Category: News – Teens

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.

2025 Teen Photo Scavenger Hunt

Take all 20 pictures, and you will claim your prize! But the clock is ticking! Get them in by April 30! For Teens 12-19.

  1. Take a picture of your favorite place in Springfield
  2. Take a picture of yourself wearing an outfit that is not your usual style
  3. Take a picture of yourself at a famous landmark/building in Springfield
  4. Take a picture of a wild animal you saw in Springfield
  5. Take a picture of yourself reading your favorite book
  6. Take a picture of something that is your favorite color
  7. Take a picture of your favorite food or drink
  8. Take a picture of something smaller than your hand
  9. Take a picture of something that is 2x bigger than you are.
  10. Take a selfie with a Springfield Librarian.
  11. Take a picture of someone’s pet (it can be yours!)
  12. Take a picture of the night sky
  13. Take a picture of a chalk drawing on the sidewalk
  14. Take a picture of a reflection of something in a mirror
  15. Take a picture of yourself or someone you know jumping into the air
  16. Take a picture of yourself wearing something ridiculous
  17. Take a picture of a sign that starts with the letter “D”
  18. Take a picture of something in nature you think is beautiful.
  19. Take a picture of a coin that was made before 1990.
  20. Take a picture of a shadow

If you’re not comfortable with your own face on camera,
feel free to blur it out, or hide it any way you like before sending it to us.

Send to shodge-wetherbe@springfieldlibrary.org or post to Instagram with the hashtag #SpringfieldCityLibrary

Do you know what you can do with a Springfield City Library Card?

Mayor Sarno joins Springfield Library staff in supporting the library’s initiative to sign up 10,000 members for library cards.

Read at the City’s website

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno joined Springfield Library Community Relations Coordinator Jamillah Medina Nova in supporting the library’s initiative to sign up 10,000 members for library cards. The library card will get you access to all of the resources and services that our city’s libraries have to offer, allows you to place a hold, use the electronic resources on the eLibrary, and so much more.

You can get a library card by visiting your local library branch in person to get full access to all of our physical and digital resources. If you would like instant access to our online resources, you can apply for a CW MARS eCard online! The eCard can be upgraded to a full library card later, if desired.

We’d like to remind residents that the library offers much more than just books! Chromebooks, hotspots, print-fax-scan, meeting rooms, video games, e-reading, and more!

The initiative teamed with Brother Johnnie Muhammad to provide free Shabazz wings to children who applied for a library card this past weekend, which was a huge success.

Mayor Sarno states, “I want to thank Jamillah Medina Nova and the entire library staff for working so hard every day to provide all of these incredible FREE resources to our community. Shout to our friend Brother Johnnie Muhammad for his support this past weekend too. 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. Springfield Libraries serve as a community center for educational and cultural programming, as well as a social gathering place for our students and the surrounding community. It serves as a hub for free information and technology, social and civic participation, personal enrichment, and lifelong learning.”

The Springfield City Library offers nearly 5000 educational and recreational activities annually.

To learn more, visit www.springfieldlibrary.org; to acquire a Library Card, visit https://www.springfieldlibrary.org/…/get-a-library-card/

Mayor Domenic Sarno and Community Relations Coordinator Jamillah Medina Nova pose with an oversized Springfield library card.

New Library Catalog

Our library catalog has been upgraded to bring you a better online browsing experience.

Starting March 4, 2024, you may notice several new features when you’re searching the library’s online catalog. The new catalog includes search suggestions, spell check, and grouped records to make finding your next read easier than ever before!

Visit springfield.cwmars.org to check it out

What’s staying the same?

Your account will not change at all. You can log in with the same library card number and PIN/password. All of your current checkouts and holds will carry over to the new system. Your lists and reading history can be imported from the old catalog when you log in.

If you have any difficulty accessing your account in the new catalog, please contact the reference desk for assistance, at (413) 263-6828 ext. 213 or via ask@springfieldlibrary.org

What’s changing?

  • One of the biggest changes is that ebooks and audio books from Libby and Hoopla are fully integrated in the new catalog. You can place holds for electronic resources right in the catalog, and your app will update accordingly.
  • There are numerous changes to the appearance. Your lists and account details may look different, due to the way our content will be displayed in the new catalog.
  • The new search function is more user-friendly. You will not need to be as precise, and you may find that you need assistance from librarians less often. We are always happy to help, but this change is designed to empower patrons to find items independently.
  • You may notice links directing you to databases and other digital resources.

What else do I need to know?

Please excuse any broken links you may find on springfieldlibrary.org for the duration of March. Our search bar and many links to books or book lists need to be updated manually.

Teen Mental Health Survey

We want you to tell us how we can help! Survey will stay open until Feb 10, 2024.

Springfield City Library is trying to expand how we can help teens and young adults between the ages of 14-24 with mental health care!

Would you like to see a peer group once a month to be able to talk about things that might be bothering you? Would you like a free yoga class? A chance to create and display art to express yourself! You are the boss! You tell us!

take the survey here

Mayor Sarno Recognizes our Springfield City Libraries During National Library Week

April 24th marks National Library Workers Day. Thank you to all our dedicated Springfield Library workers for your tremendous service.

April 25, 2023:

Happy Library Workers Day!

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and the City of Springfield are proud to join with Library Director Molly Fogarty, Deputy Director Jean Canosa Albano and our Springfield City Library team to celebrate National Library Week this year from April 23 – 29, 2023. Make sure to visit your library this week, or even check out a new library you’ve never been to. Find all Springfield library locations and hours here: Locations and Hours – Springfield City Library (springfieldlibrary.org)

There is a lot to celebrate when it comes to our libraries which are a hub for free access to information and technology, social and civic engagement, and support of personal enrichment, well-being, and lifelong learning. Today, April 24th, marks National Library Workers Day. Thank you to all our dedicated Springfield Library workers for your tremendous service. We can all show gratitude to a Springfield City Library worker who “shines” by nominating a stellar library worker for the American Library Association’s Galaxy of Stars by completing a brief nomination form at  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SubmitAStarforNLWD

Mayor Sarno states, “Our libraries and library employees are truly a wonderful and valuable resource for our community. From the leadership with Director Molly Fogarty and Deputy Director Jean Canosa Albano to each and every member of our library staff, we are extremely proud and grateful for our library system across the city and the important role they play in our community. This week especially, let us all take a moment to recognize how important our libraries and library employees are to our Springfield. They have so much to offer – remember, it’s all yours, just ask!”

Read more at the City website.

Springfield City Library collecting pajamas for Boston Bruins drive (WWLP)

The Springfield City Library has partnered with the Boston Bruins to take part in the Bruins PJ drive that benefits children. The drive runs through March 15 at all nine library locations in the city.

Check out the story and video from WWLP

March 1, 2023:

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)– The Springfield City Library has partners with the Boston Bruins to take part in the Bruins PJ drive that benefits children through the Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) Wonderfund and Cradles to Crayons.

The PJ drive runs through March 15 at all nine library locations in the city. They are looking for new pairs of pajamas for babies, children and teenagers.

“It’s hard to imagine that so many kids and teens don’t know the comforting feeling of putting on PJs before settling down to sleep. We’re happy to be part of an effort to change that” said Jean Canosa Albano, Assistant Director of the Library.

The goal of the PJ drive is to collect 5,000 pairs of new pajamas. DCF is estimated to be working with agency that assist more than 50,000 babies, children and teenagers.

The Bruins PJ drive began during the 2007-08 hockey season with Forward P.J. Axelsson and his wife Siw as a way to give back to the community. Since 2014, libraries across the state have joined in on the effort and have collected over 53,000 pairs of pajamas since.

For more information, visit Bruins PJ Drive website.

Springfield Libraries Eliminate Late Fees (Masslive.com)

Patrons of all Springfield City Library branches will no longer be penalized if they don’t return books and other materials on time.

SPRINGFIELD — Patrons of all Springfield City Library branches will no longer be penalized if they don’t return books and other materials on time.

The Springfield Library Commission voted unanimously in 2019 to remove all late fees on library items, but held off on making an announcement on the change due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Springfield City Library employees and Mayor Domenic Sarno called a press conference at the Brightwood branch, 359 Plainfield St., to announce the news Thursday.

“In the last fiscal year, we collected about $7,000 in our fines and fees account and only about $700 of that was for late fines. The rest of it (was for) replacement costs,” said Jean M. Canosa Albano, assistant director for public services. “For anyone concerned that we’re just letting everything go, no, you still have to bring back the materials you returned, but if you’re late, it’s OK.”

Canosa Albano went on to say that after a set period of time, the patron will receive a message in their mail and other alerts to remind them they are in possession of an overdue item, but will still not be charged for it, as long as the item is returned in good condition.

Read more at Masslive.com.

Springfield Library Eliminates Fines & Announces Summer Reading Program (Video)

Watch a video of these official Springfield City Library announcements.

07/07/22 – Springfield Library Eliminates Fines & Announces Summer Reading Program

Watch the announcement in the video below!