to enlarge the usefulness of the library by keeping the main building open every day from nine o'clock in the forenoon to nine o'clock in the evening and a part of a Sunday afternoon". The library today Over time, the building built with the donations from Spaulding and others became too small as the population and the collection grew, and the once state-of-the-art facilities could not accommodate the technological needs of the new century. In response, planning began for a new public library building to meet the needs of the large community and the new century. On March 20, 2007, the Chicopee Public Library building in Market Square was closed and on May 22, 2004, during National Library Week, a new library building opened at 449 Front Street. The formal dedication was held on May 21, 2004; Mayor Richard R. Goyette and Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey addressed state legislators, trustees, friends of the library, supporters and regional library commissioners. Other speakers included John Krzeminski Jr, a representative of the Partyka family, who donated US$500,000 in the name of Emily Partyka to the "Raise the Roof" campaign for a new library. The new US$9.3 million Front Street location houses the collection, now totalling over 100,000 items, and the facility also provides room for the collection to grow. The library has two levels with a local history room, as well as a quiet study room, a computer lab for classes, and a community room that can seat over 150 people. It is handicap accessible and has increased parking space compared to the previous building. The library is open 9am-9pm Monday-Thursday, 9-5pm Friday, and is only closed weekends during the summer. The trustees are the managers of the library according to the current charter. Library services include: interlibrary loan with the whole of Massachusetts; lending of museum passes, as well as DVDs, Playaways, VHS, CDs, books, magazines, and newspapers; virtual reference with Meebo from the Chicopee Library Staff; access to electronic databases; eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eVideos from C/W MARS; and computer skills and programming classes for adults, children, and young adults. References External links The Chicopee Public Library City of Chicopee Western Massachusetts Regional Library System Central & Western Massachusetts Regional System Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners Buildings and structures in Chicopee, Massachusetts Public libraries in Massachusetts Libraries in Hampden County, Massachusetts Education in Chicopee, Massachusetts