About AskRI
The Providence Public Library serves as Rhode Island's Statewide Reference Resource Center (SRRC) with state funding provided via the Office of Library and Information Services (RIGL 29-6-9). The goal of the program is to provide quality reference services to all LORI member libraries and to all residents of Rhode Island.
The collections and services of the Providence Public Library's central facility are physically and directly available to residents of Rhode Island cities and towns and other free libraries in the State at least 38 hours per week including two evenings, Saturdays and Sundays, excluding the summer. Reference services of the Providence Public Library are electronically available to other free libraries and all residents of Rhode Island at least 60 hours per week.
AskRI is the online portal for all services of the Statewide Reference Resource Center at Providence Public Library. Statewide databases are provided through cooperative purchasing agreements among Rhode Island's library consortia: HELIN (academic libraries), Ocean State Libraries (public libraries) and RILINK (school libraries). Selection of databases is determined by the consortia of consortium, represented by a database advisory group. Coordination of and funding for statewide databases is provided by the State of Rhode Island via the Office of Library and Information Services; additional funding for databases is provided through the federal Library Services and Technology Act administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.