Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Director of Capital Asset Construction Peter Garvey have announced the construction bid to build a new public library branch, to be located in Springfield’s East Forest Park neighborhood. Construction is expected to begin in September of 2018.
At 17,468 square feet, the new one-story building will feature an open, accessible, light-filled design that encourages community interaction through variety of public reading and meeting spaces. It will offer a Family and Children’s area, dedicated Young Adults area, a Maker Space lab, a large community meeting room, quiet study rooms, multiple computer stations, media collections, book collections, an outdoor patio area, and 45 parking spaces with easy access to the building. The building plan includes large windows to invite sunlight and the feel of nature and neighborhood into the library and showcase the diverse activities within. The new facility will be constructed next to the Mary A. Dryden Veterans Memorial School on Surrey Road in Springfield, and will provide a permanent home for the East Forest Park Branch Library. The branch is currently housed in a strip mall storefront with poor accessibility, unreliable internet, and a variety of other problems that make it difficult for visitors to use.
Mayor Sarno shared his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “This new library branch is a key part of revitalizing the city, especially the tornado stricken area of our East Forest Park neighborhood. A stand-alone library for East Forest Park has been talked about for nearly 40 years. I’m proud to say that my administration is going to get it done.”
Mr. Garvey commented that, “The new East Forest Park Branch Library has been carefully and thoughtfully planned, and will be built with the intention of providing a top-notch experience for Springfield residents for many, many decades to come.”
Library Director Molly Fogarty stated “We’re so excited to move on to the next phase of the construction project. The new East Forest Park Branch Library will combine the warmth of natural building materials, the comfort of open space and flexible seating, and the energy of 21st-century technology for our patrons. And of course, our friendly, knowledgeable staff will be on hand to help all visitors with a wide variety of information needs.”
Founded in 1857, the Springfield City Library provides over 800,000 free print, physical, and digital resources for public enrichment. To learn more, visit www.springfieldlibrary.org.