Walk to the Library for Halloween Treats

Call it synergy or just good timing, but sometimes things come together in a special way. The Library was recently contacted by the National Honor Society at Ridgefield High School.  They planned to have a children’s book drive at an upcoming meeting and wondered if we would be interested in receiving the donated books.  With restrictions on the number of items that can be accommodated in our temporary space, we were not sure we would be able to add them to our collection just now. 

At the same time, we were looking for ways we could participate in community activities at our new home.  A staff member suggested our new location near downtown businesses would make the Halloween Walk a natural choice.  In some past years, the Library has given out children’s books along with candy to the costumed cuties walking along Main Street. Then it occurred to us - what better way to use the books offered by the National Honor Society?  So we are pleased to invite Ridgefield’s children to take a slight jog off Main Street on Saturday, October 27^th between 10 AM and noon to pick up some treats for the mind as well as the mouth!

Saluting the Friends of the Library

October 20-26 is being observed nationwide as Friends of Libraries Week, and we are joining the celebration.  And what better time to appreciate all that the Friends of the Ridgefield Library do and thank them for their invaluable contributions to our library and our community!

Our Friends are very visible this month, with their Fall Used Book Sale October 19-22 at Yanity Gym.  These much anticipated sales are the Friends’ major fundraising project and support many of your favorite Ridgefield Library services.

Here’s a sampling of Friends-sponsored activities in October alone:

• Dipping into Proust scholarly book discussions on October 24 and 25 (including free books for participants)
• Reading Is a Family Affair intergenerational book discussion on October 29
• Ridgefield Folk concerts this month and next
• Poetry Discussion Group each month
• New titles added to the Book Club Corner
• New Great Courses audio and video lectures

There is more every month, all only possible due to the generosity of the Friends. Our Friends are also fierce advocates for the Library and tireless volunteers whenever they are needed.  If you are a member of the Friends – thank you!  If not, please join today at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org.

Information Literacy Begins @ Your Library

Governor Dannel P. Malloy has proclaimed October 2012 to be Information Literacy Awareness Month in Connecticut!  Information literacy provides the tools and skills to find, evaluate and use credible information on and off-line.  Your library is the place where you can learn to become information literate.  Trained librarians will show you what’s available online, including both research databases and the best apps, how to understand web search techniques and how to get the most from your mobile phones and tablets. 

At the Ridgefield Library, you can become information literate by taking advantage of our new Tech Fridays programs; accessing resources such as Learning Express that offer software training; and asking our Information Desk staff for assistance. Whether you are nine or ninety, we are here to show you how to get started; how to achieve the best results; and how to make sure you are finding information that is authoritative, reliable, accurate and up-to-date amid the flood of dubious material on the Web.  In the 21^st century, information literacy can be as crucial to our health and well-being as basic reading skills. You can rely on the Ridgefield Library to be here to help you achieve your information literacy goals.

Library Launches Tech Fridays

We’re excited to announce a new monthly program called Tech Fridays.  Would you like to use one of our electronic databases or download an eBook but feel stymied by the learning curve involved?  Do you want to learn about social media tools or how to find apps for your phone or tablet?  Then Tech Fridays are for you.  Each month we’ll highlight a 21^st century tool offered by the Library, or one readily available online, with the goal of helping our patrons become empowered users of these resources.

The first of our Tech Fridays will take place on October 26th.  Drop in anytime between 2 and 4 PM when staff members will demonstrate and answer your questions about OverDrive, the library’s downloadable eBook and audiobook service.   On November 30th, Reference Librarian Christie Mitchell will focus on tools and websites related to personal finance.  After a break for the holidays, Tech Fridays will be held from 2 to 4 PM on the fourth Friday of each month.  Future programs will include How to Do Research, Technology for Seniors, Social Media, and Teens Teach Tech.  If you have a technology topic you’d like us to cover, contact Adult Services Librarian Dorothy Pawlowski with your suggestions.

This entry was contributed by Adult Services Librarian Dorothy Pawlowski.