Donate your Car to Help the Library

We are pleased to announce that the Ridgefield Library is now able to accept tax-deductible donations of old cars and other vehicles.  This service is provided by Donation Line, LLC, a Connecticut-based company with 11 years experience and over 500 non-profit partners across the country.

You can donate any car (running or not), plus boats, trucks, vans, motorcycles, jet skis, snowmobiles, RVs and even airplanes.  It’s simple. Just have your title handy and call 877-CARS-4-US, ext. 2919 (24 hours a day/7 days a week) or follow the link on our website at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org. Provide some basic contact information and details about the vehicle, and a tow company will contact you within two business days to arrange pickup at no charge.  The Ridgefield Library will receive approximately 80% of the proceeds from sale of the vehicle and will issue you a tax acknowledgement letter in 6-8 weeks.

The first person to take advantage of this new way to support the Library was full of praise for the process, stating "I cannot recommend this highly enough.  It could not have been easier and some of the nicest people I've dealt with. "   We encourage others to give it a try – and clear out your cluttered driveway at the same time!

"Reading on Our Radar" Blog Debuts

Members of our staff love to share their excitement about what’s new in the world of books.  So this summer, we’ve launched a reader’s advisory blog called Reading on Our Radar. 

We plan to use this blog as another way to keep you abreast of both the hottest new titles and books that fall below the radar but are well worth reading.    In addition, we’ll share back stories about authors, the world of publishing, award nominees and winners, and anything we find of interest to book lovers.  Recent posts include a link to a fascinating online exhibit of over 370 books nominated but not chosen for the National Book Award in Fiction over the last 50 years and a list of new titles we’ve just added to our Book Club Corner.

The Reading on Our Radar blog can be found on both the Adult Summer Reading page and on the Finding a Good Book page under the Reader’s Resources tab on our website. We hope you’ll add your comments, and let us know what you think.

Also, our Adult Summer Reading Program is in full swing!  Enter to win one of the beautiful baskets pictured on our website.

Contributed by Adult Services Librarian Dorothy Pawlowski

A Visit to BookExpo 2012

 Recently, I was privileged to attend BookExpo America at New York City’s Javits Center.  Billed as the largest publishing event in North America, the show provides a venue for authors, publishers, librarians, and booksellers to come together and share what’s new in books.   I came back laden with a treasure trove of titles to add to the Library’s collection and abuzz about the most touted new fiction and non-fiction for the summer and fall.   Pick up a copy of our monthly publication Fiction News or visit the Reader’s Resource page on our website to find out about these books. 

BookExpo is also a lovefest between authors and librarians. Writer after writer spoke about the role of libraries in fostering their careers. Dennis Lehane of Mystic River fame recounted with eloquence and humor how his love of reading began at his local branch.   New York Times columnist Gail Collins and espionage author Alan Furst extolled their dependence on libraries for both doing research and as their work destination.  The stories went on and on.

Perhaps the author of the next great American novel just got their first library card.  I look forward to hearing from them at another BookExpo.

Contributed by Adult Services Librarian Dorothy Pawlowski

Friends’ New Book Buggy Hits the Road

Always looking for new ways to promote the enjoyment of books and reading, the Friends of the Ridgefield Library are launching a pilot program this summer they are calling the Book Buggy.

The Buggy consists of a cart stocked with reading material for people of all ages, available for casual use.  Book Buggies will be found this July in Ballard Park and at the Recreation Center. No library card is necessary.  Just choose an item of interest.  Read it while you are in the park or at the Rec Center and return when you are done – no due dates or fines.  It’s that simple – and what a great way to put to good use that “down” time while you are waiting to meet a friend or pick up a child after an activity.

The Book Buggy will be available in the park on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, starting on July 2nd.  You can also find one at the Rec Center during the center’s hours of operation.

This is a pilot program, and the Friends are eager to hear your response to this new service.  You can send your comments to friends@ridgefieldlibrary.org.

Dream Big, Read!

Summer weather is here and you know what that means: the Summer Reading Program at the Ridgefield Library will begin soon.  We will be visiting all the schools in town over the next three weeks, reminding the students to “Dream Big! Read!”, which is the theme this year.  Like last summer, readers can track their books using our online software, accessible anywhere you can get on the Internet: home, at the Library, at Grandma’s house, or even on your smart phone.  We’ll provide links to the online program on June 21st, the last day of school, so readers can start recording their books right away.

Since the Library is moving forward with our building project, Summer Reading won’t start officially until July 9^th but will continue a full 6 weeks, through August 18^th.  During this time, readers will be able to claim the prizes they have earned at different levels. All the special programs (magic shows, concerts, puppet shows) will take place at the town’s Rec. Center at 7:00 PM. All of the book clubs and storytimes will meet in our current location or temporary quarters after the move. Pick up a calendar in Children’s Services or check our website for details.

Here's to Dreaming Big this summer!

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

Remembering Maurice Sendak

May 8^th was a dark day for readers young and old, as the news spread of the death of Maurice Sendak.  As we assembled tribute displays, the Library staff had many warm thoughts about the man who changed the face of children’s literature forever.  Some of us are old enough to have grown up with Little Bear, others had first encountered The Nutshell Library (“Chicken Soup with Rice” and other stories), and, of course, everyone knew Max.  As a matter of fact, “Where the Wild Things Are” remains so popular, the Library had recently made arrangements for a visit by The Wild Thing on June 2^nd, as part of a community open house we are planning.

Patrons, too, had many memories to share.  A mother of a 1-year-old related that “Where the Wild Things Are” is their family bedtime story every night, even though her daughter is still too young to really grasp either the words or the pictures.  But this tale was an important part of the mother’s own childhood, and she knew from the first that she wanted to pass this on to the next generation.  That, truly, is the legacy of Maurice Sendak and his creations.