North Smithfield Public Library

The North Smithfield Library has experienced many changes over its history, all in an effort to accommodate a steadily increasing population and interest in literature. From its first iteration in 1928 as a large closet in local Union Village School to its current home in the John Slater Building, the addition of books and reference materials continued at a brisk pace. When even this building became too congested for practical use, a 1989 clapboard addition joined the previous 7000 SF, three-foot thick stone structure. The assigned task included renovating the existing building and expanding it to follow the Library’s mission statement, requiring “larger assembly space, study carrels, computer labs, a young adults area, expanded storage for media collections, materials and supplies, office space,
lunch room and lockers.”
This feasibility study balanced the restoration and maintaining of the historic value present in the mill complex through designs for an expanded library.
The addition would be created in full respect of and conjunction with the restoration of an abandoned boiler house on the premises, in regards to materials used and the arrangement of components. The
reutilized existing chimney diegetically marks the main entrance. In this fashion we hoped to revitalize the aging complex and usher in a new era of library service for the community.