Category: Resources – Adults

Springfield MA Local History Collection

The Central Library maintains a collection of published works on Springfield area history, including local publications such as the Springfield Planning Department’s neighborhood studies. These items can be used at the library, but most cannot be checked out.

All local history titles in our collection are catalogued and searchable in the online catalog.

(For a more comprehensive local history collection, including archival material, please contact the Springfield History Library & Archives at the Wood Museum of Springfield History.)

Springfield City Directories and Springfield High School Yearbooks

The Central Library maintains a near-complete collection of City Directories from 1866 through 1989, some digitized online, and a limited collection of Springfield college and public high school yearbooks dating from the early 1900s to the late 1980s, many of which are also digitized online.

Please contact the Central Library reference desk with inquiries about these resources at 413-263-6828 ext 213 or use our Ask a Librarian reference form.

Springfield MA Newspapers

The library offers access to Springfield newspapers from 1844 to the present online through the Republican Historical and Current collection. The collection is available to browse at all library locations, and is available remotely to CW Mars cardholders. See the “Newspapers” tab below for more information.

The Central Library holds Springfield newspapers on microfilm from 1900 to the present. (Springfield newspapers prior to 1900 are held at the Springfield History Library & Archives.) Microfilm readers are available for self-service use. Librarians are available for assistance.

Genealogy Resources

The library offers in-library access to the genealogical databases, Ancestry.com and American Ancestors, and remote access for Springfield  City Library cardholders to Fold3 (military records), and HeritageHub (obituaries). You can make an appointment for genealogical assistance from a librarian – please click here for more information.

More Free Online Resources

MassHire Springfield Career Center
413-858-2800
admin@masshirespringfield.org

Youthworks
413-858-2818
pgedeon@masshirespringfield.org

MassHire Springfield assists youth and adults in finding jobs and building their skill sets to meet the needs of local businesses. Jobseekers, advance your job search and career through job listings and through workshops and career training options. Specialized services for veterans, people with disabilities, and migrant and seasonal farm workers. Business owners, MassHire serves as your workforce partner to help you with recruitment, hiring, and retention.

Ayuda a jóvenes y adultos a encontrar trabajo y desarrollar sus habilidades para satisfacer las necesidades de las empresas locales. Solicitantes de empleo, avance su búsqueda de empleo y carrera a través de listados de trabajo y a través de talleres y opciones de capacitación profesional. Propietarios de negocios, MassHire trabaja como su socio laboral para ayudarlo con el reclutamiento, la contratación y la retención.

Just getting started?

The Springfield City Library regularly offers classes on Computer Basics and specifically for Job Seekers –  visit our adult programs page for more information and to register for upcoming classes.

Our Book A Librarian service is available for one-on-one assistance with basic computing, job searching, resume writing, or just figuring out how to use different features on your smart phone. To schedule an appointment, call or visit the Springfield City Library location most convenient to you for half-hour tutoring sessions.

ERC (EMPLOYMENT RESOURCE COLLECTION)

The Employment Resource Collection (ERC) is a collection of books, catalogs, and brochures selected to help job seekers find work, professional training, and/or further their education. Subjects covered in the ERC include test preparation for schooling and trades; resume writing, job interview skills, career guidance, college and scholarship information, and other related topics. The largest ERC is housed at the Central Library in Rice Hall with over 750 job seeker books and resources, though the Brightwood, Forest Park, and Indian Orchard branches also have impressive selections of job seeker books in their ERCs too. Most ERC materials are available for loan, though some are intended for in-house use only.

Job seeker books and DVDs are available at all library locations including those that do not have specially designated ERCs. Please see your branch librarian for help finding these or any other library items.

Helpful Dewey Decimal call numbers:

Careers: 331.7-331.7020973
Test preparation: 378.1662 – 378.1664
College (selecting and paying for): 378.3 – 378.7309
Resumes: 650.14
Cover letters: 650.142
Spanish: 860s

Need help with technology or using the library’s electronic resources? We can help you by phone, e-mail, in person or through our Book A Librarian service – available for one-on-one assistance with basic computing.

Local

Reference:

• Hampden Law Library – 50 State Street, Courthouse, Springfield – Open to the public the law library offers: help with legal research, books and materials to borrow, online databases for no charge (including Westlaw and Lexis), and free public wifi. | (413) 748-7923
• City of Springfield, Good Neighbor Guide – Online Guide – Quality of Life Regulations in the City of Springfield. Includes: Business Licenses & Regulations, Animals, Waste Collection, Public Peace & Welfare, Motor Vehicles, Streets, Sidewalks & Public Places, Building Maintenance, Neighborhood Organizations.
• City of Springfield, Online Public Records – Website – Budget, Expenditures and Financial Plans, City Governance, Code Enforcement, Economic Development, Elections, Property and Taxation, Public Safety, Vital Records

Lawyer Referral Services:

• Community Legal Aid – One Monarch Place, Springfield – Provides free civil legal services to low-income and elderly residents of central and western Massachusetts. CLA also provides free civil legal assistance to victims of crime and survivors of homicide victims. | (508) 425-2785
• Hampden County Bar Association – 50 State Street, Springfield | (413) 732-4660

Immigration Law Resources

• ACLU Immigrant Protection Project of Western Mass – The Immigrant Protection Project (IPP) is a coordinated regional effort by attorneys and organizations to provide immigrants in Western Massachusetts with referrals for legal assistance and connections to other services. | (413) 727-8515
• ​El Proyecto de Protección al Inmigrante (IPP) es un esfuerzo regional coordinado de abogados y organizaciones para conectar a inmigrantes en el oeste de Massachusetts con referencias para asistencia legal y servicios que abordan otras necesidades de la comunidad inmigrante en todo el Pioneer Valley y el are de Berkshires. | (413) 727-8515
• Berkshire Immigrant Center – 88 South Street, Pittsfield | (413) 445-4881
• Center for New Americans – 42 Gothic St, Northampton – Offers Immigration legal services. Contact Maureen at citizen@cnam.org | (413) 587-0084
• Community Legal Aid – One Monarch Place, Springfield | (508) 425-2785
• New England Justice for our Neighbors – Trinity United Methodist Church, 361 Sumner Avenue, Springfield | (413) 386-9951
• Catholic Charities– Office of Immigration, Migration, and Refugee Services -65 Elliot Street, Springfield – Services are offered for a nominal fee for all documented immigrants, refugees and asylees. In addition to aiding clients with their CIS documents, our caseworkers can provide referrals to legal services, social services and ESOL classes for immigrants regardless of status. | (413) 452-0626 | immigration@diospringfield.org

State

Reference:

• MassLegalHelp.org – MassLegalHelp.org’s mission is to use the Web to improve access to justice for low income and disadvantaged people. It provides practical information about your legal rights in Massachusetts.
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Public Records – A website of the Secretary of the State Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Includes: Notary Public Information, Marriages in Massachusetts, Public Records Access, and Information on the Public Records Law.
• The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts – Find my Legislator – Bills – Laws
• Massachusetts Court System –  Website  – Includes a Courthouse locator, Information on Jury Duty, Access to New Opinions, and the ability to search Court Dockets.
• Massachusetts General Laws – An online searchable database of the General Laws of Massachusetts.
• Massachusetts Law Resources in the State Library – The State Library has an extensive collection of Massachusetts law resources, including statutes and legislative materials, administrative law and judicial reports.

Lawyer Referral Services:

• Committee for Public Counsel Services – Provide legal representation in Massachusetts for those unable to afford an attorney in all matters in which the law requires the appointment of counsel.

Immigration Law Resources

• PAIR Project – Political Asylum / Immigration Representation Project – 98 North Washington Street, Suite 106, Boston – PAIR provides free immigration services to indigent asylum-seekers and detained immigrants, assuring fairness and access to justice. | (617) 742-9296
• Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center – 316 Main Street, Suite 804, Worcester | (508) 756-7557
• Ascentria Care Alliance – The Immigration Legal Assistance Program is
  part of Services for New Americans and provides free and low-cost legal services to immigrants and refugees in Massachusetts. | (413) 562-6015

Federal

Reference:

Federal Depository Library Program – The Springfield City Library is a congressionally designated depository for U.S. Government documents. Public access to the government documents collection is guaranteed by public law. (Title 44 United States Code). To learn more about the program and the kinds of resources that are collected through it, please visit the guide linked above.

USA.gov – Laws and Legal Issues – Website – Official Guide to Government Information Services. Includes information on: Complaints, Crime and Prisons, Federal Laws and Regulations, Labor Laws and Issues, Personal Legal Issues, Documents, and Family History, Scam and Frauds, U.S. Government Works, Voting and Election Laws and History, Your Legal Disability Rights.

Immigration Law Resources:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services – USCIS is the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States. | Forms | Tools | Citizenship | Green Card | Legal Resources

Just getting started?

Need help with technology or using the library’s electronic Resources? We can help you by phone, e-mail, in person or through our Book A Librarian service – available for one-on-one assistance with basic computing.