Drop-In Tech Help & Tinkering

Bring your device and technology-related questions and issues to our sessions! | East Forest Park | Teens & Adults

Drop-In Tech Help & Tinkering

East Forest Park Branch
2nd Wednesday of the month | 6:00-7:30 pm | Teens & Adults

Do you have questions about using your smartphone or laptop? You are not alone! Bring your device and technology-related questions and issues to our monthly Drop-In Tech Help session.

Ever wonder how a DVD player works? We have too, that is why we are adding “tinkering” to our monthly Drop-In sessions. We will provide the devices to explore, and the tools to open them up!

Registration is not required, but time may be limited in order to assist all attendees.

Code Builders 2.0

Build the skills you need to create animations, games, apps, and more using fun online tutorials! | East Forest Park | All Ages

East Forest Park Branch
Wednesdays | 3:30-4:30 PM | All Ages

Welcome to Code Builders 2.0 – our all ages, drop-in club where you can explore robotics, coding languages (like Scratch and Python), and even 3D design & printing!

This club is open to aspiring coders of all ages.

Several of our resources use video clips for instruction – you may want to bring a pair of headphones. You are also welcome to bring your own laptop or tablet.

Romance Book Club – Online

Get your Happily Ever After fix from the Romance Book Club! | Online | Adults

Our Romance Book Club meets online! Registration is optional to get reminders and book choices, click for  link.

ONLINE via Zoom
Saturdays once a month | 10:00-11:00 AM ET | Adults

Upcoming 2024 dates:
October 5, November 2, December 14, January 11, February 8, March 8

CLICK FOR ZOOM LINK for meeting each month.

Join us for the Romance Book Club! We read as many romance genres as we can, sharing our thoughts and expanding our romance reading experience. As long as it has a Happily Ever After, it’s fair game.

Typically each month we choose the book for the following month.

October Book Choice
We will be reading Dragon Actually by G. A. Aiken.

Book Cover for Dragon Actually by G. A. Aiken

It’s not always easy being a female warrior with a nickname like Annwyl the Bloody. Men tend to either cower in fear—a lot—or else salute. It’s true that Annwyl has a knack for decapitating legions of her ruthless brother’s soldiers without pausing for breath. But just once it would be nice to be able to really talk to a man, the way she can talk to Fearghus the Destroyer.

Too bad that Fearghus is a dragon, of the large, scaly and deadly type. With him, Annwyl feels safe—a far cry from the feelings aroused by the hard-bodied, arrogant knight Fearghus has arranged to help train her for battle. With her days spent fighting a man who fill her with fierce, heady desire, and her nights spent in the company of a magical creature who could smite a village just by exhaling, Annwyl is sure life couldn’t get any stranger. She’s wrong…

See previous group book choices below the group guidelines – scroll down.

Register if you’d like to be added to our email list, but no registration is required – just join us at the Zoom link, above. For adults 18+.

Please email Elizabeth McKinstry at emckinstry@springfieldlibrary.org or Anna Mickelsen at amickelsen@springfieldlibrary.org if you have any questions, or call either one of us at 413-263-6828 x213.


Group Guidelines

The book group will meet monthly via zoom to discuss books in the romance genre. Our definition of romance includes both HEA (Happily Ever After) and HFN (Happy For Now) endings. We will discuss what we read on our own, talk about forthcoming titles, and also pick books to read as a group, either voting on titles prepared by group leaders or taking turns selecting titles.

This book group will strive to be a safe and inclusive space. Racist and homophobic remarks will not be tolerated, and the group may set other content lines to be drawn in discussion or in reading material (e.g., mentions of self-harm, gore, sexual assault) in order to make the experience as fun for all participants as possible. As this is a romance book group, it should be assumed that books read and discussed will often include sex, sometimes explicit in nature.

Book group leaders will:

  • Read the entire book
  • Gather information to help enhance the discussion
  • Be prepared to offer counter opinions – even if they differ from our own
  • Be prepared to begin new lines of discussion when necessary
  • Not let one person monopolize the discussion
  • Be willing and prepared to take control of the group, firmly but respectfully

Book group participants will:

  • Make their best effort to complete the book
  • Come ready to both share and listen
  • Be ready to back up opinions with the “why”
  • Have a great time — if you stop enjoying it, let the leader know

Previous books read:
  • October 2024 – Dragon Actually, G.A. Aiken (Fantasy, F/Dragon)
  • September 2024 – Xeni, Rebekah Weatherspoon (Contemporary, M/F)
  • August 2024 – A Carribbean Heiress in Paris, Adriana Herrera (Historic, F/M)
  • July 2024 – Sweet Little Lies, Jill Shalvis (Contemporary, F/M)
  • June 2024 – Mistakes Were Made, Meryl Wilsner (Contemporary, F/F)
  • May 2024 – Custom Built, Chantal Fernando (Contemporary Thriller, F/M)
  • April 2024 – The Heiress Hunt, Joanna Shupe (Historical, F/M)
  • March 2024 – How To Catch A Queen, Alyssa Cole (Contemporary African Royal, F/M)
  • February 2024 – Toxic Desire, Robin Lovett (Alien Mate Sci-Fi, F/Alien)
  • January 2024 – The Holiday Trap, Roan Parrish (Contemporary Holiday, F/F & M/M)
  • December 2023 – Priest, Sierra Simone (Contemporary, M/F)
  • November 2023 – Hell on Wheels, Julie Ann Walker (Thriller, F/M)
  • October 2023 – And They Lived Happily Ever After, Therese Beharrie (Magical)
  • September 2023 – Something Wilder, Christina Lauren (Adventure, F/M)
  • August 2023 – The Baller, Vi Keeland (Sports, M/F)
  • July 2023 – I’m in Love with Mothman, Paige Lavoie (Paranormal, F/Mothman)
  • June 2023 – Scandalous Passions, Nicola Davidson (Historical Menage, F/F/M)
  • May 2023 – D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding, Chencia C. Higgins (Contemporary F/F)
  • April 2023 – Mafia Casanova, M Robinson and Rachel Van Dyken (Mafia)
  • March 2023 – Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors, Sonali Dev (Contemporary)
  • February 2023 – Hard Sell, Hudson Lin (Contemporary, M/M)
  • January 2023 – The Duke Who Didn’t, Courtney Milan (Historical)
  • December 2022 – Reader’s Choice Holiday Romance
  • November 2022 – The Ex Hex, Erin Sterling (Witchy)
  • October 2022 – Natural Born Charmer, Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Sports-ish)
  • September 2022 – Neon Gods, Katee Robert (Fantasy Hades/Persephone)
  • August 2022 – Fatal Affair, Marie Force (Romantic Suspense)
  • July 2022 – Never Been Kissed, Timothy Janovsky (Contemporary New Adult M/M)
  • June 2022 – Polaris Rising, Jessie Mihalik (Science Fiction)
  • May 2022 – Luckiest Lady in London, Sherry Thomas (Historical)
  • April 2022 – Writing Her In, Holley Trent (Polyamorous)
  • March 2022 – A Cowboy to Remember, Rebekah Wetherspoon (Contemporary Black Cowboy)
  • February 2022 – Battle Royal, Lucy Parker (Contemporary British)
  • January 2022 – Every New Year, Katrina Jackson (Holiday Second-Chance Contemporary)
  • November and December 2021 – The Matzah Ball, Jean Meltzer (Holiday Contemporary)
  • October 2021- How To Bang A Billionaire, Alexis Hall (Billionaire M/M)
  • September 2021 – Deal With The Devil, Kit Rocha (Science Fiction)
  • August 2021 – Gray Hair, Don’t Care, Karen Booth (Second Chance)
  • July 2021 – Angel’s Blood, Nalini Singh (Paranormal Romance)
  • June 2021 – Entangled, Melissa Brayden (Contemporary F/F)
  • May 2021 – The Obsession, Nora Roberts (Contemporary Romantic Suspense)
  • April 2021 – Destiny’s Embrace, Beverly Jenkins (Historical)
  • March 2021 – Loathe At First Sight, Suzanne Park (Contemporary)
  • February 2021 – Reader’s Choice

413 Gourmet Club

A cooking class meets book club series for those who love to cook at home. Cook together – hands-on and in-person! | East Forest Park | Adults

East Forest Park Branch
Last Wednesday of the Month
6:00 – 7:30 pm | Adults

Join us for a new cooking class meets book club series that will be hands-on and in-person for those who love to cook at home.

During the class, participants will assist in creating a pre-selected dish from the chosen cookbook of the month. Participants are encouraged, but not required, to check out the selected cookbook ahead of time and to bring an accompanying dish from it to share.

Registration for this event is required with a limit of 10 participants.

Register on our online calendar.

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.

Any Book Club (ABC)

Join our Any Book Club and share your recent reads. | East Forest Park | Adults

East Forest Park Branch
2nd & 4th Thursdays | 10 – 11:30 AM | Adults 18+

The Any Book Club (ABC) meets bi-monthly to share stories about their recent reads. In rotation with one another, members review books they’ve read recently so others can learn about what’s great and, sometimes, what’s not! Those who enjoy adult fiction will feel especially at home, but all adult readers are welcomed.

Members can attend either or both sessions. For Adults 18+.