programs are also open to the public.

Those who wish to check out materials are encouraged to become members. Borrowing privileges are only one of the many benefits of membership.

The culture the library has on display is more than matched by the culture of community it fosters within its walls. Whether salons, readings or pub-style quizzes, our extensive programming brings members of the community together!

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