There's Always Something Special in April @ The Ridgefield Library

April 20, 2007

Welcome to the latest issue of the Ridgefield Library's electronic newsletter. Each month, subscribers receive in their e-mail inbox a sampling of the many treasures to be found at the Ridgefield Library.

If you find this e-newsletter informative, entertaining or inspiring, why not share it? Just click on the "Forward Email" link at the bottom, and your friends and colleagues can sign up directly by following the simple instructions.

Take the "Library Listens" Survey

As you may have heard, the Library is planning to expand library space for the first time in nearly 25 years. As part of the design process, we want your opinions of some possible features of a new, larger Ridgefield Library. To get your feedback, we are conducting a Library Listens survey. It is short and simple to complete, and we would really appreciate your input.

The Library Listens survey will be open through April 30th. Complete online by clicking below or drop off a paper copy at the Circulation Desk. If you did not receive a paper survey in the mail, you may pick one up at the Library. Thanks so much for your participation!

Take the "Library Listens" survey online.

Literary Circles Silent Auction & Exhibit Ends this Saturday

Don't miss our first ever Literary Circles exhibit and silent auction, now going on in the Library's Sculpture Room in celebration of National Library Week. Generous and creative groups and individuals have donated beautiful decorated wreaths illustrating favorite books or authors, which were judged by First Selectmen Rudy Marconi and Town Treasurer Maureen Kiernan. Come see what they chose as "best of show" and bid on your favorite (they make great Mother's Day gifts!).

The exhibit and silent auction will come to a close with a reception this Saturday, April 21st at 5:30 at the Library. Refreshments will be served and winning bids will be announced. All are welcome - see you there!

Reading Is a Family Affair on May 9th

Sign up now for the latest in our ongoing series of adult and child book discussions, to take place on May 9th, and get a free family copy of our spring selection, A Walk in the Woods by Andrew Clements.

For children in grades 3 and up only. Registration is required. Reading Is a Family Affair is made possible by the support of the Friends of the Library.

Find out about other special programs for children and families.

April Is Poetry Month @ The Library

Start with the monthly Poetry Discussion Group meeting on Friday, April 20th at 1 PM, when facilitator Dr. Alan Holder will lead a discussion of Words Under the Words: Selected Poems by Naomi Shihab Nye. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Continue the celebration at our Poetry Bistro open mic and reception at 7 PM on Friday, April 27th. Alan Holder will be our featured poet, and all are invited to come and read a favorite poem or two or share something you've written yourself. Refreshments will be served!

Finally, write a poem and then create a book to showcase it, at our Hand-Made Poetry session, a hands-on workshop combining poetry and craft at 10 AM on Saturday, April 28th. Poet, artist and teacher Phil Smith and artist and art historian Laurie McGavin Bachmann will lead this special presentation in our ARTalk series, co-sponsored by the Ridgefield Guild of Artists. Free admission, and all materials will be supplied.

Learn more about Guild activities and events.

Friends Book Sale Just Around the Corner

The Friends of the Ridgefield Library's annual spring used book sale will take place on May 4th through 7th. There will be so many thousands of bargains and great finds that the offerings will spill out of the Dayton Program Room into a tent on the Library lawn! Check our event calendar via the Favorite Library Links below for a complete schedule of book sale hours.

This Monday, April 23rd is the last day to donate books until after the upcoming sale. Check the donation guidelines below before doing your spring cleaning!

Book Donation Guidelines

Thanks to All during National Volunteer Week

Over 300 individuals, from teens to retirees, gave of their time in the past year to make the Ridgefield Library a special place, and we want to thank them all during National Library Week (April 15-21). Because of your talent and dedication, the Ridgefield Library and the entire community is much richer in so many ways. Thank you!

Among the things volunteers made possible were:

• Summer Reading Programs for children, teens & adults
• Rochambeau's March to Victory commemoration
• Friends of the Library Book Sales & more
• Summer Math Tutoring
• Collection repair & maintenance
• The visit of Curious George & Friends
• Lots and lots of shelving
• Teen Advisory Group
• Mailings Galore
• Board of Directors and numerous committees

Ridgefield Folk Welcomes Jeffrey Foucault on April 29th

Singer/songwriter Jeffrey Foucault returns to the Ridgefield Folk series on Sunday, April 29th. In the words of The New York Times, "Jeffrey Foucault is a young man with an old soul - contemporary and timeless," and you won't want to miss this special event.

Ridgefield Folk concerts are free, thanks to the Friends of the Ridgefield Library. Tickets are given out at the Dayton Program Room door starting at 1 PM on the day of the concert. Doors open at 1:30 and the show starts at 2 PM.

Sample Jeffrey's sound.

New "Sense of Place" Series Launched

We are pleased to announce the debut of a new series, developed and co-sponsored with the Ridgefield Design Council. A Sense of Place aims to highlight the special character of our town, through lectures, film screenings, field trips and more. The first offering, on Saturday, April 28th at 2 PM, will be a digital slide show entitled A Postcard History of Ridgefield, featuring the collection and commentary of Jack Sanders, author and editor of The Ridgefield Press.

Upcoming programs include a May 31st screening of Diary of an Eccentric Architect, a film about Philip Johnson, who designed Schlumberger's Ridgefield facility. Also in the works are field trips to tour the Schlumberger building, as well as to Johnson's famous "Glass House" in New Canaan, which has just been opened for public viewing. Stay tuned for more in this exciting new series.

Favorite Library Links

·  Library Catalog

·  Event Calendar

·  Library Webpage

·  AM Book Group Spring Selections

·  Critics' Circle Spring Selections

·  Tuesday Evening Nonfictioneers Spring Selections

·  Poetry Discussion Group Selections

·  Hollister Film Series Schedule

Contact Information