Brightwood Branch – 359 Plainfield Street – Springfield MA 01107 |
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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 libraries will be closed on the following dates for holidays: | |
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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 |
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 |
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
‘Anthony’s Book Club’ to support literacy in Springfield (WWLP)
Join Thunderbirds forward Anthony Angello for ‘Anthony’s Book Club’, created in partnership with the Springfield City Library and the T-Birds Foundation.
Springfield Library offers online series for adult job seekers (WWLP)
This series, running from January to June, is to help support older adults that are looking for a new job or a new career direction. Anyone that is age 50 or older can do these free biweekly skill-building and networking group meetings on Zoom.
Springfield City Library collecting mittens, hats and scarves (Masslive.com)
New or handmade items are preferred. Items of all sizes are needed; more adult-sized items are needed at most locations. The Springfield Library system has been collecting since Dec. 1 and will continue through Dec 31.
Branch Programs

February Activities for Teens
Join us for these events and activities at the library in February! | Teens

February Activities for Children
Join us for these events and activities at the library in February! | Children

January Activities for Teens
Join us for these events and activities at the library in January! | Teens

January Activities for Children
Join us for these events and activities at the library in January! | Children

A Musical Evening with Dulce Santana – Feb 16
Join us for a musical evening with Dulce Santana & Co., introducing a fusion of Afro-Latin rhythms as we celebrate the Black History Month. | Brightwood | Adults & Families

Raymond Jordan Senior Center Book Club
Come join us for a fascinating book club at the Raymond Jordan Senior Center! | Adults

Discover Your Winter Reading Challenge
Mark off your reading progress on a special game board and join us for programs and activities! | Children

Kids’ Weekly Drop-In Crafts
Drop by your library, and see what craft is being offered this week! | Children

1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Read just one book a day to build a foundation for lifelong success. Prizes awarded for every 100 books! | Children

Bilingual Storytime
Vengan y participen todos los miércoles del programa bilingue en Inglés y Español: Disfruten de cancioncitas, rimas, cuentos, y actividades manuales. | Brightwood | Children