The Library

May 7, 1843, a 14-year-old Japanese fisherman named Manjiro stepped off a whaling ship onto U.S. soil, becoming the first person from Asia to officially immigrate to the United States. Later, in 1869, the month of May saw the completion of the transcontinental railroad, the construction of which could not have been realized without the effort of Chinese laborers. Since 1990 the U.S. government has designated the month of May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, recognizing and celebrating the many achievements and contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to the history and culture of the United States. Check out these books that speak to their struggles and triumphs!

Southwestern Bell Telephone and Springfield newspapers announce the switch from manually operated systems to dial telephones in 1949.

What better way to spend the long, lazy, and hot days of summer than reading, and better yet, the Library will reward you for it.  All ages can join, from infants to school-age to adults.