Home Improvement Reference Center Can Help with Fall Fix-Up

Ah, fall – the season of bright blue skies, cool crisp afternoons, New England’s famously beautiful foliage, and the sudden realization that the holidays are just around the corner!  To be ready for holiday visits, you may need some “Fall Fix-up” at your house, and the Ridgefield Library can help.

On our website (www.ridgefieldlibrary.org) ,  go to the Home & Garden page from the  Research & Reference drop-down list.  There you will find the Home Improvement Reference Center listed in the database section at the top (library card needed to log on).  Home Improvement Reference Center is the definitive online tool for home improvement assistance including: maintenance, remodeling, electrical work, plumbing, wood projects, outdoor improvements, decorating home and garden, etc.  Step by step illustrated instructions and/or video tutorials are included.  This comprehensive resource contains 24 major reference works in full text with more than 10,000 images. Additionally, the database contains full-text magazine articles. 

Other Library resources include books and DVDs covering many areas of home improvement.  So whether you need to redecorate the guest room,  improve the bathroom or build a wine rack, take a look at Home Improvement Reference Center or the resources on our shelves and do it yourself with help from the experts.

Submitted by Victoria Carlquist, Head of Reference Services

Celebrate Teen Read Week

The Ridgefield Library is celebrating Teen Read Week (October 17 to the 23). Teen Read Week is an initiative of the American Library Association. Thousands of libraries, schools and bookstores across the country will celebrate this year’s theme, Books with Beat, which encourages teens to read a variety of materials, including poetry, audiobooks, books about music, mysteries, romance and more.

Teens have more activities to fill their free time than ever — web videos, social networking sites, video games, afterschool activities, athletics —and increasingly high expectations in the classroom. It is important that they are reminded that reading is something that is fun and relaxing that they can do for free. Also, that reading for fun can translate into better performance at school.

Although some people think of library patrons as either little children or fully grown adults, the Ridgefield Library has many teenage patrons. These folks borrow books, movies and music, and take part in Library programs such as YA and High School Critics, the Teen Advisory Group, and Scrabble.  We invite all Ridgefield middle school and high school students to stop by the Library during Teen Read Week (and afterwards) to see all that Ridgefield Library can offer them.

Find out more about Teen Services at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org.

Things to Know about your Library Card

Things to know about your Library Card. It:
• allows us to access your account at least 14 times faster by scanning than by looking you up (and thereby helps keep any line at Circulation moving along – even more so if you have it ready to present when you approach the desk);
• has two parts if you have the keychain version, and it is important to keep both parts in your possession – for your security, and also you may need the main card to register at some libraries;
• must be current to use self-checkout, borrow from other Libraries, maintain your LibraryELF subscription, and renew items online (you must re-register with LibraryELF if the card expires);
• can be used at any public Library in Connecticut (but not beyond);
• valid for two years (renewal just takes a minute but must be done in person with the card and ID)
• can be replaced if lost for a $1.00 fee if you present ID;
• comes in a special edition for $5.00 if you would like to show your “Ridgefield Library colors.”

Circulation staff will be glad to answer any questions you have!

Contributed by Trevor Gladwin, Head of Circulation

Friends of Libraries Week October 17-23

The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations is pleased to announce that October 17-23, 2010 is National Friends of Libraries Week. While Friends groups around the country vary widely in their structure and their activities, all are dedicated to one premise: the importance of libraries as the social and intellectual centers of communities.

Here in Ridgefield, we are fortunate to have an extraordinarily hard-working and supportive group of Friends. The Friends of the Ridgefield Library (FORL) has been raising funds and awareness for the Ridgefield Library since 1975, and it is currently the sponsor of some of the Library’s most popular offerings, including Summer Reading, Ridgefield Folk, Fall for the Library and Camp Snooze.

Celebrate National Friends of Libraries week by visiting the FORL giant fall book sale, under the tents in the Library’s lower parking lot, from the 15th through the 18th. Or you can attend one of two Big Read book discussions sponsored by the Friends: on October 20 at 10 AM and the 21st at 7 PM. The Wednesday morning session is reserved exclusively for members of the Friends, but they will be happy to sign you up on the spot!

Find out more about the book sale and the Friends at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org.