The Athenæum is now offering curbside pickup of materials to library members. Please review the following guidelines carefully before you request items. Thank you for your patience as we try out this new service!
Current curbside hours: Tuesdays – Saturdays, 10am-4pm
You will be notified when your order is ready.
Curbside Basics (see below for a more detailed Q&A)
1. Give us a call (401-421-6970) during our curbside hours to request items. Please limit your request to five items!
2. A staff member will call you back when your materials are ready to pick up.
3. Come to the library during curbside hours. Please wear a mask and observe social distancing when outside your home!
4. Call 401-421-6970 to alert staff you are at the College Street entrance.
5. Staff will bring your items out and place them on a table on the walkway. Collect your materials and leave any returns.
Please do not place holds through the online catalog. Requests received over voicemail might experience a delay in processing. Calling during the curbside hours helps staff get books out faster! Unfortunately at this time, we cannot accommodate curbside requests from the RISD community.
UPDATE: Pick up your library haul in a brand new tote! Just $20 to support the library and carry your stuff around in style. Please call to order during curbside hours.
Curbside Q&A
How do I request items?
Members can request materials by calling 401-421-6970 during curbside hours (currently Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10am-4pm). You can check to see if an item is available for checkout using our online catalog and selecting “Providence Athenaeum” as the location. Please have the title and author ready when requesting books and audiobooks. If a requested item is unavailable or has been reserved by another member, we will notify you when scheduling your pickup and place a hold for any checked-out materials.
When/how can I pickup my materials?
Please note: you can only collect materials after being notified by staff. Staff members will gather your items, and give you a call when they’re ready to be picked up.
Once you arrive at the library, please call 401-421-6970 to let staff know you’re at the College St. entrance. If other members are waiting, maintain at least a 6′ distance from each other. A staff member will bring out your bagged materials and place them on the table for you to collect. Please refrain from all forms of physical contact, including handshakes, high fives, and hugs (even though we would love them).
How many items can I check out?
While we want to get as many of our books into your hands as possible, this is a new thing for us! So we’re asking members to limit requests to 5 items per request right now. We hope to expand the quantity soon. All materials will circulate for four weeks.
What materials are available?
All circulating items are eligible! That includes audiobooks, DVDs, periodicals, and, of course, books.
What if the library doesn’t have the thing I want?? Can you get it?
We’ll do our best! Shipping and processing has been affected, but we continue to order materials as best we can. If you don’t see what you’re looking for in our online catalog, fill out this form and we will contact you once it’s available.
Can I return items? What if I don’t feel well?
Yes! Materials can be left on the table or, if not during curbside hours, in the exterior bookdrop by the Circulation door. No fines will accrue while the library is closed, but we do appreciate returns so we can get items out to other members.
If you are ill, have had contact with someone who is ill, or are showing any symptoms like fever, congestion, fatigue, or sore throat, please keep all materials. You will not be fined. If you are not able to come to the library but want to check out materials, you can send a friend or family member – just let us know in advance the name of the person picking up your requests. Thank you for helping keep our community safe.
I miss the library so much. Can I just pop in for a few minutes to browse?
Nope, not right now. The health and safety of our membership and staff is our top priority, so unfortunately we can’t let you in at the moment. But we can’t wait to reopen and will update you with any developments. We miss you, too.
I still have questions!
We’re happy to help! Please email membership@provath.org for assistance.
