Pawtucket Public Library — Attraction in Pawtucket

I love the atmosphere here. If the ambience of people who can’t keep their voices down, the ringing and binging of cell phones, cranked up ear buds, people snoring and hacking in their sleep and children running around is what you need to get you in your study zone then here’s the place to be. The Pawtucket Public Library is becoming nothing more than a day shelter and pit stop for the flotsam and jetsam of society. The concept of a library as an institution is a place of thinking, studying and learning. Those who do come here to appreciate the public service the library does provide are disturbed by the disrespectful, interruptive and rude. If you’re not here to embrace the element of peacefulness then go hang out at the bus shelter. The News Café is right down the street! Maybe it’s time to try security because even RIPTA bus drivers will take the initiative to eject a rowdy passenger with no warnings. My advice if you’re coming here to study: bring a loud pair of head phones and some...

cant believe it took me so long to come here. this was my first time visiting. nice staff, quiet as expected for a library. i didnt expect it to look like a school setting with rooms.

i know its a free place but many homeless people go there to relax. going into the fiction room and it was filled with possibly homeless men, maybe not all made me uncomfortable because i dont fit that demographic so i didnt want to spend time in there. they are harmless but being the only girl in there i could feel the possible stares and awkwardness haha. the staircase going to the nonfiction section stank like odor and some man was sleeping on a chair snoring. the nonfiction area had a much better atmosphere but i am shy so i didnt stick too long because there were many people in there and i looked liked a lost dog the YA section was nice and peaceful. seating all around the library. i didnt roam around a whole lot just these sections. overall i'd come...

The one star is for I guess the outside of the historic building? Was checking out the YMCA for future planning of groups. When my daughters and I walked outside we noticed the beautiful building across the street! Then realizing it was a library, we got so excited to see the inside! Yeaaaaaa that excitement quickly died. You walk in and it’s dinghy, confusing to find where you’re supposed to go? Sections? So I take a risk & take a right. Blegh.. bad decision. I mean.. maybe the entire library is like this..? Full of homeless people sleeping, nodding out with bags of cans and the smell of BO & cigarettes. It’s a beautiful 70° & sunny day outside (April 17th 2025) I was genuinely flabbergasted that that kind of loitering was allowed? My kids got very close to me and were genuinely so confused. Seeing their eyes full of concern.. (I’m sure mine were showing the same.) Absolutely NOT a warm, clean, welcoming place to be....