SPRINGFIELD — There is a large family and children’s room, a dedicated teen area and lots more at the new East Forest Park library branch on Surrey Road.
Maybe the best new feature was added Tuesday as students from the nearby Mary A. Dryden Veterans Memorial School filled the children’s room for the library’s first-ever story time with Mayor Domenic Sarno.
This was a “soft opening” to show donors where their money was spent on the $9.5 million project. The official opening will occur later this year, according to Springfield City Library Director Molly Fogerty.
“We are getting shipments of furniture arriving and we are so excited to be looking forward to a grand opening in early to mid December,” she said.
Mentioning the adjacent Dryden school, nearby Pope Francis Academy and the Forest Park Civic Association, Sarno said the library will become the hub of the community.