| Forest Park Branch – 380 Belmont Avenue – Springfield MA 01108 |
|||||||
| MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT | SUN | |
| 1-5 | 10-5 | 1-5 | 1-8 | 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.
Book Drop: Located near the side entrance, on the right side of the building as you face the library’s main entrance.
PVTA Bus Route: G2
Manager: Jenkins Lumpkin
Supervisor: Lee Moonan
| The libraries will be closed on the following dates for holidays: | |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2022 (Saturday) | New Year's Day |
| January 2 (Sunday) | New Year Weekend: Central Library Closed |
| January 17 (Monday) | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day |
| February 21 (Monday) | Presidents’ Day |
| April 17 (Sunday) | Easter: Central Library closed |
| April 18 (Monday) | Patriot’s Day (MA holiday) |
| May 30 (Monday) | Memorial Day |
| June 20 (Monday) | Juneteenth (Observed) |
| July 4 (Monday) | Independence Day |
| September 5 (Monday) | Labor Day |
| October 10 (Monday) | Columbus Day |
| November 11 (Friday) | Veterans Day |
| November 23 (Wednesday) | Thanksgiving Eve: All libraries close at 5 pm |
| November 24 (Thursday) | Thanksgiving Day |
| December 24 (Saturday) | Christmas Eve |
| December 25 (Sunday) | Christmas Day: Central Library Closed |
| December 26 (Monday) | Christmas 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
Increasing Community Internet Access: Introducing Chromebooks
The Library will circulate Google Chromebook laptops for those in the community that do not have computer access at home.
Citywide Mask Mandate Will Expire; At-Home COVID-19 Testing Kit Distribution Centers Consolidated
The City of Springfield mask mandate will expire February 28, 2022. At-home COVID-19 testing kit distribution centers will also be consolidated.
Poetry Workshops, Performance At Springfield City Library: Apply Now For Master Class With Poet Laureate Magdalena Gómez
Applications are now open for women, teen girls, and women-identified people interested in an introduction to writing and performing inviting, exciting, and inspiring poetry. Join this master class with Springfield’s Poet Laureate, Magdalena Gómez.
Branch Programs
Discover Your Summer Events & Activities
Join us for Discover Your Summer: Summer Reading decorating events, kickoff parties, crafts, and more! | All Ages
June Crafts for Children, Teens, & Families
Crafts and activities at the library in June! | Children, Teens, and Families
Music Fridays
Stop by on Fridays for a low-pressure learning environment with guitar, ukulele, percussion, and more! | Forest Park | Teens
The Haunting of Mirror Lake Manor: A D&D Mini-Campaign
Join us for a seven-week Mini-Campaign online! Beginners and seasoned players welcome. | Teens
Teen Detective’s Book Club
Calling all detectives! Do you love solving a mystery? Join us at the Forest Park Branch once a month to hash out all the clues! | Forest Park | Teens
Minecraft Clubs
Build, play, create – and battle zombies, of course! | Forest Park & Indian Orchard | Children & Teens
Houseplant Hangout
Make DIY pots, repot plants together, learn cool plant hacks, and meet others in the area with this hobby! | Forest Park | All Ages
Wednesday STEM Day
Stop by for some fun hands-on STEM activities: from making ice cream or slime to taking apart electronics! | Forest Park | Teens
Thursday Crafternoons
Join us for some de-stressing arts and crafts! Learn how to crochet, make a collage, or try out a seasonal craft. | Forest Park | Teens
Teen Writer’s Guild
Join us for writing games and practice developing your creative writing skills. | Forest Park | Teens
Teen Advisory Board
Make an impact on your local library and community by sharing your ideas for activities and materials. | Central Library & Forest Park | Teens
Teen Choice Day
Suggest YOUR program idea that you would like to see at the library. Then join us for the fun! | Teens
Taste Test Tuesdays
Come sample new snacks every Tuesday at the Forest Park library! | Forest Park | Children and Teens
English Conversation Circle
Venga a practicar su inglés en conversación con un grupo pequeño y sus bibliotecarias locales! | Forest Park | Adults and Families
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Read just one book a day to build a foundation for lifelong success. Prizes awarded for every 100 books! | Children