Providence Athenaeum

THE PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM IS AN INDEPENDENT MEMBER-SUPPORTED LIBRARY AND CULTURAL CENTER, FOUNDED IN 1836 AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. HAVING ALWAYS BEEN ORGANIZED AS A CULTURAL INSTITUTION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, THE ATHENAEUM OBTAINED RECOGNITION AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION IN THE 1970S. TODAY IT CONTINUES TO FULFILL THE INTENTION OF ITS FOUNDERS BY OFFERING A BROAD RANGE OF SERVICES TO A DIVERSE PUBLIC, WITH NEARLY 27,000 VISITORS IN 2021-22, MORE THAN 2,200 OF WHOM SUPPORT THE LIBRARY DIRECTLY THROUGH MEMBERSHIP AND DONATIONS. THE COLLECTIONS, PROGRAMMING AND THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE ARE OF PRIMARY INTEREST TO LOCAL AS WELL AS NATIONAL SCIENTISTS, AUTHORS, EDUCATORS, MUSICIANS, ACTORS, POETS, ARTISTS, AND JOURNALISTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

CIRCULATING LIBRARY: THE PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM HAS ALWAYS BEEN DEDICATED TO SERVING THE GENERAL READER AND PUBLIC. THE LIBRARY HOUSES SOME 175,000 BOOKS, INCLUDING CONTEMPORARY TITLES AND MATERIALS ON CD AND DVD. THE ATHENAEUM SELECTS THE BEST PUBLISHED LITERATURE, FICTION AND NON-FICTION AVAILABLE EACH YEAR IN A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS FOR THE INFORMED READER. OUR COLLECTIONS ARE ACCESSIBLE ONSITE AND THROUGH AN AUTOMATED CATALOGING SYSTEM, AND A CONTINUALLY UPDATED WEBSITE. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2021-22, WE ADDED 1,550 ITEMS, CIRCULATED 27,282 ITEMS, ANSWERED 138 REFERENCE QUESTIONS AND CONDUCTED 24 RESEARCH APPOINTMENTS.

PUBLIC PROGRAMS: THE PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM OFFERS YEAR-ROUND CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS, INCLUDING STORY HOURS, ARTS AND CRAFTS, AND SEASONAL EVENTS. ADULTS ALSO ENJOY A VARIETY OF LIVELY PROGRAMS SUCH AS POETRY READINGS, LECTURES ON TRAVEL, CONTEMPORARY ISSUES AND THE ARTS. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2021-22, WE HOSTED 2 CHILDREN'S EVENTS WITH 109 ATTENDING, 212 ADULT PROGRAMS WITH 7,405 ATTENDING AND CURATED 3 EXHIBITS AND 63 TOURS.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF COLLECTIONS AND BUILDING: THE ATHENAEUM'S COLLECTIONS AND HISTORIC BUILDING ARE MAINTAINED IN THE SPIRIT OF ITS FOUNDERS IN ORDER TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF ALL WHO ENTER ITS GRANITE WALLS. THE ATHENAEUM, KNOWN BY ITS HANDSOME GREEK REVIVAL BUILDING, MAINTAINS SPECIAL COLLECTIONS THAT ARE VALUABLE AND RARE. OUR COLLECTIONS HIGHLIGHT THE STRENGTHS OF THE PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM AND ITS ANTECEDENTS SINCE 1753, IN DOCUMENTING THE HISTORY OF THE BOOK AND BOOK CULTURE IN PROVIDENCE DURING THE 18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES. THE BUILDING & GROUNDS COMMITTEE, A BOARD COMMITTEE OVERSEES THE BUILDING, FURNISHINGS, AND GROUNDS OF THE PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM, PRIORITIZES THE NEED FOR ELECTIVE REPAIRS OR CHANGES AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON HOW TO PROCEED.