Brownell/ Little Compton
Library

The Brownell/Little Compton Library is located on the Commons in Little Compton, (401) 635-8562



Library Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 10-5
Wednesday 1-8 and Saturday 10-4. Closed Sunday.


The Brownell Library maintains a genealogy section consisting primarily of works associated with the local area. These include:

Little Compton Families:  This 800 page genealogy traces most of the early families that settled in Little Compton.

Wilbores in America:  A five-volume set of Wilbore family genealogy (also spelled Wilbor, Wilber, Wilbur, Wilbour).

Little Compton Wills:  A 300 page collection of wills of Little Compton residents recorded prior to 1875.

The library also holds other family genealogies and related materials including a searchable computer database of all the cemeteries and gravestones in the town of Little Compton. Genealogy books were moved from the Little Compton Historical Society to the Library so the public could have greater access to the material.


History

The Brownell Library was bequeathed for the people of Little Compton by Mr. Pardon Brownell who died in 1921. It was built in 1929. In 1963 the stack addition was added and the town's public library was removed from the town hall and physically combined witht he Brownell Library. Since that time the Trustees of the Brownell Trust provide maintenance and repair of the building while the taxpayers through the town annual appropriations provide the funds for staffing, books, and supplies. The library's operation is administered by the town Library Trustees.

New Construction

After almost thirty years the Little Compton's library facilities have been expanded. More space was added for the children's department, for staff work and for group meetings, such as children's reading hours. In addition the library was updated to accomodate the handicapped.

A plan to accomplish these goals was developed to be harmonious with the existing brick Colonial style as shown in the sketch above, and the new construction completed last year.

Follow this link for more information and a sketch of the new floor plan.


Back to the Newport County, Rhode Island USGenWeb Project

Back to the Little Compton Historical Society Home Page



Thank you for visiting the Brownell/Little Compton Library Home Page.  We hope you will visit us in Little Compton, Rhode Island and enjoy the services we offer. © 1997-9
http://www.rootsweb.com/~rinewpor/brownell.html
This page was last updated Wednesday, 28-Jul-1999 14:03:24 MDT