East Forest Park Branch Library receives $150,000 from the Springfield Library Foundation Promise Realized Campaign

The East Forest Park Branch Library received $150,000 from the Springfield Library Foundation Promise Realized Campaign.

See full article with video at WWLP’s website: https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/east-forest-park-branch-library-gifted-funds/

MAY 10, 2021 – SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The East Forest Park Branch Library will receive $150,000 from the Springfield Library Foundation Promise Realized Campaign.

The Springfield City Council will vote Monday to approve accepting the funds from the Foundation’s Promise Realized Capital Campaign for the new East Forest Park Branch Library.

“In these extraordinarily challenging times, it is important to share good news with the community and the Library Foundation is excited to continue to fulfill its promise to the City and Springfield City Library with this $150,000 payment,” said Foundation President Patrick Markey. “With this gift, we bring our total contribution to the East Forest Park Branch to $1,150,000.”

After 14 months of construction, the 17,000 square foot library located on Surrey Road was completed in November 2019 and the facility opened to the community in December during the 2019 Christmas season.

“On behalf of our City, I thank the Foundation and its donors for this generous and substantial investment in our Library,” said Mayor Sarno. “We are fortunate to have the Foundation in our corner, and their support is instrumental in providing our residents with a world class library system.  I know that the Foundation continues to seek donations and pledges for the Promise Realized Campaign, and I would encourage everyone who can to continue to give as generously as they can.”

“When we opened the East Forest Park Branch usage skyrocketed,” said Library Director Molly Fogarty. “The community room and quiet study rooms were being booked constantly, and we saw huge increases in children’s program attendance, overall circulation and computer usage. The project is a complete success as a public-private partnership and we look forward to our eventual reopening and serving all of our patrons post-pandemic.”

“The Library Foundation has been a strong steward of numerous gifts large and small that have been made by generous individuals over many years, and we intend to continue this legacy far into the future,” said Mr. Markey. “Since 2005, the Foundation has contributed more than $6 million to the Springfield City Library, for books and materials, in support of the Mason Square branch, and for staff development and library programs. The Promise Realized Campaign continues this legacy and enables all of us to play our part and make a positive contribution to the future of the City of Springfield.”

Increasing Community Internet Access: Introducing Hotspots

The Library will circulate internet hotspots for those in the community that do not have internet access at home.

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – May 5TH, 2021 – With the doors still being closed to the public, the Springfield City Library is determined to continue its efforts in maintaining and increasing access to Springfield residents. The Library will start circulating hotspots, effective immediately, for those in the community that do not have internet access at home.

CLICK TO SEE HOTSPOT AVAILABILITY IN THE CATALOG.

The borrowing program will begin slowly, with just six hotspots available at the Central Library, Mason Square and Forest Park Branches. The hotspots are available through curbside pick-up or during open hours.

Any Springfield City Library cardholder can check one out with their library card after signing a borrower’s agreement; patrons under the age of 18 will need a guardian to sign. The hotspots can circulate for 14 days, fine-free, but will stop working after the designated timeframe and must be returned to the location it was originally borrowed from.

The hotspots will come with instructions and library staff will be available to offer troubleshooting tips. Each hotspot supports up to 16 devices.

The Library is very excited to begin offering these hotspots and knows how important they can be. Tom O’Connell, Manager of Tech Services and Collection Development says, “We look around us and, seemingly, everyone already has access to the Internet – and all of the resources that come with it. But it is important to remember that – what most of us take for granted – many in our community still lack. These easy to use devices allow us to provide online access for patrons who would otherwise miss out on utilizing these resources – whether it is to do homework, or apply for a job, or look up a recipe; putting all of this information in their hands is the goal.”

The Springfield City library hopes that a positive response to these devices will lead to an acquisition of many more for each of the branches. Call your neighborhood branch to request a hotspot or dial 413-263-6828, ext. 218.

Founded in 1857, the Springfield City Library provides over 800,000 free print, physical, and digital resources for public enrichment. To learn more, visit www.springfieldlibrary.org

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Welcome To Your Library Videos

Watch these fun short videos about each of our 9 locations!

Central Library

Brightwood Branch Library

East Forest Park Branch Library

East Springfield Branch Library

Forest Park Branch Library

Indian Orchard Branch Library

Library Express at Pine Point

Mason Square Branch Library

Sixteen Acres Branch Library

National Day of Racial Healing 2021

The Springfield City Library joins many organizations across the country in observing the 2021 National Day of Racial Healing on Tuesday, Jan. 19.

SPRINGFIELD, MA — The Springfield City Library joins many organizations across the country, including The American Library Association (ALA) and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, in observing the 2021 National Day of Racial Healing on Tuesday, Jan. 19. On this day, thousands will celebrate our common humanity and take collective action toward a more just and equitable world.

The day was established in 2017 by leaders across the United States who wanted to have a day to take action together.  It is a day where people of all ages can come together to (adapted from healourcommunities.org):

  • Find ways to reinforce and honor our common humanity and create space to celebrate the distinct differences that make our communities vibrant.
  • Acknowledge that there are still deep racial divisions in America that must be overcome and healed, and
  • Commit to engaging people from all racial, ethnic, religious and identity groups in genuine efforts to increase understanding, communication, caring and respect for one another.

Visit our Facebook or Instagram on Tuesday, Jan. 19th for a recorded video storytime read by Children’s Services Supervisor, Ellen Sulzycki, that you can share with your family at your convenience. She will be reading Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness by Anastasia Higginbotham, a picture book about racism and racial justice, inviting white children and parents to become curious about racism, accept that it’s real, and cultivate justice.

Resources

We also have additional reading suggestions for all ages:

And here is a guide to help get these very important conversations started:

The American Library Association also has issued a proclamation about the National Day of Racial Healing, which you can read here.

Virtual Events

You can see virtual events happening all around the country at this link, including a national livestream event at 3 p.m. ET.

ongoing efforts

The Springfield City Library is dedicated to continuing its work in these efforts and has ongoing community programming to reflect this.

Molly Fogarty, Library Director, notes that, “The National Day of Racial Healing is one important day, but the Springfield City Library is committed through its programming for all ages, including library collections and programs emphasizing economic and civic engagement, to support the critical work needed for racial healing in our community.” The Director and Board of Library Commissioners previously made a statement affirming the importance of Black Lives, which can also be seen on the library’s website.

Statement on Racial Justice

Statement from the Library Director and the Springfield Library Commission on Racial Justice

June 5, 2020

On behalf of the Springfield Library Commission and the Library Administration, we are writing to share our personal sense of heartbreak and devastation at the events surrounding the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis. And we join you and the Springfield Community in your grief and justified anger. As we witness repeated episodes of violence and killings perpetrated against our Black Community by rogue police officers, it is impossible not to experience a deep sense of outrage, disbelief and grief. We honor the lives of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and so many others. We are reaching out to you to share the grief and anger that we know you also feel, but also to reaffirm our common resolve. Both as private citizens and as members of this great institution, we must all do what we can to ensure that we foster a culture of inclusion, equity, and respect for one another. We promise to keep our resolve and strengthen our combined efforts against systemic racism until we can all see that this time justice will prevail and endure. We need to look to each other for strength and hope, and recommit ourselves to our shared goals of making the world a better place for all, especially black and brown people. Now is the time for us to come together as we serve together. Our work has never been more critical. Our concern for each other has never been more important.

We saw a young woman at a recent protest holding a sign with a quote from Angela Davis. It reads, “I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept” This quote is a perfect nest of powerful words to reflect about George Floyd’s death and a call to justice. These words beg people and organizations to change this unacceptable and systemic racism.

The Springfield Library Commission cherishes the work that library staff perform to address literacy challenges, the digital divide, to provide a place where everyone can share ideas and gain knowledge. We believe the incredible mission of the Springfield City Library serves as a powerful force to counter many inequities including racism.

The Springfield City Library is proud to have signed the Urban Library Council’s Statement on Race and Social Equity through which we, along with 167 other Urban Libraries have steadfastly committed to:

  • Eliminating racial and social equity barriers in library programs, services, policies and practices.
  • Creating and maintaining an environment of diversity , inclusion and respect both in our library system and in all aspects of our community role.
  • Ensuring that we are reaching and engaging disenfranchised people in the community and helping them express their voice.
  • Serving as a convener and facilitator of conversations and partnerships to address community challenges.
  • Being forthright on tough issues that are important to our communities.

It is our collective responsibility to examine what we are doing now in light of our commitments that we signed onto, to reevaluate our services and internal culture and to constantly improve and stand with our communities of color.

In the words of the great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr:

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

Sincerely,

Stephen Cary: Chair, Springfield Library Commission

Molly Fogarty: Library Director

Molly Fogarty, Director
Springfield City Library – All Yours, Just Ask
220 State St.
Springfield, MA 01103
413-263-6828 ext. 290
lfogarty@springfieldlibrary.org

Stephen Cary
scary@focusspringfield.com

Massachusetts first lady Lauren Baker, Springfield officials launch PJ Drive for children (Masslive.com)

The first lady of the commonwealth was joined by Blades, the mascot of the Boston Bruins hockey team, and by local officials and library patrons.

By Peter Goonan | pgoonan@repub.com

SPRINGFIELD — Lauren Baker, the wife of Gov. Charlie Baker, joined Springfield officials at the new East Forest Park branch library on Friday to help kick off the 13th annual PJ Drive to provide new pajamas to needy children around Massachusetts.

The first lady of the commonwealth was joined by Blades, the mascot of the Boston Bruins hockey team, and by local officials and library patrons.

“Last year we were in Pittsfield, this year we are in Springfield and we are trying to get to all of the commonwealth because there are kids in needs of pajamas everywhere,” Lauren Baker said. “We are trying to make that happen.”

The PJ Drive is sponsored by the Boston Bruins in partnership with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said the PJ Drive “will go a long way in helping our children.”

The drive benefits the Department of Children and Families Wonderfund and Cradles to Crayons.

All pajamas donated to the drive will be given to children and teens living in foster care, and local donations benefit local children.

“I’m very excited to have this kick off at our new East Forest Park library,” said Molly Fogarty, the city’s director of libraries. “It’s a really very important effort.”

Read more and see all the great photos here!

Boston Bruins 13th annual PJ Drive held in Springfield to help children, teens living in foster care (WWLP)

The Boston Bruins PJ Drive was held at the new East Forest Park Branch Library in Springfield Friday afternoon.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass (WWLP) – The 13th annual Boston Bruins PJ Drive was held at the new East Forest Park Branch Library in Springfield Friday afternoon.

Massachusetts libraries team up with the Boston Bruins to collect pajamas that will be donated to children and teens living in foster care during February and March. The drive benefits the Department of Children and Families Wonderfund and Cradles to Crayons.

The First Lady of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Lauren Baker, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, and Blades the Boston Bruins mascot were all at the kick-off celebration.

“I cannot thank First Lady Lauren Baker enough for all of her contributions to our communities across the Commonwealth, especially to our youths and libraries. In collaboration with our Springfield City Libraries, the Department of Children and Families, and the Boston Bruins, this event will go a long way in helping our children.”

-Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said in a news release sent to 22News

 

Click here for the whole article!

Springfield opens East Forest Park Branch Library (Masslive.com)

Hundreds of guests gathered Thursday morning as the East Forest Park Branch Library officially opened at its new home.

SPRINGFIELD — Hundreds of guests gathered Thursday morning as the East Forest Park Branch Library officially opened at its new home at 136 Surrey Road after 14 months of construction.

There is a large family and children’s room, a dedicated teen area and a makerspace. A sidewalk connects to the Mary Dryden School. The library will also interact with other nearby schools, including Pope Francis Preparatory School.

“For well over 40 years, they’ve talked about a standalone East Forest Library — I’m so glad that my administration has been able to deliver on this neighborhood enhancement project,” Mayor Domenic Sarno said in a statement. “Especially after the devastating EF-3 tornado (in 2011), this is a true testament of the resiliency of our East Forest Park residents.”

Previously the branch library occupied rented space in a commercial strip on Island Pond Road.

Click to read more and see all the great photos!

 

Springfield students, donors get sneak peek inside East Forest Park library branch (Masslive.com)

Mayor Domenic Sarno hosted a soft opening and tour of the almost-completed East Forest Park Branch Library on Surrey Road Tuesday morning.

SPRINGFIELD — There is a large family and children’s room, a dedicated teen area and lots more at the new East Forest Park library branch on Surrey Road.

Maybe the best new feature was added Tuesday as students from the nearby Mary A. Dryden Veterans Memorial School filled the children’s room for the library’s first-ever story time with Mayor Domenic Sarno.

This was a “soft opening” to show donors where their money was spent on the $9.5 million project. The official opening will occur later this year, according to Springfield City Library Director Molly Fogerty.

“We are getting shipments of furniture arriving and we are so excited to be looking forward to a grand opening in early to mid December,” she said.

Mentioning the adjacent Dryden school, nearby Pope Francis Academy and the Forest Park Civic Association, Sarno said the library will become the hub of the community.

Click through to see the amazing photos!

From Hoang ‘Leon’ Nguyen / The Republican