Home City Families: Playgroups

Parents and their children are invited to join us for stories, songs, and activities! | Children

Home City Families Playgroup

East Forest Park Branch
Fridays | 1:30-2:30 PM | Ages 1-5

Forest Park Branch
Tuesdays | 10:30-11:30 PM | Ages 1-5 

Indian Orchard Branch
Tuesdays | 10:30-11:30 PM | Ages 1-5 

Mason Square Branch
Wednesday | 10:30-11:30 PM | Ages 1-5 

Sixteen Acres Branch
Tuesdays | 1:30-2:30 PM | Ages 1-5 

Parents and their children are invited to join us for stories, songs, and activities!

This playgroup is a great opportunity to meet other parents and give your child the opportunity to socialize with other children their age.

No registration required – just come in!

Circle Time Fun

Join us for songs, rhymes and a story or two at Circle Time Fun. | Sixteen Acres | Children

Sixteen Acres Branch
Thursdays | 10:30-11:30 AM | Ages 0-5

Join us for songs, rhymes and a story or two!

“Circle Time” is not only a fun experience for your child but also a great way to be ready for preschool and kindergarten.

Be sure to browse our extensive collection of children’s books and multimedia before or after the program!

Ages 0-5, older siblings welcome. An adult must accompany and consistently supervise children.

No registration required – just drop in anytime during the program!

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

Read just one book a day to build a foundation for lifelong success. Prizes awarded for every 100 books! | Children

All Library Locations
Began January 2022, ongoing

All it takes is sharing one book a day with your child to build a foundation for lifelong success. Start your child’s book journey today! The goal is to have read 1,000 books before your precious one starts kindergarten.

If you read just 1 book a day, you will have read about 365 books in a year. That is 730 books in two years and 1,095 books in three years. If you consider that most children start kindergarten at around 5 years of age, you have more time than you think. So, let’s get started!

How to Participate

Read with your child. Studies have shown that reading with your child provides a great opportunity for bonding. Reading together is fun and will create life-long memories for the both of you.

Keep track of the number of books you read with your child. Ask your librarian for a paper log to start on your reading journey.

You may choose instead to log your books online using Beanstack. Visit our Beanstack website or download the app to log your books digitally. You can view Beanstack instructions here or ask a librarian on how to use it.

After each 100 books you read, visit your local Springfield City Library branch to collect your free book prize. After 1000 books, come in and get a tote bag!

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can participate in this program?
– Any child from birth until they enter kindergarten.

How long does the program take?
– The program will take anywhere from a few months to a few years. The program is self-paced and will depend on how often you read together.

Can we repeat books?
– Yes!

How many of my children can participate?
– All of them (provided they have not started kindergarten). Make it even more fun and read as a family!

Teen Tuesdays

If you are looking for a welcoming place to be after school, look no further. | Sixteen Acres | Teens

Sixteen Acres Branch
Every Tuesday | 3 – 7 PM | Ages 9 – 18

If you are looking for a welcoming place to be, look no further.  Get inspired by using a wide array of art materials: write that masterpiece you’ve been pondering or play one of our many board games — and let’s not forget all the inspiration that rests right on our shelves. Enjoy the company of others or grab a quiet space for some precious alone time.

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!

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!

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

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+

Romance Book Club – Online

Get your Happily Ever After fix from the Romance Book Club! | Online | Adults

Our Romance Book Club meets online! Registration is optional to get reminders and book choices, click for  link.

ONLINE via Zoom
Saturdays once a month | 10:00-11:00 AM ET | Adults

Upcoming 2024 dates:
October 5, November 2, December 14, January 11, February 8, March 8

CLICK FOR ZOOM LINK for meeting each month.

Join us for the Romance Book Club! We read as many romance genres as we can, sharing our thoughts and expanding our romance reading experience. As long as it has a Happily Ever After, it’s fair game.

Typically each month we choose the book for the following month.

October Book Choice
We will be reading Dragon Actually by G. A. Aiken.

Book Cover for Dragon Actually by G. A. Aiken

It’s not always easy being a female warrior with a nickname like Annwyl the Bloody. Men tend to either cower in fear—a lot—or else salute. It’s true that Annwyl has a knack for decapitating legions of her ruthless brother’s soldiers without pausing for breath. But just once it would be nice to be able to really talk to a man, the way she can talk to Fearghus the Destroyer.

Too bad that Fearghus is a dragon, of the large, scaly and deadly type. With him, Annwyl feels safe—a far cry from the feelings aroused by the hard-bodied, arrogant knight Fearghus has arranged to help train her for battle. With her days spent fighting a man who fill her with fierce, heady desire, and her nights spent in the company of a magical creature who could smite a village just by exhaling, Annwyl is sure life couldn’t get any stranger. She’s wrong…

See previous group book choices below the group guidelines – scroll down.

Register if you’d like to be added to our email list, but no registration is required – just join us at the Zoom link, above. For adults 18+.

Please email Elizabeth McKinstry at emckinstry@springfieldlibrary.org or Anna Mickelsen at amickelsen@springfieldlibrary.org if you have any questions, or call either one of us at 413-263-6828 x213.


Group Guidelines

The book group will meet monthly via zoom to discuss books in the romance genre. Our definition of romance includes both HEA (Happily Ever After) and HFN (Happy For Now) endings. We will discuss what we read on our own, talk about forthcoming titles, and also pick books to read as a group, either voting on titles prepared by group leaders or taking turns selecting titles.

This book group will strive to be a safe and inclusive space. Racist and homophobic remarks will not be tolerated, and the group may set other content lines to be drawn in discussion or in reading material (e.g., mentions of self-harm, gore, sexual assault) in order to make the experience as fun for all participants as possible. As this is a romance book group, it should be assumed that books read and discussed will often include sex, sometimes explicit in nature.

Book group leaders will:

  • Read the entire book
  • Gather information to help enhance the discussion
  • Be prepared to offer counter opinions – even if they differ from our own
  • Be prepared to begin new lines of discussion when necessary
  • Not let one person monopolize the discussion
  • Be willing and prepared to take control of the group, firmly but respectfully

Book group participants will:

  • Make their best effort to complete the book
  • Come ready to both share and listen
  • Be ready to back up opinions with the “why”
  • Have a great time — if you stop enjoying it, let the leader know

Previous books read:
  • October 2024 – Dragon Actually, G.A. Aiken (Fantasy, F/Dragon)
  • September 2024 – Xeni, Rebekah Weatherspoon (Contemporary, M/F)
  • August 2024 – A Carribbean Heiress in Paris, Adriana Herrera (Historic, F/M)
  • July 2024 – Sweet Little Lies, Jill Shalvis (Contemporary, F/M)
  • June 2024 – Mistakes Were Made, Meryl Wilsner (Contemporary, F/F)
  • May 2024 – Custom Built, Chantal Fernando (Contemporary Thriller, F/M)
  • April 2024 – The Heiress Hunt, Joanna Shupe (Historical, F/M)
  • March 2024 – How To Catch A Queen, Alyssa Cole (Contemporary African Royal, F/M)
  • February 2024 – Toxic Desire, Robin Lovett (Alien Mate Sci-Fi, F/Alien)
  • January 2024 – The Holiday Trap, Roan Parrish (Contemporary Holiday, F/F & M/M)
  • December 2023 – Priest, Sierra Simone (Contemporary, M/F)
  • November 2023 – Hell on Wheels, Julie Ann Walker (Thriller, F/M)
  • October 2023 – And They Lived Happily Ever After, Therese Beharrie (Magical)
  • September 2023 – Something Wilder, Christina Lauren (Adventure, F/M)
  • August 2023 – The Baller, Vi Keeland (Sports, M/F)
  • July 2023 – I’m in Love with Mothman, Paige Lavoie (Paranormal, F/Mothman)
  • June 2023 – Scandalous Passions, Nicola Davidson (Historical Menage, F/F/M)
  • May 2023 – D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding, Chencia C. Higgins (Contemporary F/F)
  • April 2023 – Mafia Casanova, M Robinson and Rachel Van Dyken (Mafia)
  • March 2023 – Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors, Sonali Dev (Contemporary)
  • February 2023 – Hard Sell, Hudson Lin (Contemporary, M/M)
  • January 2023 – The Duke Who Didn’t, Courtney Milan (Historical)
  • December 2022 – Reader’s Choice Holiday Romance
  • November 2022 – The Ex Hex, Erin Sterling (Witchy)
  • October 2022 – Natural Born Charmer, Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Sports-ish)
  • September 2022 – Neon Gods, Katee Robert (Fantasy Hades/Persephone)
  • August 2022 – Fatal Affair, Marie Force (Romantic Suspense)
  • July 2022 – Never Been Kissed, Timothy Janovsky (Contemporary New Adult M/M)
  • June 2022 – Polaris Rising, Jessie Mihalik (Science Fiction)
  • May 2022 – Luckiest Lady in London, Sherry Thomas (Historical)
  • April 2022 – Writing Her In, Holley Trent (Polyamorous)
  • March 2022 – A Cowboy to Remember, Rebekah Wetherspoon (Contemporary Black Cowboy)
  • February 2022 – Battle Royal, Lucy Parker (Contemporary British)
  • January 2022 – Every New Year, Katrina Jackson (Holiday Second-Chance Contemporary)
  • November and December 2021 – The Matzah Ball, Jean Meltzer (Holiday Contemporary)
  • October 2021- How To Bang A Billionaire, Alexis Hall (Billionaire M/M)
  • September 2021 – Deal With The Devil, Kit Rocha (Science Fiction)
  • August 2021 – Gray Hair, Don’t Care, Karen Booth (Second Chance)
  • July 2021 – Angel’s Blood, Nalini Singh (Paranormal Romance)
  • June 2021 – Entangled, Melissa Brayden (Contemporary F/F)
  • May 2021 – The Obsession, Nora Roberts (Contemporary Romantic Suspense)
  • April 2021 – Destiny’s Embrace, Beverly Jenkins (Historical)
  • March 2021 – Loathe At First Sight, Suzanne Park (Contemporary)
  • February 2021 – Reader’s Choice

Eager Readers Book Club

The book group for reading enthusiasts reads mostly contemporary novels, although occasionally historical fiction, adventures, and some non-fiction. | Sixteen Acres | Adults

Sixteen Acres Branch
3rd Tuesday of the month | 6:30-7:30 PM | Adults 18+

Join this long-running book group of reading enthusiasts! Newcomers welcome. The group reads mostly contemporary novels, although occasionally historical fiction, adventures, and some non-fiction. The book club members jointly choose upcoming books. Check below for this month’s book! No registration required, just drop by.

See the books we are reading for upcoming meetings on our calendar!