The Cranston Public Library is the public library system serving Cranston, the second largest city in Rhode Island. The first library in Cranston was formed in 1797, while the library system was formed in 1966 by the Cranston City Council. The present day library system formed in 1968 when six independent neighborhood libraries came together as one. There are six locations in the system, including a central library and five neighborhood branches. The library system is governed by a board of trustees consisting of seven members appointed by the Cranston City Council. Members serve staggered three-year terms. Meetings are open to the public.
In addition to traditional library services, the Cranston Public Library provides services such as tax preparation, 3D printing, analog-to-digital audio transferring, and educational programs among others. The system also provides mobile services to homebound residents.
Locations
The public library system in Cranston began as multiple independent public libraries serving local neighborhoods. Today, the Cranston Public Library system still serves local communities through its central library and five neighborhood branches.
Cranston Central Library
The Central Library of the Cranston Public Library system opened in April 1983. Since then, the Central Library has served as Cranston Public Library's reference and administrative center. The building originally boasted 22,500 square feet on three and a half acres of land, with a capacity for 110,000 volumes. The parking lot was expanded in 1992, and a 6,200 square foot addition was added in 1993/1994. The Central Library offers the community an inviting children's room, a teen space, public computers for all ages, and a range of programs and instructional technology classes.
Edward Costa Memorial Arlington Branch
Located on the first floor of the Cranston Senior Center, the Edward Costa Memorial Arlington Branch, formerly named the Arlington Branch, the Arlington Library, and the Arlington Reading Room, is a popular stop for pedestrians in the Arlington neighborhood and those visiting the Senior Center.
This branch was initially founded by Henry O. Tripp and members of the Arlington Baptist Church. It was established in the neighborhood district hall in 1895 with a collection of 500 volumes. In 1907, the Arlington Library moved to a new building on Cranston Street. It also added a branch in the Cranston Print Works Brick Store, which lasted for 50 years until the building was demolished. In an agreement with the city of Cranston, the Arlington Library building on Cranston Street was turned over to the city and demolished to build a new Cranston Senior Center in 1987. The agreement called for the Arlington Reading Room to be inside the new center. In 2013, this Reading Room was renovated, with new collections and updated technology. It was reintroduced as the new Arlington Branch Library. In 2018, it was renamed the Edward Costa Memorial Arlington Branch, in honor of longtime trustee and library advocate Edward Costa.
Auburn Branch
The Auburn Branch of the Cranston Public Library serves the Auburn neighborhood of Cranston. It was first established as the Auburn Reading Room in 1888. It opened in a little storefront on the northeast corner of Wellington Avenue. After moving to several temporary locations, the current Auburn Branch was built on Pontiac Avenue in 1991. At one point in time, the branch had a collection of Swedish materials for the Swedish immigrants who worked in the local mills.
The Auburn Branch currently operates Cranston Public Library's Books @ Home program, the library system's homebound delivery service. Books @ Home has been recognized as an innovative model program by the American Library Association in its "Keys to Engaging Older Adults @ your library" toolkit.
Knightsville Branch
The Knightsville Branch initially opened as the Knightsville Community Library in a storefront in 1926 in the Knightsville neighborhood of Cranston. The Honorable Jonathan F. Comstock and Richard Nixon, head of the local volunteer fire company, are credited with its establishment. The library moved to several locations along Cranston Street until a land donation, made in memory of Gerard Ruggieri, made the construction of the current location at 1847 Cranston Street possible.