About AskRI
Providence Public Library serves as Rhode Island’s Statewide Online Resource Center (known as AskRI) with state funding provided via the Office of Library and Information Services (RIGL 29-6-9).
AskRI.org is designed to be a comprehensive research resource for Rhode Island residents. Students, jobseekers, librarians and educators, and curious people of all ages can all reach the information they need – by exploring our services, with a librarian’s help, or through carefully curated links to other online resources.
Our Ask-A-Librarian email services are available to all residents of Rhode Island and other free libraries.
How are these services funded?
AskRI is the online portal for all services of the Statewide Reference Resource Center (SRRC) at Providence Public Library. Statewide databases are provided through cooperative purchasing and cooperative purchasing agreements among Rhode Island’s library consortia: HELIN (academic libraries), Ocean State Libraries (public libraries) and RILINK (school libraries). Coordination of and funding for statewide databases is provided by the State of Rhode Island via the Office of Library and Information Services with a funding contribution from Ocean State Libraries for the purchase of select EBSCO products; additional funding for databases is provided through the federal Library Services and Technology Act administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Where is AskRI?
AskRI.org is located at Providence Public Library.
Providence Public Library
150 Empire St.
Providence, RI 02903