Ridgefield Library

Ridgefielders agree – it’s easy to LOVE the Library!  While the Library receives funding from the town, we also depend on broad support from the Ridgefield community to fund our exceptional collections, programs and services.

Thank you for helping us meet our annual fundraising goals– your donation to the Annual Appeal matters and makes a difference in the Library’s ability to serve our entire community!

Please donate here: https://ridgefieldlibrary.ejoinme.org/…/Default.aspx

Tuesday, December 31, 2024: Join us for our annual Noon Year’s Eve Ballon Drop in the Bossidy Commons. Families with children all ages are invited to join us as we count down to 2025 with DJ Miles from Ridgefield’s Bach to Rock leading to our balloon drop at noon, and concluding with an apple juice toast. Take & Makes will be available for families to bring home. Drop-ins welcome, but registration required for refreshments. To register or for more information, please visit the event calendar: https://ridgefieldlibrary.librarymarket.com/event/noon-years-eve-balloon-drop-108299

The Library’s Museum Pass Program offers free or discounted admission to over 20 premiere educational and cultural institutions in Connecticut and New York. Passes are located at the Circulation Desk. They may be borrowed for two nights and are available on a first come, first served basis only (no reservations).  The Museum Pass Program is made possible through the generous support of the Friends of the Ridgefield Library.

For more information, call the Circulation Department at 203-438-2282 x202 or email the Circulation Desk.

Saturday, May 31st, 2025: Save the date for the Ridgefield Library’s Annual Gala! This year’s Ridgefield Library Gala will honor Dean and Theresa Miller with the Hope H. Swenson Visionary Award for their many years of generous support and service to the Library’s vision and mission.

Dean joined the board of the Ridgefield Library in 2012, where he served for six years, including as Treasurer for four years and as Board Chair for his last two years. He was proud to be part of the team who helped oversee the completion of the new Library building and the hiring of Brenda McKinley as the new director. Dean and Theresa both served on the Gala committee from its inception in 2014 through 2021. They are past recipients of the Library’s Paccadolmi Award for extraordinary volunteer service.

“It’s a privilege to honor the Millers with the Hope H. Swenson Visionary Award. Their commitment to making the Library better and to making our Ridgefield community better is simply remarkable,” says Brenda McKinley, Library Director. “Their dedication to the needs of the community through service and leadership roles with Meals on Wheels, RVNAIhealth and Thrown Stone exceeds any definition of above and beyond. On May 31^st of next year, we’ll be delighted to gather at our annual Library Gala to celebrate the Millers and shine a light on their inspiring leadership, support and service. We hope you’ll save the date and join us for a wonderful evening.”   

For information on sponsoring the 2025 Annual Ridgefield Library Gala, contact Jane Lindenburg, Development Director, at [email protected] or 203-438-2282 x 104.

Fall 2024 Scholarly Series:  The Ridgefield Library will be celebrating the boundless human capacity and desire to explore, learn and discover with special programming for all ages this fall.  The Curious Mind: Exploration and Discovery is the title for this year’s Scholarly Series, the Library’s annual in-depth examination of a topic or author supported by funding provided by the Friends of the Ridgefield Library.

Upcoming programs in the series are listed here – all programs will be held in person at the Ridgefield Library, unless otherwise noted.

Be sure to watch the inspiring closing keynote presentation held on December 5th by technology legend Nick Donofrio:

On October 24th Dr. Heidi B. Hammel of NASA talked about the amazing discoveries by the James Webb Space Telescope:

And if you missed the fascinating opening keynote presentation by Dr. Rudy L Ruggles, Jr., on September 12th, view the recording here:

Saturday, December 21, 2024: Families with children of all ages are invited to join Ms. Kathleen and dancers from the Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance for an interactive storytime at 2:00 pm. We’ll march like soldiers, creep like mice, and twirl like snowflakes as we explore the story behind the popular Nutcracker ballet. Stay for a special meet-and-greet with the dancers and pick up a take and make to continue the magic at home! Registration encouraged to reserve a craft. To register or for more information, visit the program event page.

Sunday, December 15th @ 2:00 pm:  Join acclaimed, award-winning photographer Joe McNally for an entertaining ARTalk about his lifelong adventures travelling the globe. McNally, a Ridgefield resident, is known worldwide as the quintessential “pro’s pro.” He is an extremely versatile and experienced assignment photographer whose jobs have taken him to over 70 countries and counting. Always curious and adapting to the conditions at hand, McNally has had to keep up with relentless advances in camera technology. He pairs his extraordinary camera know-how with a vivid imagination and an ongoing vibrant creativity for prestigious clients such as National Geographic, Sports Illustrated and ABC Television, among others. He will share a selection of his compelling photographs and also talk about his storied career.

This program is part of the Library’s 2024 Scholarly Series, The Curious Mind: Exploration and Discovery, made possible by the Friends of the Ridgefield Library.

Click here to learn more and register.

Wednesday, December 11th @ 6:00 pm:  Join us in a judgment-free environment at Ridgefield Library where participants, often strangers, can openly engage in discussion on the topic of death and dying. “Dying to Know” is a moderated discussion group created to explore and normalize conversations around death and dying. Mickey Nelson and Sue Broudy, certified End-of-Life Doulas, will guide open conversations around mortality, and all the things related to this sacred time. You are invited to attend, listen, and share in the conversation as you feel comfortable. All perspectives are welcomed and respected. “Dying to Know” is not a grief support group or counseling session, but a space for sharing conversations and questions about dying and deepening our awareness about death, a subject we all share.

Click here to learn more and to register.

Wednesday, November 27-Saturday, December 7, 2024: There will be no children’s programs, including regular storytimes and afterschool clubs, between November 27 and December 7. Winter session programs will begin on Monday, December 9, 2024 and run through Saturday, March 1, 2025. Please visit the program event calendar for a full listing of all children’s programs and events.

Sunday, December 8th @ 2:00 pm:   The Lonetown Boys are an acoustic quartet featuring classic country, folk, blues and americana music. Their unique combination of upright bass (Pat Lavery), Dobro/Lapsteel (Chris Davis), Mandolin/percussion (Dan Bonis), violin and vocals (Dan Tressler) and acoustic guitar/vocals (JD Seem) evoke a traditional, pure and poignant melancholy sound sometimes called “that high lonesome sound”.