Category: Mason Square

Home City Families: Playgroups

Parents and their children are invited to join us for stories, songs, and activities! | Children

Home City Families Playgroup

East Forest Park Branch
Fridays | 1:30-2:30 PM | Ages 1-5

Sixteen Acres Branch
Tuesdays | 1:30-2:30 PM | Ages 1-5 

Parents and their children are invited to join us for stories, songs, and activities!

This playgroup is a great opportunity to meet other parents and give your child the opportunity to socialize with other children their age.

No registration required – just come in!

Home City Families: Family Storytime

Indian Orchard Branch
Mondays | 10:30-11:30 AM | Ages 1-6

Join us for stories, songs, movement, fingerplays, a craft and playtime! No registration required. Adult must accompany children. For ages 12 mos. – 6 years, siblings welcome. For more information, please call (413) 263-6846.

Home City Families: Gross Motor Playgroup

Mason Square Branch
Wednesdays | 10:30-11:30 AM | Ages 1-5

Calling all parents with young children! We invite you along with your child for a fun filled hour of gross motor fun to develop physical abilities.

This is a great opportunity to meet other parents and give your child the opportunity to socialize with other children their age.

No registration required – just come in!

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!

Seed Library at Mason Square

Free seed library with organic non-GMO seeds for the Springfield community. Request some today from our Mason Square Branch!

The Mason Square Branch Seed Library features a great variety of FREE 100% organic, non-GMO seeds for vegetables, greens, herbs, and flowers, made possible through a grant from Vermont-based seed company, High Mowing Organic Seeds. With multiple varieties, there’s something for everyone!

Because there is a limited supply of seeds, we ask that patrons request no more than 5 seed envelopes per library visit. Please visit the Mason Square Branch Library to choose your seeds!

We also have a variety of gardening books, covering urban gardening, vegetable gardens, container gardens, flower gardens, and more – ask library staff to help you find the perfect book!

2024 Seeds Available

Beans & Peas:
Antigua Bush bean
Bush Tendergreen Bean
Lima Henderson Bean
Mardi Gras Blend Bean
Maxibel Haricot Vert Bush Bean
Royal Burgundy Bush Bean
Rattlesnake Pole Bean
Quincy Pinto Bean
Snap Sugar Daddy Pea

Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Sprouts:
Belstar Broccoli
De Cicco Broccoli
Hon Tsai Tai Flowering Broccoli
Waltham 29X1 Broccoli
Dagan Brussels Sprout
Long Island Improved Brussels Sprouts
Snowball Y Improved Cauliflower

Root vegetables:
Detroit Dark Red Beet
Early Wonder Tall Top Beet
Scarlett Nantes Carrot
Yellowstone Carrot
Purple Vienna Kohlrabi
Tokyo Long White Bunching Onion
Cherry Belle Radish
Daikon Radish
French Breakfast Radish
White Icicle Radish
Purple Top White Globe Turnip

Flowers:
Pacific Beauty Calendula
Echinacea Purpurea
Dwarf Jewel Blend Nasturium
Planete Rouge du Jura Poppy
Evening Colors Sunflower
Hella Sonnenblume Sunflower
Hopi Black Dye Sunflower
Medium Red Sunflower
Velvet Queen Sunflower
Orange Zinnia
Red Scarlett Zinnia
Yellow Zinnia

Herbs:
Lemon Balm
Genovese Basil
Rutgers Obsession DMR Basil
Santo Cilantro
Bouquet Dill
Sweet Marjoram
Grüne Perle Parsley
Sorrel

Lettuces & Leafy Greens:
Astro Arugula
Esmee Arugula
Caraflex Cabbage
Emiko Cabbage
Farao Cabbage
Golden Acre Cabbage
UT 52-70 Celery
Fordhook Giant Chard
Rainbow Blend Chard
Sunset Chard
Frisse Endive
Mizuna Asian Greens
Tat Soi Asian Green
Ruby Streaks Mustard Green
Wasabina Mustard Greens
Vates Blue Scotch Curled Kale
Buttercrunch Lettuce
Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce
Freckles Lettuce
Green Star Lettuce
Lolla Rosa Lettuce
Magenta Lettuce
Nevada Lettuce
Red Oakleaf lettuce
Red Salad Bowl Lettuce
Outredgeous Romaine Lettuce
Green Towers Romaine Lettuce
Parris Island Romaine Lettuce
Salad Bowl Lettuce
Tango Lettuce
Garnet Giant Mustard
Hotshot Spicy Blend Mustard
Red Giant Mustard
Shanghai Green Pac Choy
Yukina Savoy
Bloomsdale Spinach
Renegade Spinach

Cucumbers, Melons, & Squash:
Cantaloupe Hales Best Jumbo
Cucumber Marketmore 76
Suyo Long Cucumber
Howden Pumpkin
Pumpkin Sugar Pie
Benning’s Green Tint Summer Squash
Winter Squash Waltham Butternut
Watermelon Sugar Baby
Zucchini Dark Green

Peppers:
Bell Pepper Sweet California Wonder
Shishito Pepper (mild)

Eggplant:
Eggplant Black Beauty
Listada di Gandia Eggplant

Tomatoes:
Brandywine Tomato
Matt’s Wild Cherry Tomato
Large Cherry Tomato
Peacevine Cherry Tomato
Moskvich Tomato
Mountain Princess Tomato
Pruden’s Purple
Roma VF Tomato
San Marzano Paste Tomato
Toma Verde Tomatillo

Miscellaneous:
Corn Early Bantam
Okra Clemson Spineless

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

Job Corps & AmeriCorps Information Tables

Come learn about career programs that help people obtain high school diplomas, job training, and employment. | Teens & Adults

Job Corps Information Tables

Stop by to learn about Job Corps. Job Corps is a free residential and job training program that helps both young adults as well as adults of any age who have a disability to gain employment.

Central Library – Rotunda
7/3, 8/7, 9/11, 10/2, 11/6, 12/4 | 3:00-6:00 PM | Ages 16+

Forest Park Branch
7/11, 8/1, 9/12, 10/3, 11/14, 12/5 | 12:00-3:00 PM | Ages 16+

Brightwood Branch
6/13, 9/19, 12/12 | TBD | Ages 16+

Mason Square Branch
 6/28, 7/26, 8/30, 9/27, 10/25, 11/29, 12/27 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Ages 16+

East Springfield Branch
6/29, 7/27, 8/31, 9/28, 10/26, 11/30, 12/28 | 1:00-4:00 PM | Ages 16+

East Forest Park Branch
6/16, 9/22, 12/22 | 1:00-4:00 PM | Ages 16+

Sixteen Acres Branch
6/17, 7/15, 8/19, 9/16, 10/14, 11/18, 12/16 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Ages 16+

Indian Orchard Branch
6/23, 7/24, 8/23, 9/25, 10/23, 11/27, 12/26 | 2:00-5:00 PM | Ages 16+

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:
July 13, August 10, September 7, October 5, November 2, December 14

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.

May Book Choice
We will be reading Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis.

Book Cover for Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis

Choose the one guy you can’t have . . .

As captain of a San Francisco Bay tour boat, Pru can handle rough seas—the hard part is life on dry land. Pru loves her new apartment and her neighbors; problem is, she’s in danger of stumbling into love with Mr. Right for Anybody But Her.

Fall for him—hard . . .

Pub owner Finn O’Riley is six-foot-plus of hard-working hottie who always makes time for his friends. When Pru becomes one of them, she discovers how amazing it feels to be on the receiving end of that deep green gaze. But when a freak accident involving darts (don’t ask) leads to shirtless first aid, things rush way past the friend zone. Fast.

And then tell him the truth.

Pru only wants Finn to be happy; it’s what she wishes for at the historic fountain that’s supposed to grant her heart’s desire. But wanting him for herself is a different story—because Pru’s been keeping a secret that could change everything. . . .

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:
  • July 2024 – Sweet Little Lies, Jill Shalvis (Contemporary F/M)
  • June 2024 – Mistakes Were Made, Meryl Wilsner (F/F Contemporary)
  • May 2024 – Custom Built, Chantal Fernando (Contemporary Thriller)
  • April 2024 – The Heiress Hunt, Joanna Shupe (Historical)
  • March 2024 – How To Catch A Queen, Alyssa Cole (Contemporary African Royal)
  • February 2024 – Toxic Desire, Robin Lovett (Alien Mate Sci-Fi)
  • January 2024 – The Holiday Trap, Roan Parrish (Contemporary Holiday, F/F & M/M)
  • December 2023 – Priest, Sierra Simone (Contemporary)
  • November 2023 – Hell on Wheels, Julie Ann Walker (Thriller)
  • October 2023 – And They Lived Happily Ever After, Therese Beharrie (Magical)
  • September 2023 – Something Wilder, Christina Lauren (Adventure)
  • August 2023 – The Baller, Vi Keeland (Sports)
  • July 2023 – I’m in Love with Mothman, Paige Lavoie (Paranormal)
  • June 2023 – Scandalous Passions, Nicola Davidson (Historical Menage)
  • 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

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.