The Providence Athenaeum is an independent, member-supported library in the East Side of Providence. In addition to its role as a circulating library and a non-circulating special collections for researchers, the Athenaeum offers a wide variety of cultural programing for both children and adults. One of its most well-known offerings is its weekly salons featuring speakers on  the arts,  science, history, and more.  For more information on library, see their official website . 

History

The Athenaeum dates its origins to two earlier libraries: the Providence Library Company (est. 1753) and the Providence Athenaeum (est. 1831). "The Athenaeum" (est. 1836) was renamed "The Providence Athenaeum" in 1850. Its current location is a  Greek Revival building dates to 1838. For more information on the its history, see Jane Lancaster's Inquire Within: A Social History of the Providence Athenaeum Since 1753 (Providence: Providence Athenaeum, 2003).