Library Book Groups for Everyone

If your New Year’s resolutions include reading more and getting out to meet new people, then why don’t you achieve both of these 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 our Murder by the Book discussion group could be for you.  If you prefer history, biography and current affairs, then The Nonfictioneers should fit the bill.  The Critics’ Circle and the A.M. Book Group both focus primarily on a wide range of classic and contemporary 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 discussions for members of Founders Hall.

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 2017!  

Keeping Kids Entertained Can Be Easy

The kids are home from school because of vacation or a weather cancellation, and they are getting bored.  Here are a couple of suggestions to keep them entertained, accessible for free with a Ridgefield Library card.

Tumblebooks are eBooks for the very young that let you enjoy the illustrations onscreen as you listen to favorite picture books read aloud.

Bookflix from Scholastic is an online literary resource for children that pairs video storybooks with related non-fiction eBooks. Imagine a film of a Curious George story paired with a non-fiction book about monkeys, plus word games, a profile of the author, suggestions for individual or group activities and links to additional resources.

Hoopla offers downloadable and streaming music, movies and TV shows in addition to eBooks and audiobooks and even comic books. And the Kids Mode setting features content that has been deemed suitable for children up to 12 years of age.

OverDrive offers eBooks and audiobooks from many of the best authors, narrators and publishers in the business, and also has a special “Kids Collection” interface.

Check www.ridgefieldlibrary.org/children for more information and links to get you started (some also have apps for enjoying on a smartphone or other device).

Laszig Fund and Library Join Forces to Assist Ridgefield Seniors

The Library shares with the founders and administrators of the Paul and Johanna Laszig Fund for the Elderly a commitment to supporting Ridgefield residents aged 62+ in the many needs they experience as they become older.  For many, one of the first and often most troublesome is the development of difficulty with their vision.  For the avid book lover, diminishment of the ability to read traditional books can be devastating.  Large print books and audiobooks can help extend a lifelong love of reading. With the support of a recent grant from the Laszig Fund, the Library is pleased to announce the addition of several dozen new titles for its large print collection.  It has also purchased a number of Playaways, which are an innovative format that combines a player and an audiobook in one small, easy-to-use device.

Playaways purchased include hot new titles such as John Grisham’s latest, “The Whistler,” and the award-winning “The Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead. New large print acquisitions include the runaway hit “My Brilliant Friend” by Elena Ferrante, Martin Walker’s latest Bruno, Chief of Police mystery and Liane Moriarty’s bestseller “Truly Madly Guilty.” Ask at the Circulation or Adult Services Desk for help finding these and many more large print books and Playaways.

Holiday Help from the Library

So you have survived Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.  You have, we hope, shopped local right here in Ridgefield. And you still have names on your gift list.  Here’s how the Library can help. 

The Library Store offers many small, affordable gifts perfect for readers and writers, all proudly bearing a library brand or theme and particularly suitable for stocking stuffers, Secret Santa goodies and teacher gifts. Can’t decide?  We now offer Library Store gift certificates. Get as many as you need at $5.00 each and let your recipients choose their favorite item.

The Friends of the Library maintain a select display of used books for sale on an ongoing basis in a case in the Bossidy Commons next to the elevator. At this time of year, it is stocked with a wonderful array of nearly new holiday and gift books.

Someone on your list who really doesn’t need or want another “thing” in their life? Choose from our Wish List of programs, materials and other library services and give a gift to benefit the whole Ridgefield Library family in their honor instead.  See the whole catalog of items in different price ranges online at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org.

Books Can Help - and Heal

Bibliotherapy is a fancy word for turning to literature to help people, especially children, cope with difficult situations. Words and pictures can help make an intimidating experience like moving to a new town or starting a new school less scary.  They can help a child struggling with the loss of a pet or the illness of a family member feel less overwhelmed.  They reassure youngsters that they are not alone in experiencing these situations and having the feelings they do.  They can help a parent find the language to talk about tough topics.

At the Ridgefield Library, we have many resources to help you find the right books to address the difficult situations that arise in many lives.  Our Children’s Services staff draw on their personal knowledge of our collections as well as reference books prepared by teachers, mental health professionals, doctors and other experts.  They are happy to work with caregivers one-on-one to locate just the right book or to share some of the booklists we have created on bullying, divorce, coping with loss and other topics (many of these are also available on our website).  Our most recent includes recommended reading on kindness, empathy and caring, in response to anxieties fostered by the recent election season.

Planning for the Holidays @ the Library

The Library will be closed on Thursday, November 24^th and Friday the 25^th for Thanksgiving but will be open regular hours on Wednesday and also on Saturday and Sunday. Don’t forget also to visit Books on the Common for Library Days Friday through Sunday of the holiday weekend.

The annual Holiday Stroll organized by the Downtown Ridgefield merchants association will take place on Friday, December 2^nd and Saturday the 3^rd, with lots of seasonal fun for the whole family.  Two long-time favorite activities will return to the Library on Friday evening – horse and carriage rides and the Ridgefield Music and Art Center’s RMAC ‘n’ Cheese music and food offerings around the firepit.  On Saturday, we will host Drop-in Storytime at 10:30 AM with a “frozen” theme and music at 1:30 by wind and brass players from the Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra.  Stroll on by!

Registration for preschool storytimes and after school activities to start in January will begin online  December 1st.

Finally, now that it is finally beginning to be wintry, we want to remind everyone that the Library makes weather closing decisions independently of the schools or town agencies.  You can see the details on our website at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org.

Special Benefits for Library Cardholders

A Ridgefield Library card gives residents access to myriad collections and services in person and online.  Did you know that your card also gets you some other special benefits?

Show your card at the box office for discount admission at the Ridgefield Playhouse to great cultural programming from the Metropolitan Opera, Bolshoi Ballet and National Theatre, live in HD.

The Ridgefield Woman’s Club offers library users discounted admission to their Craft Fair coming up on November 19th – a great way to support an organization which in turn supports so many groups in town, including the Library.

Thanksgiving weekend your card is worth even more during Library Days at Books on the Common.  Shop local and show your card at the cash register, and the store will donate 15% of your purchase value to the Library.

Don’t have a card? It’s easy to sign up anytime at the Circulation Desk.  As a special incentive, new registrants receive a voucher for free tickets to the Ridgefield Playhouse HD film series.  They also get a coupon worth 10% off their next purchase from our Library Store featuring convenience and gift items for readers and writers.

Get details of all these perks online at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org and get everyone in your family a library card today!

ABI/Inform Complete - The Library's Newest Online Business Resource

Launched in the early 1970s, ABI/Inform remains the gold standard when it comes to business research databases. ABI/Inform’s massive content set includes thousands of sought-after, full-text journals from the business press as well as key trade publications, wire feeds such as 

PR Newswire, newspapers, dissertations, conference proceedings, and market reports.

Journal titles include The Economist, Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Review, Crain’s New York Business, and Nation’s Restaurant News.  Market Reports include Economist Intelligence Unit, Euromonitor, Hoovers/Dunn and Bradstreet, Acquisdata, and more.

ABI/Inform is a business intelligence tool that can benefit almost anyone. Log in to ABI/Inform to explore management and leadership styles, learn about a business topic, prep for a job interview, find information on companies and executives, keep abreast of business and industry trends, and review country or industry reports to understand key business challenges and opportunities.

To get started with ABI/Inform, go to www.ridgefieldlibrary.org and click on Research & Reference then Databases A-Z, or find ABI/Inform on our Business & Finance webpage, then enter your Ridgefield Library barcode.   

There will be a training session to introduce ABI/Inform Complete on Tuesday, November 15, from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. Register at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org or call 203-438-2282.

Contributed by Adult Services Librarian Christie Mitchell

Celebrating Picture Books @ the Library

Picture Book Month is an international literacy initiative that celebrates the print picture book during the month of November each year.  It is supported by numerous literacy and cultural organizations, authors and others, including local libraries. Here are a few ways you can help celebrate at the Ridgefield Library throughout the month.

• Come in to the Lodewick Children’s Library, find a picture book you really like on the shelf, and bring it to the desk so we can add it to a display of Readers’ Favorites.
• If you love picture books, head for our special shelves of Caldecott Award winners, where you will find beloved classics as well as the newest talents. The Randolph Caldecott Medal annually recognizes the preceding year's "most distinguished American picture book for children", beginning with 1937 publications. It is awarded to the illustrator by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).
• Watch the Library’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts for postings by our staff of their personal picks, then chime in with your own suggestions.
• Read a picture book to or with a loved one and experience the joy!

Trick or Treat @ the Library

Calling all young goblins and princesses! Drop by the Library during the downtown Halloween Walk on Saturday, October 29^th from 10:00 AM – noon, show us your costume and get a special treat – a book provided by the Friends of the Library (while supplies last).

Seasonal books and other materials fly off the Library’s shelves ahead of each holiday, but now we can offer an alternative if you miss the boat for these special occasions.  Hoopla offers a wealth of downloadable and streaming content for all ages that can be enjoyed on computer, tablet or phone.  For Halloween they offer scary movies from Stephen King to Disney; TV series such as Dark Shadows and the animated Sabrina; Walking Dead and many other comics; spooky songs and sounds to provide a soundtrack for your Halloween party; and audio and eBook versions of many favorites from picture books to Goosebumps to adult horror thrillers.  Check our website or ask at any service desk to set up your account.

Our fall School Scrabble Tournament takes place on November 5^th, but keeps up the Halloween spirit, with costume contests and themed activities.  Scrabblers in Grades 4 through 12 are invited to send in their registration forms, available at the Library or online at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org.

Reading Across Generations

For many years, the Library has offered the popular Reading Is a Family Affair intergenerational book discussion several times a year, thanks to the support of the Friends of the Library. Children in grades 3-5 and a parent or other adult read a book together and then come to the Library for discussion and enrichment activities – plus a pizza supper! Last year we expanded this program to middle schoolers and their families as well.  Stay tuned for announcement of titles and dates for 2016-2017.

A recent addition to our annual calendar for teens and adults is Books Building Bridges, an initiative that brings together Ridgefield High School students and adults for book chats, lectures and other activities.  This year’s title, selected by the students from the reading list for the English curriculum, is Ken Kesey’s “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” Scheduled activities include a lecture on October 27th by Dr. Mark Schenker of Yale College and discussions for adult and student readers on November 1^st and 2^nd. Copies of the book are available for borrowing at the Circulation Desk.  Please join us to gain a fresh perspective on a 20th century classic.

Hurrah for our Friends!

October 16-22 has been declared this year as National Friends of Libraries Week.  Here at the Ridgefield Library, we think a single week of recognition is not nearly enough. Every day, we give thanks for all the ways in which the Friends of the Ridgefield Library support our library.  Everyone who walks into our building benefits from materials, programs and special services made possible only through the generosity of the Friends, mostly by virtue of their indefatigable efforts as sellers of used books. Twice yearly onsite sales (coming up October 14-16 and October 21-24) have been joined by robust year-round online sales via their storefront at amazon.com/shops/forl. They even hold pop-up sales on the lawn during community events such as Summerfest.  All told, they fund over $40,000 worth of grant requests from the Library administration each year – all for activities that are not covered in the organization’s annual operating budget.  They also have made extraordinary major gifts in support of the Campaign for the New Library and other one-time needs.

You can support their work by patronizing the book sales (onsite and online), becoming a member of the Friends, or volunteering to help with their projects. Learn more about the impact and the activities of the Friends of the Ridgefield Library at http://www.ridgefieldlibrary.org/about/FriendsoftheLibrary.shtml.

On the Road with the Ridgefield Library

I’m getting ready for a vacation trip to Canada, and the following services from the Library have been a great help.

• A dedicated section of travel books and DVDs, covering destinations around the world, has hints for where to go and what to do.
• I can brush up on my French with language learning materials on CD and accessible online with Mango.
• Luckily, my travel documents are in order, but if I needed passport processing, the Library is a very convenient and friendly alternative.
• A long train trip will allow me to catch up on months’ worth of The New Yorker downloaded through Zinio without having to haul a lot of paper copies around.
• Thanks to eBooks from Hoopla and Overdrive, I will be able to keep up with book group assignments, again without carrying weighty tomes.  With selections like Vanity Fair and Huck Finn, this can add up to a lot of pounds of baggage!
• Lists prepared by the library staff have given me some great ideas for themed reading.  A pamphlet on “Crime in a Cold Climate” has some perfect suggestions for a trip to Canada!

Wherever you may be traveling, make the Library your first stop!

Challenging Reading

What books are in your Top Ten?  If your list includes “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” or Mark Haddon’s “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” or John Green’s “Looking for Alaska,” you may be surprised to learn that these titles are also on the list of books challenged, restricted, removed or banned in schools and libraries in 2015-2016, according to the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom.  You will find these and many others this week in our display in observance of Banned Books Week 2016.  Each year, along with the ALA, the Association of American Publishers, American Booksellers for Free Expression, the National Council of Teachers of English and other organizations, we use this occasion to celebrate the right to explore ideas and to express ourselves freely without censorship.

Since the first Banned Books Week event in 1982, many thousands of titles have been challenged, including those by 21 Nobel laureates and winners of nearly every literary prize.  They include children’s picture books and beginning readers; young adult titles; classic as well as contemporary adult fiction; science, memoir and other non-fiction; graphic novels and poetry. Stop by this week, pick up a displayed book and stand up for your right to read.

Welcoming our New Teen Services Librarian

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Erica Gauquier as the Library’s new Teen Services Librarian. She replaces Geri Diorio, who has moved on to become Assistant Director of her hometown Stratford Library.

During her undergrad schooling, Erica studied Psychology and Social Work, preparing her for what she knew would be a career in providing services to children and young adults. Realizing she wanted to become a librarian, she received her Master’s degree in Information and Library Science from Pratt Institute in 2010. Erica has been passionately engaged in young adult librarianship ever since.

Erica began her career at Darien (CT) Library, bringing teens in the community new and innovative programs while establishing lasting relationships with many of them.

It is now her great pleasure to become immersed in the Ridgefield community, bringing that same love and passion for youth services to her own town. She is full of exciting ideas and also looks forward to hearing from 6^th through 12^th graders in town about what they would like to see at the Library. You can find her in the Ellis Family Teen Center of the Ridgefield Library or contact her by email at ELGauquier@ridgefieldlibrary.org. She looks forward to meeting you!  

New Access to an Old Favorite

Consumers Union has checked out some 155,000 products in their test labs since 1936. These include the highfalutin’ and the ho-hum. Sports cars and sneakers. Computers and corn poppers. Cognacs and colas. CU's engineers and technicians eyeball, heft, measure, weigh, taste, use, and abuse those products. They take them apart, leave them out to weather, drop them, crash them, and put them through accelerated-wear tests to assess their durability. All this to determine the best, and sometimes worst, products for all of us to use.

For many years, the Ridgefield Library has offered Consumer Reports monthly magazine and annual index. This heavily used resource has been a boon to redecorators, those with ailing appliances, those needing new cars or suggestions for good used cars and a multitude of things from computers to insect repellent.

Now we are very happy to be able to provide online both Library and home access to this great service. You will find the trusted articles, ratings and even more on the Library website ridgefieldlibrary.org.   Click the Catalog and Collections button and choose Magazines and Newspapers. Keep your Ridgefield Library card handy as the barcode is needed to log in, and read your way to great products and services in the comfort of your home!

Contributed by Adult Services Librarians Victoria Carlquist and Christie Mitchell

Falling into Fall @ the Library

Sunday hours are back!  Beginning September 11 and running through the school year, the Library will be open on Sundays from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. 

Registration is now open for fall preschool storytimes and after-school activities, including book discussions, Maker groups, crafts, music programs, and even yoga for youngsters.  Most regular programs begin the last week of September. Sign-up may be done online at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org/children/programs/index.shtml.  Stay tuned also for information about “specials” on school holidays and other occasions. And, of course, drop-in favorites like Mother Goose and storytime on Saturday morning continue most weeks.

Seasonal series like the Ridgefield Folk concerts and ARTalk lectures pick up again in the fall.  Check our event calendar at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org so you don’t miss these very popular offerings. Many of these are sponsored by the Friends of the Library, whose fall used book sales are on tap for mid-October.

The Library and Ridgefield High School are looking forward to the 3^rd year of their joint Books Building Bridges intergenerational reading program.  This year’s title is “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” by Ken Kesey.  Grab your copy, and start reading, or re-reading, this classic and watch for details of book chats, scholarly lectures and more.

Introducing Remaining New Library Board Members

As promised, here are profiles of two more talented individuals who have joined the Library Board this summer.

Alison Greeley moved to Ridgefield with her husband and two sons in 2005. She spent 14 years at Morgan Stanley, beginning in a brokerage office in Aspen, CO and later joining the Investment Management Division in New York City. She managed teams and projects in sales and marketing developing marketing campaigns, including new product launches, and building new departments. Since leaving Morgan Stanley in 2008, she has served as the Chair and Treasurer of the Ridgefield Arts Council, and is a co-founder of the Ridgefield 9/11 Memorial.

Stephen DeMatteo has lived in Ridgefield since 2003 with his wife Anissa and their three children, James, Charles and Audrey.  As a shareholder of York International Agency, Steve leads the firm’s Commercial Insurance Practice.  Prior to joining York in 2005, Steve held a similar role with Marsh & McLennan.  Steve is a 1989 graduate of Fairfield University. Around town Steve has spent the past decade on the sidelines of his children’s youth sports teams.  He was a 10-year member of the Town of Ridgefield Insurance & Risk Management Committee where he was an advisor to the Board of Selectmen on property/casualty insurance matters.

One-Stop Shopping @ the Library

Of course, we have books and DVDs and audiobooks and comfy reading chairs and study areas and computers and programs for young and old.  But did you know about these less traditional services we also offer for your convenience?

Photocopiers - Our copy machines can collate, duplex and copy up to size 11 x 17. Sorry, black and white only. Twenty cents per page.

Fax machine and color scanner - Outgoing fax service only. Easy to use - only $1.00 per page for faxing; no charge for scanning to file or email.

Passport issuance – Give us a call for new applications, children’s passports and renewals of long expired documents. By appointment only at 203-438-2282 x11022.  Comfortable and convenient, especially if have children in tow, and you can stop by the travel reference shelves while you are here!

Blood pressure screening – Drop in the second Wednesday of each month from 11:00 AM to noon, and let staff from the Ridgefield VNA help you monitor this important health indicator.

The Library Store – Check out our selection of blank journals, booklights, tote bags, greeting cards and more, many with Ridgefield Library branding you can show off with pride.

Library Board Welcomes New Members

The Ridgefield Library welcomes four new members to its Board of Directors.  Two are profiled here, and the others will be introduced in a future column.

Rob Freeman moved to Ridgefield with his wife and two children in 2010. He is a Vice President with Venbrook Insurance Services. Before joining Venbrook, Rob was founder and CEO of Green Buildings Online Inc., an award winning provider of e-learning and online training for employees of global institutions and Fortune 500 companies. Prior to that he worked for six years for a New York commercial real estate private equity group. Rob earned a BA from Skidmore College and an MBA from Babson College.

Tizzie Mantione has lived in Ridgefield 16 years with her husband Tom and their two children, Nico (13) and Jax (12). She grew up in neighboring Pound Ridge, NY and is a graduate of Vanderbilt University. Her career has spanned multiple industries including sports marketing, event management, financial management, executive search and software sales. Tizzie has volunteered in Ridgefield in both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts as well as various programs at Farmingville Elementary and East Ridge Middle School. She is currently serving on the Ridgefield Prevention Council. She is an avid cyclist, golfer and reader who loves to travel. 

Lost and Found @ the Library

With more than 800 people visiting the Library each day, in all kinds of weather and for many different purposes, we wind up with quite a collection of lost and found items waiting for retrieval.  There are umbrellas; jackets, scarves and gloves; device chargers; eyeglasses; water bottles; car keys; jewelry; personal documents left in the copier; school texts and student notebooks; and medical paperwork used as bookmarks by people spending time in doctor and hospital waiting rooms.  Our hearts go out especially to the youngsters who have inadvertently left behind a treasured pacifier, security blanket or stuffed animal friend.

One of the most unusual items found recently was a framed vintage photograph left in the copy machine near the adult reference desk.  The Ridgefield Historical Society helped us identify the subject -  Geraldine Farrar, a popular opera star of the early 20^th century who lived for many years in Ridgefield.  While local historians and opera lovers frequently inquire about Farrar, we haven’t a clue who may have left her picture behind.

If you think you may have lost this photo, or any other items, please inquire at the Circulation Desk so we can get these objects back to their proper homes.

Time to Start Writing, Ridgefield!

The Ridgefield Library is not just for readers! We also serve numerous writers with workshops, networking groups and various occasions to share their work with the public. This summer we are offering special opportunities for writers of all ages to enter a pair of writing contests.

August 15^th is the deadline for submissions by children going into Grades K-8 for our project with the Story Pirates. All entrants will receive a written response from the Story Pirates professionals, and selected stories will be dramatized by the troupe in a lively and entertaining performance on October 1^st at the Ridgefield Playhouse.

Adults and teens (aged 15 and older) are invited to enter a separate contest, with a September 1^st deadline.  Submissions of up to 3,000 words are being accepted in five genre categories, including mystery/suspense, romance, historical fiction, science fiction/fantasy and general fiction.  The only other requirement is that each story feature the Ridgefield Library in some way! Winners will be recognized at an event at the Library on October 1^st.

Submission guidelines and entry forms are available at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org.  Tickets to the Story Pirates performance may be purchased by the general public at www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org. Get writing, Ridgefield!

New Digital Magazines Available

Have you tried Zinio yet? This online service gives Ridgefield Library card holders access to several dozen popular magazines in a convenient downloadable format for reading anywhere, any time, on a computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet.

The full content of every page of the magazine is reproduced, in full color and with added interactive navigation features. Once you have downloaded them, there is no due date, so you can continue to enjoy them indefinitely (great for cooking magazines with tempting recipes!).

While not all publications are available for library subscriptions, we have tried to select an appealing and diverse selection.  Joining perennial favorites like The New Yorker, Cook’s Illustrated, Newsweek and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance are new selections including Clean Eating, Entrepreneur, ESPN, Every Day with Rachel Ray, Harper’s Bazaar, and Rodale’s Organic Life.

Zinio also has a commercial interface, so make sure you are signing up for Zinio for Libraries for free access courtesy of the Ridgefield Library. Instructions on setting up and using your account are available at the Adult Services desk or on the “Library on the Go” page at ridgefieldlibrary.org.  Happy reading!

Summer Reading Rocks

As of July 7^th, we are halfway through Summer Reading, and the numbers are looking great!  In just 3-1/2 weeks, 112 adults have registered 233 items; 318 teens have logged 5,169; and a whopping 1074 school-aged children have completed 14,117 books and audiobooks.  This is well on a pace to be our busiest summer of reading ever.

In addition to the sheer enjoyment of reading, participants are urged on to new heights by the fabulous rewards they can earn. Adults have been thrilled by the gorgeous gift baskets created by the Friends of the Library and raffled off each week.  Teens are competing enthusiastically for prizes from The Cake Box, Deborah’s Sweet Shoppe and Books on the Common.  The Toy Chest and Deborah Ann’s have contributed coupons for all children reading a certain number of books, and the Friends of the Library have generously supplied additional prizes.

While the official end of the Summer Reading Program is July 31^st, the online reading log system will remain up and running, and young readers can continue to log their books and earn rewards until the day before school starts.  It’s not too late to get in the game - start your Summer Reading log today at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org.

Searching for the Bard, and the Boss @ the Library

Looking for Kenneth Branagh or Laurence Olivier?  What about Placido Domingo or Bruce Springsteen?  Look no further than the Fine Arts and Literature collections in the historic front part of the Library.  Opera CDs and performance DVDs, Shakespeare audiobooks and performance DVDs, and non-fiction and documentary DVDs on art and artists, music, movie-making and other fine and performing arts topics are now located in the Goldstone Special Collections Room and the Ruggles Fine Arts Reading Room right inside the Main Street entrance.

This change puts all of our printed and media materials related to these topics in one convenient location. Pick out a coffee table volume on the Impressionists, then select an episode of a made-for-TV art appreciation series or a documentary film on the life of Degas or Monet.   Also here are live concert recordings by pop icons like Springsteen and Paul Simon and recorded live performances of musicals like CATS.

This is a great place to brush up your Shakespeare (or Verdi or Tchaikovsky) before Live in HD film presentations at the Ridgefield Playhouse of productions by the National Theatre, Met Opera and Bolshoi Ballet.  Then show your Ridgefield Library card at the box office and get the special member discount price. 

To Your Health @ the Ridgefield Library

Free blood pressure screenings by the Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association (RVNA) are the latest health and wellness service being offered by your Library.  From July 13^th through the end of December, RVNA volunteers and nurses will be on hand on the 2^nd Wednesday of each month from 11:00 AM to 12 noon.  Look for the sign-in table in our Main Lobby; no appointments are required, and the service is provided free of charge.

This new service is a perfect fit with several other initiatives currently underway, including our two-year partnership with Lyme Connection and Smart Revenue to build a model community response to end Lyme Disease. In addition to continued Lyme awareness and prevention education, our Summer Reading Program theme of exercising your mind and your body will include several meditation and healing workshops for adults and entertaining and educational encounters with bugs for children.

Also on tap is a series called Summer of Running, supported by our Noreen L. Papa: Mothers Live your Life Fund and featuring a wealth of activities related to running in Ridgefield and around the world. Watch also for announcement of a date for this year’s RVNA flu shot clinic at the Library in the fall.

First Stop on Vacation: The Library

Hitting the road for vacation?  Make the Ridgefield Library your first stop!

Check out the Library Store for roomy book bags to hold all your gear.  Pick up a blank journal to record your travel impressions.  And don’t forget a portable power bank for emergency re-charging of electronics.

Booklists, displays and staff recommendations will help you fill up that bag with great leisure reading choices.  If you are away for some time, many borrowed items can be renewed online (as long as there is no waiting list).  And don’t forget you can log your Summer Reading online while you are on the road, then come in to claim your rewards when you return.

If all the members of your traveling party can agree on a title, the Library has many wonderful audiobook recordings on CD and Playaway, as well as downloadable material available from hoopla and OverDrive which can be played through many car stereo systems.  If your companions have different tastes, you can enjoy individual choices of downloadable and streaming offerings such as eBooks, audiobooks, TV, movies and music – each on your own personal device. 

Just remember to pack your Ridgefield Library card and check in at ridgefieldlibrary.org!

What Are You a Fan Of?

It might not be quite grammatically correct, but this question nicely expresses the philosophy of our upcoming 2^nd annual celebration of popular culture, coming August 12^th and 13^th.  Last year we held a comic con, focused primarily on the Summer Reading Program superhero and comic book theme.  In 2016, we are expanding to something we are calling RidgeCon, which will encompass a wide range of fandoms, from youngsters obsessed with Disney princesses to older adults who can’t get enough of Downton Abbey.  And of course, there will still be plenty for followers of the big pop culture phenomena of the summer, from X-Men, Star Trek and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies to the release of the long-awaited new Harry Potter novel.

Activities during RidgeCon will include cosplay, face painting, drawing workshops, gaming, themed trivia and scavenger hunts, green screen photo ops, live entertainment, visits from costumed characters, choose-your-own-adventure scenarios and even a special Friday evening event for adult fans of All Things British.

Businesses and individuals interested in purchasing a vendor table, program book ad or event sponsorship should visit ridgefieldlibrary.org or call John Casiello at 203-438-2282 x11006

So, whatever you are a fan of, we hope to see you in August – in costume or not!

June Is Audiobook month @ the Library

On the go or on the track? In the car or in the kitchen?  These are just a few of the places you can enjoy listening to audiobooks any time.  And the Ridgefield Library can help you find a wealth of titles for all ages available at no cost to you.

Almost every kind of book is now available in audio format, from romance and science fiction to memoir and non-fiction. You can learn a language, catch up with a favorite series character, explore the ideas of great thinkers, sample a new author or re-visit a beloved classic.

Our newest offerings are downloadable audiobooks from OverDrive and Hoopla, two subscription services available to Ridgefield Library cardholders.  Learn how to access these from most computers or devices by asking at the Adult Services desk or visiting our Digital Library Page at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org.

Many listeners are partial to the convenient Playaway format, which incorporates a playback mechanism into the packaging of each title, so you don’t have to have yet another device.

And, of course, we also have the traditional book-on-CD format featuring adult, teen and children’s titles, along with read-along kits for youngsters including a book and an audio narration.

Happy listening!

Get Ready to Read this Summer

On your Mark, Get Set…Read! No matter what happens at the Summer Olympics in Brazil, we expect to set new records in reading right here in Ridgefield this summer, with the annual Summer Reading Program, which begins June 13th.  Pre-schoolers, elementary school students, teens and adults are all invited to take part and earn prizes, enjoy entertaining programs and more.  The formal program runs through July 30^th, but you can continue to log your reading and collect prizes until the day before school starts. Find out all the details at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org.

June 13^th is also the beginning of our summer schedule.  From then through Labor Day, the Library will be closed on Sundays; the rest of our schedule remains the same as always: Monday – Thursday, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Friday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.  And don’t forget to visit our “virtual library branch” online 24/7 at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org for eBooks, downloadable audiobooks, music and video, research databases and much more.

Other highlights of the summer include RidgeCon on August 12 and 13 (our 2^nd annual celebration of popular culture) and writing contests for children and adults (details to be announced shortly). See you at the Library!

Turn to BookPage

Trying to keep abreast of new books?  Stop by the Adult Services Desk and take home the latest copy of BookPage, a selection guide to the best new titles released each month.

Bookpage’s mission is "to connect every book lover with their next great read."   Reviews encompass a wide range of new books from literary fiction, history and biography to popular genres such as mystery and romance, with sections dedicated to recently published titles for children and teens.  In addition, each issue includes author interviews and special features. In May’s BookPage, Chris Cleave talks about his new novel “Everyone Brave is Forgiven,” and Pulitzer-prize winner Richard Russo explains why twenty years after the publication of “Nobody's Fool,” he decided to revisit the residents of North Bath, New York in “Everybody's Fool.”  The May issue also spotlights new books for planning a road trip and historical fiction focusing on Jewish history.

Not to be outdone, our librarians use their unique perspectives to create two monthly publications, Fiction News and Non-Fiction News that highlight new books chosen for their relevance to the diverse reading interests of our patrons.  Pick up copies at the library or view them on the Reader's Resources section of our website.  

Contributed by Dorothy Pawlowski, Head of Adult Services

Book Club Corner Expands

The Book Club Corner is the Library’s collection of discussion-worthy titles in fiction, memoir and non-fiction available in batches of 10 or so copies for use by book clubs. To help alleviate our current difficulties with inter-library delivery service, this spring we are adding several high-interest titles, including “The Muralist” by B.A. Shapiro, “Fates and Furies” by Lauren Groff and “Circling the Sun” by Paula McLain.

We are pleased to announce that we have recently instituted a Book Club Corner for children and families as well.  Among the first batch of titles are “Because of Winn-Dixie” and “Flora and Ulysses” by Kate DiCamillo, “Starry River of the Sky” by Grace Lin, “El Deafo” by Cece Bell and Jamison Odone’s re-telling of “Alice in Wonderland.”  All have been used to great effect in our Reading Is a Family Affair inter-generational discussion series, and we recommend them for either children-only or parent and child settings. Look for Children’s Book Club Corner selections in the Parent Resource area of the Children’s Library.

Don’t hesitate to ask at the Children’s or Adult Service Desk for assistance in making a selection for your book group and to reserve a Book Club Corner title. Book Club Corner offerings are made possible by the Friends of the Ridgefield Library.

A New Look for Museum Passes

We are pleased to announce that we have developed a new packaging system for our popular museum passes.  Colorful and durable plastic pouches have replaced the cumbersome looseleaf notebook binders.  These are a convenient size to tuck into a handbag or pocket and are well-secured with zippers and snaps to keep all the important paperwork secure.

Thirteen popular institutions in Connecticut and New York offer some variety of free admission deal, and another eight offer discounted admission.  The choices range from art museums like the Wadsworth Atheneum and NYC’s Guggenheim Museum, to outdoor activities such as nature centers and parks, to interactive children’s learning experiences. Passes may be borrowed by Ridgefield Library cardholders for two nights on a first-come, first-served basis.

Some museums provide free passes to libraries; others offer special library discounts through a museum pass program organized by the Connecticut Library Consortium.  Here in Ridgefield, the Friends of the Library have generously paid these fees for us since the program started some years ago.

Pick up a brochure at the Library describing all the offerings or visit www.ridgefieldlibrary.org and click on Catalog & Collections, then Other Resources.  Have a great trip, and send us some pictures of your adventures!

Digital resources for Kids Now @ the Library

The Library’s digital collection isn’t just for adults anymore.  Along with audiobooks and eBooks for children, the Library also offers literacy resources to support emerging and reluctant readers.  BookFLIX is a new addition to our digital offerings that is specifically designed to support a child’s interest in reading.  It pairs classic fictional video storybooks with related nonfiction books to strengthen a love of reading and learning for children in PreK to 3^rd grade.  The digital library is quite extensive with 110 popular video storybooks paired with a related nonfiction eBook, such as the popular “Click Clack Moo, Cows that Type” storybook video paired with a nonfiction eBook about cows.  BookFLIX will help early readers develop and practice essential reading skills while introducing them to a world of knowledge and exploration.  Tumblebooks is another digital resource offering hundreds of popular storybooks and chapter books.  Both of these quality resources allow children to read the eBooks on their own or choose to read along.   Some of the benefits of the audio component include helping all children build fluency skills, improve sight word recognition, and build comprehension.  These digital resources are another way of introducing the love of reading to children.  

Contributed by Gayle Pulley, head of Children's Services

Important Service Notification for Ridgefield Library Borrowers

For the foreseeable future we will no longer process requests for items we do not own. We apologize for the inconvenience this will cause many of our regular patrons.

We are experiencing a problem affecting the entire state of Connecticut which is not related to the budget woes of the state.  Our once reliable delivery system has changed radically, and currently books and other items moving from one community to another can take more than 6 weeks to get delivered to the right spot.

Therefore, if you would like to place a hold on a title we own during this uncertain time, PLEASE go to a service desk (Circulation Desk, Adult Desk, Children’s Desk) and do not place holds yourself through the catalog. We ask for your cooperation with this, as it will only put additional strain on the system.

You may elect to travel to another library, in a neighboring community or elsewhere across the state, to pick up a book from their building. Our staff can guide you in locating and confirming availability.

Staff will also be happy to help you find alternatives, such as digital copies of some titles, or discussion suggestions available in our Book Club Corner.

Since items are also not being returned in a timely manner to their owning libraries, you may receive an overdue notice for something you borrowed elsewhere and returned here (or vice versa).  Please bring this to the attention of the circulation staff.

Teens Can Learn Tools to Enhance Their Health and Wellness

April really is the cruelest month, especially if you are in high school. AP exams begin soon, there are recitals, concerts, dances, and research papers galore. All this activity can cause stress, stress can cause illness, and no one has time for that!  The Ridgefield Library has partnered with the Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce Health and Wellness Council to offer a series of programs for high school students who are looking to lead healthier lives. These programs will teach teens some “Life Hacks” they can use at any time.  On April 27^th a yoga instructor and a meditation teacher will lead a program on Calming the Chaos. They’ll show teens how to center themselves with movement, breath, and mindfulness. May 20^th brings a program that will help teens look and feel their best. A nutritionist and skin care expert will show some simple approaches to eating healthily. Finally, on May 25^th, the RVNA’s director of community health and wellness will teach teens some time management skills to maximize their downtimes. All the programs will run from 4 to 5 PM at the Ridgefield Library. High school students are encouraged to sign up through the Library’s website at ridgefieldlibrary.org. 

Contributed by Teen Services Librarian Geri Diorio

Keeping up with Library Science

April 12^th was National Library Workers Day, an occasion designated by the American Library Association (ALA) to recognize the individuals who work at the many different jobs that are all part of the library profession.  Their job descriptions are ever-evolving, as technology and community expectations have evolved.  Keeping up is a job in itself, one to which Ridgefield Library staff are dedicated.  Here is a sampling of some of the workshops, webinars, conferences and other professional development opportunities our staff have attended in just the past few months.

Pinterest for Libraries

Readers’ Advisory Roundtable

Using Pop Culture to Create Great Library Programs

Getting Started with Digitization

Building Great Programs for Patrons in their 20s and 30s

Retinkering Makerspaces

Learners as Leaders: Student-Directed STEM Programs in Libraries

Building the Digital Branch

Fueling the Next Generation of Opportunity for Young Children’s Love of and Engagement in Reading

Learning Python

The Digital Shift

Book Club Recommendations

Protecting Patron Privacy

How to Build and Promote your Digital Collections

Customizing Making: How Libraries Are Responding to Creating Opportunities for Participatory Learning

Stay tuned to see how all we have learned about will find its way into programs and services here at the Ridgefield Library!

April Is Nutmeg Book Award Time

It’s April, and that means it is time for the children of Connecticut to vote for the Nutmeg Book Award winners. The Nutmeg Book Award encourages children in grades 2-12 to read quality literature and to choose their favorite from a list of nominated titles. It is Connecticut’s homegrown book award. The nominated books are chosen by committees of public and school librarians from across the state. There are four divisions: Elementary for grades 2-4 (the only division that includes nonfiction), Intermediate for grades 4-6, Teen for grades 7-8, and High School for grades 9-12. Many Ridgefield students will be voting in their school libraries, but the Ridgefield Library offers a way to vote that may be appealing to people in middle and high schools – online. You can see a link to the Nutmeg ballots if you stop by our website. Students who are not voting at school are encouraged to vote online using our ballot. Please only vote once, either at school OR online. The winning books will be announced on May 15, and the new list of nominees will come out at that time as well. Spring is Nutmeg Book Award time!

Contributed by Teen Services Librarian Geri Diorio

Passport to Connecticut Libraries

Did you know that you can use a Ridgefield Library card throughout the state?  During the month of April, we will be participating in the Passport to Connecticut Libraries program to encourage cardholders to visit and explore the amazing diversity of the state’s public libraries.

With sponsorship from the Connecticut Library Association, over 120 libraries will be participating.  Starting on April 1st, pick up your passport and the list of participants at any of our service desks. Then take along your passport as you travel to other libraries and receive a stamp and a token gift from each place you visit.

If you have stamps from at least five participants by April 30, you will be entered into a statewide drawing for a chance to win a $150 Visa Gift Card (for adults 18 and over) or a $100 Visa Gift Card for children and teens (under 18).   A total of four winners will be randomly selected from two categories; the first is for those who have visited at least five libraries and the second is made up of those from each library with the most passport stamps.

The second week of April is National Library Week, the perfect time to discover all the doors your library card opens. 

Contributed by Adult Services Librarian Dorothy Pawlowski

Spring Is Coming!

How can you celebrate Spring @ the Library?  There are so many ways!

Ride your bike here when the weather is good.  There is a bike rack on the terrace level between the prospector and the Library for your convenience.

Sign up for the Run Like a Mother 5K on Mother’s Day.  Proceeds from race sponsorships benefit the Library’s Noreen L. Papa Mothers Live your Life Fund, which makes possible many materials and programs on health and wellness, fitness, parenting and related topics. Visit runlikeamother.com for more information.

Check out books, magazines and even DVDs on gardening, landscaping and repair, and get ready for spring cleaning and home improvement projects. You can even enjoy periodicals like Better Homes & Gardens or Organic Gardening on your computer or device with the Zinio download service.

Take advantage throughout April of programs in celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month and National Poetry Month, as well as our soon-to-launch Celebrating Shakespeare series commemorating the 400^th anniversary of the death of the Bard.

Save the dates of April 29 and 30 for Spring Stroll, this year featuring several wonderful professional chalk artists and lots of fun shopping, eating and entertainment in downtown Ridgefield, including at the Library.

Introducing our New Children's Library Assistant

The Ridgefield Library is pleased to announce the addition of Angela Skrobar as our new part-time library assistant in Children’s Services.  Angela fills the position previously held by Kathy Cherniavsky who retired in November after years of dedicated service to the Library. She joins Head of Children’s Services Gayle Pulley, Children’s Programmer Diane Antezzo, Children’s Librarian Mary Beth Rassulo, Library Assistant Christine Miller and Children’s Collection Specialist Ann Victor in this very busy department.

Prior to joining the Library, Angela worked in both the public and school library environments.  Her duties will include assisting patrons in finding great books to read and working with the Library staff to promote and present our popular children’s programs.  Angela’s support will also be a great asset during our busy Summer Reading program.

Angela and her family moved to Ridgefield in 2014.  Angela has quickly become a part of the community and volunteers her time to a variety of local organizations.  Her professionalism and positive attitude make Angela a welcomed addition and a strong asset to the Ridgefield Library.  Drop in and welcome her soon!

Contributed by Gayle Pulley, head of Children's Services

HeartStart Defibrillator at the Library!

There is a lot of discussion in town this winter about making Ridgefield a “heart-safe” community.  We are pleased to announce that, through the generous donation of David and Maria Victor Smith, a HeartStart Defibrillator (AED) has been acquired for the Ridgefield Library.  It is a small lightweight, battery-powered defibrillator to treat the most common causes of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) including ventricular fibrillation (VF). The only effective treatment for VF is defibrillation. SCA can occur to anyone – infant, child, adult, male or female – anywhere at any time. Many victims of SCA do not have warning signs or symptoms. A person in SCA does not respond when shaken and is not breathing normally. Many of the Library’s staff members have been trained on the equipment by the Ridgefield VNA staff.  A voice-activated system walks the user through the process to administer hands-only help to the patient. The AED cabinet is outfitted with supplies for both adults and children and is conveniently located in the Main Lobby for easy access to all levels of the building.  What a life saver to have in a building with so many patrons!

Contributed by Facilities Manager Leslie Vuilleumier

BookSizzle!

With thousands of new books being published each year, deciding what to read next can be daunting.  The Ridgefield Library provides many ways to help in this selection process.   The newest tool is an electronic newsletter called BookSizzle.

Once you sign up to receive BookSizzle, it will appear weekly in your email inbox.  This online newsletter features the Library’s latest acquisitions including new fiction, non-fiction, mystery, business, science, children’s chapter books, and more.  In addition, you’ll find lists of the current bestsellers and recommended titles on themed topics and current events as well as in-depth features on popular authors.   Book suggestions link directly to the Library’s catalog where you can check for availability or place a reserve.  Each week our staff will also highlight items and events of special interest to Ridgefield Library users.  To sign up for BookSizzle, visit our website or fill out a form at any of the Library’s service desks. 

     

While BookSizzle is a great resource for remote access to reading recommendations, we hope you’ll utilize our in-person readers’ advisory services when you visit the Library.  Our staff is always ready to offer personalized suggestions based on your unique interests. 

Contributed by Adult Services Head Dorothy Pawlowski

Weather Closings @ the Library

Winter is really here now! Here’s a brief reminder of the Library’s weather closing and cancellation procedures.  Details are available at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org.

The Library does not automatically follow the lead of the schools or town offices when deciding whether to close due to severe weather.  Our decisions are made based on our own estimations of projected impact in our location during our open hours. When a decision is made to close early, open late or not to open at all, this information will be posted on our website, communicated via email blast and social media, and sent to regional web and broadcast media. If the Library closes for all or part of the day, no fines will be charged. 

If the Library closes due to weather, all programs are cancelled or postponed.  Some programs may be cancelled even if the Library remains open for business. When the school district cancels classes outright because of weather, all scheduled children’s and teen programs for the day are cancelled automatically. If the schools announce an early dismissal, afternoon children’s and teen programs are cancelled automatically. If the schools announce a late opening, morning children’s programs are cancelled automatically.  Adult program cancellations are made at the discretion of Library staff on a case by case basis.

Library a Home for Teens

Extended hours for midterms were a big hit, but this is not all we have on tap in the Ellis Family Teen Center for those in grades 6 through 12.

The 3^rd in our series of Teen Trivia afternoons for teams of 9^th through 12^th graders is coming up on February 6^th, with the final tournament of the year scheduled for May.

We are pleased to welcome NY Times columnist and author Frank Bruni to Ridgefield on March 6^th for a presentation and workshops based on his book “Where You Go Is Not Who You Will Be.” Registration is required at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org. We also invite students and parents to visit our College Corner to learn more about post-secondary school options.

Our popular Reading Is a Family Affair intergenerational book discussion series is being expanded to include sessions for those in grades 6-8 and their parents, starting with Gary D. Schmidt’s “Okay for Now” on March 15^th.

Joining Crafternoons, Teen Tech Thursdays and Middle and High School Critics as monthly programs are a Teen Writers Group and Fandoms Unite, a celebration of pop culture.

Add in Ridgefield Folk concerts and an upcoming “Scholarly Look at Harry Potter,” and it’s no wonder the Library is becoming a true home for Ridgefield teens.

Bookmarks Mark Ridgefield

The Library is currently partnering with The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art on a project dubbed “Bookmarks Mark Ridgefield.” Community members of all ages are invited to be part of Aldrich artist Ruth Root’s ongoing project exploring her love of books.

CREATE. Drop into The Aldrich’s Education Center or check at the Ridgefield Library for times to make and donate your own bookmark to the Library’s stacks.  All the materials you need are supplied, including fabric and paper selections from the artist’s studio.

DISTRIBUTE. Tuck your completed bookmark (or one supplied by the Library) into any book on the Library’s shelves.  Choose a favorite title, or search out something new and interesting.

DISCOVER. Find a bookmark in an item you take off the shelf. Keep it to use yourself, or put it in another book for the enjoyment of a fellow reader.

SHARE. Into social media? Take a picture of a bookmark you have made or found and post it to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #rlbookmarks.  For fun, make it a selfie or a shelfie!

VISIT. Ruth Root’s work will be on exhibit at The Aldrich through April 3rd. Stop by and learn more about this very creative and inspiring woman.

Job Hunting Resources @ the Library

Are you in the market for a new job? Are you thinking about updating your resume or looking to improve your interviewing skills?

The Ridgefield Library has many career resources to help you. JobNow is an online resource that offers a variety of templates to create a resume, plus a lab to submit your resume anonymously for feedback from industry professionals. JobNow also includes interview practice with a live coach, interview tips, and career assessments. Lynda.com is an online learning resource with videos on many job topics including resume writing, cover letters, and job search strategies. Lynda.com helps anyone learn business, software, technology and creativity skills to achieve personal and professional goals.

JobNow and Lynda.com are available on computers in the Library as well as from our website www.ridgefieldlibrary.org. Click on Research & Reference and navigate to the College, Careers & Job Search webpage to get started.

Contributed by Reference Librarian Christie Mitchell

Twenty years of Great reading

This month, the Library’s longest-running book discussion series, the A.M. Book Group, marks its 20^th anniversary. Since its first meeting on January 10, 1996, the group has read and discussed 220 books.  Several hundred individuals have participated over the years, and there are even a few original readers from 1996 still attending regularly!

While the group principally reads works of classic and contemporary literature, its successful experimentation with other genres led to the launch of The Nonfictioneers, the Poetry Discussion Group and the Murder by the Book mystery discussion group. Its readers have tackled Steinbeck, Joyce, Dickens, Proust and Fitzgerald as part of thematic community reading initiatives and have delved into children’s classics. They have read their way through the decades in honor of the Library’s centennial, sampled local authors during the town’s 300^th anniversary and commemorated the Civil War and the International Year of Astronomy.  But the constant theme is an enthusiasm not only for reading but for sharing responses with a group of fellow enthusiasts.

New readers are always welcome, and it is not necessary to register or to come to every session. This winter our selections run from “Pilgrim’s Progress” to Ian McEwan.  Please join us!  Details are available at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org. 

What Did You Read in 2015?

The list makers have done their work, and the Best Books of 2015 have been announced by the New York Times, the Washington Post, Time magazine, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, the editors at Amazon, and even the mighty Oprah, among others.  Among the perennial top vote-getters you’ll find here are Anne Tyler, Geraldine Brooks, Salman Rushdie, Stephen King, Jon Meachem, Erik Larsen and David McCullough.  But there are also some sleeper hits that have attracted critical and reader attention, such as Lauren Groff’s novel “Fates and Furies” and the National Book Award-winning meditation “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates.  There are the latest installments to long-running series and surprising debut efforts.

How many have you read?  How do you decide which to put at the top of your “To Be Read” pile? Library staff have compiled the most influential rankings into handy brochures complete with annotations and library shelf locations, one for fiction, one for non-fiction and one for mysteries and thrillers.  You can pick up copies in Adult Services at the Library or find them in printable form on the Reader’s Lists page on our website (look under “Reader’s Resources”).  Here’s to great reading in the New Year!