Springfield City Library Supports Literacy through Creative-Free Play in November

Celebrate Family Literacy Month at the Springfield City Library by bringing your children, age birth-5 years old, to Make, Take, Play: Easy Homemade Toys!

Libraries are not just places to borrow books – they are places for play and learning for all ages, even babies. With winter just around the corner come in and explore what Springfield City Library has to offer to help those long days become short and full of fun!

Celebrate Family Literacy Month at the library by bringing your children, age birth-5 years old, to Make, Take, Play: Easy Homemade Toys! Play with their toys, make some of your own to take home, and learn how you can create even more simple, inexpensive toys. Stop by to enjoy playing, singing, talking, and more!

Did you know that in 1985, Becoming a Nation of Readers reported that the “single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children [and that this] practice should continue throughout the grades.”  Since 1985, technology has forever transformed the way we live, but one thing has not changed at all: reading test scores. Sadly, reading successes have not increased because technology has improved. So what does this mean? Families are the most important ingredient in growing a reader!

Stop in to any of their branch libraries with your little ones and join the fun with their program, Make, Take, Play: Easy Homemade Toys!:

• Brightwood Branch, 359 Plainfield St., Thursday, Nov 6, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Central Library, 220 State St.,  Thursday, Nov 6, 10:30-11:30 a.m., and Saturday, Nov 15, 2-3 p.m.
• East Forest Park, 122 Island Pond Rd., Saturday, Nov 8, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• East Springfield, 21 Osborne Terrace, Wednesday, Nov 12, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Forest Park, 380 Belmont Ave., Saturday, Nov 15, 12:30-2 p.m.
• Indian Orchard, 44 Oak St., Monday, Nov 10, 10-11:30 a.m.
• Mason Square, 765 State St., Wednesday, Nov 19, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Sixteen Acres, 1187 Parker St., Saturday, Nov 8, 1-2:30 p.m.

Other events coming up at the Springfield Library branches include:

Thursday November 6, 2014
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Tiny Tots Storytime at the Central Library Children’s Room
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Preschool Storytime at Sixteen Acres Community Room
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Make, Take, Play: Easy Homemade Toys Central Library Children’s Room
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Game ON! Video Gaming for Teens and Tweens Forest Park
4:00 PM – 4:45 PM Family Storytime at East Forest Park East Forest Park
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Incredible Creatures: Dinosaur Bones Craft Mason Square
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Incredible Creatures Film: The Land Before Time Mason Square
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM Make, Take, Play: Easy Homemade Toys Brightwood Community Room

Saturday November 8, 2014
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Saturday Stories and Snacks at Indian Orchard Indian Orchard
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Make, Take, Play: Easy Homemade Toys East Forest Park
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Zombie Fiction Book Club for Teens/Tweens East Forest Park
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Make, Take, Play: Easy Homemade Toys Sixteen Acres
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Saturday Storytime at the Central Library Children’s Room

Sunday November 9, 2014
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Rotunda Rhythms: Cabaret Classics Central Library Rotunda

Monday November 10, 2014
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Make, Take, Play: Easy Homemade Toys Indian Orchard
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Teen Time at the Central Library
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Kids’ Book Group Central Library Children’s Program Room
5:45 PM – 7:45 PM Writing Science Arguments Central Library Community Room

Tuesday November 11, 2014   Veterans’ Day: All Libraries Closed

Wednesday November 12, 2014
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Storytime at Mason Square Branch Library
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Bilingual Story Club at Brightwood Community Room
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Gaming, Unplugged! at Indian Orchard Indian Orchard
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Visit with Toto the Tornado Kitten East Forest Park
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Science Squad at the Central Library Children’s Room
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM Make, Take, Play: Easy Homemade Toys East Springfield
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Family Craft Night at East Springfield

Thursday November 13, 2014
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Tiny Tots Storytime at the Central Library Children’s Room
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Preschool Storytime at Sixteen Acres Community Room
4:00 PM – 4:45 PM Family Storytime at East Forest Park
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Massachusetts Children’s Book Award Club Forest Park Branch
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Incredible Creatures: Paper Bag Puppets Mason Square
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Learn to Paint for Kids with Gifted Tones Studio Indian Orchard
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Incredible Creatures Film: Monsters Inc. Mason Square

Saturday November 15, 2014
9:30 AM – 4:30 PM Springfield Library Chibiconn Central Library Community Room
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM Make, Take, Play: Easy Homemade Toys Forest Park Branch
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Saturday Storytime at the Central Library Children’s Room
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Make, Take, Play: Easy Homemade Toys Central Library Children’s Room

Sunday November 16, 2014
12:30 PM – 4:30 PM Springfield Library Chibiconn Central Library Community Room

Monday November 17, 2014
Tommy Turkey Scavenger Hunt Sixteen Acres
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Wee Ones Storytime at Indian Orchard
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Teen Time at the Central Library
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Kids’ Book Group Central Library Children’s Program Room

Tuesday November 18, 2014
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Preschool Storytime at the Central Library Community Room
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM Music and Movement Storytime at Forest Park Program Den
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Learn to Play Chess at Brightwood
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Tasty Tuesdays at Brightwood Community Room
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Indian Orchard Lego Questers for Kids at Indian Orchard

Wednesday November 19, 2014
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Storytime at Mason Square Branch Library Community Room
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Make, Take, Play: Easy Homemade Toys Mason Square
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Bilingual Story Club at Brightwood Community Room
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Building Circus for Teens at Forest Park Community Room
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM American Girl Club Meeting at East Springfield
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Science Squad at the Central Library Children’s Room
6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Pajama Storytime at East Springfield
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Building Circus for Teens at Central Library Community Room
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM Family Board Game Night East Forest Park

Thursday November 20, 2014
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Tiny Tots Storytime at the Central Library Children’s Room
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Preschool Storytime at Sixteen Acres Community Room
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Teen Advisory Group at Forest Park
4:00 PM – 4:45 PM Family Storytime at East Forest Park
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Get Wimpy: A Diary of a Wimpy Kid Celebration Mason Square
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM PJ Storytime at Forest Park Program Den

Saturday November 22, 2014
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Saturday Storytime at the Central Library Children’s Room

Monday November 24, 2014
Scavenger Hunt at the Central Library Children’s Room
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Wee Ones Storytime at Indian Orchard
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Teen Time at the Central Library

Tuesday November 25, 2014
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Preschool Storytime at the Central Library Community Room
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM Music and Movement Storytime at Forest Park Program Den
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM Game ON! Video Gaming for Teens and Tweens Brightwood
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Learn to Play Chess at Brightwood
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Tasty Tuesdays at Forest Park Forest Park
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Indian Orchard Lego Questers for Kids Indian Orchard

Wednesday November 26, 2014
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Storytime at Mason Square Branch Library Community Room
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Bilingual Story Club at Brightwood Community Room
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Kid Flicks 380: Jumanji Forest Park Community Room
3:00 PM – 4:45 PM Lego Library Club East Forest Park
Thanksgiving Day Eve: All Libraries Close at 5 p.m.

Thursday November 27, 2014Thanksgiving Day: All Libraries Closed

Saturday November 29, 2014
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Fiction Book Club for Teens and Tweens East Forest Park
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Saturday Storytime at the Central Library Children’s Room
___________________________________________________________________

Monday December 1, 2014
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Wee Ones Storytime at Indian Orchard
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Teen Time at the Central Library

Tuesday December 2, 2014
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM Music and Movement Storytime at Forest Park Program Den
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Learn to Play Chess at Brightwood
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Indian Orchard Lego Questers for Kids Indian Orchard

Wednesday December 3, 2014
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Storytime at Mason Square Branch Library Community Room
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Bilingual Story Club at Brightwood Community Room
Thursday December 4, 2014
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Preschool Storytime at Sixteen Acres Community Room
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Game ON! Video Gaming for Teens and Tweens Forest Park

Saturday December 6, 2014
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Saturday Storytime at the Central Library Children’s Room

Monday December 8, 2014
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Wee Ones Storytime at Indian Orchard
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Teen Time at the Central Library

Tuesday December 9, 2014
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM Music and Movement Storytime at Forest Park Program Den
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM Game ON! Video Gaming for Teens and Tweens Brightwood
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Learn to Play Chess at Brightwood
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Tasty Tuesdays at Forest Park Program Den
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Indian Orchard Lego Questers for Kids Indian Orchard

Wednesday December 10, 2014
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Storytime at Mason Square Branch Library Community Room
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Bilingual Story Club at Brightwood Community Room
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Gaming, Unplugged! at Indian Orchard
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Family Craft Night at East Springfield

Thursday December 11, 2014
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Make a Snowflake Ornament Brightwood Community Room
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Massachusetts Children’s Book Award Club Forest Park

Saturday December 13, 2014
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Zombie Fiction Book Club for Teens and Tweens East Forest Park
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Saturday Storytime at the Central Library Children’s Room

Sunday December 14, 2014
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Rotunda Rhythms: La Dawn Owens Central Library Rotunda

Monday December 15, 2014
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Wee Ones Storytime at Indian Orchard
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Teen Time at the Central Library

Tuesday December 16, 2014
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM Gumdrop Building Challenge at Forest Park Program Den
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Learn to Play Chess at Brightwood
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Tasty Tuesdays at Brightwood Community Room
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Indian Orchard Lego Questers for Kids Indian Orchard
Wednesday December 17, 2014
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Storytime at Mason Square Branch Library Community Room
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM American Girl Club Meeting at East Springfield

Thursday December 18, 2014
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM Mini-dioramas at Forest Park Program Den
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Decorate Holiday Cupcakes at Brightwood Community Room
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM PJ Storytime at Forest Park Program Den

Saturday December 20, 2014
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Saturday Stories and Snacks at Indian Orchard
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM Used Book Sale at Mason Square Community Room
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Saturday Storytime at the Central Library Children’s Room

Monday December 22, 2014
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Wee Ones Storytime at Indian Orchard
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Teen Time at the Central Library

Tuesday December 23, 2014
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM Game ON! Video Gaming for Teens and Tweens Brightwood
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Indian Orchard Lego Questers for Kids at Indian Orchard

Wednesday December 24, 2014
Christmas Eve: All Libraries Closed

Thursday December 25, 2014
Christmas Day: All Libraries Closed

Saturday December 27, 2014
Scavenger Hunt at the Central Library Children’s Room
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Saturday Storytime at the Central Library Children’s Room

Monday December 29, 2014
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Decorate Holiday Cupcakes at Indian Orchard
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Teen Time at the Central Library

Tuesday December 30, 2014
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Light Painting at Forest Park Community Room
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Indian Orchard Lego Questers for Kids at Indian Orchard

Wednesday December 31, 2014
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Storytime at Mason Square Branch Library Community Room
New Year’s Eve: All Libraries Closed at 5 pm

If you have questions about these events please call the Central Library Children’s Room at 413-263-6828, ext. 201.

-Submitted by Janet Stupak