Donate your Car to Help the Library

We are pleased to announce that the Ridgefield Library is now able to accept tax-deductible donations of old cars and other vehicles.  This service is provided by Donation Line, LLC, a Connecticut-based company with 11 years experience and over 500 non-profit partners across the country.

You can donate any car (running or not), plus boats, trucks, vans, motorcycles, jet skis, snowmobiles, RVs and even airplanes.  It’s simple. Just have your title handy and call 877-CARS-4-US, ext. 2919 (24 hours a day/7 days a week) or follow the link on our website at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org. Provide some basic contact information and details about the vehicle, and a tow company will contact you within two business days to arrange pickup at no charge.  The Ridgefield Library will receive approximately 80% of the proceeds from sale of the vehicle and will issue you a tax acknowledgement letter in 6-8 weeks.

The first person to take advantage of this new way to support the Library was full of praise for the process, stating "I cannot recommend this highly enough.  It could not have been easier and some of the nicest people I've dealt with. "   We encourage others to give it a try – and clear out your cluttered driveway at the same time!

"Reading on Our Radar" Blog Debuts

Members of our staff love to share their excitement about what’s new in the world of books.  So this summer, we’ve launched a reader’s advisory blog called Reading on Our Radar. 

We plan to use this blog as another way to keep you abreast of both the hottest new titles and books that fall below the radar but are well worth reading.    In addition, we’ll share back stories about authors, the world of publishing, award nominees and winners, and anything we find of interest to book lovers.  Recent posts include a link to a fascinating online exhibit of over 370 books nominated but not chosen for the National Book Award in Fiction over the last 50 years and a list of new titles we’ve just added to our Book Club Corner.

The Reading on Our Radar blog can be found on both the Adult Summer Reading page and on the Finding a Good Book page under the Reader’s Resources tab on our website. We hope you’ll add your comments, and let us know what you think.

Also, our Adult Summer Reading Program is in full swing!  Enter to win one of the beautiful baskets pictured on our website.

Contributed by Adult Services Librarian Dorothy Pawlowski

A Visit to BookExpo 2012

 Recently, I was privileged to attend BookExpo America at New York City’s Javits Center.  Billed as the largest publishing event in North America, the show provides a venue for authors, publishers, librarians, and booksellers to come together and share what’s new in books.   I came back laden with a treasure trove of titles to add to the Library’s collection and abuzz about the most touted new fiction and non-fiction for the summer and fall.   Pick up a copy of our monthly publication Fiction News or visit the Reader’s Resource page on our website to find out about these books. 

BookExpo is also a lovefest between authors and librarians. Writer after writer spoke about the role of libraries in fostering their careers. Dennis Lehane of Mystic River fame recounted with eloquence and humor how his love of reading began at his local branch.   New York Times columnist Gail Collins and espionage author Alan Furst extolled their dependence on libraries for both doing research and as their work destination.  The stories went on and on.

Perhaps the author of the next great American novel just got their first library card.  I look forward to hearing from them at another BookExpo.

Contributed by Adult Services Librarian Dorothy Pawlowski