5Q: H. Jack Martin

 / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
/ PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

1 What has been the biggest change in what the public sees since your appointment two years ago?

Fabulosity, of course, via our collections, programs, staff and awesome partners. Over the past two years, we’ve hosted several exciting exhibitions. … And this year we have “PORTALS: The History of the Future.” In the coming months, folks will be hearing much more about big changes planned for our Empire [Street] building in 2017.

2 What are some of the lesser-known collections at the library?

We have a stunning collection of children’s books that includes titles from Marie Antoinette’s personal collection, to rare first editions. We have a huge world architecture collection with folios dating to the 17th century. We have hundreds of feet of periodicals with advertisements that might be even cooler than the articles written inside them. Also, we’ve been digitizing our Rhode Island Collection materials on www.provlibdigital.org.

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3 The current “PORTALS” exhibition features illustrations and other examples of how people in the past viewed the future. How did that come about?

2017 is the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity, which is one of the central pieces in the exhibition. We were inspired by that, but it’s safe to say that there’s lots of interest in Rhode Island in alternate histories, dystopian futures and weird and wild predictions. We even have a project called Providence 2050, featuring local trailblazers.

4 What is the biggest misconception about the library?

There are two. That we’re the same old library we’ve been for the past 140 years. We’re not. We are re-envisioning what a public library in an urban setting can be, and Rhode Islanders will continue to see even more changes. Also, many assume that we’re a municipal library funded by Providence. We’re not. While we absolutely support the city and all Rhode Islanders, it’s important to point out that nearly 80 percent of our funding is private. Without gifts from our generous supporters and investors, all of our great programs and services would cease to exist.

5 What has been the greatest success for the renovated event spaces?

For me, the best part of our revitalized, magnificent, older spaces is sharing them with the library guests and patrons. … We host 70-plus events and public programs annually, with revenue going to support our core programs and services. •

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