Founded in 1878, the Fleet Library at RISD is one of the oldest independent art college libraries in the country. Its more than 165,000 volumes and 300 periodical subscriptions (print) offer unusual depth and richness in the areas of architecture, art, design, and photography. The collection provides strong historical and contemporary perspectives, and materials in landscape architecture, design, ceramics, textiles, and jewelry support upper-level research. The library is also noted for its artist’s book collection, its rare books, and outstanding visual and material resources collections.

In the summer of 2006 the library moved from College Building into a new facility in the first two floors of the former Rhode Island Hospital Trust bank at 15 Westminster Street directly across the river from the RISD Auditorium. The magnificent banking hall serves as the library’s main reading room, while the second floor accommodates a new reading room for Archives and Special Collections as well as an expanded Visual + Material Resources space for the Materials and Picture Collections.

Library collections include more than 155,000 volumes and 320 periodical subscriptions (print) and offer unusual depth and richness in the areas of architecture, art, design and photography. The library is noted for its artist’s book collection, its rare books, and visual and material resource collections.