City of Springfield Announces Dates for Reopening Public Libraries and Senior Centers
Springfield, MA – Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Health and Human Services (HHS) Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris announced today the dates for the reopening of the public libraries and senior centers.
Senior Centers are scheduled to reopen Monday, August 9, 2021, after all public health and safety measures are implemented for proper ventilation and mitigation strategies.
All Springfield Public Neighborhood Libraries are scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 on a reduced summer schedule. Curbside pickup services will continue at all locations. The Central Library will remain closed due to a lack of air conditioning. The Central Library and all neighborhood branches are scheduled to reopen with their regular hours of operations on Tuesday, September 7, 2021. Below are the summer hours for the neighborhood branches:
Branches Hours
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Brightwood East Forest Park Forest Park East Springfield Indian Orchard Mason Square Sixteen Acres |
Monday – 1pm – 5pm
*Brightwood will remain closed on Saturdays |
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Library Express at Pine Point |
Monday – 1pm – 5pm
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The City of Springfield continues to see new COVID-19 cases decrease as vaccination rates increase. For the week of June 6, 2021, there were only 30 new COVID-19 cases reported, compared to 65 new cases the week prior. That is a drop of 54%.
Mayor Sarno states, “I am deeply appreciative of my dedicated city team from Cabinet Heads down to our rank-and-file and their families for their continued efforts working 24/7 to keep our residents and businesses healthy and safe throughout this COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. I especially want to recognize and thank our Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris, who has worked tirelessly on behalf of our residents and business community. My administration has been tested and true through a number of manmade and natural disasters and I am proud to say that throughout this pandemic our community has once again showed our collective strength, unity, and resiliency.”
“After conferring with Commissioner Caulton-Harris and PBRM Director Patrick Sullivan we are confident that with new COVID-19 cases continuing to drop and vaccination rates increasing along with the improvements and public health and safety measures implemented at our public libraries and senior centers we can now begin to reopen these facilities,” Mayor Sarno continued. “Through stable and strong leadership with compassion, we were able to get through this together stronger and as one. I cannot thank our residents and business community enough for their continued patience and vigilance. Thanks to everyone’s collective efforts, the City of Springfield can now begin to transition into fully reopening. I want to wish everyone continued good health and success and I am looking forward to seeing everyone again in-person as we continue to work together to defeat this COVID-19 Coronavirus and return to how things were before. God Bless you all and God Bless our City of Springfield.”
HHS Commissioner Caulton-Harris stated, “The residents of Springfield should be congratulated that our numbers continue to experience a downward trend in positive cases. It is because of all our joint efforts across the city that we are able to reopen our public libraries and eventually our senior centers. Our dedicated team has taken the utmost precautions to assure the safety of our residents and especially for our most vulnerable population, our beloved seniors.”
Elder Affairs Director Sandy Federico added, “Nothing we’ve done since the closing of our Senior Centers can compare to the upcoming reunion with our seniors. The realization of all of our hopes is finally going to happen and we cannot adequately express our anticipation and joy. We open our doors and our hearts to all seniors and will move forward together!”
Springfield City Library Director Molly Fogarty stated, “We at the Springfield City Library are so excited to be welcoming back patrons to our branches next month and to our Central Library location in September. It has been a long 15 months without buildings filled with the laughter, learning and helpful conversations that make us who we are. Although we have been serving the community online through virtual programming and curbside pickup while our doors have been closed, we look forward to seeing everyone again in person. We thank everyone for their patience as we make this transition to our new normal.”
The City of Springfield initially closed City Hall and all municipal buildings, including libraries and senior centers on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic and out of an abundance of caution. City operations and core services continued throughout the pandemic by having employees working under a modified schedule, wearing personal protective equipment, establishing difference procedures for working with the public such as having to schedule an appointment to conduct city related business, offering curbside services, wellness checks for seniors, and other actions and initiatives to help keep both our city employees and the public as safe and healthy as possible while still providing excellent public service.