Author: Elizabeth McKinstry

PeoplesBank awards $10K to support Springfield Library summer programming

The Springfield Library Foundation has received a $10,000 grant from PeoplesBank to support the Springfield City Library’s 2025 Summer Reading Program, “Level Up At Your Library.”

Read on WWLP

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Springfield Library Foundation has received a $10,000 grant from PeoplesBank to support the Springfield City Library’s 2025 Summer Reading Program, “Level Up At Your Library.”

The funding will allow the library to expand programming and outreach efforts at its nine branches and through partnerships with local organizations. The initiative aims to boost participation and engagement among children, teens, and adults across the city.

“We are very grateful to PeoplesBank for their stalwart support of the Library,” said Matt Blumenfeld, Executive Director of the Springfield Library Foundation. “PeoplesBank’s investment matches funds that comes directly from the Library Foundation and will provide the City Library with critical resources to expand outreach and impact of this vital and fun program.”

This year’s theme, “Level Up At Your Library,” encourages community members to collectively reach a goal of one million minutes read over the summer. The program also aims to register more than 3,000 participants.

“This summer our mantra is One Million Reading Minutes,” said Rachel Gravel, the Library’s Manager of Adult & Youth Information Services. “We have set an ambitious goal and want to increase participation in the program to 3,000 children, youth and adults this summer.”

Matt Bannister, PeoplesBank’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility, presented the grant to the foundation. “Our commitment to the community is demonstrated through volunteerism and financial support and we see this grant as an investment in encouraging and inspiring new generations of life-long learners and readers. We are proud to support the Library Foundation and, in turn, the City Library to expand their reach and impact.”

The Summer Reading Program will begin in June with kickoff events for all ages, including a system-wide adult summer reading launch on June 12 at the Mason Square Branch. The season will wrap up with a city-wide End of Summer Celebration on August 23.

Activities funded by the grant include music classes, musical petting zoos, the Story City series, mobile arcade games, virtual reality experiences, role-playing and board game clubs, BINGO, and escape rooms. Children and teens who sign up will receive a free book of their choice, and participants will be eligible for weekly prizes as they track their reading progress.

All events and activities are free and open to the public. More information, including a full schedule, is available on their website. Springfield City Library continues to position itself as a vital hub for community wellness and support.

Summer series to support teen mental health at Springfield Library

The Springfield City Library is rolling out a citywide initiative this summer aimed at supporting the mental health of teenagers.

Read on WWLP

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Springfield City Library is rolling out a citywide initiative this summer aimed at supporting the mental health of teenagers, offering a range of free programs from May through September across all library branches.

The “Teen Mental Health Events” series is designed to help teens navigate the challenges of adolescence through activities that connect physical health, creative expression, and emotional resilience. With workshops and interactive sessions scheduled throughout the summer, the initiative seeks to provide tools and resources for mental wellness in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

“We understand that navigating the teenage years can bring unique challenges, and prioritizing mental health is crucial,” said Teen Services Librarian Sarah Hodge-Wetherbe, who is leading the project. “Our goal with this series is to empower teens with practical tools and knowledge while fostering a sense of community and connection across our city.”

The event series will include:

  • Movement and Mindfulness Workshops: Focused on stress reduction and emotional regulation through gentle exercise, yoga, breathing techniques, and guided meditation.
  • Creative Expression Sessions: Offering teens the chance to explore self-expression through art, writing, music, and other creative outlets.
  • Interactive Discussions: Facilitated conversations on topics such as managing anxiety, understanding different aspects of mental health, and learning how to advocate for oneself.

Events are open to all teens in Springfield and will rotate through various library locations to ensure accessibility across neighborhoods. No registration is required unless noted for specific sessions.

Complete schedules, including dates, times, and locations, will be posted on the Springfield City Library’s website and shared via the library’s social media channels.

In addition to traditional educational resources, the Springfield City Library continues to position itself as a vital hub for community wellness and support.

Springfield Local Author Book Fair

Come to the Local Author Fair to meet recently published authors and enjoy their works in this showcase of local talent and achievement.

The next Local Author Book Fair will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Rotunda and Rice Hall on the second floor at the Central Library.

Meet Your Neighbors, Meet Their Books!

Join us for a celebration of Springfield’s vibrant literary scene at the Local Author Book Fair! This exciting event brings together a diverse range of local authors, all eager to connect with readers and share their passion for storytelling.

Why Attend?

Support Local Authors: Discover the wealth of talent right in your own community. Buy a book directly from the author and help them continue their creative journey.

Find Your Next Great Read: Explore a variety of genres, from captivating fiction to informative non-fiction. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a mystery buff, a history enthusiast, or a lover of poetry.

Connect with Fellow Bookworms: Chat with authors about their work, get your books personalized with a signature, and mingle with other book lovers who share your passion for reading.

Mark Your Calendars!

The next Local Author Book Fair will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Rotunda and Rice Hall on the second floor at the Central Library.

Admission is free, so come meet your neighbors and discover the hidden gems of Springfield’s literary world!

List of Authors – September 2024

AuthorBookInstagram IconFaceBook iconlink icon
Katherine AndersonMurder at the Alma MaterInstagram IconFaceBook iconlink icon
RA CookGood To Be Me – Discovering What Makes Me Special & UniqueInstagram IconFaceBook iconlink icon
Michael DeStefanoThe Old CorsairInstagram Iconlink icon
Donalyn GrossWhat Does Death Look Like?
K. HicksonStars & StripesInstagram Icon
Mary Anne HorsmanSet the Stage for Success: De-clutter, Get Organized and Love Your LifeInstagram IconFaceBook iconlink icon
Travis KuffelUnleashedInstagram IconFaceBook iconlink icon
LaTonia Monroe NaylorMission-Rich AND Profit-Powered: A Guide to Transforming Your Passion into a Fully-Funded BusinessInstagram IconFaceBook iconlink icon
Anne PinkertonWere You Close? a sister’s quest to know the brother she lostInstagram IconFaceBook iconlink icon
Meg ThacherSky Gazing: a Guide to the Moon, Sun, Planets, Stars, Eclipses, ConstellationsInstagram IconFaceBook iconlink icon
Lisa ZarconeThe Book of JoannInstagram IconFaceBook icon

List of Authors – April 2024

Below is a list of authors who attended the Local Author Fair – your neighbors, sharing their art! Also, titles of their most recent book – although several will have multiple books to share.

Stephen Billias – A Book of Fields
Bela Breslau and Stephen Billias – Pilgrim Maya
Justin Cascio – In Our Blood: The Mafia Families of Corleone
Tian Connaughton – Cardigans For Every Body: because every body is worthy
D. Dina Friedman – Immigrants
Adrián Gras-Velázquez – Lo que hago en mi habitación
Robert Loesch – Out on a Limb and Other Stories
Stephanie Marrero-Wilson – Healing in Him: 31 Day Journaling Devotional
Jane F. Morrissey, SSJ – Finding Jane in the Box – a Memoir
Jennifer Allis Provost – Oleander
Ruth Sanderson – A Storm of Horses: The Story of Artist Rosa Bonheur
Dulce Santana – Flowers in the City
H. Triplett – Perforated Fiber Forbidden Memories
Dennis Walter – The Misguided Mentor

Are You A Local Author?

Get on our list to be invited next time! We hold Author Fairs about twice a year, in the Spring and the Fall.

Local Authors – Submit Your Information

Local Authors – sign up now!

Please fill our this form to submit your information to be added to our database of local authors – we will pull from this list for all future author fairs!

For questions, please email emckinstry@springfieldlibrary.org.

Springfield residents meet candidates ahead of municipal election (WWLP)

Election season is here for the city of Springfield, and Wednesday night residents had the chance to get to know the candidates a little better.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Election season is here for the city of Springfield, and Wednesday night residents had the chance to get to know the candidates a little better.

The Springfield City Library hosted the meet-and-greet for candidates in Springfield’s municipal election. This as early voting is currently underway for the preliminary election for mayor, city council at-large, and Ward 6.

Voters there telling us its important to make future city leaders accessible to residents. “They can come here and talk to the incumbent and somebody running against the incumbent, and say “how are you going to address this situation in my neighborhood?” And they can decide for themselves who will represent them better,” says Assistant Director for Public Services at Springfield City Library, Jean Canosa Albano.

The preliminary election for Springfield is Tuesday, September 12th.

Click through to watch the video!

‘Anthony’s Book Club’ to support literacy in Springfield (WWLP)

Join Thunderbirds forward Anthony Angello for ‘Anthony’s Book Club’, created in partnership with the Springfield City Library and the T-Birds Foundation.

Check out the story from WWLP

January 10, 2023:

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)– A new effort to promote reading and literacy in Springfield is underway thanks to a member of the Springfield Thunderbirds hockey team.

‘Anthony’s Book Club’, named for Thunderbirds forward Anthony Angello, was created in partnership with the Springfield City Library and the T-Birds Foundation.

Angello will be visiting five different branches of the Springfield City Library in January and February for live story time readings, activities, and meet-and-greet sessions with young T-Birds fans. He will be joined by other team members and mascot Boomer. The Foundation will also be contributing to Anthony’s Book Club with donations of books and supplies during their visits.

“Just like the Springfield City Library, the Springfield Thunderbirds are part of our community,” said Jean Canosa Albano, Assistant Director for Public Services at the Springfield City Library. “When I learned about Anthony Angello’s commitment to reading and literacy through his ABC Anthony’s Book Club, I knew it was a great match for the Library. Reading aloud not only provides a foundation for success, it’s fun! We can’t wait to welcome Anthony, Boomer, and local families to the Library.”

“We are proud to support Anthony’s passion for children’s literacy through the ABC program,” said Thunderbirds President Nathan Costa. “Any cause close to a player’s heart makes it all the more meaningful to us as an organization. The T-Birds Foundation will be directly involved from the onset of the program to ensure that the Springfield City Library has ample resources for all children who visit. It is our hope that the libraries are packed with enthusiastic young readers thanks to Anthony’s encouragement and example.”

Tentative dates and locations for Anthony’s Book Club are as follows:

For more information about Anthony’s Book Club and other Thunderbirds community programming go to the team’s website.

Springfield Yearbook Donations and Digitization

Donate yearbooks to preserve Springfield history and make them available online for all!

Donate Your Yearbooks

Would you like to be a part of preserving Springfield History? The Library needs your help!

We want to fill in our very incomplete yearbook collection, and then put scanned copies online for anyone to access freely.

If you have a yearbook from any High School in Springfield, Massachusetts – public, private, or charter – from any year, and are willing to donate it to the library, just drop it off at one of our nine locations in Springfield.

It’s okay if it has writing in it, or it’s not in perfect condition. We’ll add all usable copies to our collection for people to browse, and send as much of the collection as we can to be scanned by Digital Commonwealth at the Boston Public Library.

Then Springfield’s yearbooks will be up on the internet for anyone to look at, any time, from anywhere!

So please look for that old yearbook, and give it to us so we can create a yearbook archive for Springfield! We appreciate your help with this important project to preserve our community’s history.

If you have any questions about this project, you can reach us at 413-263-6828, x213, or ask@springfieldlibrary.org, or fill out our Ask A Librarian form, here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why yearbooks?

A. After newspaper articles, yearbooks are the most common local history reference request we get. We have a very small, patchy collection at present, and we would love to have a complete, accessible collection, that can be viewed at Central Library during all open hours!

Q. Can you just borrow my yearbook, scan it, and give it back to me after you’re done with it?

A. Not at this time. Getting these yearbooks cataloged, organized, and sent off for digitization will take close to a year, and we’re worried we might have trouble finding you again. Also, we want people to be able to come to the library and see yearbooks in person. But if you want to talk to us further about your yearbook, you can reach us using the contact information above, and someone from the yearbook team will reply!

Q. What if you get a lot of duplicates?

A. We’ll keep them! We’ll send the best one off to be digitized, but we will not throw out any yearbook that’s not already extremely damaged. It’s common for libraries to keep multiple copies of items that are hard to replace.

Q. How soon will all the yearbooks be online?

A. We hope within 12 months. This will depend on many factors not in our control, though, like the wait list at Digital Commonwealth, and how quickly donations come in, and how complete our collection becomes.

Q. Are you considering digitizing other Springfield documents?

A. Yes! Some of the older City Directories were digitized several years ago, and we hope to do more after the yearbook project. But yearbooks are by far the most popular item people would like to see online.

News Coverage

WWLP Story

WWLP Video

Springfield Libraries Eliminate Late Fees (Masslive.com)

Patrons of all Springfield City Library branches will no longer be penalized if they don’t return books and other materials on time.

SPRINGFIELD — Patrons of all Springfield City Library branches will no longer be penalized if they don’t return books and other materials on time.

The Springfield Library Commission voted unanimously in 2019 to remove all late fees on library items, but held off on making an announcement on the change due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Springfield City Library employees and Mayor Domenic Sarno called a press conference at the Brightwood branch, 359 Plainfield St., to announce the news Thursday.

“In the last fiscal year, we collected about $7,000 in our fines and fees account and only about $700 of that was for late fines. The rest of it (was for) replacement costs,” said Jean M. Canosa Albano, assistant director for public services. “For anyone concerned that we’re just letting everything go, no, you still have to bring back the materials you returned, but if you’re late, it’s OK.”

Canosa Albano went on to say that after a set period of time, the patron will receive a message in their mail and other alerts to remind them they are in possession of an overdue item, but will still not be charged for it, as long as the item is returned in good condition.

Read more at Masslive.com.

The Springfield Library Foundation Mourns the Death of Charles V. Ryan

Charlie Ryan’s devotion to the City of Springfield and the Library were well-known facets of his long and productive life and his tireless efforts made it possible for our Library system to thrive.

The Springfield Library Foundation mourns the death of Charles V. Ryan who passed away on October 18, 2021 and extends heartfelt sympathy to his family and friends.

Charlie Ryan’s devotion to the City of Springfield and the Library were well-known facets of his long and productive life and, as Mayor Domenic Sarno acknowledged in recent remarks, Charlie’s tireless efforts truly saved, enhanced and made it possible for our Library system to thrive. For the Library Foundation, Charlie was instrumental in guiding it toward its position today, as a key Library funder and advocate.

“We are deeply saddened by Charlie’s passing, and wish his entire family peace during this difficult time,” said Foundation President Pat Markey. “Charlie’s advocacy for the City Library and the Foundation have made it possible for us to support programs, materials and capital efforts for decades to come. His work has made a tremendously positive and direct impact on thousands of residents of Springfield, the City Charlie loved so well. He stands forever as a stellar role model as we dedicate ourselves to upholding his legacy and continuing to support Springfield’s children, adults, seniors and families through the good works of the City Library.”

The Ryan Family has requested that charitable gifts in memory of Charlie be made to the Springfield Library Foundation. Gifts may be made on line at: https://www.springfieldlibrary.org/library/about/the-springfield-library-foundation/ (please use the donate button), or by sending a donation to Springfield Library Foundation, 220 State Street, 4th Floor, Springfield MA 01103.

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