Category: Brightwood

October Crafts for Children, Teens, and Families

Crafts and activities at the library in October! | Children, Teens, and Families

I Spy Mr. Pumpkin

Brightwood Branch, East Springfield Branch, Indian Orchard Branch
October 1-31 | Open Hours | All Ages

During the month of October, stop by each week to find a decorated hidden pumpkin. When you find it, let us know so you can enter into a raffle to win the pumpkin!

Guess the Candy Corn Weight

East Springfield Branch
October 1st – 29th| Open Hours| Children

Can you guess how much our special pumpkin container filled with Candy Corn weighs. Who ever comes closest without going over wins the Candy Corn.

Teen Closet Cleaning Crafts

Indian Orchard Branch
Wednesday, October 5 | 4:00-6:00 PM | Teens

What can you create with our grab bag of crafting goodies? We will have available a variety or crafting supplies – felt, foam, embroidery floss, paint, paper, markers, beads, SPARKLY stickers….. Your imagination is the limit! For ages 11-18. The first Wednesday of the month, from 4-6 pm. Indian Orchard Library. For more information please call 413-263-6846.

Pumpkin Painting

Central Library
Thursday, October 27 | 3:00-4:30 PM | Teens

Come to the teen room, pick your pumpkin and paint it into a masterpiece! All supplies provided, while they last. We’ll phototgraph your pumpkin for social media, and then you take it home! Teens 12-19 welcome!

Monster Mashup

Mason Square Branch
Thursday, October 27 | 4:00-5:00 PM | Children & Families

Celebrate all things monster! Enjoy stories and a monster mash-up craft.

Raymond Jordan Senior Center Book Club

Come join us for a fascinating book club at the Raymond Jordan Senior Center! | Adults

Raymond Jordan Senior Center
Third Thursday of the Month | 10:00-11:00 AM | Adults

Come join us for a fascinating book club at the Raymond Jordan Senior Center! Do you love to read about real life events? Are you intrigued by learning more about others’ stories and experiences – whether in the present or the past? If so, then meet us at the Raymond Jordan Senior Center for our monthly Book Club, where we delve into the heart of historical fiction, non-fiction, and even memoir.

Hispanic Heritage Events – October & November

Join us at Brightwood Branch for several events celebrating Hispanic Heritage month! | Children & Adults

Jugando Lotería / Playing Lotería for Kids

Brightwood Branch – Community Room
Wednesday, October 12 | 2:30-3:30 PM | Children

Celebrating the Hispanic Heritage Month with young children. Learn while playing Lotería, a Mexican Bingo-like game where young children are introduced to English and Spanish words as a way to enhance their vocabulary and their A-B-C bilingual concept.

Jugando Lotería / Playing Lotería for Adults

Brightwood Branch – Community Room
Thursday, October 13 | 6:30-7:30 PM | Adults

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! Lotería a Spanish word meaning Lottery – it’s a game of chance that has its origins in Italy (15th century), moving to Spain, then was brought to Colonial Mexico in the 1700’s. Later it became a tradition in Mexican fairs. Join us for a fun evening playing lotería, earning tickets to redeem as prizes, while tasting some Mexican specialties.

La Catrina / A Celebratory All-Souls Day

Brightwood Branch – Community Room
Wednesday, November 2 | 2:30-3:30 PM | Children

Come and join us to celebrate life while remembering our departed love ones. Young children will learn words in English and Spanish that convey related emotions. Join us for more stories and then decorate your own Catrina.

A Festival of Bones / Calacas o Calaveras

Brightwood Branch – Community Room
Wednesday, November 2 | 3:30-4:30 PM | Children

Come and meet the Calaca Family, they are just like everybody else…except that they’re all bones. Find the humor in the celebration of the Day of the Dead with this interactive program of stories and crafts.

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

Read just one book a day to build a foundation for lifelong success. Prizes awarded for every 100 books! | Children

All Library Locations
Starts January 2022, ongoing

All it takes is sharing one book a day with your child to build a foundation for lifelong success. Start your child’s book journey today! The goal is to have read 1,000 books before your precious one starts kindergarten.

If you read just 1 book a day, you will have read about 365 books in a year. That is 730 books in two years and 1,095 books in three years. If you consider that most children start kindergarten at around 5 years of age, you have more time than you think. So, let’s get started!

How to Participate

Read with your child. Studies have shown that reading with your child provides a great opportunity for bonding. Reading together is fun and will create life-long memories for the both of you.

Keep track of the number of books you read with your child. Ask your librarian for a paper log to start on your reading journey.

You may choose instead to log your books online using Beanstack. Visit our Beanstack website or download the app to log your books digitally. You can view Beanstack instructions here or ask a librarian on how to use it.

After each 100 books you read, visit your local Springfield City Library branch to collect your free book prize. After 1000 books, come in and get a tote bag!

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can participate in this program?
– Any child from birth until they enter kindergarten.

How long does the program take?
– The program will take anywhere from a few months to a few years. The program is self-paced and will depend on how often you read together.

Can we repeat books?
– Yes!

How many of my children can participate?
– All of them (provided they have not started kindergarten). Make it even more fun and read as a family!

Bilingual Storytime

Vengan y participen todos los miércoles del programa bilingue en Inglés y Español: Disfruten de cancioncitas, rimas, cuentos, y actividades manuales. | Brightwood | Children

Brightwood Branch
Wednesdays | 1:30-2:30 PM | Ages 1-5

Come and join us every Wednesday for a bilingual story time in the English and Spanish languages: songs, rhymes, stories, and crafts. Make new friends and enjoy snacks. Ages 1-5.

Vengan y participen todos los miércoles del programa bilingue en Inglés y Español: Disfruten de cancioncitas, rimas, cuentos, y actividades manuales. Compartir con amiguitos y refrescos. Edades 1-5.