Baby & Me Joins Children's Program Line-Up

Looking to accommodate the very youngest patrons, the Ridgefield Library is adding a new program called Baby & Me.  Planned for caretakers and infants through age 12 months, fun activities will enhance language enrichment through songs, rhymes, movement and books, of course!  Research shows that the development of early literacy skills through early experiences with books and stories is critically linked to a child’s success in learning to read. Adults will learn methods to encourage early literacy through ideas presented in Every Child Ready to Read @ Your Library, a program that models parent behaviors that increase phonological awareness and vocabulary development in the young child. Information and resources will be also shared regarding infant health and well being. The Baby & Me program is limited to the caregiver and infants under 12 months (no older siblings please) and will be an excellent supplement to our popular Mother Goose program. There will be special time for babies and caretakers to visit and network. Registration for children’s programs including Baby & Me will be held in Children’s Services from Dec. 6 – 12. Registration is by a lottery system. Programs will begin the week of Jan. 3. 

Contributed by Diane Antezzo, Children's Programmer

Scrabble Tournaments @ the Library

Scrabble has been around since the 1930s, and people all over the world enjoy the word game.  According to the official Scrabble website, there is even a National Scrabble Association (NSA). The NSA runs the National School Scrabble program and the National School Scrabble Championship and publishes a Scrabble newsletter. The NSA coordinates efforts with Scrabble players to run more than 200 local Scrabble tournaments every year and organizes the annual National Scrabble Championship. The Ridgefield Library is in on all the Scrabble fun, and we hope your children will be as well.  The Library is holding a monthly School Scrabble Tournament for 4^th through 12^th graders.  The next one will be Sunday, December 5^th from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. During that time, the students will play three 44-minute School Scrabble games.  All skill levels welcome, but you must register in advance.  If your child needs practice before the tournaments, they are welcome to come to our regular Tuesday Scrabble sessions from 6:30 to 7:30 PM in the children’s program room.  Or check out the Scrabble website for tips like the word of the day, like alkyl (it means a univalent radical). That will help with those double word scores!  

Contributed by Geri Dioro, Head of Children's and Teen Services

Ridgefield Library Days Returns to Books on the Common

It has become an annual tradition! Don’t miss Ridgefield Library Days at Books on the Common the weekend after Thanksgiving.  Just show your Ridgefield Library card at the time of purchase and 15% of the proceeds of book sales (hardcover, paperback and audiobooks) will be donated to the Library. To make your holiday shopping even easier, the bookstore will be open Friday the 26^th from 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM, Saturday the 27^th from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM and Sunday the 28^th from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Books on the Common and the Ridgefield Library are partners in many projects, from the recent community-wide Big Read to numerous co-sponsored author talks and book signings. We are pleased to offer this opportunity for you to support both your local library and a treasured local store through Ridgefield Library Days at Books on the Common.

The Library will be closed on Thursday the 25^th and Friday the 26^th, so be sure to come in before then if you don’t have a library card or have lost yours. Stop by the Circulation Desk today; all you need is proof of Ridgefield residence (such as driver’s license, lease or utility bill).

Family Game Day this Saturday @ the Library

When was the last time you and your family sat down and enjoyed a game together?  Did you play Monopoly? Scrabble? Dominoes? Perhaps you have very young children; have you taught them to play Chutes and Ladders or Candyland? There is evidence that playing games helps improve the power of your brain, whether you are 5, 15 or 45 years old. No matter what your game and no matter what your age (or your children’s ages), the Ridgefield Library wants you all to come play games during Family Game Day, Saturday, November 13 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the Dayton Program Room.  There will be many board and card games that the whole family can enjoy.  We will be running a tag-team Monopoly game (because that game can go on for hours!). There will be volunteers on hand to help you learn new games, like Settlers of Catan, a German board game that may be the most award-winning game in the world. We will also have door prizes every hour and there will be light refreshments for you to enjoy.  We hope you will drop by that Saturday with your family and enjoy some quality time while exercising your brain!

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

Home Improvement Reference Center Can Help with Fall Fix-Up

Ah, fall – the season of bright blue skies, cool crisp afternoons, New England’s famously beautiful foliage, and the sudden realization that the holidays are just around the corner!  To be ready for holiday visits, you may need some “Fall Fix-up” at your house, and the Ridgefield Library can help.

On our website (www.ridgefieldlibrary.org) ,  go to the Home & Garden page from the  Research & Reference drop-down list.  There you will find the Home Improvement Reference Center listed in the database section at the top (library card needed to log on).  Home Improvement Reference Center is the definitive online tool for home improvement assistance including: maintenance, remodeling, electrical work, plumbing, wood projects, outdoor improvements, decorating home and garden, etc.  Step by step illustrated instructions and/or video tutorials are included.  This comprehensive resource contains 24 major reference works in full text with more than 10,000 images. Additionally, the database contains full-text magazine articles. 

Other Library resources include books and DVDs covering many areas of home improvement.  So whether you need to redecorate the guest room,  improve the bathroom or build a wine rack, take a look at Home Improvement Reference Center or the resources on our shelves and do it yourself with help from the experts.

Submitted by Victoria Carlquist, Head of Reference Services