Central Library
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220 State Street
Springfield, MA 01103
413-263-6828
Reference: x213
Circulation: x239
or x218
Children's Room: x201
Director: Molly Fogarty
Assistant Director: John Ramsay
Business Manager: Carol Leaders
Manager, Borrower's Services: Patti D'Amario
Manager, Public Services: Jean Canosa-Albano
Manager, Technical Services: Ann Keefe
Manager, Information Technology: Mary Frederick
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Since its opening in 1912, the Central Library, a “center of intellectual life,” has given entrance to the State Street corridor. Solidly built of white Vermont marble with immense rooms and corridors, this library has a history of serving working people, at one time open 365 days per year! More than a collection of books and materials, it is an impressive yet inviting community-gathering space. The original 1871 red brick library building, temporarily and ingeniously moved back 200 feet while the current building was under construction, is long gone. Today's building, an Andrew Carnegie Library, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The Rotunda was restored to its original elegance in 1998; the building is on the State Historic Register and is part of the Quadrangle-Mattoon Historic District in the City. Also solid is the history of the men and women who have guided the library. In 150 years only eight library directors have preceded the current director, Molly Fogarty.
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The Central Library boasts large and varied collections, free wifi, and Internet access on public computers, plus many programs for children, teens and adults. Children's storytimes, book groups, and free computer classes are among the most popular.
The Early Childhood Resource Center (ECRC), consisting of books and other resources especially appropriate for teachers and caregivers working with young children, is housed in the Children's Room at the Central Library. The ECRC is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (DECC).
The Springfield City Library is a Cooperating Collection of the Foundation Center, a nationwide network of libraries, community foundations, and other nonprofit agencies which provides visitors with free public access to grantmaker directories, books on fundraising and nonprofit management, and the Foundation Center's electronic databases. The area's print collection is kept at the Central Library.
A Community Room is available to the public by application when this room is not needed for library purposes. This room may be reserved for use by educational, civic, cultural, and governmental groups.
Click here for a floor plan of the Central Library.
Visitors to the Central Library may park in the lot directly across State Street, or in the Springfield Museums parking lot on Edwards Street. The Edwards Street lot has accessible parking; in addition a few accessible spaces are located in front of St. Michael's Cathedral (church next to the Central Library) on State Street.
Accessible parking is also available in the small lot between the Smith Art Museum and the Science Museum (enter via the driveway to the right of the library, next to the Cathedral).
COLLECTIONS include:
- Children's, teens' and adult books
- Fiction and nonfiction materials
- Feature films, children's videos, and documentaries
- Reference materials
- Periodicals Room
- ERC: Employment Resource Center
- AIM: Adult Interest Materials section
- ECRC: Early Childhood Resource Center
- Foundation Center Cooperating Collection for nonprofits
- CD-ROMS and cassette/book kits
- CDS and cassettes
- Springfield newspapers on microfilm (1900 - date)
- Graphic novels, comics and manga for all age groups
SERVICES include:
- Reference: assists patrons in finding answers and/or materials
- Reader's Advisory: helps patrons of all ages find the right book
- PACS to access local and regional library catalogs
- Interlibrary and intralibrary loan service
- Access to databases with general, health and business information for adults and children
- Computer access: sign into computer with library card barcode; two 1-hour sessions per day (printing at 15 cents per page)
- Microfilm readers with printers (15 cents per page)
- Copy machines (15 cents per page)
FOR YOUTH:
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