You Asked for It!

Sometimes it is the little things that make a big difference.  Now that we have settled into our temporary space, we have been able to make a few modest yet meaningful improvements to serve you better, all in response to your requests.

• A bulletin board for notices of community events is now located near the Circulation Desk.  Please submit notices for approval before posting; due to limited space, we are only able to post flyers from Ridgefield-based non-profits for one-day or limited duration events.
• A cell phone area has been established in the same area near Circulation.  Due to the wide open plan of this building, we ask that cell phone use be restricted only to this area and that phones always be set to silent or switched off while in the Library.
• The shelf of used books for sale has returned, thanks to the Friends of the Library.  This is a great way to pick up items for vacation reading or even gifts at great prices, in between the Friends’ big book sales.
•  Attention fans of Bill Nye and The Magic School Bus: children’s non-fiction DVDs have been retrieved from storage and are now available once more for borrowing.

Connecticut’s Own Book Awards

Children have been stopping in at the Ridgefield Library for a couple of months now, asking “When can I vote for my favorite Nutmeg book?” and we can finally answer:  “Now!”  The Nutmeg Book Awards are Connecticut’s homegrown book awards for children. Each year, committees of librarians, teachers, and students choose lists of ten novels that become Nutmeg nominees. There are award levels for students in grades 4 to 6 (the Intermediate nominees), and students in grades 7 to 9 (the Teen nominees).  Students can read as many nominees as they are able to, then vote for their favorite. Many students vote at their school libraries, but the Ridgefield Library offers a designated voting spot in our juvenile fiction section, so if our younger patrons don’t get a chance to vote at school, they can cast their ballot here at the Library. The winners will be announced on May 15, and a few weeks ahead of that, on May 1, the 2014 batch of nominees will be announced. Voting in April with announcements happening in May is new for the Nutmegs. The schedule has been changed to better align with the school calendar. So if your child has read some Nutmeg nominees, please bring them in to vote before the end of the month!

Contributed by Geri Diorio, Teen Services Librarian and head of Children's Services

Snapshot Day Returns to CT Libraries

Snapshot Day is back! On Tuesday, April 16, 2013, libraries all over Connecticut will be taking a ‘snapshot’ – collecting information to capture the impact that Connecticut libraries have in their communities on a typical day. This is the third Snapshot Day, sponsored by the Connecticut Library Association, the Connecticut State Library, and the Connecticut Library Consortium.

In just one day in 2011 during the 2^nd Snapshot Day, here’s what happened at Connecticut libraries, including at our own Ridgefield Library:

• 55,862 people walked through the doors of 90 Connecticut libraries
•  56,573 books, movies and more were borrowed
• 717 new borrowers were registered
•  6,063 reference questions were answered
•  9,422 people used computers
• 478 programs/classes were offered, attended by 8,520 people

Connecticut’s libraries are busier than ever, with people coming not only to check out books, but use computers or attend the many programs our libraries offer. All across the state, libraries are the cornerstones of their communities, places where people come together to visit, learn and share ideas.

On April 16^th we hope once again to capture a slice of life of Connecticut’s libraries. Come to the Ridgefield Library between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM to be counted - and maybe even get your snapshot taken!

Poetry Lives @ the Ridgefield Library

Poetry is alive and well at the Ridgefield Library, especially during National Poetry Month in April.  In addition to our monthly poetry discussion group, under the direction of poet and retired professor Dr. Alan Holder, we have several special events planned to delight all who appreciate a good verse.

On April 21st at 2:00 PM, the Ridgefield Folk concert series takes on a poetic twist, when Liz Queler and Seth Farber present “The Edna Project,” the poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay set to music.  This is an eclectic, imaginative collection of 21 songs spanning folk, bluegrass, rock and jazz, enhanced by projected photos of the celebrated poet.  This concert will take place at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum.

Also on the 21^st, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM, The Friends of the Ridgefield Library are sponsoring “Poetry Live and In Person,” a fundraiser for the Library which also honors years of service by poet and Friends’ president Ann Jepson.  Broadway actress Barbara Dana (“The Belle of Amherst”) will be on hand with some of her signature readings of Emily Dickinson, and attendees are encouraged to share their own favorite poetry if they wish. Ticket information is available at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org.