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.

Cheers for Coding @ the Library

You’re never too old – or too young – to learn the mysteries of coding.  For those of us of a certain age, “coding” is the newer terminology for “computer programming,” and it is fast becoming a ubiquitous job skill, even for fields outside the tech world. In recognition of that fact, educators around the globe have launched a project called the Hour of Code, which seeks to introduce people of all ages and computer experience levels to the basics of coding during Computer Science Education Week (December 7-13 this year). In the few years Hour of Code has been going on, over 146,151,391 people have participated so far.

In Ridgefield the K-8^th grades in the public schools, plus many students at local private schools, are participating in Hour of Code this week.  At the Library, we have scheduled numerous activities to bring others into the coding fold.  We have open lab times available, along with structured hands-on workshops for preschoolers, parents, seniors and more. Check our website for the schedule, come in for help, or go straight to ridgefieldcodes.org to get started on your own.  It’s simple and fun!  The entire Library staff will be participating this year, and we invite you to join us.

Library Open Late for AP Prep

The AP (Advanced Placement) exams are coming up and the Ridgefield Library wants high school students to know: we are here for you. The Library has many AP exam study guides put out by Barron’s and the Princeton Review. If you’d prefer to prepare electronically, our website offers access to Learning Express’s College Preparation Center where you take nine different practice AP exams and look at some flash review eBooks. As the exam dates get closer, and students want to hunker down with their study groups, the Library is happy to announce that it will be staying open late on four different evenings during the two weeks of AP exams. On May 5, 7, 11, and 13, Ridgefield Library will stay open from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM exclusively for RHS students who are studying for their exams. There will be several librarians available for any reference questions that crop up, and study groups will be welcome to occupy any and all spaces on the upper level of the building. Students who wish to take advantage of these extended study hours will need to be in the building by 8:00 PM those nights, as the Library will not be open for regular business and the doors will be locked.

Contributed by Teen Services Librarian Geri Diorio

Keep Coding, Ridgefield!

Computer Science Education Week is over, but we are still coding!  Our Hour of Code initiative kicked off with an array of technology programs in conjunction with the global movement reaching tens of millions of learners in 180+ countries. The Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify code and show that anybody can learn the basics, from age 4 to 104.

In addition to events at the Library, the Ridgefield Public Schools introduced all elementary and middle schoolers to the Hour of Code last week.  With the support of the school district, the Ridgefield Education Foundation and the Friends of the Library, we are extending this effort to allow both youngsters and others to keep coding at the Library or on their own through the end of January.  During the school vacation break, the Library will host additional programs and open lab time, so students will be able to finish up the projects they started in school and explore further.  The project will wrap up on February 7th with a day of celebration, with prizes, demonstrations and much more.

To get started, go to ridgefieldcodes.org and select a project for your age group.  You can also follow the links to log your lines or hours of code as you go and earn one raffle ticket for each hour completed.

Honor your Favorite Graduate at the Library

Congratulations to the Ridgefield High School Class of 2013!   

In the spirit of the graduation season, the Ridgefield Library is offering friends and family of the Ridgefield High School 2013 graduating class the opportunity to commemorate their favorite student with a Tribute Gift to the Ridgefield Library.  People can stop in to the Library and pick up a form, fill it out with the graduate’s contact information and return it to the Circulation Desk, or make a donation online at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org.  We will provide you with a Ridgefield Library coffee mug and an acknowledgement card to present to the graduate and will post the honorees’ names prominently on the Ridgefield Library website and in the Library.   Many of these young people have spent many memorable and formative hours at the Ridgefield Library.  What a wonderful way to honor their success as they move towards the future!    

And, while we are thinking of graduation, we know there are many college graduates in Ridgefield this year as well.  They too can be commemorated with a Tribute Gift to the Ridgefield Library.   As always, these tribute gifts are truly appreciated by the Ridgefield Library as they help to support our ongoing programs, collections and services.

Contributed by Development Associate Laureen Bubniak

Midterm Study Sessions Set for High Schoolers

What constitutes a good study environment? A comfortable chair and plenty of table space? Easy access to the Internet so you can use Moodle or log on to databases? Plenty of coffee, water and snacks on-hand to refuel your energy reserves? If any of these are on your list, the Ridgefield Library has you covered. We know that high school midterm exams are just around the corner, and we want to help students do their best. The Library will turn over the entire Dayton Program Room to high schoolers who are studying for midterms on Saturday, January 23 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and on Sunday, January 24 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. We will set up tables and chairs so students can study in groups, or alone. We will provide drinks and snacks for energy. Students can access the Library’s free wifi should they want to use their laptops. The entire time, a librarian will be on duty to lend a hand with reference queries. We know that quiet space is at a premium and working at home with younger siblings may not lead to the most productive study time, so we are happy to help out.

Contributed by Teen Services Librarian Geri Diorio.

Get Creative @ Saving for College

Hundreds of children, teens and adults have been coming to the Ridgefield Library to “Be Creative” during Summer Reading (which runs through August 1^st). Here’s another way parents can “Get Creative @ Saving for College.” Tying in with this year’s summer reading theme, the Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET) is inviting Connecticut residents with children any age through 8^th grade in the coming school year to enter their young scholar in a special promotion sponsored by CHET, the Connecticut State Library and the office of State Treasurer Denise Nappier.

A simple entry form (available at the Library or at www.aboutchet.com/library) qualifies the contestant for one of four $1,000 cash prizes to be awarded through a random drawing. What a great way to start a college savings plan for your child – and, if you are a winner, your local library also receives $500!

Entries must be postmarked by August 21, 2009 and received at CHET by August 28^th. Participation in our Summer Reading program is not required to enter this contest.

P.S. Older students might want to explore some of the other ways the Ridgefield Library can help you get ready for college, such as Learning Express and PrepMe test preparation software. See www.ridgefieldlibrary.org for more.

Back to School

It’s back to school time in Ridgefield! Is your family ready to take advantage of everything the Library offers to help you meet your educational goals this year?

Library cards are now needed to use the Library’s computers as well as check out books, so make sure every student in your household has one handy and up-to-date. To make this easier, we are offering streamlined registration procedures and free replacement cards during National Library Card Sign-Up Month in September. Every person who signs up for a new card or renews an expired card during the month will be entered in a drawing for a Ridgefield Library book bag full of goodies. Parent signature is required for applicants under 17, so pick up a form today and get your young scholar off to a good start.

Bookmark the Library’s website (www.ridgefieldlibrary.org) on your home computers. Of particular interest to students will be our list of remotely accessible research databases arranged by topic and InfoAnytime, a 24/7 virtual reference service.

Reference works are now interfiled with regular non-fiction books in Children’s Services, so all the materials on a subject are easy to peruse in one spot.

Large print and audio versions of many contemporary and classic novels can be of assistance to reluctant or transitional readers. This includes nearly 2,000 titles downloadable for playing on a PC or mp3 player (sorry, not compatible with Apple or iPod).

Come to one of our Parents Back to School tours, on Saturday, October 6th from 10 to 10:30 AM or Monday, October 22nd from 2 to 2:30 PM. Children’s and Teen Services staff will give you a personal introduction to these and many other resources that may come in handy when those tricky homework assignments start to appear. Call 438-2282 x1024 or e-mail rdgchild@biblio.org to sign up.