| 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: | |
|---|---|
| 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 26 (Sunday) | Christmas Weekend: Central Library Closed |
| December 31, 2021 (Friday) | New Year's Day (Observed) |
| 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
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.
Central Library Building Reopens; All 9 Springfield City Library Locations Resume Regular Schedule
Beginning Tuesday, September 7th 2021, the Central Library will open its doors to the community after 17 long months. Branch libraries will also resume operating full schedules on that date.
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!
Branch Programs
December Crafts and Take & Makes for Kids
Crafts and activities for kids at the library in December! | Children
52 Thoughts for You Craft – December 10 & 13
Make a simple but heartfelt gift for someone you love with 52 messages to tell them how much you care. | Teens
Taste Test Tuesdays
Come sample new snacks every Tuesday at the Forest Park library! | Children and Teens
Mitten Tree
Donations of new mittens, gloves, hats, and scarves accepted for the mitten tree at all library locations. | All Ages
Teen Photo Scavenger Hunt
Get ready to think outside of the box! This December, complete the Teen Photo Scavenger Hunt to enter to win prizes! | Teens
English Conversation Circle
Come practice your English conversation with a small group of peers and your local librarians. | Adults and Families
Out/Spoken Words: Workshops with Springfield’s Poet Laureate
Join a master class with Springfield’s Poet Laureate, Magdalena Gómez, for an introduction to writing and performing poetry! | Teens and Adults
Hora de Cuentos (Spanish Storytime)
Vengan y participen en una hora de cuentos en español: cuentos, cancioncitas, rimas, y actividades manuales. | Niños
Queer+ Teen Space
Meet other LGBTQIA+ or allied teens from Springfield for an afternoon of anything YOU want to do! | Teens
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