PPL Special Collections Renovation: Investing in Public Humanities Sustainability and Access

FAIN: CHA-261915-19

Providence Public Library (Providence, RI 02903-3219)
Jack Martin (Project Director: March 2018 to present)
Aaron Peterman (Co Project Director: August 2019 to present)

Renovations to the library’s special collections division to update environmental and structural conditions for optimal preservation, to create a space for improved scholarly and public access to the materials, and to implement informal educational programming designed to engage students with the collections.

An Infrastructure and Capacity Building grant of $450,000 would support critical capital improvements to Providence Public Library’s (PPL) Special Collections Department, including a holistic facilities renovation that will result in our Special Collections being housed in a more user friendly, inviting, easily monitored, and climate controlled space. An NEH grant will help ensure that these invaluable humanities resources are properly preserved and openly accessible to the public and researchers for decades to come. PPL’s Special Collections department, located in our 1953 library building at 150 Empire St. in Providence, RI, houses the most unique and valuable items in the library, which provide unparalleled insight into a variety of humanities subjects of national historical and cultural significance and are valued in the tens of millions of dollars. An NEH grant would enable PPL to address pressing preservation needs and ensure continued access.

Associated Products

Providence Public Library (Building)
Name: Providence Public Library
Abstract: Our NEH Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grant supported critical capital improvements to Providence Public Library’s (PPL) Special Collections Department, including a holistic facilities renovation resulting in our Special Collections being housed in a more user friendly, inviting, easily monitored, and climate controlled space. Our NEH grant has helped ensure that these invaluable humanities resources are properly preserved and openly accessible to the public and researchers for decades to come. The specific scope of work to achieve these goals included significant expansions to our Special Collections storage, research, and gallery space, as well as HVAC and climate control upgrades to ensure the continued integrity of these priceless materials.
Director: H. Jack Martin
Year: 2020
Address: 150 Empire St. Providence, RI 02903
Primary URL: https://www.provlib.org/research-collections/special-collections/
Primary URL Description: PPL's Special Collections Department
Secondary URL: https://www.provlib.org/programs-exhibitions/exhibitions/
Secondary URL Description: The King Is Dead* virtual exhibition, housed in our newly renovated gallery space which was directly supported by NEH Infrastructure and Capacity Building funding.

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