Celebrating Older Americans @ the Library

May is Older Americans Month.   This year’s theme is “Connecting with Community,” and we’d like to point out some of the many ways you can do so at the Ridgefield Library.  Meet your friends at one of the movies in our Hollister Film series.  Enjoy live music at our Ridgefield Folk concerts.   Connect with fellow readers at one of our four drop-in book discussion groups.  Whether you enjoy fiction, non-fiction, or mysteries, there’s a group for you.   Join us for morning snacks and hear the latest buzz about new books at our monthly Books & Breakfast program.  Attend one of the many other unique programs we offer each month.

Or, let us help you expand your horizons to the broader community. Check out one of our museum passes that offer free or discounted admission to 20 of the premiere educational and cultural institutions in Connecticut and New York.   

Just want to find out more about what the Library offers or need help using one of our resources?  Your Ridgefield Senior Gold Card entitles you to a half hour one-on-one session with one of our librarians to answer your questions.

So, when you think of community, we hope you’ll think of the Ridgefield Library.

Contributed by Adult Services Librarian Dorothy Pawlowski

New Computer System Coming to the Library

Over the Memorial Day weekend, the Ridgefield Library and our partners in Bibliomation will be switching to a new computer automation system to provide our public access catalog, circulation functions and many behind-the-scenes operations.  The new system, called BiblioOak, will go live in the Library on Wednesday, June 1^st.  This will necessitate some service reductions for a few days ahead of time.

Starting at 3 PM on Friday, May 27^th through Monday the 31st, you will not be able to place holds or renew items online.  We will be open on Saturday the 28^th but you will be able to check out items only upon presentation of a library card.  We will not be able to check in any items, accept fine payments or process holds.  Catalog status will not be updated, and there may be limitations on other services that rely on this system.

The Library will be closed for the holiday Sunday and Monday and will remain closed to the public on Tuesday the 31^st while staff completes the transition.  When the new system goes online, staff will be happy to offer help with changes to the catalog and the My Account feature.

Check our website for details and updates on this process.  Thank you for your patience!

Comics and Characters @ the Ridgefield Library

The first Saturday in May is Free Comic Book Day and the Ridgefield Library wants to give you a free comic book.  Yes, all the books at the Library are free – to borrow.  But on May 7, we will be giving away comics that you do not have to return; they are yours to keep.  Comic books are an original American art form, created in the early days of the twentieth century. They are fun to read, featuring a wide range of diverse story lines that capture the imagination of the readers. One of the goals of Free Comic Book Day is to reach out to those individuals unfamiliar with comic books. Many comic shops across North America will be giving away comic books on May 7. The Ridgefield Library worked with Cave Comics in Newtown to have many all-ages comics available, first come, first served, to Library patrons on that day. We will also celebrate comic art with artist Jamie Dowling.  He will draw caricatures from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM that day in the Children’s Program Room on the second floor.  So when you visit the Library on May 7, you can get a free comic book and be turned into a comic character! 

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

Tumble into Reading @ the Ridgefield Library

While the news is full of stories about ebooks for adults (Kindle and Nook and their ilk), the Ridgefield Library wants you to know that we offer ebooks for the very young through our website. Tumble Book Library has hundreds of picture books in their collection and more are being added all the time.  The illustrations from the books fill the computer screen, while a narrator reads the book aloud.  The words being read change color so burgeoning readers can follow along.  But picture books are not the only offerings here.  There are puzzles made from book covers, foreign language storybooks, non-fiction titles, and even something called Read Alongs – easy chapter books which have no illustrations, but are still read aloud to help young readers improve their skills. When you click on the Tumble Book Library link on the Children’s page of the Library website, you can make a list of favorite books to return to again and again or you can create a playlist of books, so that your child can enjoy several in row.  We hope you and your little emerging readers will take advantage of Tumble Books.  It is just one of the many useful programs you can find at the Ridgefield Library’s website!

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

P4A for Antiques Research

For those of you out there who have family heirlooms or have had your Great Aunt Wilhelmina leave you a collection of her favorite things, the Ridgefield Library has a database to help you find out what these things are worth.  

It’s called P4A Antiques Reference and can be found on our web page on the Home & Garden section of the Research & Reference pages.  P4A is a searchable database of past auction prices from 1999 to present for antiques, collectibles, and fine art. Auction sales history information includes data from coast-to-coast auction sales on a regular basis of more than thirty major auction houses and on an opportunity basis for several dozen other reputable auction venues. Every record has full color images.  Keyword, origin, classification or date searching is available.  There are reference notes with biographical and historical information. The site contains a Resource Center listing other useful web sites, books, newsletters and appraiser resources as well a list of the recent and forthcoming auctions.

So if you have antique furniture, autographs, books, banks, toys, glass, etc., and you’re feeling a spring tag sale coming on, give P4A Antiques Reference a try.  Hey, you never know… 

Contributed by Head of Reference Services Victoria Carlquist

Celebrate National Library Week with Snapshot Day on Wednesday

On Wednesday, April 13, 2011, the Ridgefield Library, along with libraries all over Connecticut, will be taking a ‘snapshot’ – collecting information to capture the impact that Connecticut libraries have on their communities on a typical day. This is the second Snapshot Day, sponsored by the Connecticut Library Association, the Connecticut State Library, and the Connecticut Library Consortium. Last year, 136 libraries participated.

Last year, on Connecticut’s first Snapshot Day:

·         More than 80,600 people visited Connecticut libraries.

·         People borrowed nearly 100,000 books, DVDs and other materials.

·         Close to 13,000 people used computers at their library.

·         Nearly 10,000 people attended a program or class at a library

·         113,000 people visited Connecticut library websites.

In these difficult economic times, Connecticut’s libraries are busier than ever, with people coming not only to check out books, but use computers, look for a job or attend the many programs our libraries offer.  All across the state, libraries are the cornerstones of their communities, places were people come together to visit, learn and share ideas.On April 13, 2011 we hope once again to capture a slice of life of Connecticut’s libraries, including right here in Ridgefield.  Stop by for free hot beverages and cookies, and share your thoughts about your library.  Borrow a book, use a computer, ask for information or attend a program. Roving photographers will be taking ‘snapshots,’ and we will also be collecting data on how people use our collections, services and programs.  All the information we collect will be compiled and shared at the Library and on our website and the statewide Snapshot Day site. 

For more information, contact Assistant Library Director Mary Rindfleisch at 203-438-2282 x1009 or mfrind@ridgefieldlibrary.org. Hope to see you on the 13^th!