Woonsocket Harris Public Library

Unless you’re from Rhode Island, you may never even here of Woonsocket. This is the story of a little town that unfortunately is one of the poorest in the country. It continues to struggle to push forward but even people within the state I feel sometimes forget about it. Luckily I have been presented with an opportunity to work with the kids in the area to help instigate some change. This has lead me to see the Woonsocket Library.
I remember as a young child that the library was often chockers full of people rattling through the old books with plastic wrappers. The smell was intoxicating and almost addicting. The silence deafening until a raucous group of young people walked through. Anyways, this is a public library. You’ll find all sorts of interesting people walk through here and I was surprised at how many young people were actually studying here and checking out books; an activity I thought was long in our past.
They have a great quiet space, not particularly large but they do have a recreation room that I have found useful for student presentations and a library staff who are kind, quick and efficient and not your cranky old ladies from days of yore. Great amount of parking on the outside and a lovely space to really get away from it all.

Just getting my study on
its perfect for me to come and get some serious study time in. I’m horrible at studying at home and this place is close by.
there’s is plenty of places to sit and study. lots of private desk or big tables if you have a ton of stuff to layout. it is very clean, not nosey at all obviously hah. I cant speak much for the books of what they may have or not if you’re doing research on a specific subject. Strong WiFi signal is a huge plus, I’ve never had problems being on their WiFi and i absolutely love that.
Cant eat in there, so if you plan on putting on some serious study time load that tummy up before hand or go to your car/​outside to eat. but with it being winter its kind of a pain in the buttocks. NOT ENOUGH OUTLETS, one thing that really sucks and the ones they have are in awkward spots far away from where you are sitting. there is one table where there is an outlet at the table.
But I’m always looking at ways to solve problems, so i always carry extention cords and multi-​plug adaptors hah

A
moment
in
time
The Woonsocket Harris Library was the very first library in the state of Rhode Island. It was built in 1868 and occupied the bottom floor of the old Harris Building. The library was founded by Edward Harris and Abe Lincoln actually gave a famous anti slavery speech in this building in 1860.
It became obvious that the venerable old library was far to small to meet the needs of the people of Woonsocket so a new library was built in 1973. A much more modern facility that was extensively renovated in 2001, the library is clean, friendly and very efficient.
Not the fanciest or most aesthetically beautiful library but the Harris Library does posses it’s own unique charm. Nicely laid out and spacious, it has more of a small town library feel rather than one in a city.
On the side of the library is a time capsule and monument meant to be opened in about one hundred years. I’m not sure what exactly was put in the capsule but I suspect the contents will give a good chuckle to the future library patrons that happen to be around when the capsule is finally opened.