News Release

Providence Public Library Begins Process to Hand Off Branch Libraries to New City System; Municipal Branch System to Begin Operations on July 1

With the City of Providence creating its own municipal branch library system, the Providence Public Library (PPL) today cleared the way for the City to enter into leases for the existing branch buildings.

The PPL currently leases two of the branch buildings, in Fox Point (90 Ives Street) from the Boys & Girls Club, and in Washington Park (1316 Broad Street) from the City of Providence. The remaining seven buildings are owned by PPL.

As expected, PPL notified both the City and the Boys & Girls Club that it would not be renewing the Washington Park and Fox Point leases effective June 30, 2009. PPL anticipates the City will immediately begin negotiations to enter into an agreement with the Boys & Girls Club to ensure the Fox Point branch will continue operating at its current location. The City, which has already done extensive renovation to its Washington Park building, is also expected to continue operating a branch library at that location.

The seven remaining neighborhood branch buildings: Knight Memorial at 275 Elmwood Avenue, Mt. Pleasant at 315 Academy Avenue, Olneyville at One Olneyville Square, Rochambeau at 708 Hope Street, Smith Hill at 31 Candace Street, South Providence at 441 Prairie Avenue, and Wanskuck at 233 Veazie Street are owned by the PPL and it is offering to lease the buildings to the City for $1 a year.

PPL is offering to lease the buildings for $1 a year to create continuity for branch patrons, while also easing some of the financial burdens associated with finding appropriate neighborhood real estate.

With five weeks left before the City’s new municipal branch system is operational, the PPL is requesting weekly meetings with the City to make sure the final transitional details are completed with the least amount of disruption for branch library patrons.

“The community-based branch libraries are vitally important to the residents in the City neighborhoods and we are pleased that the City has decided to create its own branch library system,” said Dale Thompson, PPL Library Director. “We will be working hard over the next five weeks to make sure patrons are informed about the transition and look forward to standing with the City on July 1st as it opens the doors to its new branch system.”