Programs – Adult – Springfield City Library

Springfield Local Author Book Fair

Come to the Local Author Fair to meet recently published authors and enjoy their works in this showcase of local talent and achievement.

Meet Your Neighbors, Meet Their Books!

Join us for a celebration of Springfield’s vibrant literary scene at the Local Author Book Fair! This exciting event brings together a diverse range of local authors, all eager to connect with readers and share their passion for storytelling.

Why Attend?

Support Local Authors: Discover the wealth of talent right in your own community. Buy a book directly from the author and help them continue their creative journey.

Find Your Next Great Read: Explore a variety of genres, from captivating fiction to informative non-fiction. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a mystery buff, a history enthusiast, or a lover of poetry.

Connect with Fellow Bookworms: Chat with authors about their work, get your books personalized with a signature, and mingle with other book lovers who share your passion for reading.

Mark Your Calendars!

The next Local Author Book Fair will be held on Saturday, April 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Rotunda and Rice Hall on the second floor at the Central Library.

Admission is free, so come meet your neighbors and discover the hidden gems of Springfield’s literary world!

List of Authors – April 2024

Below is a list of authors attending the Local Author Fair – your neighbors, sharing their art! Also, titles of their most recent book – although several will have multiple books to share.

Stephen Billias – A Book of Fields
Bela Breslau and Stephen Billias – Pilgrim Maya
Justin Cascio – In Our Blood: The Mafia Families of Corleone
Tian Connaughton – Cardigans For Every Body: because every body is worthy
D. Dina Friedman – Immigrants
Adrián Gras-Velázquez – Lo que hago en mi habitación
Robert Loesch – Out on a Limb and Other Stories
Stephanie Marrero-Wilson – Healing in Him: 31 Day Journaling Devotional
Jane F. Morrissey, SSJ – Finding Jane in the Box – a Memoir
Jennifer Allis Provost – Oleander
Ruth Sanderson – A Storm of Horses: The Story of Artist Rosa Bonheur
Dulce Santana – Flowers in the City
H. Triplett – Perforated Fiber Forbidden Memories
Dennis Walter – The Misguided Mentor

Are You A Local Author?

Get on our list to be invited next time! We hold Author Fairs about twice a year, in the Spring and the Fall.

Silent Book Club

Wish you had more time to read? Looking for some book lovers to hang out with? Join us for Silent Book Club! | Central Library | Adults and Teens 16+

Central Library
Second Monday of the Month
6:00 – 7:30 pm | Adults and Teens 16+

Wish you had more time to read? Looking for some book lovers to hang out with? Join us for Silent Book Club! One night a month, we get cozy at the library for an hour of solo reading and time at the end to chat. Come to meet new people and leave with new book recommendations! For Adults and Teens 16+.

Registration optional, but if you register, you’ll get reminders.

Register on our online calendar.

Tabletop RPG Club

If you love collaborative storytelling and role-playing, join the Tabletop RPG Club! | Central | Teens & Adults

Central Library – Community Room
Saturdays: See Club Schedule Below | 1:00 – 3:30 PM | Ages 16+

If you love collaborative storytelling and role-playing, join the Tabletop RPG Club! We’ll be playing Dungeons & Dragons, Blades in the Dark, Powered by the Apocalypse games, and more. A little something for everyone – drop in once or stick around and learn how to run a game.

Beginners and experienced players welcome. For adults and teens 16 and older.

Registration is optional, but encouraged. Register via our online calendar!

Club schedule: Fall 2023

Date	Activity
January 13	Primary D&D campaign (co-DMed by KS and IK)
January 20	Beginner D&D! Join us to learn the basics
January 27	Primary D&D campaign (co-DMed by KS and IK)
February 3	Primary D&D campaign (co-DMed by KS and IK)
February 10	Primary D&D campaign (co-DMed by KS and IK)
February 17	Beginner D&D! Join us to learn the basics
February 24	Primary D&D campaign (co-DMed by KS and IK)
March 2	Primary D&D campaign (co-DMed by KS and IK)

The winter session will begin on December 2 and run until March 2.

What is a tabletop RPG?

A tabletop RPG is a game where the players sit around a table and use a shared set of rules to help make it easy and fun to tell a story. It’s about performance, tactics and strategy, solving mysteries, and adventure. Games can be as short as one club meeting or can tell an ongoing story across several months–decisions like that are up to the players.

In our club, we organize into groups of 3-6 players. Library staff and experienced facilitators help guide their table toward the kind of story everyone wants to tell. The goal is to enjoy creating a diverse world, where players take the leading roles in a series of action and adventure dramas.

What do I need to bring?

Nothing! We provide everything you need. If you end up really loving the hobby, you might find yourself wanting your own tools–dice, notebooks, pencils, and rule books–but you can always play for free.

Sixteen Acres Community Quilt

Images from the Sixteen Acres branch Community Quilt, created September 2023.

This September, patrons at the Sixteen Acres branch contributed to a community quilting project! Here’s what we posted:

Help us build a Community Quilt to be displayed in the Sixteen Acres Branch Library. Each quilt square you decorate will be added to the quilt and displayed on the wall. Draw pictures, write poems or a paragraph, now is your chance to leave your mark. You can sign your name, or decorate one anonymously.

Need help figuring out what to do on your square? Try pondering these questions – What makes Sixteen Acres special? Why do you love the library? Have any wisdom to pass on?

And here are some photos of the beautiful quilt squares the library received!

Quilt square with numbers 1-8 in bright colors. It says. "Be Kind, kindness counts"

Quilt square depicting two buildings outside on a sunny day.

Sew Fun! Drop-In

Drop in and learn the basics of sewing while working on various projects throughout the series. | East Forest Park | All Ages

East Forest Park Branch
Thursdays | 2:00-5:00 PM | All Ages

Are you interested in learning how to sew, or maybe just want to brush up your skills? Drop-in for our bi-weekly studio session. From sewing a button or hemming pants, to following a pattern to construct a garment using a sewing machine, our sewing volunteer can help you get started!

Sessions are open to participants of all ages and skill levels.

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!

2023 Seeds Available

Beans & Peas:
Antigua Bush Bean
Seychelles Pole Bean
Oregon Sugar Snow
SS 141 Snap Pea

Broccoli & Cauliflower:
Waltham 29 Broccoli
Spring Broccoli Raab
Nautic Brussels Sprouts

Beets, Carrots, Parsnips, Radishes, Turnips:
Danvers 126 Carrot
Napoli Carrot
Detroit Dark Red Beet
Guardsmark Chioggia Beet
Azur Star Kohlrabi
Lancer Parsnip
Schwarzer Radish
Cherry Belle Radish
Purple Top White Turnip

Flowers:
Pacific Beauty Calendula
Resina Calendula
Double Click Cosmos
Sensation Blend Cosmos
Jasmine Scented Nicotiana
Planéte Rouge du Jura Poppy
Evening Colors Sunflower
Hella Sonnenblume Sunflower
Hopi Black Dye Sunflower
Mammoth Sunflower
Medium Red Sunflower
Red Scarlet Zinnia
Yellow Zinnia

Herbs:
Genovese Basil
Lemon Basil
Rosie Basil
Rutgers Obsession DMR Basil
Sweet Thai Basil
Cribe Cilantro
Santo Cilantro
Bouquet Dill
Greensleeves Dill
Giant Italian Parsley
Italian Flatleaf Parsley
Common sage
Thyme

Lettuces & Leafy Greens:
Astro Arugula
Bellezia Arugula
Esmee Arugula
Golden Acre Cabbage
Farao Cabbage
Belle Isle Cress
Red Giant Mustard Greens
Hotshot Spicy Mustard
Green Wave Mustard Greens
Ruby Streaks Mustard
Curly Roja Kale
Ironman Kale Mix
Lacinato Dinosaur
Vates Kale
White Russian Kale
Green Towers Romaine Lettuce
High Mowing DMR Blend
Lolla Rossa Lettuce
Outredgeous Romaine
Red Oakleaf Lettuce
Salad Bowl Lettuce
Red Planet Salad Blend
White Stemmed Pac Choy
Yukina Savoy
Giant Winter Spinach
Butterflay Spinach

Peppers:
Candlelight Hot
Early Jalepeño (hot)
Ring Fire Cayenne Hot
Shishito Pepper (mild)

Eggplant:
Black Beauty Eggplant
Little Finger Egglant

Tomatoes:
Brandywine
Goldie Ground Cherry
Moskvich
Prudens Purple
Sweetie Cherry
Toma Verde Tomatillo

Makerspace Collaboratory Drop-In

There will be a variety of projects and experiments to get you and your family started exploring and creating! | East Forest Park | All Ages

East Forest Park Branch – Makerspace
Mondays & Tuesdays | 2:00 – 4:30 PM | All Ages

From traditional crafts to digital tinkering, the East Forest Park Makerspace is your place to create, invent, and learn. Each week we will have a drop-in project or two based on a theme.

Want to learn more? Contact the East Forest Park Branch Library at (413) 263-6836.

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

Chess Club

Play for learning or for friendly competitive play. Just come for fun! | East Forest Park | Teens & Adults

East Forest Park Branch
Fridays, June 2 – September 15 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Teens & Adults

Open to adult and teen chess players of all abilities, from complete beginners to the more advanced. Play for learning or for friendly competitive play. Just come for fun! You don’t need to bring any game equipment – all materials including boards and pieces will be provided. Ages 13 to Adult.

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+