Library Systems Will Be Offline Briefly for Maintenance

PLEASE NOTE:  This work was originally announced to take place on September 29th but has been postponed one week.

The Ridgefield Library catalog and circulation system will be unavailable from 5 PM on Saturday, October 6 through Monday, Octobe8, due to scheduled systems maintenance by Bibliomation, our automation network. We expect everything to be up and running early on Monday.  Here’s what this means for our patrons.

·         The Library will be open its regular hours, including 1:00 to 5:00 PM on Sunday, but you must have your library card with you to check anything out.

·         We will not be able to issue or renew library cards, process holds or accept payment of fines or lost item charges.

·         The catalog will not be available at the Library, so ask at the Information Desk for assistance in finding items you seek. Staff can also help with reserve requests.

·         You will not be able to access the catalog or the “My Account” feature via the Internet, so you will not be able to place reserves or renewals online.

·         Some online resources such as reference databases that require log-in using your library card number may not be accessible remotely but should be available on computers at the Library. The OverDrive downloadable eBook and audiobook service will function as usual.

Summer Reading Was a Success

We started Summer Reading late and moved some activities offsite as we prepared for our re-location.  Still, Ridgefield young people didn’t miss the opportunity to “Dream Big!  Read.”

The number of readers going into K-grade 5 stayed about the same as last year at 1,150, as did the number of books they read (42,005), with the average number of books read by each child reaching an astonishing 36.53 books.  When was the last time YOU read that many books in just 6 weeks? Thanks to Deborah Anne’s, The Toy Chest and the Friends of the Library for supplying the 3,158 prizes at various reading levels earned by these eager readers.

Once again teen readers (going into grades 6-12) proved they really love our online reading log program.  Teen participation was up 25%, to 327 readers, and the number of books they read was up by nearly 50%, to 9,108.  That’s a lot of incentives claimed, courtesy of Piccolo Pizza, Deborah Anne’s and Books on the Common.

Special thanks to the Friends of the Library for their major support of Summer Reading and to Ridgefield’s Parks and Recreation Center, which hosted and co-sponsored our special programs.

Summer is over, but keep dreaming and reading!

Visit Us in our New Location – During our New Hours

It’s not just our address that is changing in the move to our temporary home.  We will also be changing our hours of operation, to provide a more consistent schedule.  Starting September 4^th, the Library will be open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Friday and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Sunday hours from 1:00 to 5:00 PM will also return for the school year on September 9th.

Patrons will gain additional evening hours two days a week, as well as the early morning opening much demanded by parents of small children and others.  This schedule will actually add several hours to our weekly total and is designed to minimize evening event conflicts with our new neighbors at The Prospector when we return to Main Street.  We will continue to offer many of our popular evening programs such as book groups, author talks and lectures, but they will now be “after hours” events.

When we are closed, patrons can continue to return items to the outside book drop (now at Governor Street) and to access many library services 24/7 at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org.

Smaller Space, But Plenty to Pick From @ Interim Library

Our temporary location on Governor Street is considerably smaller than the present building, but there will still be plenty of materials from which to pick.  We will have app. 50% of our current collections available, spread across different categories.  Our librarians have gone through the shelves over the past few weeks, carefully selecting those items they think will be most in demand. Children and teens will find many of their old favorites, from Curious George to Harry Potter to “Twilight,” along with a good selection of non-fiction to support school assignments. Most subject areas in adult non-fiction will be represented, including all the travel material. The most sought-after adult fiction and mystery authors and series will be available, along with a sampling of large print and science fiction. Almost all of the audiobooks and DVDs will be available, plus music CDs, videogames, Book Club Corner titles and other popular items.

We will continue to purchase new items in all categories, so you won’t miss out on any new releases. And, of course, anything you can’t find on our shelves can be requested easily through Inter-Library Loan, much of it right on the Bibliomation online catalog, and will be delivered within just a few days.

Library Continues to Be a Hot Spot

Despite Irene and the “Snowtober” storm and a troublesome computer upgrade that left us without circulation capabilities for several days, Ridgefielders continued to use their Library at an exceptionally high rate in 2011-2012.

·         Our total headcount was 373,125, just over 1,100 visitors a day.

·         Even with the advent of eBooks, Ridgefielders checked out 380,179 items.  That’s an average of 15.3 items for every person in town – well above the state average of just over 9.

·         The number of reference questions fielded went up a whopping 10%, reflecting people’s continued awareness that they can benefit from the skill and knowledge of trained librarians to navigate and analyze the glut of information in cyberspace.

·         Use of library computers was up nearly 50% and wireless sessions rose by 38%, both driven no doubt by the Library’s role as a refuge from our freak storms and their aftermath.

·         The popularity of our programs continued to skyrocket, with the number of programs and attendance at both children’s and adult events increasing significantly. As just one example, participation in the 2011 Summer Reading Program was at an all-time high of 1,553 children and teens.

Even though we will be in smaller quarters in the coming year, we encourage all of you to continue to visit your Library often!

Program Changes Coming to Library in Temporary Space

Taking up temporary residence at the former Balducci’s location will provide some interesting challenges for Library staff and patrons. One area where this will be most evident is in the scheduling of programs. We will have just one modest sized room to accommodate all of our children’s, teen and adult programs, along with staff and Board meetings.  It will also have to serve as staff workroom and even lunchroom!  This means we will be unable to provide any meeting or separate study room space for use by community book clubs, tutors or others.  Some programs, such as the Hollister Film Series, will be temporarily suspended due to the limitations of the space.

Many of your favorite programs such as Mother Goose and Books & Breakfast will continue, but at alternative locations around town. We are fortunate that several community organizations have stepped up to host Library events.  Parks & Recreation, the Boys & Girls Club, Keeler Tavern Museum and the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum are four locations where you will find us this fall, and more partnerships are being finalized for special programs such as Ridgefield Folk.  

For full details, visit www.ridgefieldlibrary.org and click on “Program Updates.”

We’re Moving Forward...Very Soon!

As most people know, we will be moving to the former Balducci’s/HayDay location during construction of the New Ridgefield Library and we will have to close up shop completely for app. 2 weeks during August to make the physical move.  More details of services available during interim operations will be forthcoming, but we wanted first to advise you of how you can prepare for the time we are closed.

·         We will not be able to check items out, so stock up on reading, viewing and listening materials.

 

·         We will not be able to accept Inter-Library Loan requests between 8/1 and 9/4, but you are welcome to use your library card at any other public library in the state. Book clubs should contact us immediately about their needs.

·         We will not be able to check items in, so due dates will be adjusted as we move through the month, with all items to be returned after Labor Day.  No fines will be applicable.

·         Renew your card if it will expire soon or get a new card now if you don’t have one, so you can take advantage of our online services while the building itself is closed.

Much more information is available at www.thenewridgefieldlibrary.org.