Events, Programs, and Parties!
April 12, 2011 – The newly renovated Mason Square Branch Library will celebrate its Grand Reopening from April 13-15, which falls during National Library Week. Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Library Foundation President Charles V. Ryan will lead the official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 13. The flag ceremony will be handled by the Color Guard from Central High School and the Peter Brace Brigade. Also on hand will be the Chairman of the Springfield Library Commission Steve Cary, Representative Ben Swan, Library Director Molly Fogarty, and honored guests. Immediately following will be a special reception in the bright new Community Room with light refreshments, music by the Lani Bortfeld string trio, and a chance to learn about library support organizations such as the Friends of the Springfield Library, branch advisory committees, and the Springfield Library Foundation, Inc. In the afternoon please join us for tours and demonstrations of the Library, its amenities and resources. School children have been invited from DeBerry, Brookings, Homer and Rebecca Johnson Elementary Schools, and ongoing will be scavenger hunts for kids, book raffles for teens and adult, plus lively plena music provided by Maestro Samito.
It’s “All about Kids” on Thursday, April 14, beginning at 12 p.m. with the flag ceremony by the Color Guard from Commerce High School and the Peter Brace Brigade. From 12 - 5 p.m. we’ll host class visits from neighborhood schools and a Seuss-i-cal performance by Elias Brookings School students. The Cat in the Hat will be in the Library all afternoon, and purr-fectly happy to have his picture taken with your children. In addition children can make a craft with a Dr. Seuss theme, take part in a scavenger hunt, and have their face painted if they’d like. There will be tours and demonstrations, plus book raffles for teens and adults. Outside under the tent there will be delicious kettle corn popping!
From 6:30-8 p.m. Ozzie Williams and the Marion Street Band will be rocking the Community Room at our 50’s Party! Find your dancing shoes and dress in 50’s fashion to enjoy fabulous music and fun finger foods. The band will play songs in many genres, including hits by Otis Redding, the Beatles, and even Ozzie’s brother, Taj Mahal!
Friday, at 12 p.m., the branch opening flag ceremony will be handled by the Color Guard from Putnam High School and the Peter Brace Brigade. The theme for the day is “Promoting Success in Education, Work, and Life” and from 1-4 p.m. please join us in the beautiful Community Room for light refreshments and special programs including Montenia Shider singing two songs, the Freedom Choir performing two selections, a book talk led by Ann Keefe, Library Manager of Collection Development, a talk on library advocacy by John Ramsay, Assistant Library Director; Kat Wright talking about the Mason Square Branch Library Advisory Committee; and a representative from the Friends of the Springfield Library. In addition there will be instruction and demonstration of computer and book resources for job searching, class visits from neighborhood schools, scavenger hunts for kids, and book raffles for teens and adults.
Keshawn Dodds and Crystal Senter Brown will lead teen writing and performance programs from 3-5 p.m. Teens will be able to browse through books, magazines, and manga; check out DVDs and CDs; help plan a teen Open Mic; kick back in our comfortable new chairs; meet teens from The Center who published a book with Keshawn; talk with the authors about what it's like to be a writer and get some writing prompts for the Open Mic so you can perform; and use one of our brand new computers! Open hours at Mason Square Branch Library will be: Wednesdays from 10 a.m.– 5 p.m., Thursdays from 12-7 p.m., and Fridays from 1-5 p.m.
About the Springfield City Library
For over 150 years, the Springfield City Library (www.springfieldlibrary.org) has provided public library service to area residents. Starting with a single central library in 1857, the Springfield City Library today maintains ten neighborhood branches. Using state-of-the-art technology, the Library provides free and easy access to information and the opportunity for lifelong learning through a variety of programs and services, including Internet access at each location.
