Category: Archive

02/23/22 – Mayor Sarno and HHS Commissioner Caulton-Harris Announce Citywide Mask Mandate will expire Monday, February 28, 2022

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Health and Human Services (HHS) Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris announced today that the citywide mask mandate will expire on Monday, February 28, 2022. The mask mandate for the Springfield Public Schools will remain in effect through the month of March.

Mayor Sarno states, “After reviewing the recent COVID-19 trends with Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris, we are happy to report that we have seen five consecutive weeks of a significant decrease in COVID-19 cases.  Based on this news, our citywide vaccination rates steadily increasing and the positive trends we are seeing, Commissioner Caulton-Harris and I are confident that we can let this citywide mask mandate expire on Monday, February 28, 2022.  We have all worked so hard and our efforts have worked in mitigating the spread of COVID-19.  It is important to not to ostracize anyone who wishes to continue to wear a mask when this mask mandate expires, as they may feel safe wearing them still and/or they may have a compromised immune system.”

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Beginning February 28, 2022: rapid at-home COVID-19 testing kits will only be available at the New North Citizens Council, South End Community Center, Clodo Concepcion Center (Greenleaf Community Center), and the Department of Health and Human Services.  Locations, days and hours listed below:

• Dept. of Health & Human Services – 311 State Street, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesday
• New North Citizens Council – 2455 Main Street, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesday
• South End Community Center – 99 Marble Street, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesday
• Clodo Concepcion Center (Greenleaf Community Center) – 1187 Parker Street, from 10 a.m. 2 p.m. on Thursdays

The City of Springfield continues to offer a vaccination clinic at the Department of Health and Human Services every Tuesday, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.  Residents can also get their vaccination and booster shot at any one of the many vaccination clinics throughout the city, including at your local pharmacy stores such as CVS and Walgreens.

For more information on the City of Springfield’s COVID-19 statistical information, please visit the City of Springfield’s COVID-19 situational update webpage at:  Health and Human Service COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Statistical Information: City of Springfield, MA (springfield-ma.gov)

For information and locations of vaccination clinics, please visit the City of Springfield’s COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments and Clinics webpage at:  COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment and Clinics: City of Springfield, MA (springfield-ma.gov)

Read more at the City website.

Springfield City Library now has an option for you to sign up for an eCard!

What is an eCard?

An eCard is a CW MARS (Central Western Massachusetts Resource Sharing) library card that you can register for online without the need to visit a library in person. It provides cardholders access to electronic materials – such as ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and databases.

The eCard does not allow you to check out physical materials. It is for electronic materials only. eCards may be upgraded to a physical library card with full borrowing privileges by visiting your local library.

Am I eligible for an eCard?

You are eligible to apply for a CW MARS eCard, if you…

• live in a Massachusetts town with a CW MARS member library,
• are age 13 or older,
• and do not currently have a library card from a CW MARS member library.

The eCard is for patrons who do not already have a CW MARS library card, and are not able to visit our library locations in person. If you need to renew an existing card, please call us at 413-263-6828 x218 or any Springfield City Library location. If you’re not sure if you have a CW MARS card already, ask us!

How do I apply for an eCard?

Click your desired language to be taken to the eCard application form:
English | Español | 中文 | Français | Polszczyzna | Русский

Please read through the form and Statement of Responsibility. The following information is required:

• First and Last Name
• Date of Birth
• Email Address (your eCard number will be emailed to the address provided)
• Current Home Address

After filling out the form, you’ll get instant* access to e-content.

*Eligible users will be provided with an eCard number immediately after registration that can be used to access resources on our eLibrary.

Can I check out physical material on my eCard?

No. To check out physical material at your library, you will need to upgrade your eCard to one with full borrowing privileges.

If you would prefer to apply for a library card with full borrowing privileges, you may begin the process online here or call your local Springfield City Library branch.

I’m having trouble using my eCard. What should I do?

If you’re having a problem with your eCard, you can start with the CW MARS eCard Troubleshooting FAQ. You may also call your local Springfield City Library branch for help or email us at askalibrarian@springfieldlibrary.org.

01/11/22 – Mayor Sarno and HHS Commissioner Caulton-Harris Continue to Provide At-Home Rapid Covid-19 Testing Kits for Springfield Residents

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Health and Human Services (HHS) Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris continue to work to get rapid antigen at-home Covid-19 testing kits in the hands of our Springfield residents. Identification will be required and will be checked by HHS staff.

Mayor Sarno and Commissioner Caulton-Harris will make available another 25,000 at-home testing kits which will be distributed at the following locations, days, and times starting on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.

Two kits per household will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis, while supplies last.

Read more at the City website.

02/14/2022 – UPDATE

As of today, the library and all branches are resuming regular hours of operation. Public access to computers has been restored. In-person programming continues to be suspended, and masks are still required inside all library locations.

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01/03/2022 – Mayor Sarno and HHS Commissioner Caulton-Harris Announce Senior Centers and Libraries to Switch to Hybrid Operations – Encourage Residents to Conduct City Business Remotely or Schedule an Appointment –

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris announced today that due to an alarming and significant increase in COVID-19 cases and out of an abundance of caution, the City of Springfield’s public libraries will switch to hybrid operations.

All neighborhood library branches will suspend programing but will offer pickup services for library patrons.

To see the limited open hours for each branch – mostly afternoons – please click here.

Library patrons may enter their local library to pick up their materials but all in-person programming will be suspended, including computer access and usage.

To see online and take-and-make events, please see our Events Calendar.

Check out the full story and video from WWLP – they interviewed people at Central Library on the first day of handing out kits!

An excerpt:

As we approach Christmas and its many family gatherings, home testing has become a must for many people.

“We’re planning on going to our grandparents house for Christmas and there are those who are not getting vaccinated. So I think it’s our responsibility, out visiting everyone,” said Nicole Rooney of Springfield.

Emily Colon of Springfield has a child on the way, adding to her determination to take the test and get the result within fifteen minutes, “Me and my husband work full time and I’m in my first trimester of my pregnancy. So we’re just going to be cautious.”

Eugene Couser of Springfield just came to the library to take out a couple of books but after thinking if over, he too asked for a couple of the at home testing kits, “Even though I’ve got the vaccine, you can never be too safe, you know what I mean. And I want to do myself and my wife. My wife is right now under the weather.”

“Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris and I want to thank the Baker-Politio Administration for their continued efforts partnering with us throughout this COVID-19 pandemic. These free rapid COVID-19 at-home test kits will provide our residents with another easy and convenient option to get tested. This distribution plan is part of my administrations continued commitment to making these testing kits readily available by utilizing our neighborhood library branches, the Raymond Jordan Senior Center and our many community partners and to increase access for our residents and their families,” said Sarno.

SPRINGFIELD, MASS.- September 29, 2021 –  Applications are now open for women, teen girls, and women-identified people interested in an introduction to writing and performing inviting, exciting, and inspiring poetry. Join this master class with Springfield’s Poet Laureate, Magdalena Gómez. Space is very limited in each of the cohorts with pre-registration required. The application form is available on the Springfield City Library´s website.

The program series, Out/Spoken Words, is for participants at all levels in their poetry writing and performance. Master Classes are usually for professionals in a particular field. This is a Master Class for anyone who truly loves poetry and/or spoken word and wants to share that passion with others. Ms. Gómez added, “Participants will be provided with tools and encouragement to conjure poems and voice for performance of their original writing. All we ask is your willingness to fully participate and to bring a poem that matters to you to your first session, whether you wrote it or not.” The workshops will culminate in a public performance by participants at the Mason Square Branch Library Further information can be found at the Library’s website, or by calling 413-263-6828, ext. 291.

About the presenter:  Magdalena Gómez was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. She studied English and Theater at Lehman College, and Spanish Literature at the University of Sevilla, Spain. She is the author of Shameless Woman (Red Sugarcane Press, 2014) and the co-editor of Bullying: Replies, Rebuttals, Confessions and Catharsis (Skyhorse Publishing, 2012). Her new book of lyrical narrative will be released by Heliotrope Books, NYC, in April 2022.

Mayor Domenic Sarno recently announced he has extended Gómez’ term as Springfield’s Poet Laureate for another year, to encompass 2019 through 2022. Ms. Gómez is the recipient of a $50,000 Poet Laureate Fellowship from the Academy of American Poets in 2021 with funds from The Mellon Foundation. A portion of those funds will support these workshops at the Springfield City Library.  Her website is http://www.latinapoet.com/

Jean Canosa Albano, Assistant Director for Public Services at Springfield City Library, commented. “Poetry has long been exceedingly popular among Springfield residents of all ages. From our bookshelves, to open mic events, to contests and workshops, the Library has responded by offering diverse ways for people to find joy, deal with pain, and explore their voices through poetry. We are thrilled to partner with Magdalena to expand these offerings.”

Information regarding the workshops by Ms. Gómez is available on the Library’s website now: https://www.springfieldlibrary.org/library/poetry-workshops/.

Founded in 1857, the Springfield City Library provides nearly 5000 educational and recreational programs per year. To learn more, visit www.springfieldlibrary.org.

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