SPRINGFIELD — One of the city’s oldest and smallest neighborhood branch library is almost easy to miss. Yet, inside the East Springfield Library’s outdated and cramped building at 21 Osborne Terrace, it’s impossible to ignore how beloved the building is to its patrons.

On a recent sunny autumn day, the branch, built in 1932, was abuzz with activity. In one corner, a dozen folks were learning about the healing nature of poetry under the guidance of writer Rhonda Owens Gilbert.

In the children’s section, Catie and Charlie Galbacher, who never miss spending part of their Saturday afternoon at the East Springfield Library, were helping their 8-year-old son Colton make an autumn wreath from a paper plate and cut-out leaves.

Other regular patrons were reading the newspaper and tapping notes o

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