Focus on Financial Literacy

Financial literacy is our awareness and understanding of financial concepts for the purpose of better managing our money.  One of Ridgefield Library’s goals for the New Year is to promote financial literacy in our community.  

We’d like the Ridgefield Library website www.ridgefieldlibrary.org to be your starting point for trusted online financial information.  Click on Research & Reference and navigate to the Business & Finance webpage.  Databases to access include Reference USA which is a database of public and private companies.  You may search by company name, industry or location (try searching by zip code: 06877).  Business Insights: Essentials is our comprehensive business research database for business and industry news, company financials, investment reports, rankings, market share data, product information and court cases.  Value Line Investment Survey provides respected research on companies, stocks, funds and more.  Look for our recommended websites from government, educational and nonprofit organizations along with many respected commercial sites including Yahoo! Finance and Investopedia. 

Throughout the year we will be adding new information and resources.  We also have plenty of the best financial books and magazines.  Let’s work together to become more financially knowledgeable.  Sounds like a New Year’s resolution!

Contributed by Reference Librarian Christie Mitchell

Take our Community Survey and Tell Us What You Think

In anticipation of an early 2014 move into the New Ridgefield Library, the Library Board and staff are doing some strategic planning about the people, programs, collections and services that will fill this beautiful new space.  We want to know what is of most importance and interest to our users and the people of Ridgefield.   What do you value most highly about what we already do?  What new things would you like to see us add?

Tell us what you think by taking part in our Community Survey.  You can access this brief questionnaire online from any computer by following the link at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org.  You can also take the survey on computers at the Library or ask for a print copy to complete.

The survey runs through January 31^st and may be completed by any interested person, regardless of age or town of residence.  Regular Library users and non-users are welcome.  Please encourage family members and friends to take part.

We will also be holding several focus groups later in the month to discuss some of the ideas in the survey in greater depth.  Contact me as below if you would like to be considered for possible participation in one of these sessions.

Thanks for your input!

Resolve to Read, and Talk About, Books

 If your New Year’s resolutions include reading more and getting out to meet new people, then why don’t you achieve both at once by joining one of the many monthly book discussion groups offered by the Library? 

The Library’s book discussions take place during the day and in the evening.  They focus on a range of genres, so there should be something for everyone.  For those who enjoy mystery and intrigue, there is the Murder by the Book discussion group.  If you prefer history, biography and current affairs, then The Nonfictioneers should fit the bill.  The Critics’ Circle and the A.M. Book Group focus on a wide range of works of mostly fiction to suit all tastes.  We also have a Poetry Discussion Group led by a retired Columbia University English professor. For those who prefer a more relaxed approach, Books and Breakfast provides an opportunity for participants to share what they have been reading over a delicious breakfast. The Library also runs book programs for members of Founders Hall and Ridgefield Crossing.

So check the Library’s website at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org for details and put one or more of these discussion groups on your calendar. What better way to stimulate your mind and make new friends in 2013! 

Contributed by Adult Program Director Lesley Lambton

Peace Cranes for Newtown

Japanese tradition has it that folding 1,000 origami cranes will bring happiness and good luck to the creator.  Paper cranes have also become a symbol of caring for those in need, from cancer patients to victims of sex trafficking.  A group of Ridgefield families, in cooperation with the Ridgefield Library, has set a goal of creating 1,000 cranes to be donated to the Cyrennius H. Booth Library in Newtown, as a sign of solidarity and sympathy with that grieving community.

Many people are familiar with the story of the young Japanese girl who contracted leukemia following the bombing of Hiroshima and set out to make 1,000 cranes to fulfill her wish for peace.  As told in Eleanor Coerr’s children’s book, “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes,” she died after completing only 644 and her classmates completed the task in her honor.  Ridgefield parent Kathie McGerald had become familiar with the crane legend while living in Japan and suggested this as a way our community can convey to our neighbors in Newtown our wishes for peace and healing.  “With the school break upon us,” says Ms. McGerald, “we invite families to come to the Library and take part in this effort together.”

Drop by the Library this week to participate and to admire the collection of cranes as it grows. You can make your crane on the spot, or pick up instructions and paper and make them at home or with a group in the community.