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.

No project description available

To support planning for a series of programs in Rhode Island's public libraries on the state's history and ethnic diversity. Exhibits, tours, lectures, discussions, media presentations, and reading materials will serve the out-of-school adult.

No project description available

To support public humanities programs in libraries that explore Louisa May Alcott's untraditional life, her varied body of published work, and her place in American culture.

This project will support public humanities programs in a library that will explore Louisa May Alcott's untraditional life, her varied body of published work, and her place in American culture. The library will present five programs that represent the broad scope of Louisa May Alcott's writing, encourage scholar-led discussion about the proje ct's major humanities themes,and promote in-depth discussion of the documentary and biography, Louise May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women

No project description available

A conservation assessment of the library's Potter/Williams Collection on Irish Culture and the Wetmore Children's Book Collection.

Digitization of approximately 100,000 pages of Rhode Island newspapers published before 1923, as part of the state’s participation in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

With support from the National Endowment for the Humanities’ National Digital Newspaper Program, Providence Public Library (PPL), in partnership with the Rhode Island Historical Society (RIHS), will complete an extensive newspaper digitization project that will result in a wealth of Rhode Island’s historical newspapers being digitized and widely available through the Library of Congress for the first time in history. RIHS currently hold master negative microfilm of 314 newspaper titles that ceased prior to 1923. As a result of this project, at least 100,000 pages will be digitized.

The digitization of 100,000 pages of historical newspapers, published between 1690 and 1963, as part of Rhode Island’s continuing participation in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

Providence Public Library (PPL), in partnership with the RI Historical Society (RIHS), requests $321,241.61 from the National Endowment for the Humanities in support of continued funding through the National Digital Newspaper Program. NEH's continued support will facilitate an additional 100,000 pages of historic Rhode Island newspapers being digitized, with focus on amplifying themes around the American Revolution and Industrial Revolution that tie to salient current themes, events, and areas of interest including climate change, production and overconsumption, and the upcoming US Semiquincentennial anniversary. Funding would also support expanded outreach and special projects promoting inventive use of these newly available resources, including a Data Visualization Fellowship and activities aligned with “A More Perfect Union” programming that is upcoming in 2026.