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Date: 5/31/2023
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Eileen Chapman, the new library director at the West Springfield Public Library, plans to use her experience and passion to leave her mark on the community.
“The day I was old enough to know what a book was, I was reading,” Chapman said about her passion for books and libraries.
This passion is what has kept her in the West Springfield library since 1996, where she started as the youth services assistant and most recently was assistant library director. She previously worked as a page at the Agawam Public Library. Her career has taken her into every department of the library. She’s leaning on that experience as she settles into the top job, taking over from her former boss Antonia Golinski-Foisy, who retired in January.
Chapman started her librarian journey in high school where she worked at her school’s libraries, even checking out her own books to her younger siblings at home. Now, with over 8,000 library resources to oversee, from traditional holdings like books to some novel items, like a telescope available to borrow, Chapman wants to keep the library innovating.
“We are adding things all the time and we are open to ideas,” Chapman said.
She wants to be deliberate about the expansion, however, adding services she feels are truly needed, such as translation devices at service desks that will help West Springfield residents who don’t speak English to sign up for a library card or borrow items.
What she hopes to bring to the library are “new things, but not for the sake of being new. New with a purpose.”
Chapman said she sees great opportunity and potential to offer more programs.
“With the incredible support of our town administration, our trustees, our Friends organization, and truly, the best staff, we have program and service ideas coming out our ears,” she said. These ideas include activities to celebrate Godzilla’s birthday, and next year’s solar eclipse. She is ready to hear other residents’ ideas, too.
“This community understands it’s important to represent everyone,” she said.
Chapman also wants to ensure people know about the resources and programs the library provides already, including monthly art exhibits that feature artists from the community. There are thousands of books, puzzles, board games, musical instruments and so much more to be checked out. The library also offers services such as Wi-Fi and printing.
“I believe our challenge is marketing to and reaching all of our community, a challenge we share with all libraries,” Chapman said. She said her outreach will include Facebook, Instagram, and a YouTube channel.
Her duties also include day-to-day oversight of the library, she noted.
“No two days are the same,” she said when describing her role. “I could be justifying my budget at a town meeting, approving an expense for a new storytime rug in the youth room, changing the toilet paper roll in the public bathroom, working with HR to create a job posting, putting in an IT ticket for Wi-Fi issues and working on coverage when staff is sick ... all in the same day. … It’s wonderful and exciting.”
The library is at 200 Park St., West Springfield, and is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Mondays through Wednesdays, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays.