Tell Us What You Want

Hoping to read a new release but it is never on the shelf? We always encourage people to place a hold for a desired item rather than just wait to strike it lucky.  You can do this yourself online anytime or ask us to do it for you.  The more holds on a popular item, the more copies we will buy (our goal is to have at least 1 copy for every 4 names on the waiting list).

We now request registration for most adult programs and appreciate knowing if you plan to attend.  Some technology classes, for example, can accommodate only as many participants as we have available computers.  For larger gatherings, we want to make sure we have enough chairs set up and enough refreshments!  And, in winters like this one, it is helpful to be able to contact all expected attendees in the case of weather cancellations. We also ask that you cancel if you are unable to attend a program for which you have registered.  This allows us to offer a spot to someone on the waiting list and make sure we have a full house.  Registration (and cancellation) can be done online or by calling us.

Thanks for your help!

Friends in Need

As the old saying goes, a friend in need is a friend indeed.  Multiply that by dozens of dedicated volunteers, and you get our wonderful Friends of the Ridgefield Library.  With a mission of “serving and supporting” the Library, the Friends are truly a good friend to everyone who enjoys and benefits from our many programs and services. Essential partners in the capital campaign to build our new facility, they remain committed to helping us add new services like 3D printers and technology instruction while maintaining many well-loved programs such as Book Club Corner selections and Summer Reading Programs. If you enjoy free or discounted museum passes, Ridgefield Folk concerts or intensive literary series like our current Jane Austen programs, then you have the Friends to thank.  These and so many other offerings are only possible because of their generous financial and volunteer support.  So, we are pleased to thank and applaud them publicly during this year’s National Friends of Libraries Week (October 15-21).

You can support the Friends, and through them the Library, by shopping at their big fall used book sale this weekend (through Monday), visiting their online store at amazon.com/shops/forl or becoming a member (forms available at the Library Circulation Desk).

Learning at the Library

School has started, and our young people are embarked on an exciting journey of exploration and discovery. Don’t let them have all the fun of gaining new knowledge and mastering new skills.  The Ridgefield Library is your center for lifelong learning.  Here are a few ways you can take advantage of this resource.

Learn a language.  Our new online language learning program Pronunciator makes it easy for you to go from beginner to advanced proficiency in over 80 languages, from Italian to Icelandic.

Learn at your own speed.  Lynda.com offers thousands of online video tutorials covering business and computer skill topics.  Take a full course or just search for the answer to a specific question about how to do something in Excel or WordPress.

Learn from the best.  Our Great Courses collection includes audio (and some video) lecture series by highly rated professors who are experts and excellent educators on everything from astronomy to French literature.

Learn from each other. Book discussions, our Adult Maker Group and other interactive programs offer wonderful opportunities for participants to share their own insights and knowledge, enriching the learning experience for the whole group. 

Game On!

Our annual RidgeCon pop culture celebration has become so popular that we have decided to continue the fun throughout the year. The first RidgeCon “spin-off” will be the launch in September of two recurring gaming programs. 

We Got Games is a tabletop gaming meet-up for adults and teens on the 2^nd Tuesday evening of the month. Family Game Day will meet on the fourth Saturday of each month and is an afternoon drop-in program for families with children aged 4 and up.  

What does playing Apples to Apples or the Settlers of Cataan have to do with libraries? Experts in many disciplines now recognize the importance of play in childhood development, in aiding the retention of mental acuity in later years and in fostering collaboration and teamwork for all ages. Not only do tabletop games offer friendly competition, but many require strategy, planning, critical analysis, storytelling and creative thinking. Playing games with children can help their social development, literacy skills and better recognition of cause-and-effect. These skills are many of the same ones libraries introduce and reinforce in storytimes, book discussions and other programs, as well as through tools such as Kindle Fires for kids and Lynda.com and other online tutorials for adults. 

It's Definitely Not your Grandfather's Library

Sure, we have 100,000 books and other traditional library materials available for check-out.  We do scores of storytimes and other programs each year designed to aid in early childhood literacy skills development, and dozens of old-fashioned book discussions.  We offer familiar reference and readers’ advisory service and now-expected technology access.  But at the Ridgefield Library, there is always something completely unexpected on the horizon as well, all intended to bring the community together to read, discover, question, connect and thrive.  Mark your calendar now for some of the more exciting and unusual offerings coming in the next few months (more details about all will be publicized as event dates draw near, or visit www.ridgefieldlibrary.org or our Facebook page for updates).

August 11 & 12 – the 3^rd Annual RidgeCon celebration of pop culture

August 21 – Activities at the Library and in Ballard Park on the rare occasion of a solar eclipse.  Along with Parks and Rec, we will be organizing safe eclipse viewings, educational presentations, crafts, games, music and more.

September 15 & 16 – Love your Library (LYL) returns, bigger and better – and featuring a teen playwriting contest and an 18-hole mini-golf course created in the Library!

Hope to see you at these events, or any day, at the Library!

Library Helps Address Community Concerns

For many, a library is a place to come for peace and quiet, or to lose oneself in another time and place through a good book.  But contemporary libraries also serve as venues for discussion of serious and timely issues affecting their communities. The Ridgefield Library partners regularly with nonprofit groups, government agencies and other concerned citizens to inform, educate and encourage dialogue on several important topics.

With the League of Women Voters, we organized a panel discussion on Civility in Politics following the election. Working with the school district, we will be offering a presentation in June on how to acquire the information and media literacy necessary to navigate the fake news epidemic. 

The ongoing Parenting the Selfie Generation series brings together a wide range of partners to provide parents, teachers and community leaders with expert data and strategies for dealing with the many aspects of raising a resilient child in today’s world, from sexting and other social media trends to teen sleeping and eating habits.  

With the Ridgefield Community Coalition Against Substance Abuse, Ridgefield Prevention Council and others, we have hosted numerous programs touching on issues related to drugs, alcohol and safe and healthy use of technology, including the Council’s Parent Circle discussions for parents of children at key transitional ages.

Upcoming programs will focus on teen mental health and drug and alcohol use. Check our website at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org for the latest schedule of events.

Financial Literacy and Money Smart Week

Financial literacy is the combined knowledge and skills that allow you to manage your personal finances effectively and to make personal financial decisions confidently.

Money Smart Week (April 22-29) is a national initiative among the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and other organizations including the American Library Association to provide financial education programs for consumers.

Libraries play an important role in the education of their community and financial literacy is one of several literacies that libraries strive to support. The Ridgefield Library’s role in Money Smart Week will be to host three financial education programs:Women and Money Roundtable - Retiring Successfully on Tuesday, April 25 from 1:00-2:00 PM; Save Money on Electricity on Thursday, April 27 from 12:00-1:00 PM; First Time Homebuyers on Thursday, April 27 from 6:30-7:30 PM

Please register online at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org or by calling 203-438-2282 x12004.

We also encourage you to browse, either in person or online, our comprehensive collection of personal finance books, magazines, and newspapers. On the Library’s Business & Finance webpage (found by clicking on Research & Reference from the homepage at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org) you may access Value Line and Morningstar online investment resources and find a list of trusted financial websites. 

Contributed by Adult Services Librarian Christie Mitchell

Save these Spring Dates

Old Man Winter is giving up the ghost very reluctantly this year, but we are confident that Spring is on the way, and we have been planning some outdoor activities to take advantage of the coming warm weather. Make a note of these dates and stay tuned for more details as the snow melts!

April 29. Battle of Ridgefield 240^th anniversary commemoration and battle re-enactment.  Stop by the Library to learn more about the history of the battle and the era, including performances by period musicians.

May 5-6. Spring Stroll. Enjoy chalk art and other activities up and down Main Street, including a family concert on the lawn by Ray and Jay, the Friends of the Library children’s book sale, and previews of coming attractions.

May 14. We’ll see you at the Run Like a Mother 5K Race with information about our Noreen L. Papa: Mothers Live your Life programs and resources focused on health and wellness for women and others, funded by race sponsorships.

May 29.  Watch for our contingent in the annual Memorial Day Parade. We haven’t picked our theme yet, but it is sure to be festive!

Sharing Across Generations

The Library is one of the few locations in town where residents of all ages come together in the same space, and we have created several programs to encourage positive intergenerational exchange.

On March 11^th, our Teen Advisory Group will be on hand from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM to help adults and senior citizens with their technology needs.  Just bring in the gadgets that drive you crazy such as cell phones, laptops and digital cameras and let our teens unlock their secret power! 

Several times a year, we host Reading Is a Family Affair, in which elementary school children and their parents read a selected title together, then come to the Library as a family to talk about it over a pizza dinner, courtesy of the Friends of the Library.

2017 is the 4th year of our Books Building Bridges intergenerational literature program with Ridgefield High School.  A book is selected from the English curriculum, adults and students both read it, then come together for discussions led by some of the students.  The different generational perspectives make for very interesting conversation! In November we will be reading “Pride and Prejudice” together as part of an extended commemoration of the 200^th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death.

Take your Child to the Library Day Is February 4th

Take your Child to the Library Day is a national library promotion that was started a few years ago right here in Connecticut.  We are pleased to participate again this year on February 4^th, when our new Library Director Brenda McKinley will be the guest reader at Drop-In Storytime at 10:30 AM. Stay for cider and cookies and a chance to chat with Brenda after storytime. 

While you are here, sign up for a library card for every member of your family, even the youngest child.  We have several fun designs to choose from.  All you need is proof of Ridgefield residence. And you can make a library card holder craft throughout the day in the Lodewick Family Children’s Library.

The Friends of the Library will be holding a pop-up children’s book sale as well so you can build up your own home library. Check our website for exact sale times.

Also on tap on the 4^th is our hard Drive Smash recycling event from 1:00 – 4:00 PM and an opening reception from 4:00 – 6:00 for “Flowers Grow,” artist Pamela Stoddart’s new exhibit of flower-themed mixed media and paintings.

Come enjoy the Ridgefield Library every day, but especially on February 4^th!

Introducing our New Library Director

Hello! I am Brenda McKinley, the new Library Director at the Ridgefield Library. I am honored to be entrusted with this position and thank Chris Nolan for her wonderful legacy. I come to Ridgefield from nearby Newtown, where I live with my husband and our four children. Most recently I served as the Cyrenius H. Booth Library Director in Newtown.

I have been a Librarian for over twenty years and passionately believe in the resources, support, and strength a library brings to the community it serves. The strong ties the Library enjoys with the Ridgefield community are testament that this belief is widely shared and is a big reason why I’m thrilled to be starting this new role.

I look forward to working with the stellar staff as we continue to provide excellent library service for our patrons and our town. It might take me a bit of time to learn all the new names, but I hope to meet you soon.

Please bring your little ones for “Take Your Child to the Library Day” on Saturday, February 4^th at 10:30 AM. I’ll be guest reader at Drop-In Storytime and we’ll enjoy some cookies and conversation. I hope to see you then!

Contributed by Library Director Brenda McKinley

Keeping Those New Year's Resolutions

2017 New Year’s Resolution #1: Get everyone in your family their own Ridgefield Library card and use it to take advantage of so many resources at the Library (details available at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org).

·         Try JobNow for online help with resume writing, interviewing, and job search; career assessments; and live online coaching and feedback.

·         Sharpen your work and personal productivity skills with hands-on classes such as LinkedIn 101 and Introduction to 3D Printing. Try lynda.com online video tutorials for dozens of additional business and computer applications.

·         Learn or brush-up one of 72 languages with Mango online language learning programs for use on a computer or on the go.

·         Seeking to be a better parent? Our Parenting the Selfie Generation: Instilling Resilience series offers lectures and discussions on topics from teen social media behavior to breaking free of the overparenting trap.

·         Been thinking of finally turning that great idea into an actual business? Check out our SkillsBox workshops, including the upcoming 5-part Simple Steps for Starting a Small Business series beginning in February.

·         Take a deep breath and relax with Yoga workshops, adult coloring, musical performances and more activities to promote a calmer approach to life.

New for the New Year

Children’s programs that start in February will be open for registration online beginning January 3^rd.  We have several new arts and craft offerings, plus some new formats for our popular Lego and robotics classes, so visit www.ridgefieldlibrary.org soon.

Get tech for the holidays? Look for drop-in help sessions with our Library staff to get you going with that new device or gadget.  Ask also about tutorials through Lynda.com on just about every tech topic imaginable.

Addiction will be the theme of our 2017 Learn Through Film series beginning January 18th.  Join us for three evenings and on social media for difficult and great films along with moderated, civil discussion about this national – and local - epidemic.

Save the date for some upcoming special events: Take your Child to the Library Day on February 4^th, Dr. Seuss’s Birthday Party on March 4^th, our Great Expectations Gala on April 22^nd and the Battle of Ridgefield re-enactment on April 29^th. Much more to come about these and the many other activities we offer each week.

And, of course, our new Library Director Brenda McKinley begins work on January 3^rd.  We are organizing many opportunities for members of the community to meet her, so stay tuned.

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!  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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