| Brightwood Branch – 359 Plainfield Street – Springfield MA 01107 |
|||||||
| MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT | SUN | |
| 1-5 | 1-8 | 1-5 | 1-8 | 9-5 | Closed | Closed | |
359 Plainfield Street
Springfield MA 01107
Parking: Free parking is available in the lot shared by the Library and Chestnut Accelerated Middle School. On-street parking is also available. The Children’s area is on the right.
Book Drop: Located to the right of the main entrance, facing Plainfield St.
PVTA Bus Route: B4
Manager: David Meeks
Supervisor: Haydee Hodis
The Brightwood Branch will be closed for the following holidays:
| The libraries will be closed on the following dates for holidays: | |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2023 (Sunday) | New Year’s Day: Central Library Closed |
| January 2 (Monday) | New Year’s Day (Observed) |
| January 16 (Monday) | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day |
| February 20 (Monday) | Presidents’ Day |
| April 9 (Sunday) | Easter: Central Library closed |
| April 17 (Monday) | Patriot’s Day (MA holiday) |
| May 29 (Monday) | Memorial Day |
| June 19 (Monday) | Juneteenth |
| July 4 (Tuesday) | Independence Day |
| September 4 (Monday) | Labor Day |
| October 9 (Monday) | Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day |
| November 10 (Friday) | Veterans Day (Observed) |
| November 11 (Saturday) | Veterans Day |
| November 22 (Wednesday) | Thanksgiving Eve: All libraries close at 5 pm |
| November 23 (Thursday) | Thanksgiving Day |
| December 24 (Sunday) | Christmas Eve: Central Library closed |
| December 25 (Monday) | Christmas Day |
| December 31 (Sunday) | New Year’s Eve |
| January 1, 2024 (Monday) | New Year’s Day |
To promote neighborhood culture and development, the library makes its community room available for educational, social service, and other organizations. The library also hosts community events such as musical performances, puppet shows, readings by authors, and exhibitions by illustrators and other artists. Visit the Meeting Room page for information about booking the Community Room, to review our meeting room rules and policies, and submit a meeting room request.
Through its Collections and Services, the Brightwood Branch Library provides for the informational, educational, and leisure needs of the community.
Do you know how the Brightwood area got its name? Josiah Gilbert Holland (born in Belchertown, MA in 1819), doctor, author, poet, and early editor of The Springfield Republican, wrote his second narrative poem titled “Kathrina,” in 1867 while staying at his new home in the north end of Springfield. He called his beautiful home (“painted a glowing Venetian red”) Brightwood, and the name was soon applied to the whole section of the city. Interestingly J.G. Holland married Elizabeth Chapin, a good friend of Amherst poet Emily Dickinson. Mr. Holland died in New York City in 1881 and is buried in the Springfield Cemetery; his bronze profile wrought by Augustus Saint-Gaudens adorns his cemetery monument.
Branch News
Summer Reading Club – Thank you!
Thank you for participating in our 2023 Discover Your Summer Reading Challenge. Check out a list of our winners!
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.
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.
Branch Programs
- Bilingual Playgroup
10/04/23 @ 1:30pm - 10/04/23 @ 2:30pm BW Community Room Brightwood Branch Come and join us every Wednesday for a bilingual story time in the English and Spanish languages: songs, rhymes, stories, and crafts. Make friends and enjoy snacks. Ages 1-5.Vengan y participen todos los Miércoles del programa bilingue en Inglés y Español: Disfruten de cancioncitas, rimas, cuentos, y actividades manuales. Compartir con amiguitos y refrescos. Edades 1-5. […]
- Flowers in The City / Flores en La Ciudad
10/06/23 @ 10:30am - 10/06/23 @ 11:30am BW Community Room Brightwood Branch Join us for a bilingual presentation by local author/musician, Dulce Santana where she'll share a reading of her book about the beauty and richness of different cultures, nationalities and races followed by music and a craft activity.
- Sensory Friendly Inclusive Programs for All Ages
10/06/23 @ 1:00pm - 10/06/23 @ 2:00pm BW Community Room Brightwood Branch During this presentation youth librarians and educators will be introduced to a variety of sensory friendly inclusive programs for all ages followed by Q&A.
- Bilingual Playgroup
10/11/23 @ 1:30pm - 10/11/23 @ 2:30pm BW Community Room Brightwood Branch Come and join us every Wednesday for a bilingual story time in the English and Spanish languages: songs, rhymes, stories, and crafts. Make friends and enjoy snacks. Ages 1-5.Vengan y participen todos los Miércoles del programa bilingue en Inglés y Español: Disfruten de cancioncitas, rimas, cuentos, y actividades manuales. Compartir con amiguitos y refrescos. Edades 1-5. […]
- Visit from Alma
10/17/23 @ 4:00pm - 10/17/23 @ 4:30pm Brightwood Branch Alma from the PBS Kids show Alma's Way will be visiting the library during our Pin A Pumpkin activity. Stop by and enjoy lots of family fun!