All Yours Just Ask
Three branches will open late, due to a staff event.
Brightwood, East Forest Park, and East Springfield branches will open at 1pm on Friday, April 24, 2026. This delay is designed to accommodate a staff event in the morning.
Hours for all other branches will maintain their regular schedule.
The allocation is made possible by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
by: John Budenas, Claire Overton / read on WWLP
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Federal funding has been secured to support a major renovation and expansion project at the East Springfield Branch Library.
Rep. Richard Neal joined Mayor Domenic Sarno, library leaders, and other city leaders on Monday to unveil a $500,000 allocation made possible by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funding was included in the FY2026 federal spending bill.
After nearly 100 years, the library on Osborne Terrace is getting torn down and completely rebuilt. Residents in the area say they are excited for what’s to come.
One thing I’ve learned after a couple decades on the Library Commission is when you build a new library, it’s a real gift to the neighborhood,” said Steve Cary, Chair of the Board of Library Commissioners. “It’s also a gift to the city, and that gift spreads well beyond the city line.”
The project will significantly expand and modernize the nearly century-old library, which serves more than 6,000 East Springfield residents and over 150,000 people citywide. Plans include expanding reading and programming areas for children, teens, and adults, adding quiet study rooms, upgrading building systems, and modernizing technology.
“Whether it be a school, a place of worship, or a library, there are certain institutions in a community that people come to identify with,” said Congressman Neal. “With the improvements that will take place at the East Springfield Library, we are ensuring this historic institution can continue to serve as a place for learning and opportunity for generations to come.”
Once completed, the library will offer about 6,000 square feet of usable space—more than double its current footprint.
“We can always count on ‘Richie,’ Congressman Neal, to deliver for our City of Springfield,” Mayor Sarno said. “This is a very proud day – our East Springfield Library branch has been providing successful and popular library services for our community since 1934 – and now we will move forward to enhance this neighborhood learning center so that it can serve our community for another 100 years.”
The East Springfield Branch Library, originally established in the early 20th century, has served as a key community resource for decades. Officials say the planned upgrades will help ensure it continues to meet residents’ needs well into the future.
The project is one of 15 Congressionally Directed Spending initiatives submitted by Rep. Neal for Fiscal Year 2026, totaling more than $14 million in investments across western Massachusetts.
Springfield was provisionally awarded $6,837,061 for construction of the East Springfield Branch.
Read at MA Board of Library Commissioners
At its March 5, 2026 board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) awarded provisional construction grants totaling $29,111,051 to municipalities participating in the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP). Clinton was awarded $11,316,281 for the Clinton Public Library Project, Montague received $10,957,709 for the new Main Library, and Springfield was awarded $6,837,061 for the East Springfield Branch.
“Public libraries are needed now more than ever,” said MBLC Chair Vicky Biancolo. “These libraries stand for community, for education for all at any age, for reliable accurate information, for access to stories and ideas that represent the diverse world and experiences around us. We congratulate these communities as they move ahead with projects that will improve their communities and the lives of the people they serve.”
In Springfield, the new East Springfield Branch Library will be built on the existing lot of the current branch. The new energy-efficient facility will feature separate spaces for children, teens, and adults, with a children’s activity room and a community meeting room that can be used after hours.”
The new Montague Main Library will offer a separate teen room, a sizeable children’s room with its own program space, quiet study rooms, and a local history room. A large and fully accessible multipurpose room will be available for library and community events. The new library will also incorporate multiple spaces for art, reflecting Montague’s thriving arts community.
With a new 21,775 square foot facility, the project in Clinton will remedy the issues found in the current 1903 building. The new library will be universally accessible, with modern technology and ample interior spaces dedicated to children, teens, and adult patrons. The library will feature quiet study rooms, a local history room, a makerspace, a community room, and accessible restrooms on every floor.
Provisional construction grants for these projects are between 45 to 50% of their estimated total project costs. Libraries have until June 30, 2026 to confirm local funding to support the project. Commissioners also approved Green Library Incentives for Montague and Springfield in accordance with their intent to pursue net-zero library building projects. Montague will receive $328,731 and Springfield will get an additional $205,112 when they demonstrate compliance with one of the pathways to receive the incentive.
These projects were among the 13 approved for Planning and Design grants by the MBLC in January 2025 and recently completed the MPLCP Level of Design independent review, which ensures that each project is meeting MPLCP design guidelines. It is anticipated that five projects will be considered for provisional grants at the April 2026 board meeting. Blandford received its provisional construction award in December. Six projects that were waitlisted will receive provisional awards as funding becomes available.
The Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program has benefitted more than 250 towns and cities since its inception in 1987. Funding to support the MPLCP‘s 2023-2024 grant round was included in the Mass Leads Act. MPLCP projects are underway in the following communities: Amherst, Blandford, Deerfield, Fitchburg, and Westford. Swansea Free Public Library, Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester, and Shutesbury Library recently celebrated the completion of library projects. Learn more about the program on the MBLC website, the Building Literacy podcast, and the MPLCP Municipal Impact website.
In 2026, Springfield City Library is adding a Seed Library to every Branch!
Springfield City Library is expanding the Seed Library to all library Branches! Starting April 1, 2026, community members will be able to access FREE organic, non-GMO seeds at every library location to grow vegetables, greens, herbs, and flowers.
“If you have a garden and a library you have everything you need” – Cicero
The Springfield City Library is one of many libraries from across the nation that participates in the seed library movement! Originating in 1975 in the United Kingdom, seed libraries have spread all over the world to encourage growth of local plant species and preservation of seed varieties. Springfield City Library’s Seed Library brings us back to our roots in Springfield, connecting us to a history of farmers and growers of all kinds in Western Massachusetts. Grab some seeds and a shovel, and help local vegetables, greens, herbs, and flowers bloom in our community.
Springfield City Library’s Seed Library is made possible through generous donations from Vermont-based seed company High Mowing Organic Seeds, the Alliance of Native Seedkeepers, and UMass Amherst’s Common Seed Project. Thank you to these organizations for supplying seeds for urban gardening, vegetable gardens, container gardens, flower gardens, and more in Springfield, Massachusetts!
Help us celebrate the Seed Library with these special events, where you’ll receive a packet of the 2026 Common Seed: Hopi Black Dye Sunflower.
Seed Library Launch Party: Earth Day Planters
Sixteen Acres Branch Children’s Room
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 1:00pm–2:00pm
East Springfield Branch
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 3:00pm–4:00pm
Mason Square Branch
Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 4:00pm–5:00pm
To help spread the seeds all across the City, seed envelopes will be available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. We ask that patrons take no more than 5 seed envelopes per library visit to help share the inventory. Each envelope contains enough seeds to grow at least a square foot of the plant.
Below you’ll find a list of varieties available in our Seed Library. Visit your local library Branch to see what seeds are in stock, to check out books on gardening, and to get help finding answers to all your growing questions!
Visit the Library’s website for the locations and hours of your nearest Branch.
| Category | Name of Plant |
|---|---|
| Bean | Maxibel Haricot Vert Bean |
| Bean | Rattlesnake Pole Bean |
| Bean | Northeaster Pole Bean |
| Bean | Compass Filet Bush Bean |
| Bean | Mardi Grad Blend Bean |
| Beet | Guardsmark Chiogga Beet |
| Beet | Touchstone Gold Beet |
| Beet | Red Ace Beet |
| Beet | Detroit Dark Red Beet |
| Broccoli | Waltham 29 Broccoli |
| Broccoli | De Cicco Broccoli |
| Broccoli | Belstar Broccoli |
| Cabbage | Golden Acre Cabbage |
| Cabbage | Amarant Cabbage |
| Cabbage | Caraflex Cabbage |
| Cabbage | Tiara Cabbage |
| Carrot | Dolciva Carrot |
| Carrot | Starburst Carrot Blend |
| Carrot | Naval Carrot |
| Carrot | Lila Lu Carrot |
| Carrot | Negovia Carrot |
| Cauliflower | Adona Cauliflower |
| Celery | Tango Celery |
| Chard | Fordhook Giant Chard |
| Chard | Sunset Chard |
| Cucumber | Shintokiwa Cucumber |
| Cucumber | Green Finger Cucumber |
| Cucumber | National Pickling Cucumber |
| Cucumber | Marketmore 76 Cucumber |
| Eggplant | Listada di Gandia Eggplant |
| Eggplant | Black Beauty Eggplant |
| Eggplant | Ping Tung Long Eggplant |
| Fennel | Preludio Fennel |
| Flowers (misc) | Sensation Blend Cosmos |
| Flowers (misc) | Black Beauty Poppy |
| Flowers (misc) | Planète Rouge du Jura Poppy |
| Flowers (misc) | Nigella |
| Flowers (misc) | Nasturtium Blend |
| Flowers (misc) | Resina Calendula |
| Greens | Bopak Pak Choi |
| Greens | Tat Soi Asian Green |
| Greens | Champion Collard Greens |
| Herbs | Bouquet Dill |
| Herbs | Greensleeves Dill |
| Herbs | Genovese Basil |
| Herbs | Thyme |
| Herbs | Grüne Perle Parsley |
| Herbs | Italian Flat Leaf Parsley |
| Herbs | Chives |
| Herbs | Santo Cilantro |
| Kale | Lacinato Dinosaur Kale |
| Kale | Ironman Kale Mix |
| Kale | Meadowlark Kale |
| Kale | Red Russian Kale |
| Leek | Tadorna Leek |
| Lettuce | New Red Fire Lettuce |
| Lettuce | Optima Butterhead Lettuce |
| Lettuce | Salad Bowl Lettuce |
| Lettuce | Green Towers Romaine Lettuce |
| Lettuce | High Mowing Blend Mesclun Lettuce |
| Lettuce | Pirat Butterhead Lettuce |
| Lettuce | Lovelock Lettuce |
| Lettuce | Freckles Lettuce |
| Lettuce | Red Planet Lettuce Salad Blend |
| Melon | True Love Melon |
| Melon | Moon & Stars Watermelon |
| Melon | Sugar Baby Watermelon |
| Melon | Blacktail Mountain Watermelon |
| Okra | Clemson Spineless 80 Okra |
| Onion | Cortland Onion |
| Onion | Red Geneva Cippolini Onion |
| Onion | Ailsa Craig Onion |
| Parsnip | Halblange Parsnip |
| Peas | Cascadia Snap Pea |
| Peas | Laxton’s Progress #9 Shell Pea |
| Peas | Mammoth Melting Snow Pea |
| Peas | Sweet Gem Sugar Snap Pea |
| Pepper, Hot | Early Jalepeno Hot Pepper |
| Pepper, Hot | Shishito Pepper |
| Pepper, Hot | Ring-O-Fire Cayenne Hot Pepper |
| Pepper, Sweet | King of the North Sweet Pepper |
| Pepper, Sweet | Picnic Orange Pepper |
| Pepper, Sweet | Golden California Wonder Sweet Pepper |
| Pepper, Sweet | California Wonder Sweet Pepper |
| Pepper, Sweet | HMS Red Picnic Pepper |
| Radish | Cherry Belle Radish |
| Radish | Sora Radish |
| Radish | Valentine’s Day Blend Radish |
| Radish | Daikon-type Radish |
| Radish | French Breakfast Radish |
| Spinach | Renegade Spinach |
| Spinach | Butterflay Spinach |
| Squash, Winter | Howden Pumpkin |
| Squash, Winter | Jack Be Little Pumpkin |
| Squash, Winter | Waltham Butternut Winter Squash |
| Squash, Winter | Burgess Butternut Winter Squash |
| Squash, Winter | Sweet REBA Acorn Squash |
| Squash, Summer | Yellow Crookneck Summer Squash |
| Sunflowers | Hella Sonnenblume Sunflower |
| Sunflowers | Goldy Double Sunflower |
| Sunflowers | Evening Colors Sunflower |
| Tomato | Sweetie Cherry Tomato |
| Tomato | Toma Verde Tomatillo |
| Tomato | Cherokee Purple Tomato |
| Tomato | Mountain Princess Tomato |
| Tomato | Black Cherry Tomato |
| Tomato | San Marzano Paste Tomato |
| Tomato | Peacevine Cherry Tomato |
| Tomato | Green Zebra Tomato |
| Tomato | Matt’s Wild Cherry Tomato |
| Tomato | Amish Paste Tomato |
| Tomato | Pink Champagne Cherry Tomato |
| Tomato | Supernova Grape Tomato |
| Tomato | Brandywine Tomato |
| Zinnias | County Fair Blend Zinnias |
| Zinnias | Red Scarlet Zinnia |
| Zinnias | Giant Coral Zinnia |
| Zinnias | Dwarf Thumbolina Zinnia |
| Zinnias | Yellow Zinnia |
| Zucchini | Dark Green Zucchini |
| Zucchini | Cocozelle Zucchini |
The branch’s damaged atrium was closed for significant repairs between October 2025 and January 2026.
Repairs to the atrium at the Mason Square Branch that began this fall are now complete.
Starting Thursday, January 8, 2026, patrons will be able to enter the library and community room through the atrium.
Designs for a new building are complete.
By: Jeanette DeForge
SPRINGFIELD – The city has moved one step closer to replacing the East Springfield Branch Library. Designs for a new building are complete.
“We submitted the preliminary schematic and related documents last week to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. They are all under review now,” said Jean M. Canosa Albano, assistant director for public services for Springfield City Libraries.
A year ago, the state board awarded the city a $100,000 planning and design grant and the City Council matched it with $150,000 in funding. The state award came with a promise for a future construction grant.
For the past year, library officials, the architect and East Springfield Neighborhood Council have worked with the state to develop a design. It includes a floor plan for a library that will meet the needs of the neighborhood and fit state requirements and local needs, said Kathy Brown, president of the East Springfield Neighborhood Council.
Initially, city officials expected to expand and renovate the existing building on Osborne Terrace. That has changed to a plan to tear down the existing building and replace it with a new library.
“We looked at everything and with the current building codes, it was not possible,” Brown said.
The plan now is to build a new library that will measure between 8,000 and 9,000 square feet. The current library is just 3,100 square feet in size and is mostly one room. Creative uses of bookcases and furniture divide the room into sections for computers and a children’s area.
There were concerns the lot, which measures about 0.4 acres, would be too small for a new larger building. But by using all the available property, the architect made it fit — and even included a parking lot that will have about eight spaces. Now, all parking is on the street, Brown said.
“We looked for another location in the neighborhood heavy and hard, but there were none,” she said.
Plans call for a one-story building that will have separate spaces for a children’s room, a computer room and a small office for staff. They include a community room with a separate entrance that can be locked off from the rest of the library so it can be used when the branch is closed.
It was a challenge to fit in all the amenities library users thought were needed. A community room was especially wanted, since there are few meeting places in the area, Brown said.
There is no official cost for the project since full architect drawings are not complete. One estimate puts it at $9.5 million.
Brown said she expects there will be a fundraising component to the project, as there was for the new East Forest Park Library. In that project, completed in 2019, the Springfield Library Foundation reached its goal of raising $2 million about a year ago.
In East Springfield, the group is searching for a location where the busy library branch can be temporarily relocated, between the time the old building is razed and the new building is finished.
If all goes according to plan, the new building could be completed in 2028 or 2029, Brown said.
Community food resources that are available to assist households in and around Springfield.
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.
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.
For options outside Springfield, visit Hampden County Food Programs.
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.
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 |
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.
“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.
