INTERLIBRARY LOAN POLICY:
In-state Interlibrary Loan (ILL):
The North Providence Union Free Library is a member of the Ocean State Library Consortium which means a library card issued from any OSL library will allow you to borrow materials from any OSL member library. In compliance with state law, the North Providence Union Free Library extends full access and borrowing privileges without charge to all Rhode Island residents. An Ocean State Library card provided by the North Providence Union Free Library grants patrons access to borrow physical and electronic materials from any other RI library in the OSL Consortium. Patrons may request items from loaning OSL libraries for no fee. There is a 25 material limit to reserves placed on a card from in-state libraries. Materials requested via Interlibrary loan may be subject to the lending policies of the owning library.
Out-of-State and College Libraries ILL:
The North Providence Union Free Library allows Ocean State Library card holders to request materials to borrow from college and university libraries, and out of state libraries using the Interlibrary Loan Service. This service is governed under the Library of Rhode Island Standards, and managed by the Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS). There is no charge to borrow from college and university libraries.
Out-of-state materials can be requested through ILL at the Circulation Department at the North Providence Union Free Library. The library cannot guarantee that the materials requested will be available from another institution. There is no charge for placing an ILL request but the patron is required to pay a one-way shipping cost of $2.00 and is subject to normal fines and fees for overdue and lost materials. Interlibrary loan requests from out-of-state and college libraries are limited to 10 items per patron in one transaction.
Materials requested via Interlibrary loan may be subject to the lending policies of the owning library.
Borrowing from North Providence Union Free Library:
The North Providence Union Free Library participates in resource sharing of all circulating materials, with the exception of non-reservable materials, equipment and special collections. Some items may only be returned to our library and not through our state-wide resource delivery system, Optima.
LIBRARY SERVICE POLICY
Primary Clientele
The primary clientele of the North Providence Union Free Library are North Providence residents for whom we select material and plan programs. There are multiple programs available for every age group from babies to senior citizens. Rhode Island residents, Rhode Island property owners, and the holders of library cards from Ocean State Libraries are also welcome to use our collection and services. Teachers and educators in North Providence are also primary clientele for curriculum tools and planning.
Access To Non Primary Clientele
All individuals who enter the library may have access to the materials in the library’s collection within the library. Borrowing materials from our library is permissible through the Ocean State Libraries card for out-of-town residents.
Types And Scope Of Services
The library provides informational, educational, and recreational materials that can be borrowed. The library’s staff provides reference services, reader’s advisory services, educational and recreational programs and interlibrary loan service. Historical collection materials are available to use in the building. The library provides meeting and study rooms for individuals and nonprofit groups. For-profit groups may reserve rooms at a fee. Computers, free internet access, free outdoor wi-fi, puzzles, Kindles, and mobile hotspots are also available. The library’s website provides information on current holdings, services, and programs.
