| Forest Park Branch – 380 Belmont Avenue – Springfield MA 01108 HOURS – July 6-Sept 6, 2021 |
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| MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT | SUN | |
| 1-5 | 1-5 | 1-6 | 1-5 | 1-5 | 11-3 | Closed | |
Springfield MA 01108
Parking: On-street parking is available on Belmont Avenue and Oakland Street. There are time limits on Belmont.
PVTA Bus Route: G2
Manager:
Supervisor: Lee Moonan
| The libraries will be closed on the following dates for holidays: | |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2021 (Friday) | New Year’s Day |
| January 2, 2021 (Saturday) | Day After New Year's |
| January 18, 2021 (Monday) | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day |
| February 15, 2021 (Monday) | Presidents’ Day |
| April 4, 2021 (Sunday) | Easter: Central Library closed |
| April 19, 2021 (Monday) | Patriot’s Day (MA holiday) |
| May 31, 2021 (Monday) | Memorial Day |
| June 18, 2021 (Friday) | Juneteenth (Observed) |
| June 19, 2021 (Saturday) | Juneteenth |
| July 4, 2021 (Sunday) | Independence Day |
| July 5, 2021 (Monday) | Independence Day (Observed) |
| September 6, 2021 (Monday) | Labor Day |
| October 11, 2021 (Monday) | Columbus Day |
| November 11, 2021 (Thursday) | Veterans Day |
| November 24, 2021 (Wednesday) | Thanksgiving Eve: All libraries close at 5 pm |
| November 25, 2021 (Thursday) | Thanksgiving Day |
| December 24, 2021 (Friday) | Christmas Eve |
| December 25, 2021 (Saturday) | Christmas Day |
| December 31, 2021 (Friday) | New Year's Day (Observed) |
Fax Service: Fax service is available. There is a $1 per job charge for a traditional fax. We cannot receive faxes. There is no charge to scan your document to an email address, USB, tablet or smartphone. To scan to your smartphone you must have a QR code app.
Note: As of January 9, 2020, the community room is now available for booking again.
To promote neighborhood culture and development, the library makes its community room available for educational, social service, and other organizations. 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.
Forest Park neighborhood residents outgrew the provisional circulating library that was set up at Park Memorial Baptist Church and residents wanted a full service branch library. In 1908, industrialist Andrew Carnegie provided $50,000 for three branch libraries that included Forest Park Branch Library. Carnegie required that neighborhood citizens subscribe for land to match his donation of money for the building. Over 500 prominent Forest Park citizens subscribed for land and soon Forest Park Branch Library was completed in 1909.
The renovated Forest Park Branch Library children’s area, now the Charlie & Joan Ryan Family Place, was made possible through the generosity of the Barker Foundation and Troy and Pat Murray. Honoring former Springfield Mayor Charles V. Ryan and his wife Joan, the creative new space will provide inspiration and learning opportunities for so many area children, just as the original room did for young Charlie and Troy.
Thanks to our benefactors the changes are astonishing, the room looks phenomenal, and the Charlie & Joan Ryan Family Place is ready to welcome all ages.
For more information about the history of the Forest Park Branch, download our brochure.
Branch News
Reopening News
Springfield City Library branches reopen for limited hours starting July 6. Click for more details.
Increasing Community Internet Access: Introducing Hotspots
The Library will circulate internet hotspots for those in the community that do not have internet access at home.
Welcome To Your Library Videos
Watch these fun short videos about each of our 9 locations!
Helping Eligible Springfield Residents Who Need Help Scheduling COVID-19 Vaccination Appointments
Springfied Library and Elder Affairs staff will assist eligible Springfield residents who do not have access to technology to book their vaccine appointments.
National Day of Racial Healing 2021
The Springfield City Library joins many organizations across the country in observing the 2021 National Day of Racial Healing on Tuesday, Jan. 19.
Branch Programs
Free Comic Book Day – August 14
On Free Comic Book Day, stop by and pick up a super-fun bag of free comics and comic-inspired activities. | All Ages
Pre-Reading Activities Contest
Use this activity page to build the foundation of early reading skills. | Children and families
August Take & Makes for All Ages
Get fun take and make activities for kids, adults, and teens this August! | All Ages
Teen Photo Scavenger Hunt
Get ready to think outside of the box! This July, complete the Teen Photo Scavenger Hunt challenges to enter to win prizes! | Teens
Discover Your Summer: Read and Win Prizes!
Join the Summer Reading Club 2021 for kids, teens, and adults at Springfield City Library! | All Ages
Comics Club for Teens
Join us for the Comics Club for Teens as we share our favorites in Anime, Manga, and American comics. | Teens
Queer+ Teen Space
Meet other LGBTQIA+ or allied teens from Springfield on Zoom for an afternoon of anything YOU want to do! | Teens
Virtual Gardening Workshops on Zoom
An online series of classes on basic gardening practices designed to help novice and experienced gardeners alike. | Adults
Genealogy Help Online Drop-In
Drop in online for help with family history, for beginners and experts alike.
Ukulele Strum-Along – Online
Play along with other ukulele enthusiasts online, in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. | Teens and Adults
Knot Just Knitters
Grab some needles and yarn, then come join us! Newcomers always welcome. | Adults