The Community Libraries of Providence offer a slew of free programming every week for kids and adults at their nine locations around the city. Each month, we highlight a few of these events. In a conversation with afternoon host Mareva Lindo, Library Director Cheryl Space shared with us what’s on the docket in March.
Free Tax Help, multiple days at Mt. Pleasant, Washington Park and Knight Memorial Libraries
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance offers free tax filing help to individuals or families with annual incomes of $67,000 or less. The service is confidential and includes e-filing for faster returns. Walk-ins and appointments available at three library branches.
Community Discussion on the ProvPort Master Plan, Mar. 9, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Knight Memorial Library
A discussion with the local community on the ProvPort Master Plan that is currently underway. This will be a public meeting jointly convened by the Washington Park Neighborhood Association, South Providence Neighborhood Association, and People’s Port Authority.
Friends of the Rochambeau Library Annual Media Sale, Mar. 14, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Rochambeau Library
Come by the Friends of Rochambeau’s annual media sale and shop for thousands of CDs, DVDs, and Vinyl! Lots of vinyl! All proceeds support the Friends of Rochambeau Library.
Banned Book Club: The Handmaid’s Tale, Mar. 26, 6:00 - 7:00 pm, Knight Memorial Library
The Handmaid’s Tale gained new attention with its wildly popular 2017 TV adaptation, and that popularity came with a resurgence in challenges to the book in libraries. This month, we have copies of both the book and the show available for you. Join the book club on March 26 to talk about the original story, changes made in adaptation, and the controversy surrounding both.
AI and Youth: Potentials & Perils, Mar. 26, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Rochambeau Library
A discussion on the ways in which AI has infiltrated daily life and what it means for our children and teens. Although the literature is scarce at this point, there is considerable value in AI, while there are also significant risks. Two presenters will describe how AI chatbots and assistants, AI companions, AI toys, and AI tutoring are impacting children and teens. The discussion will explore these topics with parents and those invested in youth. Led by Randy Kulman, a child clinical psychologist and founder of Digitally Nutritious, a nonprofit that advises parents and providers on the healthy use of screen time and other technologies, such as AI, for neurodivergent youth and Catherine Vieira-Baker, a licensed clinical/health services psychologist in Virginia, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
