Springfield Library Foundation Promise Realized Campaign Gives $150,000 to City Library for East Forest Park Branch
Springfield, MA – Mayor Domenic J. Sarno is pleased to announce that the Springfield Library Foundation will present the City of Springfield with $150,000 in proceeds from the Foundation’s Promise Realized Capital Campaign for the new East Forest Park Branch Library. The City Council will vote to approve accepting the funds during their meeting on Monday, May 10, 2021.
“In these extraordinarily challenging times, it is important to share good news with the community and the Library Foundation is excited to continue to fulfill its promise to the City and Springfield City Library with this $150,000 payment,” said Foundation President Patrick Markey. “With this gift, we bring our total contribution to the East Forest Park Branch to $1,150,000.”
“On behalf of our City, I thank the Foundation and its donors for this generous and substantial investment in our Library,” said Mayor Sarno. “We are fortunate to have the Foundation in our corner, and their support is instrumental in providing our residents with a world class library system. I know that the Foundation continues to seek donations and pledges for the Promise Realized Campaign, and I would encourage everyone who can to continue to give as generously as they can.”
Construction on the 17,000 square foot building on Surrey Road was completed in November 2019 and the facility opened with tremendous praise from the community in December.
“When we opened the East Forest Park Branch usage skyrocketed,” said Library Director Molly Fogarty. “The community room and quiet study rooms were being booked constantly, and we saw huge increases in children’s program attendance, overall circulation and computer usage. The project is a complete success as a public-private partnership and we look forward to our eventual reopening and serving all of our patrons post-pandemic.”
The new branch offers a Family and Children’s Room, dedicated Teen area, a Maker Space, a large community meeting room, quiet study rooms, dozens of computer stations, book and media collections, an outdoor patio and reading garden, and ample parking. It is completely accessible and also connected to the nearby Mary A. Dryden Veterans Memorial School via a special path for children.
Individuals, businesses and others interested in contributing may contact the Foundation, at promiserealizedcampaign@gmail.com or MBlumenfeld@springfieldlibrary.org for further information.
“The Library Foundation has been a strong steward of numerous gifts large and small that have been made by generous individuals over many years, and we intend to continue this legacy far into the future,” said Mr. Markey. “Since 2005, the Foundation has contributed more than $6 million to the Springfield City Library, for books and materials, in support of the Mason Square branch, and for staff development and library programs. The Promise Realized Campaign continues this legacy and enables all of us to play our part and make a positive contribution to the future of the City of Springfield.”
The Promise Realized Campaign is accepting pledges for up to five years. This enables donors to give more and to potentially be eligible to name a room or area in the new library.
About the Springfield Library Foundation
The Springfield Library Foundation was formed in 2005 and is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt, not-for-profit corporation organized and operated exclusively for the benefit of the Springfield City Library. The Foundation has two primary purposes:
1. To responsibly steward and manage endowed and other funds entrusted to the Foundation’s care by donors going back more than a century.
2. To encourage philanthropy and raise new funds, both restricted and unrestricted, in support of the Library’s programs, materials, services, and facilities.
Fulfilling these two purposes enriches the lives of every library patron, and ensures that Springfield’s library system remains vibrant and responsive to community needs. To learn more, visit http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/library/about/promise-realized/.