Central – Springfield City Library

February Activities for Teens

Join us for these events and activities at the library in February! | Teens

flash fiction contest

Central Library
Wednesday, February 1 – Tuesday, February 28
Open Hours & Online | Ages 12-19

Can you tell your tale in 500 words or less? Our Flash Fiction contest is open to all teens. Between Feb 1-28th, submit a short story of 500 words or less to our flash fiction contest. You can write on any subject you like, but if you need inspiration a list of prompts are available for you on our website! We will choose 2 winners in early March.

Teens can submit up to 3 stories. Submit stories in person at the Central Branch Teen Desk, by email at shodge-wetherbe@springfieldlibrary.org, or through Google docs linking to that same address. Contact Sarah Hodge-Wetherbe at 413-263-6828 X425 with any questions, or email her at the address above.

Blind Date with a book

Central Library – Rotunda
Wednesday, February 1 – Tuesday, February 28
Open Hours | Teens

Unsure what to read next? Check out the display in the 2nd floor rotunda! You’ll find bags with “personal ads” from the books inside. Read the descriptions, and choose one of our book blind dates. Check it out at circulation, and you’ll enjoy a book and a treat with a very lovable person- yourself!

make a sweet sugar scrub for your sweetie

Indian Orchard Branch
Saturday, February 11 | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Ages 11-18 | Register

Make a sweet sugar body scrub for your sweetie. We will use all natural ingredients to make sure it is as healthy as possible. At the Indian Orchard branch. Preregistration is strongly encouraged. You can preregister online or by calling 413-263-6846.

valentine’s day swap meet

Central Library
Tuesday, February 14 | 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Ages 12-19

It’s Valentine’s day, and what better way to show love to the planet and yourself than with a swap meet! Join us in the teen room, and bring some gently used items you don’t need anymore. Books, comics, clothes, anything you want to trade. Swap with other teens to bring home treats for yourself. It’s the perfect way to make sure your items go to a new home, while you find treasures of your own! We’ll provide Valentine’s Day Treats for all swappers!

pine cone bird feeders

Brightwood Branch
Wednesday, February 15 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Ages 6-18

Enjoy the beauty of birds by making a pine cone bird feeder! By using pine-cones, peanut butter and seeds, you will have birds flocking to your home in no time!

relive your childhood

East Springfield Branch
Wednesday, February 15 | 3:00 PM-7:00 PM | All Ages

Stop by anytime between 3-7 to take a trip down memory lane with some fun activities like finger painting, play-dough, Legos, puzzles, coloring, games, and snacks to relive childhood fun. All ages are welcome, but adults are very much encouraged to participate and join in on the fun!

a celebration of black comics!

Central Library
Saturday, February 18 | 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM | Ages 12-19

Celebrate Black History Month with this shout-out to black characters and creators that add so much to nerd culture. We’ll feature activities, media, and more that highlight the best of black comics. Come dressed as your favorite characters, and enter to win our cosplay contest! Snacks will be provided!

no-bake dog treats

Sixteen Acres Branch, East Springfield Branch
Thursday, February 23 | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | All Ages

February 23rd is International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day and we are celebrating by whipping up a batch of homemade, no-bake dog treats! Come by and make a batch of your own.

super Soap Making Symposium

East Forest Park Branch – Community Room
Saturday, February 25 | 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM | Ages 16+

Come learn the science and process behind soap making, leave with your own tray of homemade soap! Kristie Valenze will walk participants through the saponification process and how to create basic bars of soap in this hands on program. Safety goggles and gloves provided, but feel free to bring your own.

February Activities for Children

Join us for these events and activities at the library in February! | Children

valentine workshop

All Library Locations
Wednesday, February 1 – Monday, February 13 | Open Hours | Ages 5-13

Drop-in and find a wide array of supplies to make your own special Valentine cards. Color in a picture or postcard or make a card all you own. Take them home to give to the people that you love the most! During open hours.

feed the birds day

Mason Square Branch
Friday, February 3 | 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Ages 5-13

Today is Feed the Birds Day! Join us to make pinecone and ice cream cone bird feeders!

cookies and cocoa 2 go

East Forest Park Branch
Wednesday, February 8 | Open Hours | Children

Need a winter warm up? Stop by and grab a snack of yummy cookies and hot cocoa mix to take home and share with a friend. While supplies last

hearts and happiness storytime

Sixteen Acres Branch
Monday, February 13 | 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Ages 2-5

Let’s celebrate the power of love, friendship and family by reading inspiring stories together. Afterwards, we’ll make a greeting card for someone special.

cookies and cocoa

Brightwood Branch
Tuesday, February 14 | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Ages 5+ | Register

East Springfield Branch
Saturday, February 18 | 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM| Ages 5+ | Register

Indian Orchard Branch
Wednesday, February 22 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Ages 5+ | Register

Mason Square Branch
Wednesday, February 22 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Ages 5+

Come on out of the cold for hot cocoa and cookies. Drop in to decorate your own cookie; we will have frosting, sprinkles, and candy!!

pine cone bird feeders

Brightwood Branch
Wednesday, February 15 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Ages 6-18

Enjoy the beauty of birds by making a pine-cone bird feeder! By using pine-cones, peanut butter and seeds, you will have birds flocking to your home in no time!

relive your childhood

East Springfield Branch
Wednesday, February 15 | 3:00 PM-7:00 PM | All Ages

Stop by anytime between 3-7 to take a trip down memory lane with some fun activities like finger painting, play-dough, legos, puzzles, coloring, games, and snacks to relive childhood fun. All ages are welcome, but adults are very much encouraged to participate and join in on the fun!

no-bake dog treats

Sixteen Acres Branch, East Springfield Branch
Thursday, February 23 | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | All Ages

February 23rd is International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day and we are celebrating by whipping up a batch of homemade, no-bake dog treats! Come by and make a batch of your own.

Tell a fairy Tale Day

Forest Park Branch
Monday, February 27 | Open Hours | Ages 5-13

Forest Park Library is celebrating Tell A Fairy Tale Day all day long! Drop-in and write your own fairy tale, make some magic, royal, or knightly headgear, and search the clues to find the dragon and his treasure!

D&D: The Keeper’s Flames

Go on an adventure and solve mysteries in this 12-week D&D campaign. Beginners and experienced players welcome. | Central | Adults

Central Library – Community Room
Saturdays: January 14th through April 8th
1:00-3:30 PM | Adults 18+

Candlekeep is the most famous library in existence – the place where elite magicians and researchers from all over the world go, to find the information they need. You and your friends have been hired by its leader for an entirely new position – the Keeper’s Flames.

Go on an adventure and solve mysteries in this 12-week D&D campaign. Beginners and experienced players welcome.

Flash Fiction Contest – February

Between Feb 1-28th, submit a short story of 500 words or less to our flash fiction contest. | Teens

flash fiction contest

Central Library
Wednesday, February 1 – Tuesday, February 28
Open Hours & Online | Ages 12-19

Story Prompts

A character wakes up from a sleepwalking incident, in the middle of doing something incredible.
A paranoid character thinks people are watching them. They’re right.
The character is a child’s imaginary friend, and as the kid grows up, the friend is slowly vanishing.
A character gets into a taxi that is going to take them where they need to go most, like it or not.
A family of Superhero’s just found out their grandfather is a super villain.
Winter is the only time two people in love can be together, for whatever reason.
Your character is watching a video recording of themselves. What they are seeing is not what they remember.
Write about a character who suddenly wakes up with the ability to detect any and all lies immediately.
Everyone is born knowing when they will die. Except your death day came and went and you’re still here. Why?
Write about a key
You must use this sentence in your story: “The door is open.”

James Baldwin Photography Exhibit

Photography exhibit showcasing the 60th birthday celebration of writer James Baldwin. | Central Library | All Ages

Central Library – Wellman Hall Art Wall, and Rotunda
Ongoing through February 2023 | Open Hours | All Ages

The library is thrilled to host a photography exhibit curated by local and beloved photographer, Edward Cohen.

The exhibit is being kicked off with a free talk and reception Sunday, December 18th from 1 to 4 p.m.

The Central Library will be home to Cohen’s photography exhibit celebrating the late American writer, James Baldwin. Photos of Baldwin’s 60th birthday celebrations at the UMASS Campus Center and Amherst College, along with friends such as Maya Angelou, will be on display.

Ed Cohen is a Springfield, MA based freelance photographer who has been photographing in the Pioneer Valley since 1975. He attended UMass Amherst and received a degree in Communications Studies with a concentration in Afro-American and Diversity in Communications. Cohen is a published author, exhibition curator, and an accomplished political demonstration, musical and community events photographer; having participated and captured many local monumental moments for the city of Springfield and surrounding areas. He takes pride in presenting diversity in his imagery.

Cohen received a grant from The Springfield Cultural Council in order to showcase Baldwin’s birthday celebration. He says, “I had the honor of being given permission to take photos at James Baldwin’s birthday celebrations in August of 1984. In 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown I edited several of the negatives of Baldwin and his close friend Maya Angelou and had time to publish a photo book and eventually to create a photo exhibit of the Birthday party events. James Baldwin remains an important figure because of his activism around racial and sexual discrimination and his literary genius. I felt it was a great time to have an event to feature the photos to generate a discussion about James Baldwin and the issues that he was so passionate about.”

UMass Professor Emeritus, Ekwueme Michael Thelwell, will serve as reception speaker. A pioneer in Afro-American Studies, in 1970 Thelwell became the founding chairman of the W.E.B. Du Bois Department. The Jamaican-born writer, activist, educator, came to the United States in 1959 to attend Howard University and went on to do his graduate work at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Ayana Irene Pierre-Maxwell, currently a freshman at University of Miami, will present a painting based on a photo taken by Cohen at a UMass Commencement in 1978 where Baldwin received an honorary degree.

Pierre-Maxwell says, “While I did not take the photo, I am honored and delighted to have painted this image of the inspirational James Baldwin. I hope that when people view my art they are able to separate themselves from their world and enter mine [and] my work can evoke an emotion in those who view it.”

The exhibition is free, open to the public and wheelchair accessible. The exhibit will be on display through the end of Black History Month in February 2023.

This exhibit is supported in part by a grant from the Springfield Cultural Council, a local agency of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, The Springfield City Library, and Monson Savings Bank.

Free Computer Classes for Beginners

Hands-on workshops to build basic computer skills | Central & Mason Square | Adults

Computer Classes for Beginners

Do computers intimidate you? These classes are great for beginners. These are hands-on, relaxed courses that will help you get comfortable with computers, even if you’ve never used one before.

By the end of one of our courses, you will be ready to explore on your own. Registration is required to participate, but you do not have to attend all of the classes – feel free to try the first before thinking about the rest.

If you have any questions, you can call your local library to talk to a reference librarian. We can help you register for one of our classes or figure out where to start!

Computer Basics at Central Library

Central Library Computer Lab
Tuesdays: January 10, 17, 24, and 31 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm | Adults

Part 1: Getting Started

January 10 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Click Here to Register

Overwhelmed by computers? This class starts at the very beginning and will help you understand what a computer is and get comfortable with the basics. No experience is necessary!

Part 2: The Internet

January 17 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Click Here to Register

In this class, we will talk about the internet, how to use it, and learn some tips to make it easier to navigate. Basic keyboard and mouse skills are required.

Part 3: Finding Files

January 24 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Click Here to Register

This class is all about saving things to a computer—and how to find them again. Basic keyboard and mouse skills are required.

Part 4: Email

January 31 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Click Here to Register

In this class, you will get a chance to set up an email account and learn how to send and receive messages online. Basic keyboard and mouse skills are required.

Getting STarted with Computers At Forest Park Branch

Forest Park Branch
Thursdays: January 12, 19, 26
6:00 – 7:30 PM | Adults

Want to improve your computer skills in 2023? Join us at Forest Park for a fun, low pressure introduction to using a computer, navigating the internet and more. Sign up for all three sessions, or just one!

Visit our online calendar to register!

If you have any questions, you can call (413) 263-6843 to talk to a librarian.

Beginner Computer Literacy Skills At Mason Square Branch

Mason Square Branch
Currently on Hiatus | Adults

Take part in weekly classes to learn how to use a computer. Topics covered in the beginner level include: learning to use a mouse and keyboard, searching on the internet, saving and finding files on a computer, and creating an email account. Registration is required.

Visit our online calendar to register!

If you have any questions, you can call (413) 263-6853 to talk to a librarian.

Free Computer Resources

Mouse Practice

Learn Computers

Aprenda a Usar la Computadora

Getting Started on a Computer

Comenzar en la Computadora

More Computer Tools & Tutorials (in English and en español)

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.

We will bring each month’s book in large and regular print to each book club meeting. If you need assistance getting additional copies, please contact Elizabeth McKinstry at emckinstry@springfieldlibrary.org.

Discover Your Winter Reading Challenge

Mark off your reading progress on a special game board and join us for programs and activities! | Children

All Library Locations
January 9 – February 18 | Ages 0-18

Join up and see how cool reading in the winter can be! Mark off your progress on a special game board and join us for programs and activities designed just for kids like you!

For more information contact your local library or call (413) 263-6828 ext. 293.

ABC: Anthony’s Book Club

Join Springfield Thunderbirds player, Anthony Angello, as he shares some of his favorite books with you. | Children & Families

Join Springfield Thunderbirds hockey player, Anthony Angello, as he shares some of his favorite books with you. He’ll be joined by a teammate. We will have a scavenger hunt and an activity as well.

Great for families!

Please note: Participating players are subject to change.

East Forest Park Branch – Children’s Room
Wednesday, January 11 | 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM | Children & Families

East Springfield Branch
Wednesday, January 25 | 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM | Children & Families

Central Library – Community Room
Wednesday, February 15 | 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM | Children & Families

Mason Square Branch – Community Room
Thursday, February 23 | 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM | Children & Families

Sixteen Acres Branch – Community Room
Tuesday, February 28 | 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM | Children & Families

Discover Dungeons & Dragons

Curious about D&D but don’t know how to get started? Meet us for a beginner-friendly adventure every month! | Central | Adults

Central Library – Rice Hall Mezzanine
On Hiatus Until March | 18+

Curious about Dungeons & Dragons but don’t know how to get started? Meet us on the mezzanine in Rice Hall for a beginner-friendly adventure every month. No equipment, commitment, or experience is required. If you only stop by a couple times or want to play every month, the real treasure will be the friends we make along the way!

Registration is optional, but encouraged. Register via our online calendar!