Date Stamping to Be Eliminated

Starting March 15^th, the Ridgefield Library will be instituting new time- and cost-saving procedures in our Circulation Department. Encouraged by the great success of our self-service check-out station, we will no longer be stamping a due date on individual items. Each borrower will receive instead a printed receipt with information on each item checked out. This change will speed up transactions and shorten lines at the Circulation Desk, eliminate extra processing work in our Technical Services department and substantially reduce our expenditures on supplies such as labels, date due slips and stamp pads.

Worried about forgetting when things are due? We have several tools available to help you keep track.

• Pick up a Ridgefield Library magnet to keep your library receipts handy on your fridge or other central location.

• Check the My Account feature in our catalog, where you can see a list of all your borrowing, holds and other information.

• Sign up for Library ELF and receive advance notice of items coming due. You can even put all your family’s library accounts together and get one convenient e-mail notice for everything you have out.

Don’t hesitate to ask at the Circulation Desk or visit www.ridgefieldlibrary.org for more information.

Preschool Explorers Day Sunday February 22nd

Ever since the movie “Night at the Museum” came out, there has been a fascination with getting a “behind the scenes” look at imposing public institutions. At the Ridgefield Library, this has led to great interest in the annual Camp Snooze 4^th grade sleepover and to Teen Advisory Group after-hours “lock-ins.”

Now, we are pleased to announce Preschool Explorers Day: A Discovery Adventure at the Library for preschool youngsters and an adult companion on Sunday, February 22^nd at 11:00 AM. Arrive before the building opens to the public, and take a safari-style trip through the Library. Using your trusty flashlight, you will explore secret rooms, search for favorite storybook characters, and enjoy crafts, activities and snacks. When you’re done, you’ll be an expert about your Library – and your parent, grandparent or other adult companion will learn a few useful things as well.

This program has been planned especially for preschool-aged kids to share with a favorite adventurous adult. We especially encourage working dads and moms to take advantage of this opportunity, since so many Library programs take place during the workweek. Please, no siblings. We will be travelling into the nooks and crannies of the building, and there will be no accommodation for unattended older children.

Preschool Explorers Day has been organized by the creative volunteers of the Library’s Younger Set community outreach committee, who have also been responsible for the Fall for the Library Day in September and the new Books for Babes service. This group has come together to brainstorm about what young children and their families would like from their Library and to work with staff to bring some of these ideas to life. Please contact me as below for more information on joining this group.

Computer Upgrade February 18th

Do you know where your library card is? Please take a moment and check before Wednesday, February 18^th, when our library automation system will be down all day for an upgrade. A library card will be necessary for all check-outs, and we must ask you to limit yourself to 4 items per family. We will not be able to do name look-ups, renew items, pay off fines, issue new cards or renew expired ones and the self-check station will not be working.

We do not anticipate any interruption to access to databases, Internet and wireless in the Library itself, but some other services will be affected for this one day:

• Our catalog (both in the Library and online) will be unavailable. Ask staff for assistance in locating materials.

• You will not be able to access “My Account” to renew or reserve items. To place a hold, you may fill out a request card at the Library or call for phone assistance.

• Overdue and hold notices from the Library and from ELF will not be sent until the next day.

• We will not be able to check anything in, but all items returned that day will be recorded as coming in on the 18^th and no fines will accrue for that day.

• Many online resources that require your library card number to log in may not be available remotely, although all should be accessible at the Library. Try using databases provided by the state library at www.iconn.org or the recommended Internet sources listed on our website.

Most of the system improvements are technical in nature and won’t be very noticeable to our patrons, but they will enhance our ability to serve you. Thanks for your patience!