Buy tickets NOW for CLPVD’s Halloween cocktail fundraiser and save 25% off the price! Put on your spookiest attire, invite family and friends and enjoy a monstrously good time!

Spooky Night at Knight will be held on Thursday, October 30 from 6:00PM -10:00PM at Knight Memorial Library, 275 Elmwood Avenue, Providence. Tickets are available for purchase and required for admission.

https://clpvd.networkforgood.com/events/88983-a-spooky-night-at-knight

In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Rhode Island State Police, Hope Library hosted a one-of-a-kind family event: a Toy Slumber Party at the RI State Police Museum on Saturday, September 27 at 2:00 PM.

Children were invited to bring a favorite stuffed animal or doll for a special afternoon at the museum, followed by an unforgettable overnight adventure for their toys.

The fun began with a guided tour of the museum and a special showing of the beloved film Corduroy. Afterward, the children headed home, while their stuffed companions stayed behind to enjoy a night full of surprises with Trooper Boots, the RI State Police bear mascot.

As Trooper Boots lead the toys through their overnight escapades, museum and library staff captured the magic in photos. Each child received a personalized keepsake storybook, complete with highlights of their toy’s adventures, when they returned to pick them up the following morning, Sunday, September 28 at 10:00 AM.

Families were able to follow along in real-time by checking out updates on social media at #NightattheRIStatePoliceMuseum. 

The event was covered by Channel 10 News. Click HERE to read the full story. 

Join us for a discussion of the historically-banned book 1984 by George Orwell. 

A speaker will read excerpts from the novel, we will have a group discussion of the common themes between the book and current threats to our rights, and then ACLU staff will explain ways you can help protect our freedoms in Rhode Island. You’ll leave the event with a packet of resources and tools to take action!

This event is free and open to all. In collaboration with the Rhode Island Library Association. Please register here so the organizers know how many people to expect.

You do not have to read 1984 in advance, but we encourage you to get a copy from your local library or bookstore or to watch a film adaptation prior to the event!

*This event is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Cranston Public Library.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with the 2026 RI Latino Books Award Nominees!

The RI Latino Books Award Committee is proud to announce the 2026 RI Latino Books Award Nominees, just in time for the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated from September 15th through October 15th.

The Rhode Island Latino Books Award and Rhode Island Latino Arts promote books for young readers, written by Latino/Latina/Latinx authors & illustrators.

Please visit our website to print out the flyer, book labels, poster, and for more information.

https://www.rilatinoarts.org/LatinoBooksAward.html

The George Hail Free Library has created an exhibit of items and documents dating back 250 years. You can see this in person or through our digital collection at https://www.georgehail.org/charles-whipple-greene-museum.

Opening Reception on September 19 from 5 to 8 pm. No registration required.

Curious about your roots but not sure where to begin? Join members of the Rhode Island Genealogical Society Board for a friendly, informative introduction to family history research.
This one-hour session covers:

• How to get started
• Organizing what you already know
• Using online tools
• The role of DNA in genealogy

Thank you to everyone who worked on the Freedom to Read bill from the very beginning to its passage on July 2! A ceremonial signing by Governor Dan McKee was held on August 12 at the Rochambeau Library in Providence. Present at the ceremony were the bill sponsors, Freedom to Read Coalition members, librarians, and community members. Thank you especially to bill sponsors Representative David Morales and Senator Mark McKenney, Freedom to Read Coalition members, RILA's Legislative Action Committee, Director of the Community Libraries of Providence Cheryl Space for hosting the event, and many others who have championed this bill from its inception into law. I also appreciate the support from Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, Senate President Valarie Lawson, and Providence Mayor Brett Smiley who were in attendance.

Enjoy several photos from the momentous event! Photos provided by Padma Venkatraman, Jeanette Bradley, and Geoff Visgili

Rhode Island's Freedom to Read bill, which has been signed by Governor McKee, gives all Rhode Islanders a reason to celebrate! With the passage of this important piece of legislation, Rhode Island has officially recognized (and protected) the professional judgment of librarians in curating library collections; the rights of creators to write and illustrate books without fear of censors; and, the right of all people to access collections that reflect the true diversity and history of the American people. Importantly, this bill standardizes collection development and reconsideration policies in school and public libraries and limits the ability to raise concerns to people either living in the municipality (public libraries) or a teacher, student or parent in the school community (school libraries), blunting the influence of national groups attempting to ban books.

"Rhode Island’s Freedom to Read Act is the first in the nation to guarantee a private right of action against book restrictions to readers and writers impacted by censorship, offering a crucial tool to fight book bans" (PEN America, July 10, 2025: https://pen.org/press-release/rhode-island-freedom-to-read-act-is-first-in-nation-with-special-guarantees-to-writers-and-readers-against-censorship/)

It is famously challenging to get bills voted into law in Rhode Island. Fortunately, the vast ocean of passionate, tireless, advocates for the Freedom to Read, including Rhode Island lawyers, authors/ illustrators (Rhode Island Authors Against Book Bans), readers, librarians, youth (special shout out to ARISE and Young Voices), educators, religious leaders, and aligned advocates for other causes (like the Womxn Project and the Providence League of Women Voters), working side by side with national supporters, including Penguin Random House, EveryLibrary, and PEN America, joined together and built a swell of voices calling for free expression in our state! When we go together, we truly are stronger. Many thanks to the entire Freedom to Read coalition for the vast number of hours spent ensuring the passage of this bill.

Everyone is invited to celebrate Rhode Island's Freedom to Read bill on August 12th at 1:00 PM at a ceremonial bill signing with Governor Dan McKee, Representative David Morales, and Senator Mark McKenney. Senator McKenney and Representative Morales are the lead sponsors of this bill and worked tirelessly with advocates to get the Freedom to Read legislation passed this year. We owe them both a tremendous debt of gratitude, along with all of our legislators who co-sponsored and supported this important safeguard to our freedom to create, read, and access materials freely in our libraries. Location: Rochambeau Library in Providence at 708 Hope Street.

Rogers Free Library celebrated the Freedom to Read by participating in the longest running 4th of July celebration in the country. The library team and tireless volunteers put together a magnificent float showcasing super-sized books and the stories they tell. Revelers spotted Moby Dick, Captain Ahab and Harry Potter’s lightning bolt scar. They cheered the library on with claps and chants like: Read more books!

Adult Summer Camp is a smash hit at Barrington Public Library! Who says kids should have all the fun? For the second year, Barrington Public Library has held an Adult Summer Camp program that encourages adults to embrace their inner child as they participate in fun activities and workshops across two sessions. This year our campers decoupaged plant pots, sewed their own bucket hats, played indoor games including bocce, darts, and cornhole, needle felted mushrooms, belly danced, learned how to make summer rolls and more! Adult Summer Camp is a great way to learn new skills, get out of your comfort zone, and make new memories with like-minded individuals in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Campers earn badges for the completion of every activity as well as a special prize at the end of every session. If you want to learn about how to run your own Adult Summer Camp, contact Siobhan Egan at segan@barringtonlibrary.org