One of the ways in which the Office of Library and Information Services serves the Rhode Island library community is through the resources of its Professional Collection, a comprehensive library science collection designed to meet the reference, information and continuing education needs of librarians, trustees, library school students, and friends of libraries. As a state agency and a OSL (Ocean State Libraries) library, OLIS also provides members of the general public with full access to the collection should there be materials they wish to use or borrow.

The Professional Collection consists of books, serials, videos, and extensive vertical files. The loan period is three weeks for books and two weeks for videos with renewals available in-person, by telephone, or by e-mail. Magazines do not circulate but free photocopying is available to all.

Professional Collection books and videos are searchable via the OSL database and ownership of a OSL library card is all that is necessary to borrow or to place a system-wide hold.

The Professional Collection is located at the Department of Administration Building, One Capitol Hill, Providence, on the fourth floor and is open to visitors Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.