Category: Central

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.

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, April 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 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 – April 2024

Below is a list of authors attending 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.

Silent Book Club

Wish you had more time to read? Looking for some book lovers to hang out with? Join us for Silent Book Club! | Central Library | Adults and Teens 16+

Central Library
Second Monday of the Month
6:00 – 7:30 pm | Adults and Teens 16+

Wish you had more time to read? Looking for some book lovers to hang out with? Join us for Silent Book Club! One night a month, we get cozy at the library for an hour of solo reading and time at the end to chat. Come to meet new people and leave with new book recommendations! For Adults and Teens 16+.

Registration optional, but if you register, you’ll get reminders.

Register on our online calendar.

Wee Ones Storytime & Playgroup at Central

Join us for storytime featuring books, songs, and playtime for babies and toddlers and caregivers. | Central | Children

Central Library – Children’s Room
Tuesdays | 10:30-11:30 AM | Ages 0-2.5

Storytime plays an important role in building early literacy and social skills. Join us for books, songs, and playtime specifically designed for babies, toddlers and their caregivers. Recommended for families with children under three years old.

No registration required, but we appreciate a call ahead if your group has 6 children or more.

Scavenger Hunt

Join a scavenger hunt and search the Children’s Room for clues. When you finish, get a prize! | Central | Children

Central Library – Children’s Room
During Open Hours | Children

Love scavenger hunts? The library has a different scavenger hunt every month! Pick up a clue sheet at the desk and search the Children’s Room for clues. When you finish, you can pick a prize from our treasure box!

Creation Station Every Day at Central Library

Create art with different materials, methods and media guaranteed to unleash your inner artist. | Central | Children

Central Library – Children’s Room
During Open Hours | Children

Come explore the world of creativity! We will be creating art with different materials, methods and media guaranteed to unleash your inner artist. If you love to make, and to do, Creation Station is for you!

This program is for children of all ages, no registration required.

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!

Crafting Mondays

We’ll have art supplies and crafting supplies available for teens to create a project in the teen room or take home to complete later! | Central Library | Teens

Central Library – Teen Area
Mondays | 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Ages 12-19

Every Monday we’ll have art supplies and crafting supplies available for teens to create a project in the teen room or take home to complete later!

Tabletop RPG Club

If you love collaborative storytelling and role-playing, join the Tabletop RPG Club! | Central | Teens & Adults

Central Library – Community Room
Saturdays: See Club Schedule Below | 1:00 – 3:30 PM | Ages 16+

If you love collaborative storytelling and role-playing, join the Tabletop RPG Club! We’ll be playing Dungeons & Dragons, Blades in the Dark, Powered by the Apocalypse games, and more. A little something for everyone – drop in once or stick around and learn how to run a game.

Beginners and experienced players welcome. For adults and teens 16 and older.

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

Club schedule: Fall 2023

DateActivity
January 13Primary D&D campaign (co-DMed by KS and IK)
January 20Beginner D&D! Join us to learn the basics
January 27Primary D&D campaign (co-DMed by KS and IK)
February 3Primary D&D campaign (co-DMed by KS and IK)
February 10Primary D&D campaign (co-DMed by KS and IK)
February 17Beginner D&D! Join us to learn the basics
February 24Primary D&D campaign (co-DMed by KS and IK)
March 2Primary D&D campaign (co-DMed by KS and IK)

The winter session will begin on December 2 and run until March 2.

What is a tabletop RPG?

A tabletop RPG is a game where the players sit around a table and use a shared set of rules to help make it easy and fun to tell a story. It’s about performance, tactics and strategy, solving mysteries, and adventure. Games can be as short as one club meeting or can tell an ongoing story across several months–decisions like that are up to the players.

In our club, we organize into groups of 3-6 players. Library staff and experienced facilitators help guide their table toward the kind of story everyone wants to tell. The goal is to enjoy creating a diverse world, where players take the leading roles in a series of action and adventure dramas.

What do I need to bring?

Nothing! We provide everything you need. If you end up really loving the hobby, you might find yourself wanting your own tools–dice, notebooks, pencils, and rule books–but you can always play for free.

Knot Just Knitters

Grab some needles and yarn, then come join us! Newcomers always welcome. | Adults

Whether you knit, crochet, cross-stitch, or crewel, these groups are the place for you. New members are welcome, and although we don’t provide formal lessons, current members are often willing to teach their skills.

Some yarn and needles are provided, but donations of such items are always welcome!

Central Library, Wellman Hall
Tuesdays, 2-3 pm

East Springfield Branch
Fridays, 10-11:30 am

East Forest Park Branch
Tuesdays, 1:30-3 pm

Mason Square Branch
Fridays, 1-2:30 pm

Sixteen Acres Branch
Wednesdays, 1-2:30 pm