News – Springfield City Library

Local Food and Assistance Programs

Community food resources that are available to assist households in and around Springfield.

Due to the government shutdown, Federal SNAP benefits (previously known as food stamps) have been suspended. This page compiles food resources and information that will be most useful for Springfield residents. For statewide resources, the Commonwealth is maintaining a page at Mass.gov/SNAPFreeze.

Springfield food programs

This document lists food banks, pantries, and meal programs in Springfield, with their location, phone number, and schedule. Printed copies of this list are available at the library.

Springfield Food Programs Download

For options outside Springfield, visit Hampden County Food Programs.

Brown Bag Program- for seniors

Program by the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts

The Brown Bag Program provides a free bag of groceries once a month for people over the age of 55 who meet certain income eligibility. If you qualify for SSI, Medicaid, Fuel Assistance, Veteran’s Aid or have a documented disability for which you receive SSDI , you may qualify for Brown Bag monthly groceries.

Brown Bag Income Eligibility Guidelines

City of Springfield Food Drive

The City of Springfield departments and local partners will be collecting donations of non-perishable food items for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, which will serve as the distribution center for all of our local food pantries. All Springfield City Library locations will serve as collection points for non-perishable food donations.

Please bring your donations to the Welcome Desk at your branch.

View the city’s press release for additional information about this initiative.

General Information

There is an FAQ on the DTA website about changes to SNAP benefits and the government shutdown.

For a simpler overview, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts posted on their website about how the government shutdown is affecting SNAP benefits and what to expect this November.

How to help

On October 27, 2025, Governor Healey and the United Way announced a new fund to support Massachusetts residents whose SNAP benefits are at risk. If you would like to contribute to help your neighbors, you can donate to the United Way of Pioneer Valley’s United Response Fund.

Free vaccine clinics to be held in Springfield

There will be 5 total clinics held in the last week of October and first week of November, 2025.

Published: Oct. 21, 2025 at 2:27 PM EDT – from Western Mass News

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – The City of Springfield is partnering up with Big Y to hold a series of free vaccine clinics as we head into peak respiratory virus season.

There will be two clinics next week. The first on Monday at the Raymond A Jordan Senior Center, and another Wednesday at the Greenleaf Community Center. The other three will be held the following week, at both the Hungry Hill and North End Senior Centers as well as East Forest Park Branch Library.

At each location you’ll be able to get vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the flu, and COVID-19. Just be sure to bring your insurance card.

Spots are limited, so you’ll want to register ahead of time by calling one of the locations listed below:

Date	Location	Phone
Mon. Oct. 27 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.	Raymond A. Jordan Senior Center 1476 Roosevelt Avenue	413-787-6785
Wed. Oct. 29 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.	Clodo Concepcion (Greenleaf) Community Center 1187 ½ Parker Street	413-750-2873
Mon. Nov. 3 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.	Hungry Hill Senior Center 773 Liberty Street	413-733-9411
Wed. Nov. 5 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.	North End Senior Center at Kenefick Park 310 Plainfield Street	413-886-5240
Thurs. Nov. 6 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.	East Forest Park Branch Library 136 Surrey Road	413-784-4810

Flyer for the free vaccine clinics. All information is included in the body of the post.

Springfield City Library seeks input for strategic plan

The Springfield City Library is hoping to get 2,000 or more city residents to answer a survey that will help shape the library’s future strategic plan.

by Ryan Feyre | Jul 23, 2025 | Read at The Reminder.

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield City Library is hoping to get 2,000 or more city residents to answer a survey that will help shape the library’s future strategic plan.

Community Relations Coordinator Jamillah Medina Nova said the library has circulated surveys in the past, particularly for its 2020-2024 strategic plan, but this one is expected to be “bigger” and more widespread.

“We’re looking for 2,000 responses so we can have a really good indication from all different neighborhoods, all different walks of life,” she said in an interview. “We really want everyone’s input.”

The survey’s questions cover anything from, “how often you use the library,” to “what do you like to do at the library,” according to Nova. Additionally, there are agree or disagree questions such as “does the library have enough space for your needs,” “is it up to date in technology” and “how important are the different resources to you.”

“[The survey] is basically measuring the importance of our services and what we have to offer,” Nova said. “We’re making sure that we’re aligned with our mission, vision and values, [and] the community’s eyes as well.”

The Springfield City Library is using ReThinking Libraries as a consultant for the survey and eventual strategic plan, according to Nova. The organization will be spearheading community listening sessions in September and October at the city’s local branches to help steer the planning process.

Nova said the survey will roll into the fall before the City Library officially institutes the strategic plan.

“Right now, we want to get as many [survey respondents] as possible through the fall,” Nova said. “I think we’ll start finalizing the details in November, December so that we can be ready for the new year to have [the plan] finalized.”

In addition to the survey, Nova said people have the option of visiting the City Library’s branches to vote for their favorite services using a visual voting board.

Available in English and Spanish, Nova shared that the boards allow people to list the top five services they would love to see at their local branches.

“There will be different ways to hear people’s input,” Nova said. “They’ll be able to vote with the visual voting boards, take the survey, and then we invite everyone to come out to our listening sessions [when the dates are out].”

According to the City Library, the survey is available to the public in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Swahili, and in both online and paper formats to ensure accessibility. Nova said this initiative along with the $10,000 Library Card Campaign are two of the many ways Springfield City Library is trying to engage with the public in a post-pandemic landscape.

“After COVID, it was hard to get people back into any building,” Nova said. “But our resources are here and they’re growing and they’re going to continue to grow. So, we just want to make sure that we’re connecting with everyone, meeting them where they’re at, especially with digital access.”

Founded in 1857, the Springfield City Library provides over 800,000 free print, physical and digital resources for public enrichment. Readers will find the survey on its website. According to Nova, it will take about 10 minutes to complete.

Springfield City Library Collaborates with Tate Communicare to Expand Access

“These AAC boards are more than tools — they’re invitations for every voice to be heard and every individual to be seen.”

Read on Health Care News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield City Library announced a new initiative to make library spaces and services more inclusive for all patrons. In collaboration with local speech and language therapists from Tate Communicare, the Central Library has created augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) boards, tools designed to support communication for individuals who are non-speaking, have speech difficulties, or speak a language other than English.

AAC boards display symbols for commonly used words, offering a vital resource for enhancing engagement, independence, and inclusion within public spaces. This effort is part of the library’s ongoing commitment to creating welcoming environments for patrons of all abilities.

“We believe everyone deserves equal access to learning, connection, and community,” said Tracy Snow, reference librarian at Springfield City Library. “These AAC boards are more than tools — they’re invitations for every voice to be heard and every individual to be seen. By adding them to our space, we’re opening new pathways for communication and inclusion.”

Library staff recently participated in a training webinar led by Tate Communicare to better understand how to use AAC boards with visitors. Plans are underway to expand these accessibility resources to the rest of the Springfield City Library branches and to offer AAC boards in additional languages.

1 million minutes of reading wanted in Springfield; area librarians warn of the ‘summer slide’

The challenge kicks off June 23, running through July and August.

From the Springfield Republican

SPRINGFIELD — Rachel Gravel is laying down a seven-figure challenge for readers in Springfield. She wants several thousand children and adults to collectively read for one million minutes during the summer break from school.

“We’re encouraging folks to go for it. Level up your reading game, and let’s try and get a million minutes together as a community,” said Gravel, who is manager of adult and youth information services at Springfield City Library.

The challenge kicks off June 23, running through July and August. Gravel said she hopes to triple the number of people who joined the library’s summer reading program last year — from fewer than 1,000 to 3,000 readers.

She told The Republican that group read around 250,000 minutes.

If Springfield hopes to hit the million-minute mark with 3,000 readers, each person will have to read 5½ minutes a day for 60 days.

“This is an opportunity to really go for gold,” she said.

Each summer, some 400,000 Massachusetts children, teens and adults join library reading programs, according to Massachusetts Libraries Board of Library Commissioners. Nearly every library in Western Massachusetts is running programs, which are free and open to the public.

Research shows if students do not read over the summer, they lose reading, comprehension and critical-thinking skills, according to Scholastic Parents.

“Kids lose significant knowledge in reading and math over summer break, which tends to have a snowball effect as they experience subsequent skill loss each year. (Another) study showed students lost about 20 percent of their school-year gains in reading and 27 percent of their school-year gains in math,” according to Scholastic Parents.

The Holyoke Public Library has summer reading programs for children, teens and adults, and has been marketing them to the public through city departments and speaking directly to children in school.

“We try and get the entire community involved, from birth to 99-plus. We want everyone participating,” said Nathan Hayes, the children’s librarian in Holyoke.

Like many libraries, Holyoke has a kickoff party and ongoing events that promote reading for the entire summer. Depending on the library, there can be magicians, clowns, face painting, music, games, ice cream socials — and prizes are everywhere.

PeoplesBank awards $10K to support Springfield Library summer programming

The Springfield Library Foundation has received a $10,000 grant from PeoplesBank to support the Springfield City Library’s 2025 Summer Reading Program, “Level Up At Your Library.”

Read on WWLP

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Springfield Library Foundation has received a $10,000 grant from PeoplesBank to support the Springfield City Library’s 2025 Summer Reading Program, “Level Up At Your Library.”

The funding will allow the library to expand programming and outreach efforts at its nine branches and through partnerships with local organizations. The initiative aims to boost participation and engagement among children, teens, and adults across the city.

“We are very grateful to PeoplesBank for their stalwart support of the Library,” said Matt Blumenfeld, Executive Director of the Springfield Library Foundation. “PeoplesBank’s investment matches funds that comes directly from the Library Foundation and will provide the City Library with critical resources to expand outreach and impact of this vital and fun program.”

This year’s theme, “Level Up At Your Library,” encourages community members to collectively reach a goal of one million minutes read over the summer. The program also aims to register more than 3,000 participants.

“This summer our mantra is One Million Reading Minutes,” said Rachel Gravel, the Library’s Manager of Adult & Youth Information Services. “We have set an ambitious goal and want to increase participation in the program to 3,000 children, youth and adults this summer.”

Matt Bannister, PeoplesBank’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility, presented the grant to the foundation. “Our commitment to the community is demonstrated through volunteerism and financial support and we see this grant as an investment in encouraging and inspiring new generations of life-long learners and readers. We are proud to support the Library Foundation and, in turn, the City Library to expand their reach and impact.”

The Summer Reading Program will begin in June with kickoff events for all ages, including a system-wide adult summer reading launch on June 12 at the Mason Square Branch. The season will wrap up with a city-wide End of Summer Celebration on August 23.

Activities funded by the grant include music classes, musical petting zoos, the Story City series, mobile arcade games, virtual reality experiences, role-playing and board game clubs, BINGO, and escape rooms. Children and teens who sign up will receive a free book of their choice, and participants will be eligible for weekly prizes as they track their reading progress.

All events and activities are free and open to the public. More information, including a full schedule, is available on their website. Springfield City Library continues to position itself as a vital hub for community wellness and support.

Summer series to support teen mental health at Springfield Library

The Springfield City Library is rolling out a citywide initiative this summer aimed at supporting the mental health of teenagers.

Read on WWLP

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Springfield City Library is rolling out a citywide initiative this summer aimed at supporting the mental health of teenagers, offering a range of free programs from May through September across all library branches.

The “Teen Mental Health Events” series is designed to help teens navigate the challenges of adolescence through activities that connect physical health, creative expression, and emotional resilience. With workshops and interactive sessions scheduled throughout the summer, the initiative seeks to provide tools and resources for mental wellness in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

“We understand that navigating the teenage years can bring unique challenges, and prioritizing mental health is crucial,” said Teen Services Librarian Sarah Hodge-Wetherbe, who is leading the project. “Our goal with this series is to empower teens with practical tools and knowledge while fostering a sense of community and connection across our city.”

The event series will include:

Movement and Mindfulness Workshops: Focused on stress reduction and emotional regulation through gentle exercise, yoga, breathing techniques, and guided meditation.
Creative Expression Sessions: Offering teens the chance to explore self-expression through art, writing, music, and other creative outlets.
Interactive Discussions: Facilitated conversations on topics such as managing anxiety, understanding different aspects of mental health, and learning how to advocate for oneself.

Events are open to all teens in Springfield and will rotate through various library locations to ensure accessibility across neighborhoods. No registration is required unless noted for specific sessions.

Complete schedules, including dates, times, and locations, will be posted on the Springfield City Library’s website and shared via the library’s social media channels.

In addition to traditional educational resources, the Springfield City Library continues to position itself as a vital hub for community wellness and support.

Community Health Fair in Springfield links residents to essential services

Local organizations held a Community Health Fair at the Central Library Rotunda on State Street.

Read on WWLP

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Local organizations held a Community Health Fair in Springfield at the Central Library Rotunda on State Street.

The second annual Community Health Fair is meant to connect people to much-needed health care. They’re highlighting free, local services available for Springfield residents.

Some of the participating organizations include the Gándara Center, Health Care for the Homeless, Greater Springfield Senior Services, Healthy Air Network, Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line, Narcotics Anonymous, Open Door Social Services, Pathways to Friendship, Square One, and Tapestry Health.

Organizers say the goal is for people to know what is available and how it can help them grow and be well in springfield.

Rachel Gravel with the Springfield City Library told 22News, “The library is a space where you can go and find all of this and more. We’re here to connect our community to our community resources.”

Guests got the chance to ask questions, get free local resources, and literature. It was a way to show people that there is more than just books at the library now.

Springfield Public School’s Home City Families and Springfield City Library also co-hosted a Great Play Date for children and caregivers in the Children’s Room at the Central Library at the same time as the fair.

Springfield celebrates National Library Week despite budget challenges (WWLP)

The theme for National Library Week 2025 is “Drawn to the Library!” But it’s getting hard to observe as libraries throughout Massachusetts are facing budget challenges.

View on WWLP

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – On Wednesday inside the Sixteen Acres Library Branch, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno issued a proclamation to mark National Library Week.

The theme for National Library Week 2025 is “Drawn to the Library!” But it’s getting hard to observe locally as libraries throughout Massachusetts are facing a budget challenge this year.

Massachusetts gets $3.6 million in federal funding for library services, then the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners gives that money to local libraries. That funding was disrupted this week when President Trump ordered the entire staff of the Institute of Museums and Library Services to be placed on paid leave for 90 days, which stopped the processing of grant dollars.

Now, libraries across the state are waiting on updates from the library board about potential funding cuts or delays. But staff at the Sixteen Acres Library Branch encourages the public to use their voices to make a difference.

“Think about what’s important to you and reach out to your elected officials to let them know that funding that comes to the state has an impact on you,” said Jean Canosa Albano, Assistant Director for Public Services at Springfield City Library.

Despite the uncertainty, Springfield libraries will continue celebrating National Library Week with special events. For a list of events, visit springfieldlibrary.org.

Mayor Sarno Joins with Worcester Mayor Petty and 24 Other Mayors and Municipal Leaders to Fight for Library Funding

April 4, 2025. Read on the City of Springfield site.

Springfield, MA – Mayor Domenic J. Sarno joined with Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty and 24 other mayors and municipal leaders from across the State to fight for our local libraries. Mayor Sarno and his fellow mayors wrote to the Massachusetts Congressional delegation to share their concerns over an executive order signed on March 14, 2025 that would target federal funding to libraries and museums through the Institute of Museums and Library Services (IMLS). IMLS is the single largest source of federal funding for libraries.

In Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) received $3.6 million from IMLS’ grants to State programs, including statewide research databases, summer reading and Statewide eBooks programs, just to name a few. Cuts to IMLS would adversely impact the MBLC and could potentially impact these services and programs offered to our residents by our Springfield City Library.

Mayor Sarno states, “Today, I join with Mayor Joseph Petty of Worcester and my fellow mayors and municipal leaders from across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to fight for our local Library systems and our residents, especially our children. Together, we are asking our Congressional delegation to protect our local libraries. I am very proud of our Springfield City Library, led by Director Molly Fogarty. Director Fogarty and her dedicated team does such a tremendous job providing a vast array of programs and reading opportunities for our students, children, seniors and adults. On average, nearly 62,000 eBooks are accessed every year through our Springfield City Library. I am also proud of the fact that Springfield is one of the few communities that maintains local neighborhood libraries too.”

“Our library branches do so much more than just provide reading books,” Mayor Sarno continued. “They are a place where individuals of all ages can go and enjoy the programs that are available. Neighborhood library branches are an essential component of our community. They not only provide much-needed library services and reading materials for residents and kids, but they also serve as a gathering and meeting space for our community’s different programs and initiatives. A place where our residents and their families can gather to meet, and where our children can learn and play. Our Libraries enhance the quality of life in our community and are a source of great pride. My administration will continue to work with all of our local, state and federal partners to preserve this community treasure and the vital programs and resources they offer.”