rhode island - public libraries

  Rhode Island Public Library Locations

View Rhode Island Public Libraries in a larger map

  Access Rhode Island Public libraries III Unified Catalog - Ocean : SEARCH  ☼ OCEAN

 

  About Rhode Island Public Libraries :

The Rhode Island public library system has the Providence  Public Library as the central research core of more than four  million items held collectively by the public library network - Ocean State Libraries (OSL). Recently, the Providence Public Library branches were split off from the main branch, and incorporated as Providence Community Library.

The OSL also manages the public  library network and maintains the interlibrary loan delivery  system and rules according to the OSL bylaws.

Rhode Island Public Libraries organization and funding :

All of the public libraries and one school library system in Rhode Island belong to the Ocean State Libraries network. Ocean State Libraries is incorporated as a 501(c)3 and is managed by an Executive Director, who is in turn managed by the voting members of the network. Each library has one vote - the smallest libraries have voting parity with the largest. Library Directors or their designated representatives cast votes on behalf of their constituents' libraries for such things as group expenditures on databases and membership rules regarding interlibrary loans and circulation. Quarterly meetings are held by the members at alternating library locations throughout the state. While Rhode Island Public Library board meetings are subject to Rhode Island Open Meetings Law - the collective meetings of the Ocean State Libraries are not subject to those same rules. Editor's note: It is highly ironic that the Public Libraries are empowered to make collective decisions regarding the expenditure very large amounts of public funds without being accountable under the same standards as government bodies. Public Libraries should serve as exemplary examples of public accountability and transparency.

Library Directors are hired by Library Boards of Trustees, representing their town, municipality or Free Library incorporation. The Ocean State Libraries members agree to abide by a set of minimum State mandated standards in order to receive State funding. A portion of qualifying funds derived from municipal tax based revenue is matched and apportioned by the State of Rhode Island in addition to a portion of qualifying expenditures derived from local Foundation support.

The state Director of the Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS) makes the determination if public libraries have met state standards and receives oversight from the politically appointed State Library Board representing various library interest groups - including academic libraries, public libraries, library users and special libraries. The Director of OLIS determines if waivers will be granted when public libraries fail to meeting minimum standards.

The OSL or Ocean State Libraries , formerly known as CLAN share an on-line catalog, database resources, technology costs via cataloging, technology support, interlibrary loan delivery and engage in collective grant writing. Much of the grant writing revolves around group purchases utilizing volume discounts on items such as laptops, desktop computers, and network equipment. This has enabled most libraries within the Ocean State Library system to offer wireless and hardwired high-speed internet access to the public. Ocean State Libraries services recently began to include access to electronic books, music, and video. Downloading those materials requires a valid library card from one of the members of Ocean State Libraries.

Over the past few decades, construction costs for new libraries and renovations have been supported by State of Rhode Island funding via grants vetted through the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Service (OLIS) along with major gifts from Champlin Foundations, Rhode Island Foundations, Prince Charitable Trust and numerous private donors.

Major technology funding for public libraries has been made possible from distributed grants originating from IMLS brokered through the State of Rhode Island along with Champlin Foundations and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Most recently, stimulus funds have been appropriated to enhance access to technology in libraries.

Public Library databases and scope of service :

A valid Ocean State Libraries card will also enable the user to access premium databases along with the III based library catalog. The scope of databases available is determined by the member library that issued the card. Some libraries have appropriated funds for local access to specialized databases. However, all Ocean State Libraries cards can access the set of databases available through the Statewide Reference Resource Center located at the Providence Public Library. Databases as of January 2009 include: EBSCO , Worldbook , Homework Help from Tutor.com , and the popular genealogy database Heritage Quest . Back issues and articles from the paper of record for the state of Rhode Island - the Providence Journal - are also available through the Proquest database. However, Proquest is not longer available state-wide. Contact the Providence Public Library reference resource center if your local public library no longer subscribes.

The Rhode Island Public Libraries, Ocean State Libraries system cardholders represent over 50% of the population of Rhode Island. The public library system is available to everyone in Rhode Island. Contact the Circulation departments of member libraries to find out how to apply for a library card. Non-resident cards are usually available for a small fee.

Technically, the state supported colleges and Universities also serve as public libraries. The University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, and Community College of Rhode Island library materials can be checked out by Rhode Island residents. Contact those institutions' circulation departments to find out how to gain access. Roger Williams University main library also extends borrowing priviledges to residents of Bristol, Rhode Island. Brown University materials are accessible as 'the library of last resort' with a letter from a public library in Rhode Island. Since the Providence Public Library also serves as a research library, the public library system has the ability to receive materials from libraries around the world through interlibrary loan. Sometimes there are fees involved.

Researchers who are interested in finding materials nationally and internationally can utilize OCLC's Worldcat to locate library materials: