Convince Us! The Reader Challenge

Every month bring your FAVORITE book, and persuade others to read it. Can you? | Indian Orchard | Teens

Indian Orchard Branch – Teen Room
4th Wednesday monthly – Feb 22, Mar 22 | 5-6 PM | Ages 12-18

Is there a book you totally ADORE? or completely DETEST? Convince your fellow readers to read it (or avoid it).

Every month bring your FAVORITE book, and persuade others to read it. Can you?

Snacks will be served.

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!

You’re Invited! Coffee Hour For Seniors

Seniors are invited to stop by for a visit! Bring along your knitting, grab some books, or catch up with a friend. | East Springfield & Indian Orchard | Senior Adults

Indian Orchard – Community Room
Tuesdays
9:30-11:00 AM | Seniors 60+ and their caregivers

East Springfield
Fridays
10:00-11:00 AM | Seniors 60+ and their caregivers

You’re invited to stop by for a visit! Bring along your knitting, grab some books, or catch up with a friend over coffee and a puzzle.

Every week, folks from the neighborhood, and those that provide services for Seniors will pop by to keep you informed and entertained. Refreshments provided.

For seniors 60+ and their caregivers.

Funded through Greater Springfield Senior Services, Inc., the MA Executive Office for Elder Affairs, and the Federal Administration for Community Living.

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 | Adults

Upcoming dates:
April 8
May 6
June 3

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.

April Book Choice
We will be reading Mafia Casanova by M Robinson and Rachel Van Dyken.

Mafia Casanova Book Cover

Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo? Can you get anymore cliché? I’d heard that damn phrase my entire life. Most of the time, it was when a woman was mid-orgasm—or, when I was about to take someone’s life. You see, we all have our demons. Apparently, my name was mine. Though it didn’t help me get my answers any faster.

I nodded when I was supposed to. I smirked when I needed to. I complimented when the timing was right. Then… I’d send them to hell after giving them nothing but heaven. I should’ve felt guilt. I didn’t. Because I was good at what I did.

Making people believe what I wanted them to was an art I perfected. In a world where nothing mattered but staying at the top, I made sure no one slipped through my fingers.

Except for her. She was gorgeous. One might say she was the female version of me.

I lost her once. I wouldn’t lose twice. Now was the time… To let the games begin.

A family trying to build home in a new land. A man who has never felt at home anywhere. And a choice to be made between the two.

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

Our Romance collection librarian will tell you all about exciting additions to the collection, and we’ll get your input on what you’d like to see more of and what we should read.

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: