City of Springfield
Springfield City Library |
Programs for Adults at the
Programs listed here are often suitable for all ages.
The Library also has a wide variety of programs specifically intended for children and teens.
Special Events | Computer classes | Author visits | Poetry | Bookclubs | Adult Literacy | Movies | Small Business | Civic Engagement
For photos from recent Library programs, visit our Flickr account!
FREE eBay Seminar at Central Library
with the US Postal Service
Thursday, October 16, 2 - 4 pm
Want to sell your extra stuff on eBay? Join us on Thursday, October 16, for a seminar on the basics of buying and selling on eBay, taught by an experienced eBay seller. The class, from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. in the Central Library Community Room, 220 State Street, is set up by the U.S. Postal Service, a preferred shipper on eBay. Topics will include registering, browsing and searching, buying, selling, shipping, selling fees, and the eBay community. For more information or to register, call 263-6828, ext. 426, sign-up online, or call Gina at the Post Office at 731-0226.
CELEBRATE ITALIAN HERITAGE MONTH AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY
Ralph Ferraro, founder of The Italian American Press to speak
Sunday, October 26, 3 pm
Top off your celebration of Italian Heritage month with a deliciously educational event! Learn how to launch your own book while enjoying book giveaways from the Italian American Press and Italian goodies courtesy of La Fiorentina Pastry Shop!
Everyone is invited to hear Ralph Ferraro, founder and director of the Italian American Press, speak about his self-publishing experiences on Sunday, October 26 at 3:00 p.m. in the Central Library Community Room, 220 State Street. Mr. Ferraro, past winner of the Italian Cultural Center's prestigious Serviam Award, is dedicated to promoting self-published books by Italian Americans as well as writers from Western Massachusetts. Please call 263-6828, ext. 294 for more information.
Celebration at Brightwood!
Join us at the Brightwood Branch on Wednesday, October 15, for an all-day Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, including solo guitar performances by Lorena Garay!
Foundation Center Workshops This Fall
We're planning some exciting classes and workshops for nonprofits this fall. Click here for complete details and registration instructions.
City Thinks Program - coming in late October
City Thinks is a series of events focused on a Springfield Public Forum lecture topic, offered in collaboration with the Springfield City Library and other local educational and cultural organizations The 2008 City Thinks program is entitled "Considering China" and begins on October 30. Visit the City Thinks page for all the details.Computer Training
The library offers a continuing series of classes in basic computer use, searching the Internet, subject-oriented research, and a variety of other topics. The current schedule is posted on the Hi!Tech@the Library page.
Trainings for the Foundation Center Online Database are scheduled quarterly, and can also be arranged upon request by contacting Donna Goldthwaite at 263-6828 x437 or dgoldthwaite@springfieldlibrary.org.
One-on-one introductory computer training is available by appointment at the Forest Park and East Forest Park Branches. Please contact those branches directly for more information.
Author Visits
The library hosts author events at branches throughout the system. Most events include author readings and lectures, as well as signings. Events may be either stand-alone visits or part of a thematic series. If there is a writer you'd like to see at the library, please contact Anna at 263-6828 x426.
2008 Events: Coming Soon!
A celebration of Hispanic Heritage!
Brightwood Branch
Wednesday, October 22, 6:00 - 7:00 pm.
"I grew up in the North End, an island ..."
Join us for an evening of poems in English and in Spanish, written by U.S. Latina and Latino poets and performed by María Luisa Arroyo, poet and educator. María's first full-length collection of poems, Gathering Words/Recogiendo palabras was recently published by the Bilingual Review/Press.
Jay Ducharme on the history of Mountain Park in Holyoke
Past Author Visits:
2008:
Sheila Connolly, One Bad Apple
Dan Gordon, Haunted Baseball
Suzanne Strempek Shea, Sundays in America
Michael Tougias, King Philip's War: The History and Legacy of America's Forgotten Conflict
Mass Book Award Author series:
Martin Espada, poetry reading
Kim McLarin, Jump the Sun
Mameve Medwed, How Elizabeth Barrett Browning Saved My Life
Dawn Clifton Tripp, The Season of Open Water
Contributing writers from Letters From Mississippi: Reports from Civil Rights Volunteers & Poetry of the 1964 Freedom Summer
Dr. Steve Sobel, on the "Healing Power of Laughter"
Mike Dobbs, Escape! How Animation Broke Into the Mainstream in the 1990's
2007:
Evie Rhodes, The Forgotten Spirit : A Christmas Tale
Marc Songini, The Lost Fleet: A Yankee Whaler's Struggle Against the Confederate Navy and Arctic Disaster
Jeanne Birdsall, The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy
Carole O'Malley Gaunt, Hungry Hill: A Memoir
Michael C. White, Soul Catcher
Anna Hines, Pieces: A Year In Poems and Quilts
Poetry / Writing Programs
The Central Library hosts a monthly Open Mic series, which is open to poets and creative writers of all ages. Writers meet and share their work at a collaborative creative writing group, which meets twice a month at the Central Library.
Every other year, the Library sponsors a Poetry Contest which is open to teens and adults across Western Massachusetts.
For details on all of these programs, visit the Poetry Page.
Book Discussion Groups
The Library hosts a number of monthly groups which discuss a pre-selected book, or share recent good reads. There are groups which meet at the Central Library, Mason Square, Forest Park, East Forest Park, and Sixteen Acres Branches. Visit the Book Discussion Group page to find the best group for you!
Adult Literacy - Read/Write/Now
The Read/Write/Now Adult Learning Center, based at the Pine Point Branch on Boston Road, provides adult basic education at no cost to participants.
R/W/N produces a Directory of Adult Basic Education programs in Springfield. The 2007 Directory is available online.
For more information, visit the Read/Write/Now
webpage, or contact project manager Janet Kelly at 263-6389.
Movies
The Forest Park Branch hosts regular screenings of popular family-friendly films. Light refreshments are provided. Visit the Forest Park Branch page for upcoming films!
Film series are also scheduled periodically at the Central Library.
A list of most recently purchased dvds, available to check out from the library, is updated monthly.
Small Business Start-up
Every few months, the Library offers a series of small business start-up workshops, in collaboration with the Western Massachusetts branch of the Small Business Administration.
Check the Small Business Workshops page, or contact the Library for upcoming dates.
Civic Engagement
The Forest Park Branch has a long tradition of sponsoring candidate debates, and State Representative Mary Rogeness (R) holds her office hours there on the second Tuesday of the month from 3:30 - 5 p.m.
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