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The month of May has been set aside in the United States to recognize the many histories, cultures, and achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans. Learn more about the varied heritages and experiences of these important groups by reading these books, available through curbside pickup. #SCLRecs
Did you know that Margaret and H.A. Rey, the beloved American creators of Curious George, were Jewish refugees who narrowly escaped Nazi Europe on bicycles? The Reys' work is among countless Jewish contributions to the life and culture of our country. These books and more are available at your neighborhood library - check them out with your little one and celebrate the diversity of America! #SCLRecs
As the weather gets warmer, there’s nothing like firing up the grill for some lip smacking barbecue. Check out our selections for some of the best books on how to cook the perfect summer treat! Click the "booklists on a theme" link in bio or go to tinyurl.com/SCLBBQ to reserve right in the catalog with your library card! #SCLRecs #BBQMonth #BarbecueMonth
Love Shadow and Bone, the books and/or the new hit @Netflix series? Check out some of these readlikes, get them curbside or as a ebook on Libby/Overdrive or Hoopla! #SCLRecs #ShadowandBone #TeenBooks
Are you hooked on the fascinating, terrifying television series The Handmaid's Tale? Margaret Atwood, the story's Canadian creator, is also an award winning novelist. Call for curbside and treat yourself to more of her acclaimed work. #SCLRecs
May is #OlderAmericansMonth. Aging is deeply feared in our society, mainly because the dominant culture has stereotyped old people as foolish, helpless, and unimportant. These stereotypes have real-world results, such as age discrimination in the workplace and the warehousing of elders in underfunded, understaffed nursing homes. Learn to see aging a different way by reading these books, available through curbside pickup. #SCLRecs #Aging
May 9-15 is National Hurricane Preparedness Week. While Western Mass is not threatened by storm surge during a hurricane, we often encounter hurricane conditions, such as damaging winds, tornadoes, flooding, washouts, downed trees and power outages. This week we are encouraged to understand and assess extreme weather risks and create a plan for possibilities such as mandatory evacuation orders, having supply lines interrupted, and ensuring you and your family’s safety. For more information, call the library or visit https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes. #SCLRecs
Birds of a feather flock together! From majestic geese flying in formation to adorable penguins waddling hundreds of miles to the sea, the Earth's cycles of life are a source of wonder and remind us of our place in it all. Gather your brood and flock to the library for these books and movies about 'frequent flyers' and their treks! Please call for curbside pickup. #SCLRecs #WorldMigratoryBirdDay #MigratoryBirdDay #BirdDay #WorldBirdDay
One of the ways that oppression happens in our world is by people making other people feel bad about their bodies. It's time to reclaim our bodies and to accept them the way they are. Want to know more about body acceptance? Check out these books, available through curbside pickup. #SCLRecs #BodyAcceptance
On May 4, 1961, an interracial group of civil rights activists calling themselves the Freedom Riders sought to challenge resistance to desegregated interstate travel. In Alabama and Mississippi the KKK firebombed the bus and beat the Riders, assisted by local police who then jailed them. More than 60 additional Freedom Rides occurred between May-December 1961. The Springfield City Library honors the spirit, bravery, and legacy of the Freedom Riders by encouraging you to learn more about them. #SCLRecs #FreedomRides #FreedomRiders
May 1 is International Workers' Day, also known as Labor Day in most countries. This day is a celebration of laborers and the working classes, and it promotes the international labor movement. Learn more about worker solidarity, labor, and unions from the library! Pick up a book curbside, link in bio. #LaborDay #MayDay #InternationalLaborDay #InternationalWorkersDay #SCLRecs
Some great television shows do well in reviews but not in ratings. Check out these "gone too soon but never forgotten" favorites at your library! #SCLRecs
In 2015, entrepreneur and technology consultant Sha Battle decided to establish April as International Black Women's History Month. Her purpose was to highlight and lift up the achievements of Black women, whose contributions to the world are often minimized or overlooked. Find out more about the accomplishments and struggles of Black women by reading these books, available through curbside pickup. #SCLRecs #BlackWomensHistoryMonth #BlackWomensHistory
April is Poetry Month! Pick up some new poetry titles curbside at the library! #PoetryMonth #SCLRecs
Do you ever feel scared about what's happening to our planet, but don't know what to do? On this Earth Day, take hope--and take a look at these books, available through curbside pickup. The authors tell the truth, which can be frightening, but they also suggest ways that we can take action to save our Earth. #SCLRecs #EarthDay #EarthDay2021
April 20th is known among weed enthusiasts as 420 Day - a day to gather with friends to put a good buzz on! There are a few theories why "420" is slang for marijuana use, the most common being that it started in the 1970s when a group of high school students met after school at 4:20 daily to light up. It evolved into an act of civil disobedience, where masses of people gather to raise awareness about marijuana legalization. In states where recreational pot is legal, such as Massachusetts, 420 is now a day of celebration. #SCLRecs
Sexual assault is one of the least talked about and most misunderstood crimes. It can happen to people of any age, gender, race, ethnicity, ability, religion, and sexual orientation. To learn more about the courage and pain of survivors and about the efforts by offenders to cover up their crimes, read these books, available through curbside pickup. #SCLRecs
Check the link in our bio for a list of books of poetry by local authors! #AprilisPoetryMonth #PoetryMonth #SCLRecs #SpringfieldMA #SpringfieldMass
Herbalism is the art or practice of using herbs and herbal preparations to maintain health and to prevent, alleviate, or cure disease. Check out a list of books to learn more about herbalist history and practice! Link in bio to place holds directly in the catalog! #HerbalistDay #HerbalismDay #Herbalists #Herbalist #Herbalism #PlantMedicine #SCLRecs
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is not only one of professional basketball's most celebrated athletes but also a prolific author. His acclaimed books include a wide range of fiction and nonfiction for both children and adults. Just contact us for curbside pickup to enjoy these great titles! He's such an impressive figure that two of our librarians made lists for him - swipe to see both! #KareemAbdulJabbar #SCLRecs
April 12 is the UN's International Day of Human Space Flight, “to celebrate each year... the beginning of the space era for mankind, reaffirming the important contribution of space science and technology in achieving sustainable development goals and increasing the well-being of States and peoples, as well as ensuring the realization of their aspiration to maintain outer space for peaceful purposes.” Pick up a book about astronauts or space flight curbside! #SCLRecs #DayOfHumanSpaceFlight #InternationalDayOfHumanSpaceFlight
It's #MoneySmartWeek and we have book recommendations! Check out the extended book list - link in bio, easy click to reserve! - and the post earlier today with all the FREE webinars this week on money management! #SCLRecs
Celebrate International Kids Yoga Day with kids around the world by trying out poses that can be found in these easy to follow and fun books! Call a reference librarian at a branch near you to request a book and schedule a curbside pick up appointment. #SCLRecs #InternationalKidsYogaDay #IntlKidsYogaDay #KidsYogaDay
3...2...1...Liftoff! April is Astronomy Month! Check out these movies and nonfiction books about humanity's drive to explore the stars in the past, present, and future. Please call for curbside pickup.
#AstronomyMonth #Astronomy #AprilIsAstronomyMonth #SCLRecs
April 7 is Beaver Day! Beavers are more than fascinating watchable wildlife–they can help us solve major environmental problems. By building dams, beavers restore the land’s most valuable ecosystem, wetlands. Not only are wetlands havens of life with biodiversity comparable to tropical rain forests, they also provide essential services, such as water cleansing, climate regulation, and moderating the flow of streams. Grab a book or documentary curbside!⠀
#BeaverDay #InternationalBeaverDay #SCLRecs
Goooooooaaaaal! Did you know the US's very own soccer league, Major League Soccer (MLS), was founded 25 years ago? Score these great reads on players and their path to victory, and learn the often bumpy history of soccer in the United States. Go for the gold! See link in bio or call for curbside pickup. #MLSSoccer #MLS25 #Soccer #SCLRecs
April 3rd-11th is National Robotics Week, a time to get hyped about STEM! We're a long way off from these fictional AI pals, but advances being made today pave the way for our cybernetic companions to join us in a sooner tomorrow! Today they're Roombas...tomorrow, they're friends! Please call for curbside pickup. #SCLRecs #NationalRoboticsWeek #RoboticsWeek
From books about the teen juvenile system, to being an undocumented immigrant in 2023 when everyone is microchipped, to a dad on Death Row. Follow these teens as they overcome overwhelming adversity to discover who they really are. These books are both uplifting and devastating, but leave the reader feeling that there is hope in the darkness. #SCLRecs #Resilience
Since the coronavirus pandemic began, hate crimes against Asian Americans have been rising sharply. Recently, a Filipino woman was brutally attacked in New York City, and a gunman in Atlanta shot and killed 8 people, 6 of whom were Asian American women. These crimes were not the first instances of hate directed against Asian Americans. Learn more about the history and current realities of anti-Asian racism by reading these books, available through curbside pickup. #SCLRecs #StopAsianHate #StopAsianHateCrimes
In 2014, President Barack Obama declared March 31st, the birthday of Chicano labor leader Cesar Chavez, as Cesar Chavez Day. Along with labor organizer Dolores Huerta, Cesar Chavez founded the National Farm Workers Association (later the United Farm Workers union) and joined Filipino and Chicano farm workers in a five-year strike against California's grape growing companies. To strengthen the strike, Chavez organized a successful national boycott of non-union grapes, helping to win better wages and working conditions for the notoriously exploited workers. To learn more about the dedication and sacrifices of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, check out these books and documentary movies, available through curbside pickup. ⠀
#SCLRecs #CesarChavezDay #CesarChavez
In addition to his bestselling novels, James Patterson is also the author of fascinating true crime stories! You'll be riveted by these scandalous tales of passion, greed and revenge. #SCLRecs #JamesPatterson
Trees don't get enough love! International Day of Forests brings awareness to the importance of our leafy friends on their respective environments and the whole planet. Grab a book or movie about forests--and maybe visit your favorite trees in Forest Park afterwards! Please call for curbside pickup, link in bio. #SCLRecs #InternationalDayOfForests #InternationalDayOfForests2021 #Forests #Trees
Storytelling: it makes us human. These selections teach about the importance of storytelling to human cultures, celebrate the power of the stories we choose to tell each other, and show how telling a story can bring people together. Make some stories of your own! Please call for curbside pickup, link in bio. #SCLRecs #WorldStorytellingDay #WorldStorytellingDay2021 #Storytelling
Pandemic Service Updates
Apply for A Library Card Online
Apply for a Springfield City Library Card online.
Curbside Pickup
Curbside pickup of materials available at all Springfield City Library locations.
Library Services During Coronavirus Pandemic
Available services from Springfield City Library during the coronavirus pandemic.
Library News
Increasing Community Internet Access: Introducing Hotspots
The Library will circulate internet hotspots for those in the community that do not have internet access at home.
Welcome To Your Library Videos
Watch these fun short videos about each of our 9 locations!
Helping Eligible Springfield Residents Who Need Help Scheduling COVID-19 Vaccination Appointments
Springfied Library and Elder Affairs staff will assist eligible Springfield residents who do not have access to technology to book their vaccine appointments.
Springfield librarians, elder affairs workers will help residents register online for COVID vaccines (MassLive)
The Springfield City Library is helping Springfield seniors make vaccine appointments.
Seniors: Need help signing up for COVID vaccine in Springfield? (WWLP)
The Springfield City Library is helping Springfield seniors make vaccine appointments.