News – Page 6 – Springfield City Library

Springfield opens East Forest Park Branch Library (Masslive.com)

Hundreds of guests gathered Thursday morning as the East Forest Park Branch Library officially opened at its new home.

SPRINGFIELD — Hundreds of guests gathered Thursday morning as the East Forest Park Branch Library officially opened at its new home at 136 Surrey Road after 14 months of construction.

There is a large family and children’s room, a dedicated teen area and a makerspace. A sidewalk connects to the Mary Dryden School. The library will also interact with other nearby schools, including Pope Francis Preparatory School.

“For well over 40 years, they’ve talked about a standalone East Forest Library — I’m so glad that my administration has been able to deliver on this neighborhood enhancement project,” Mayor Domenic Sarno said in a statement. “Especially after the devastating EF-3 tornado (in 2011), this is a true testament of the resiliency of our East Forest Park residents.”

Previously the branch library occupied rented space in a commercial strip on Island Pond Road.

Springfield students, donors get sneak peek inside East Forest Park library branch (Masslive.com)

Mayor Domenic Sarno hosted a soft opening and tour of the almost-completed East Forest Park Branch Library on Surrey Road Tuesday morning.

SPRINGFIELD — There is a large family and children’s room, a dedicated teen area and lots more at the new East Forest Park library branch on Surrey Road.

Maybe the best new feature was added Tuesday as students from the nearby Mary A. Dryden Veterans Memorial School filled the children’s room for the library’s first-ever story time with Mayor Domenic Sarno.

This was a “soft opening” to show donors where their money was spent on the $9.5 million project. The official opening will occur later this year, according to Springfield City Library Director Molly Fogerty.

“We are getting shipments of furniture arriving and we are so excited to be looking forward to a grand opening in early to mid December,” she said.

Mentioning the adjacent Dryden school, nearby Pope Francis Academy and the Forest Park Civic Association, Sarno said the library will become the hub of the community.

Click through to see the amazing photos!

From Hoang ‘Leon’ Nguyen / The Republican

Mayor Sarno Holds Preview Tour at New East Forest Park Branch Library

Mayor Sarno invited community and local students for a special preview tour of their future library.

Mayor Sarno Invites the Community and Local Students for a Special Preview Tour of Their Future Library

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno hosted preview tour of the new East Forest Park Branch Library today at 136 Surrey Road in Springfield. Mayor Sarno led project donors and East Forest Park community members through the building to get the first glimpse of their almost-completed library. The tour featured the new library’s first-ever storytime, held by Mayor Sarno for students of the Mary. A Dryden Veterans Memorial School. The Mayor read “The Book With No Pictures,” by BJ Novak to the students. Florence Savings Bank also presented a $25,000 check to the Promise Realized Campaign.

Mayor Sarno stated, “This continues my administration’s efforts to enhance all our neighborhoods – today it’s our East Forest Park neighborhood. A stand-alone branch has been talked about for well over 40 years – I’m proud to say that this is another major accomplishment of the Sarno administration. This library is so well deserved, especially coming off the devastating EF3 tornado of June 1, 2011. It was the resiliency of our residents that not only kept me and my administration going 24/7, but just as important planning for the future rebuild of our affected areas. I am very grateful to all our benefactors, whether large or small, especially to retired Mayor Charlie Ryan and our Library Foundation’s generosity.”

Library Director Molly Fogarty expressed her enthusiasm. “We’re at the final stages of completion now and it’s truly amazing to see the years of hard work coming together. The positive impact this building will have on city residents will be immeasurable so it’s great they will be among the first to see it. We’re so grateful to everyone who has made this project possible.” According to Fogarty, the new library is expected to be a “model for the future”.

Click to read more.

Mayor Sarno Storytime

Community getting first look inside new Springfield library (Western Mass News)

A brand new multi-million-dollar library is almost complete in Springfield and on Tuesday, residents received a first look inside.

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) — A brand new multi-million-dollar library is almost complete in Springfield and on Tuesday, residents received a first look inside.

The East Forest Park branch library is almost finished and today, residents in the area are allowed to go inside. Tours are being held throughout the day.

The library, which is nearly 17,000 square feet, includes a large family room, a dedicated teen area, a community meeting room, computer stations, quiet study rooms, large book and media collections, and even an outdoor patio and reading garden.

Click through for video and to read the rest of the article.

City of Springfield Municipal Election – Tuesday, November 5

Elections are Tuesday November 5 – this affects some library locations.

The City of Springfield’s Municipal Election is Tuesday, November 5. The following library locations will be affected:

Forest Park Branch – Closed for library patrons, available only for voting
Mason Square Branch – Library open regular hours (1 pm – 5 pm), Community Room used for voting
Library Express at Pine Point – Closed for library patrons (per normal Tuesday schedule), available only for voting

To learn more about the election, and to find your polling location, please click here for the City Elections Website.

Forest Park Branch: “Gun violence, equality: The raw concerns of Springfield’s youth” (WWLP)

Outside the Forest Park Library are dozens of lawn signs with the raw concerns of Springfield’s youth.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – They can’t vote yet, but Springfield’s youth has a good handle on what issues face their community and their country.

Outside the Forest Park Library are dozens of lawn signs that look like the ones you typically see during election season. If you look closer, however, you’ll see the raw concerns of Springfield’s youth: gun violence, racism, and sexual harassment.

The project was spearheaded by Forest Park Library’s supervisor Alex Remy and allowed Springfield middle and high schoolers to fill in what they wanted ‘Freedom From’ and ‘Freedom For.’ It was inspired by a similar project at Waltham Public Library.

Click through for article and picture gallery.

Springfield Central Library Renovations Completed (WAMC)

A major renovation project has been completed at one of the most historically significant and heavily used public buildings in the city of Springfield, Massachusetts.

The $4 million project at the Central Library on State Street included replacing the entire flat roof and gutter system and substituting the crumbling terracotta cornices and lion head ornaments with molded plaster. The front marble stairs were reconstructed and in the rear of the building a new access ramp was put in.

All the work has resulted in the building becoming more accessible and safe for library patrons and protecting its collections from any possible damage, according to Molly Fogarty, Director of the Springfield City Library.

Springfield Central Library Celebrates Completion of $4 Million Renovation Project

The Springfield City Library hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony today at the Central Library located at 220 State Street to celebrate the completion of a $4 million renovation and historic restoration project.

10/09/2019 – The Springfield City Library hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony today at the Central Library located at 220 State Street to celebrate the completion of a $4 million renovation and historic restoration project. The ceremony featured a number of speakers including Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Helen Caulton-Harris, Health and Human Services Commissioner, Stephen Cary, Chair of the Springfield Library Commission, Peter Garvey, Director of Capital Asset and Kay Simpson, President of the Springfield Museums.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno stated, “This is my administration’s continued efforts to improve the physical plan of our municipal buildings. This effort will also enhance accessibility and the welcoming experience to our Andrew Carnegie Central Library and Quadrangle Museum complex.”

Library Director Molly Fogarty expressed her enthusiasm. “The Central Library is an information and cultural resource for the entire city and is one of Springfield’s most historically significant and heavily used public buildings. The completed renovations provide increased accessibility and enhance the experience for more than 400,000 visitors every year and for generations of visitors.”

The Central Library was built in 1912 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It is among four Springfield libraries and 17,00 around the United States that were funded in part by donations from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries.

Read more at the city website – click here.

Springfield Central Library unveils new ramp and plaza (WWLP)

Improved access to a historical library branch in downtown Springfield.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass (WWLP) – Improved access to a historical library branch in downtown Springfield.

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and City Library Director Molly Fogarty cut the ribbon, unveiling the new ramp and plaza at the library Wednesday morning.

A disabled Springfield woman was also invited to help open the newly upgraded entrance-way.

A proud moment for Goldie Clark, who loves coming to the Springfield Central library branch several times a week from her home on nearby Chestnut Street.

City of Springfield Preliminary Election September 10

City of Springfield Preliminary Election is Sept 10 – this affects some library locations.

The City of Springfield’s Preliminary Election is Tuesday, September 10. The following library locations will be affected:

Forest Park Branch – Closed for library patrons, available only for voting
Mason Square Branch – Library open regular hours (1 pm – 5 pm), Community Room used for voting
Library Express at Pine Point – Closed for library patrons (per normal Tuesday schedule), available only for voting

To learn more about the election, and to find your polling location, please click here for the City Elections Website.