Sunday Hours Resume; Statewide Library Services Saved; Fundraising Events Planned

Starting on September 13^th, the Ridgefield Library once again will be open Sunday afternoons from 1:00 to 5:00 PM, for the convenience of students, commuters and anyone else who just can’t get enough of the Library during the rest of the week.

You will be pleased to hear that the myriad valuable library resources provided by the state of Connecticut have been reinstated in the budget that was finally passed last week. This includes the many useful databases included in iCONN, the InfoAnytime 24/7 virtual reference desk, support for Inter-Library Loan service, high-speed Internet access for libraries and much more. Thanks to all of you who contacted elected officials to urge support for statewide library services. The message was heard loud and clear that libraries are more important than ever in these challenging times.

Support for local library services also comes from special events, and two great opportunities are coming up to have fun while raising funds. “Murder @ the Library” is a musical murder mystery dinner theater evening scheduled for Friday, October 2^nd. Camp Snooze, the popular sleepover at the Library for 4^th graders, will be held on Saturday, October 24^th. For more on both, visit our webpage or call Leslie at 203-438-2282 x1022.

Summer Reading Wrap-up

Summer Reading at the Ridgefield Library is all about words, and encouraging a lifelong love of books and reading. But it is also about numbers, and here are a few impressive ones from this summer’s program.

1,041 children going into grades K-5 and 177 teens in grades 6-12 participated. That translates to one of every four students of all ages in the Ridgefield school system.

Younger readers logged 30,564 books, and teens reviewed 5,401, for a grand total of 35,965 books - an increase of more than 10% over last year. Without one universally popular title like a new Harry Potter, selections ranged from cherished classics like “The Cat in the Hat” to the teen vampire romances of Stephenie Meyer. That’s an average of 29.5 books per child in just six weeks!

• 817 youngsters read at least 10 books and received one of our special posters designed by Jamison Odone.
• 641 logged at least 20 books and earned an ice cream certificate from Deborah Anne’s Sweet Shoppe.
• 494 reached the 30 book level and got their picture taken with our tiger mascot.
• 398 recorded at least 40 books and took home their own miniature tiger – complete with top hat.
• 295 read more than 50 books and were rewarded with a gift certificate from The Toy Chest.

Teenagers earned 143 pieces of pizza from Piccolo Pizza (10 books), 99 ice cream certificates from Deborah Anne’s (20 books) and 66 pairs of movie tickets from the Ridgefield Playhouse (30 books).

Thanks to all the merchants who supplied prizes, to the Friends of the Library for their ongoing generous support of Summer Reading, and to the National Charity League and other volunteers who assisted with 3,580 visits to the Reading Desk. That’s a lot of “Reading around Ridgefield!”

Ridgefield Artist a Winner in Cat Calendar Contest

Congratulations to Ridgefield 6th grader Sandra Carpenter, one of the winners of the Baker & Taylor 2008 Calendar Art Contest. Baker & Taylor is a major U.S. distributor of books and other materials for libraries, schools and bookstores, including the Ridgefield Library. Baker & Taylor is also known for its endearing mascots, a pair of Scottish fold cats named Baker and Taylor. Each year, the company holds a contest for children to draw or paint the cats, and twelve winners are chosen to illustrate a calendar distributed to thousands of libraries and schools all over the country.

Last fall, 11-year-old Sandra entered the contest, and her painting was chosen to be the April page of the 2008 calendar! Sandra has been creating and studying art since 2^nd grade. She especially likes to paint with acrylics and draw with charcoal and pastels, but for this piece she chose watercolor so she could evoke the lightness and happiness of spring. Sandra is not a cat person, but she turned to photographs and the Internet for research, then added the distinctive faces of Baker and Taylor to her cavorting cat figures. As the finishing touch, she added a stack of books – fitting for a young artist who hopes to pursue a career as an author/illustrator.

In addition to her own prizes of a DVD of a popular movie and a dozen copies of the calendar, Sandra has also earned for her library $500 credit at Baker & Taylor with which to buy materials! Sandra prefers reading and books over other media, so at her recommendation, we will spend this on fantasy and series books for pre-teens. Look for bookplates recognizing her achievement in new titles arriving at the Ridgefield Library this winter. Thanks, Sandra!

Library Annual Appeal Underway

“A gift to the Library is a gift that opens minds.” That is the theme of this year’s Library Annual Appeal. As you may know, the Ridgefield Library is an association library, an independently incorporated 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves as the public library for the town of Ridgefield. The town provides roughly 75% of our operating budget each year, and the remaining percentage is raised privately by the Library. The lion’s share of this money comes from the generosity of Ridgefield residents who respond to our annual appeal letter.

Your support makes it possible for the Library to purchase the new books and other materials you desire, offer a panoply of informative and entertaining programs for all ages and provide excellent personal service to those seeking information, reading recommendations or help using our resources.

As the end of the year approaches, we urge you to return the reply card you received in the mail with as generous a contribution as you can. New this year is the option to become a Library Sustainer by pledging a certain amount to be charged automatically to a credit card each month. For some, this makes it possible to increase the size of their gift while managing their cash flow responsibly.

The Library is also able to accept gifts of stock and charitable distributions from IRAs. This last opportunity is based on a provision of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 and is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2007, so consult your financial advisor right away if you wish to take advantage of this option.

If you did not receive an appeal letter in the mail or wish any further information about any of these ways of supporting the Ridgefield Library, please feel free to contact me or visit our website at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org.

Holiday Gift Ideas from the Library

Looking for great gift ideas? Visit the Friends of the Ridgefield Library’s Holiday Book Boutique, to be held in the festively decorated Sculpture Room at the Library on Friday, November 30 from 10 AM to 5 PM, Saturday, December 1 from 9 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday, December 2 from 1 to 5 PM. Among the offerings will be “almost new” current bestsellers, adults and children’s books for all ages, and never-used videos, CDs and audiobooks, most still in their plastic wrappings. Great quality, a wide selection and low prices make the Holiday Book Boutique a perfect shopping opportunity for youngsters shopping for their parents or any one wanting to stretch their giving budget.

Too busy with other holiday activities or perhaps stuck at home by the weather? You can still shop with the Friends by visiting their online stores. Internet book sales have become an important additional source of revenue for the Friends, and all proceeds add to the support the Friends give to the Library each year for programs, collections and special equipment. You can shop any time of day or night from the comfort of your home or office at: http://amazon.com/shops/forl or on e-Bay at Seller ID ridgefieldfriends.

Once you have bought all those books, what better way to package them than in one of our new Ridgefield Library tote bags? Originally made available as a special gift to families participating in this year’s Summer Reading Program, these roomy green and black bags feature long handles, a zipper top and a handy pocket on the outside for your library card. At only $10 each, you can buy one for everyone on your holiday list – and show your support for the Library at the same time. Stop at the Circulation Desk and purchase yours today – while supplies last!

Ridgefield Library Days at Books on the Common

The Ridgefield Library will be closed on Thursday, November 22^nd and Friday the 23^rd in celebration of Thanksgiving. But we will be back for the rest of the holiday weekend, with open hours from 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturday and 1 to 5 PM on Sunday.

Thanksgiving weekend also marks the third annual “Ridgefield Library Days” at Books on the Common. Get your holiday shopping done, support a local business that is such an asset to our community, and benefit the Library - all at the same time. Show your library card at the cash register, and Books on the Common will donate 15% of the price of most of your purchases to the Library. This offer applies to all books (including hardcovers and paperbacks) and audiobooks. In business since 1984, the independent bookseller is located at 109 Danbury Road, in Copps Hill Common, and will be open for “Ridgefield Library Days” on Friday the 23^rd and Saturday the 24^th from 9 AM to 6:30 PM and Sunday the 25^th from 10 AM to 4 PM. The friendly and knowledgeable staff are happy to share their recommendations and to help you find the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

Don’t have a library card, or can’t find yours? Stop by the Circulation Desk to register for one today, or use our handy online application at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org. The only requirement is proof of Ridgefield residence, such as a driver’s license or a recent utility bill or similar correspondence received at a Ridgefield street address. Those 17 and under also need the signature of a parent or guardian. The replacement fee for lost cards still in the system is just $1.00 – a small price to pay so you can help Books on the Common support the Ridgefield Library!