Celebrating Older Americans @ the Library

May is Older Americans Month.   This year’s theme is “Connecting with Community,” and we’d like to point out some of the many ways you can do so at the Ridgefield Library.  Meet your friends at one of the movies in our Hollister Film series.  Enjoy live music at our Ridgefield Folk concerts.   Connect with fellow readers at one of our four drop-in book discussion groups.  Whether you enjoy fiction, non-fiction, or mysteries, there’s a group for you.   Join us for morning snacks and hear the latest buzz about new books at our monthly Books & Breakfast program.  Attend one of the many other unique programs we offer each month.

Or, let us help you expand your horizons to the broader community. Check out one of our museum passes that offer free or discounted admission to 20 of the premiere educational and cultural institutions in Connecticut and New York.   

Just want to find out more about what the Library offers or need help using one of our resources?  Your Ridgefield Senior Gold Card entitles you to a half hour one-on-one session with one of our librarians to answer your questions.

So, when you think of community, we hope you’ll think of the Ridgefield Library.

Contributed by Adult Services Librarian Dorothy Pawlowski

New Computer System Coming to the Library

Over the Memorial Day weekend, the Ridgefield Library and our partners in Bibliomation will be switching to a new computer automation system to provide our public access catalog, circulation functions and many behind-the-scenes operations.  The new system, called BiblioOak, will go live in the Library on Wednesday, June 1^st.  This will necessitate some service reductions for a few days ahead of time.

Starting at 3 PM on Friday, May 27^th through Monday the 31st, you will not be able to place holds or renew items online.  We will be open on Saturday the 28^th but you will be able to check out items only upon presentation of a library card.  We will not be able to check in any items, accept fine payments or process holds.  Catalog status will not be updated, and there may be limitations on other services that rely on this system.

The Library will be closed for the holiday Sunday and Monday and will remain closed to the public on Tuesday the 31^st while staff completes the transition.  When the new system goes online, staff will be happy to offer help with changes to the catalog and the My Account feature.

Check our website for details and updates on this process.  Thank you for your patience!

Comics and Characters @ the Ridgefield Library

The first Saturday in May is Free Comic Book Day and the Ridgefield Library wants to give you a free comic book.  Yes, all the books at the Library are free – to borrow.  But on May 7, we will be giving away comics that you do not have to return; they are yours to keep.  Comic books are an original American art form, created in the early days of the twentieth century. They are fun to read, featuring a wide range of diverse story lines that capture the imagination of the readers. One of the goals of Free Comic Book Day is to reach out to those individuals unfamiliar with comic books. Many comic shops across North America will be giving away comic books on May 7. The Ridgefield Library worked with Cave Comics in Newtown to have many all-ages comics available, first come, first served, to Library patrons on that day. We will also celebrate comic art with artist Jamie Dowling.  He will draw caricatures from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM that day in the Children’s Program Room on the second floor.  So when you visit the Library on May 7, you can get a free comic book and be turned into a comic character! 

Contributed by Gerio Diorio, Teen Services Librarian and Head of Children's Services