Thursday, June 1st @ 7:00pm: Journalist, documentarian and Ridgefield resident Todd Brewster will discuss his new book, a remarkable collection of over 200 stunning photographs of children—from the Civil War era to the present—that captures the ever-changing experience of childhood throughout American history.
Did Americans “invent” childhood? Brewster believes we did, or at least childhood as “a period of life cordoned off from that of full maturity, covered with a veil of protection, and subject to a program of nurture.” That’s the inspiration behind this rich, compelling volume of rarely seen historical images drawn from the photography collections at the Library of Congress, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New York Public Library, and the Magnum Photo Agency as well as dozens of other archives, flea markets, and antique shops. The result is a carefully curated paean to American youth: 200-plus photos from all parts of American history, joined by a series of deeply insightful essays on the topic of the American child.
Books on the Common will have copies available for purchase and signing.
Saturday, May 20th @ 6:00pm: The Ridgefield Library Great Expectations Gala honoring Suni and Woody Harford on Saturday, May 20th is sold out! If you are interested in attending the event, please email Jane Lindenburg, [email protected]. We will put your name on a waiting list and notify you if tickets become available.
Gala Donations / Auction Items / Paddle Raise
Thursday, May 25th @ 7:00pm: The Ridgefield Library and Lyme Connection welcome Ross Douthat to the Library to discuss his new book, The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery. Douthat, a New York Times opinion columnist and author, will discuss his battle with a devastating sickness, ultimately diagnosed as a chronic form of Lyme disease. In The Deep Places, Ross details the struggles faced by many Lyme patients as they seek a proper diagnosis and appropriate medical care—and explores the controversies that surround these insidious tick-borne diseases. During his journey, Douthat discovers the many pitfalls of modern medicine, as well as the strength and courage needed to reclaim his health
Books on the Common will have copies for purchase and signing. Please register to attend.
April 1st through May 31st: The Ridgefield Library is pleased to join in the announcement of a local author contest that will accept submissions of adult and young adult fiction, to be recognized as the top indie-published eBooks in Connecticut.
Winners in each category will receive $1,000 as well as:
- Honors at the 2023 Indie Author Day Reception
- Opportunities to promote the winning title at Connecticut public libraries
- Inclusion in a full-page spread in Library Journal, one of America’s oldest and most renowned trade publications for library news
- Opportunities to earn royalties through the IAP Select collection (ePUB format required for eligibility)
The creation of the Connecticut Author Project gives librarians the chance to engage with a growing group of fresh literary voices and an opportunity to play an active role in the discovery and promotion of new works. For indie-published authors, the contest is a terrific way to elevate their careers and expand their readership.
Each book that is submitted to the contest must be:
- Independently-published
- In the category of adult or young adult fiction
- Written by a Connecticut resident
- Available in either ePUB (strongly encouraged) or PDF format
The contest will accept submissions from April 1, 2023 through May 31, 2023. Authors can submit at https://indieauthorproject.librariesshare.com/connecticut/
Join us for an exciting schedule of in-person author talks in April. Talks are held in the Main Program room on the Library’s Lower Level and begin at 7:00pm. For more information and to register, please click the dates below.
Tuesday, April 11th — LeBron, Jeff Benedict
Wednesday, April 19th — Next! The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work, Joanne Lipman
Thursday, April 20th — The Partnership: George Marshall, Henry Stimson and the Extraordinary Collaboration That Won World War II, Edward Farley Aldrich
Wednesday, April 26th — American Ramble: A Walk of Memory and Renewal, Neil King
Our partners, Books on the Common, will have copies of books available for sale and signing.
Stop by the Library’s Lower Level for the Friends of the Ridgefield Library Big Book Sales. Children’s Sale runs May 5-7 and the General Sale is May 12-15. Learn more here.
The Library is again hosting AARP Foundation Tax-Aide on Thursday mornings from 8am – 1pm through April. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides in-person and virtual tax assistance to anyone, free of charge, with a focus on taxpayers who are over 50 and have low to moderate income. Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year to make sure they know about and understand the latest changes and additions to the tax code. Jon Elkow leads the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program for Ridgefield. Contact Jon directly at (203) 438-4288 to book your appointment to have your 2022 tax returns prepared. Appointments are limited and fill up fast!
We’re in the running! The Ridgefield Library is honored to be one of the charities in contention for Fairfield County Bank’s Charity of the Month for March. PLEASE VOTE and help us to receive a $1,000 donation from the bank. Anyone can vote daily by 1. heading to the Charity of the Month page on the Fairfield County Bank website to vote online, 2. in person at one of the bank’s branch offices and drive-ups, and 3. by calling the bank’s Customer Care Center at (203) 431-7431. Thank you, Fairfield County Bank, for your support of local Fairfield County non-profits!
The Ridgefield Library Association is seeking applications from Ridgefield residents for membership on its Board of Directors. Self-nominations are encouraged. Three-year terms begin on July 1.
The Library Board is a working board, with up to 16 members who are responsible for the organization’s fiduciary oversight, strategic planning and policy-setting. Board members take an active role in helping the Library raise the nearly 30% of its annual operating budget that comes through fundraising, donations and gifts.
The Board seeks diverse, broad and balanced representation of people, skill sets and experience from the community. Examples of particular skills in demand for new members include, but are not limited to, development, finance, legal, marketing, technology and nonprofit governance. We encourage all interested parties to apply.
Completed applications must be received by March 31, 2023 for consideration. For more information on the roles and responsibilities of Library Board members, and to apply, please contact Library Director Brenda McKinley at [email protected]
|
|
|
|
|