Forest Park Branch – 380 Belmont Avenue – Springfield MA 01108 |
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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:
Supervisor:
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 (Observed) |
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 |
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
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.
‘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.
Branch Programs

Discover Your Summer Events & Activities
Join us for Discover Your Summer: Summer Reading kickoff parties, live music, animal programs, crafts, and more! | All Ages

Connecticut River Birding and Nature Walk
Join us for a stroll along the Riverwalk in Springfield to learn more about the plants and animals that live in the Connecticut River Watershed. | Adults

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

Middle Earth Walking Challenge: May 1 – September 30
Now is your chance to help Bilbo cross Middle Earth! Can you walk 950 miles to complete the adventure? | All Ages

Hit Us with Your Best Shot: a Photography Contest
Enter the contest and send us your photos! | Teens

Meat-Free Meals for Teens
Do you want to learn cooking skills? Learn how to incorporate meatless dishes into your day without a lifestyle change. | Forest Park | Teens

Discover Your Springfield Photo Scavenger Hunt – June through August
Each week we’ll announce a new prompt here on our website and on social media, and you will snap a photograph based on that prompt! | Online | Teens

Job Corps & AmeriCorps Information Tables
Come learn about career programs that help people obtain high school diplomas, job training, and employment. | Teens & Adults

Game Day
Challenge friends to board or card games, video games, or just relax and hang out! | Forest Park | Teens

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

Romance Book Club – Online
Get your Happily Ever After fix from the Romance Book Club! | Online | Adults