The city of Springfield, Massachusetts is getting ready to open its first new library building in 20 years.
After decades of clamoring for a new branch library, residents of Springfield’s East Forest Park neighborhood got a sneak peak Tuesday at the $10 million state-of-the-art facility that is expected to open in a few weeks.
"I think it is over-the-top gorgeous, marvelous, a wonderful learning experience,' said Joan McCaffrey, who was one of dozens of neighborhood residents who toured the building as workers installed book shelves, set up desks and chairs and did other finishing touches.
Mayor Domenic Sarno read a book aloud to a group of third-graders who came over from the neighboring Dryden Memorial elementary school.
The new library on Surrey Road is near the new Pope Francis High School, which was constructed on the site of the old Cathedral High School that was destroyed in the 2011 tornado.
Fran Griffin, who lives a block from the new library, said it is further testament to the resiliency of the neighborhood.
"It sets up a campus basically in this area after the damage that was done," said Griffin, adding that next to the two schools the library is " a fantastic resource."
The almost 18,000-square foot library is four-times the size of the existing neighborhood branch library. Despite its cramped location in a strip mall storefront, it is the second-busiest branch in the city, according to Springfield Library Director Molly Fogarty.
"That is in a tiny little 4,000-square foot inadequate space with not very good internet access," said Fogarty. She said there will be 50 public computer spaces in the new library as compared to only six in the current location. Circulation and visitor count is projected to double, she said.
The current branch library location will close for good this Saturday.
"Starting Nov 4th we'll start to organize the library materials and then we have movers coming to get us over here," said Forarty. "It is very exciting."
Fogarty said an opening date for the new building has not been chosen, but is expected to be sometime in early December.
Springfield received $4.9 million from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for the project and the city put up the rest of the money.
The Springfield Library Foundation is getting closer to a $2 million fund raising goal to help furnish and equip the new library, announced campaign director Matt Blumenfeld.
"I am very proud to say we have raised $1.35 million toward our $2 million goal," he said.
On Tuesday, the library foundation’s campaign received a $25,000 donation from Florence Savings Bank.
