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.

Celebrating Volunteers

April 23-29 is National Volunteer Week, and we have a lot of talented and generous people to thank for their volunteer service to the Ridgefield Library.  Their involvement ranges from one-time help with a special event like Love your Library Day to a multi-year commitment as a member of our Board of Directors. They come to us as individuals, families, students and groups like National Charity League, Boy and Girl Scouts, Lionsheart and the Boys and Girls Club.  They are young people, retirees and people of all ages doing community service.

One very special group of volunteers is the Friends of the Ridgefield Library, who organize popular used book sales, the proceeds of which support many favorite Library services and collections.  Their spring sale is coming up May 5-7 (children’s books only) and May 12-15.  Don’t miss it!

Teens going into grades 6-12 in the fall are invited to apply before June 5th to volunteer with the Summer Reading Program, assisting younger children with logging their reading and claiming their prizes.  Pick up an application in the Ellis Family Teen Center or print one from our website. 

Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has helped us during the past year!

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.

Welcoming our New Teen Services Librarian

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Erica Gauquier as the Library’s new Teen Services Librarian. She replaces Geri Diorio, who has moved on to become Assistant Director of her hometown Stratford Library.

During her undergrad schooling, Erica studied Psychology and Social Work, preparing her for what she knew would be a career in providing services to children and young adults. Realizing she wanted to become a librarian, she received her Master’s degree in Information and Library Science from Pratt Institute in 2010. Erica has been passionately engaged in young adult librarianship ever since.

Erica began her career at Darien (CT) Library, bringing teens in the community new and innovative programs while establishing lasting relationships with many of them.

It is now her great pleasure to become immersed in the Ridgefield community, bringing that same love and passion for youth services to her own town. She is full of exciting ideas and also looks forward to hearing from 6^th through 12^th graders in town about what they would like to see at the Library. You can find her in the Ellis Family Teen Center of the Ridgefield Library or contact her by email at ELGauquier@ridgefieldlibrary.org. She looks forward to meeting you!  

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

Library a Home for Teens

Extended hours for midterms were a big hit, but this is not all we have on tap in the Ellis Family Teen Center for those in grades 6 through 12.

The 3^rd in our series of Teen Trivia afternoons for teams of 9^th through 12^th graders is coming up on February 6^th, with the final tournament of the year scheduled for May.

We are pleased to welcome NY Times columnist and author Frank Bruni to Ridgefield on March 6^th for a presentation and workshops based on his book “Where You Go Is Not Who You Will Be.” Registration is required at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org. We also invite students and parents to visit our College Corner to learn more about post-secondary school options.

Our popular Reading Is a Family Affair intergenerational book discussion series is being expanded to include sessions for those in grades 6-8 and their parents, starting with Gary D. Schmidt’s “Okay for Now” on March 15^th.

Joining Crafternoons, Teen Tech Thursdays and Middle and High School Critics as monthly programs are a Teen Writers Group and Fandoms Unite, a celebration of pop culture.

Add in Ridgefield Folk concerts and an upcoming “Scholarly Look at Harry Potter,” and it’s no wonder the Library is becoming a true home for Ridgefield teens.

Celebrating Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye"

September 27 through October 3 is Banned Books Week, and this year the Library is commemorating the occasion by partnering with Ridgefield High School to present a day-long read-aloud of JD Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye,” a work that has been challenged consistently since its publication in 1951 on the grounds of language, content and tone. At the same time, the book has consistently found a place on the required reading lists of many high schools, including in Ridgefield. 

In a survey this fall, students at RHS chose this title for a new project called Books Building Bridges.  A joint effort by the Library and the school, this project will engage students and adults in activities to bring together readers across generational lines in exploration of a classic work of literature. In addition to classroom discussion, students will participate with adults in intergenerational book chats, and other enrichment activities for all ages will be held at the Library.

The project kicks off on October 1^st with the read-a-thon, organized by RHS library media specialist Kerry Baldwin, which will begin at the school at 9 AM and then move to the public library at 3 PM, where the public is invited to attend to read or just listen. For more information, go to ridgefieldlibrary.org.

Introducing the College Corner

The Ridgefield Library has a new College Corner to help parents and students with college decisions and the application process. We have the latest resources covering college listings, admissions and applications, the college essay, campus visits, test prep including the new SAT and PSAT, scholarships, paying for college, college living, and academic success.

The College Corner is located near the Teen Center on the upper level in the Library. One of the helpful features of the College Corner is that we have reference copies of many of the best college books, creating a comprehensive core collection, which stays in the Library. These “always available” books will be ready for you to refer to in the Library and for photocopying or free scanning to your email or USB drive. Of course, there are plenty of copies of these and many other college books available for checkout.

While visiting the College Corner, also ask about online resources such as LearningExpress Library for test prep and a schedule of upcoming lectures and workshops related to this complex process. You can also learn about our new exam proctoring service.

Let the Ridgefield Library and the new College Corner help you on your road to higher education! 

Contributed by Reference Librarian Christie Mitchell

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

Students Vote for State Book Award at Ridgefield Library

It’s April, and that means it is time for the children of Connecticut to vote for the Nutmeg Book Award winners! The Nutmeg Book Award encourages children in grades 2-12 to read quality literature and to choose their favorite from a list of nominated titles.  The nominees are chosen by committees of public and school librarians from across the state. There are now four divisions: Elementary for grades 2-4 (new this year and the only division that includes nonfiction), Intermediate for grades 4-6, Teen for grades 7-8, and High School for grades 9-12. It is Connecticut’s own book award.  To help make voting easy, the Ridgefield Library has put Nutmeg Book Award ballots online. You can see a link to them if you stop by our Facebook page, or if you follow us on Twitter, or on the Library’s website. Students who are not voting at school are encouraged to vote online using our ballot. Please only vote once, either at school OR online. The winning books will be announced on May 15, and the new list of nominees will come out at that time as well. Spring is Nutmeg Book Award time!

Contributed by Teen Services Librarian Geri Diorio

Teen Trivia Comes to the Library

Do you know who the Lt. Governor of Connecticut is? Or what the boiling point of water is?

If you are (or know) a teen aged 13+ who knows the answers to these questions, then sign up now at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org for our first ever Teen Trivia Contest. The date is Saturday, December 13^th, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM at the Library. Field your own team of 3 to 5 people or register individually to be placed on a team. Questions will be general interest, so it helps to put together a team of people who have varied interests and knowledge.  There will be snacks and drinks and the chance to win prizes such as NY Yankees tickets and gift cards for area restaurants and shops.  There is no charge to enter, thanks to local businesses and others who are sponsoring the teams (contact Laureen Bubniak at lmbubniak@ridgefieldlibrary.org or 203-438-2282 x1029 if you would like to sponsor a team). Older and younger family members and friends – come along to cheer on your teen – and maybe learn a little something!

Graphically Speaking @ The Ridgefield Library

Do you enjoy a good mystery? Maybe your favorite thing to read is a biography. Do you like to go on a hero's journey sort of tale? The new Graphic Novel collection at the Ridgefield Library has all of these genres and more. Titles range from Roz Chast's new memoir “Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?” to a new biography of Andre the Giant, to Brian Azzarello’s “100 Bullets” a crime thriller, to many superhero tales. Graphic novels are a format, not a genre, thus the Library has mysteries, thrillers, fantasy tales, and non-fiction all featuring sequential art. If you are interested in learning about the origins of “The Guardians of the Galaxy”, Ridgefield Library has a graphic novel you can read. Do you watch “The Walking Dead”? You might want to check out Robert Kirkman’s stunningly bleak print version of the zombie apocalypse. Would you like to read an award-winning historical tale of the Chinese Boxer Rebellion? Stop in for Gene Luen Yang’s “Boxers & Saints”, a National Book Award finalist. The Graphic Novel collection is located directly across from the Reference Desk on the upper level of the Library; stop by and check it out.

Contributed by Teen Services Librarian Geri Diorio

July Is Swinging @ the Library

There’s a lot going on at the Ridgefield Library.  Not only is our Summer Reading Program in full swing - we are also collaborating with several groups on special events to make the summer even more fun.

Friday, July 11 will see the first Songs at Six presentation by the Ridgefield Music and Arts Center on the Library front lawn.  RMAC musicians have performed these informal concerts at various locations in town in past years, and this summer they have elected to celebrate the new Library by bringing their talents to 472 Main Street.

The Chamber of Commerce’s Summerfest is coming up on July 18 and 19, with a fun theme this year of Ridgefield Rewinds to ’64.  The Library will be participating with 50^th birthday celebrations for Maurice Sendak’s Wild Thing, an I Spy-style treasure hunt in the Lodewick Children’s Library, a mini book sale and more.

“Where’s Waldo in Ridgefield?” continues until the end of the month.  The Library is pleased to be one of the 25 locations around town where seekers can find Waldo and mark their passports to qualify for prizes.  Thanks to Books on the Common for bringing this fun family activity to Ridgefield for a third year!

Teens Invited to Maker Camp @ the Library

This summer, the Ridgefield Library is fortunate to have been selected as an affiliate for the Maker Camp program. Sponsored by Make Magazine and Google, this program encourages teens to “do it themselves” and get creative by, well, making things! Although the Maker Space movement is often associated with 3D printers and computer controllers, in reality, anyone who creates something with their brains and hands is a maker. As part of the Maker Camp program, the Library encourages teens to make things (build a birdhouse, knit a scarf, grow a flower, sew a shirt, code a computer program, paint a picture, digitally edit a photo) and share their creations on Google+.  The Library is on that social network as +Ridgefieldlibrary. From July 7 through August 15, we’ll use Google+ to share things we’ve created, and we want to see what Ridgefield teens come up with! Also, each Friday during those six weeks, there will be a “virtual field trip” at 2pm. Stop in to the Teen Center and we’ll watch on TV as we “visit” the Jim Henson Creature Shop, the Lego factory in Denmark, the cartoon Network studios, and other fun places to inspire teens to make things.

Contributed by Teen Services Librarian Geri Diorio

Spring Is Nutmeg Book Award Time

It’s April, and that means it is time for the children of Connecticut to vote for the Nutmeg Book Award winners! Connecticut’s own book award encourages children in grades 4-12 to read quality literature and to choose their favorite from a list of nominated titles.  Traditionally the Ridgefield Library invites Ridgefield students to stop in at the Library and vote for their favorite Nutmeg nominee. But since we will be closing down for several weeks to move into our new building, and we don’t want students to miss the opportunity to vote, we have a new way for you to participate. The Ridgefield Library has put Nutmeg Award ballots online. You can see a link to them on our webpage, if you stop by our Facebook page, or if you follow us on Twitter.  Students who are not voting at school are encouraged to vote online using our ballot. Please only vote once, either at school OR online. The winning books will be announced on May 15. Also happening in mid-May will be the introduction of a new Nutmeg Book Award level. The Elementary level offers books for the youngest readers, students in grades 2 through 4. Spring is Nutmeg Book Award time!

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

Take our Photo-A-Day Challenge

During the month of March, for those who are teens, or those who are teens at heart, the Ridgefield Library is offering a Photo-A-Day Challenge. On the New Ridgefield Library’s Facebook page, you’ll find a bright green photo offering daily “prompts” – ideas to inspire you. Take a photo of your interpretation of the suggestion and share your photo using social media.  You can use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Flickr, your own blog…the choice is up to you! But when you share your photo, please add the hashtag #ridgefieldlibpix so that the rest of us who are playing can follow along and see all the photos inspired by the prompt. Today’s prompt is “throwback,” will you photograph something that takes you back to good memories? Tomorrow’s is “upside down,” will you be literal or figurative with that one? Ringing in the month, the prompt was “lion or lamb” and one photo showed a rather adorable pet cat, definitely a lamb, not a tiny lion. Want to play along, but concerned about forgetting a day, or two, or twelve? No big deal, you can play catch up, or just start up again from today’s date. The idea is to inspire creativity and have some fun!

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

What’s New for the New Year @ the Library

New names:

• The Foundation Center Cooperating Collection hosted by the Library is now the Funding Information Network and still offers great resources for grantseekers. 
•  Books for readers in grades 6-12 now are designated in the catalog and on the spine as “Teen” material, not Young Adult or YA.

New resources:

•   “Best of” lists for 2013 are now available online and in print.  
• Recommended reading lists for children on many topics are now also available online.
• The monthly Nonfiction News is now available online and in print to assist readers of biography, history, memoir and other non-fiction subjects. 

New procedures: 

•  Print and time management for public access computers is now being done on an honor system until the move to the new library.  
• Easy Reader series with multiple volumes are now packaged in neat and convenient sets for borrowing.

Back by Popular Demand: 

•  Drop-in Musical Storytime with Ann for ages 2 and up has returned to Fridays at 11:00 AM. 
•  The Donofrio Inspiring Girls (and Others) in Science series returns with creative computer programming workshops in February and March;  sign up online. 
•  Monthly adult book discussions have new reading lists for the winter and spring; see details online.

OverDrive eReading Room for Young People

Do you enjoy the Ridgefield Library’s downloadable media collection?  Have you put eBooks on your Kindle or iPad? Downloaded an audiobook to your phone or MP3 player?  Now your children and teenagers can enjoy doing all that too! 

The Ridgefield Library has just expanded our OverDrive digital collection website to include an eReading Room for children and teens. Our downloadable collections now have a separate site to provide a safe and easy browsing experience for young people. It includes ebooks and audiobooks, and browsing can be done by subject, reading level or interest level. Of course, this does not mean that our younger patrons are limited to only the downloadable content in the eReading Room. There are many other audiobooks and eBooks in the general OverDrive collection they would like. But the children’s / teen collection site filters the overall digital collection to just show children’s and teen content, so our younger patrons do not have to wade through all the adult titles to find The Hunger Games or Percy Jackson. All you need is your Ridgefield Library card. And downloadables are especially convenient, as titles expire automatically when “due,” so there’s no need to worry about late fees or losing them under the couch cushions.

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

Young Adults vs. Teens

“Divergent” by Veronica Roth, “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer and “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins used to be in our YA (Young Adult) fiction collection. Now, to find one of those titles, you need to go to our Teen fiction collection. 

The Future Business Leaders of America from Ridgefield High School spent several hours in the Ridgefield Library on October 24, helping us re-label the entire YA Fiction collection. These cheerful teenagers spent their volunteer time sticking new labels that read “Teen” over old labels that read “YA”, then taping the labels down.  They handled several thousand books and helped us quickly make the transition to the collection’s new designation. 

Why did we make this change? Well, I am the Library’s Teen Services Librarian and work with our Teen Advisory Group. When the New Ridgefield Library opens in the spring, there will be a new Teen Room for my patrons. I serve people in middle school and high school; they are ages 12-18; they are teens, not young adults. “YA” is a jargon-y term that book publishers’ marketing departments use. It seems right to eliminate it from the Library, and to use a word that is clearer, more accurate, and reflects what my patrons call themselves: teens. 

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