The Library welcomes Erik Keller, Lauren Acampora, Aimee Pokwatka and Cody Keenan, who will discuss their recent books and sign copies available for purchase from our partner, Books on the Common. Learn more and register for our September and October author talks.
September 25th @ 2:00pm: This special in-person lecture by Dr Mark Schenker is the first event in the Library’s 2022 Scholarly Series, Seeing Beyond: the Works and Vision of H.G. Wells. Herbert George Wells (1866 –1946) was an English writer best remembered for his science fiction novels and has been called the “father of science fiction.”
In addition to his fame as a writer, he was prominent in his lifetime as a forward-looking, even prophetic social critic who devoted his literary talents to the development of a progressive vision on a global scale. He foresaw the advent of aircraft, tanks, space travel, nuclear weapons, satellite television and something resembling the World Wide Web. His science fiction imagined time travel, alien invasion, invisibility, and biological engineering. His most notable science fiction works include The Time Machine (1895), which was his first novel, The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897), and The War of the Worlds (1898).
Dr. Mark Schenker, the senior associate dean of Yale College, is an esteemed lecturer on literary topics.
Don’t miss these upcoming events for all ages celebrating H.G. Wells, his works and lasting impact.
Seeing Beyond: The Works & Vision of H.G. Wells is made possible by the generosity of the Friends of the Ridgefield Library.
When the weather is fine, you can enjoy our comfortable outdoor spaces: the beautiful new Dean and Theresa Miller Terrace, located off the Bossidy Commons; the Richardson Terrace outside the lower level program rooms; and the Library Lawn on Main Street. There is seating and wifi service available in all of these areas.
The Ridgefield Library welcomes Jane Lindenburg as the Library’s new Development Director. Ms. Lindenburg began her career as a communications consultant with the human resources firm Hewitt Associates (now AonHewitt). In the following ten years, she became a partner and a mother to two daughters. During a long hiatus from the professional world, Jane made a significant commitment to volunteer service in education, mainly in the Ridgefield Public Schools. Her recent career path includes work in development for an education start-up, the Ridgefield Playhouse and a nonprofit serving low-income students in Danbury. Ms. Lindenburg is a long-time Ridgefield resident and a graduate of Colgate University.
The Library undertook an extensive search process to replace Development Director Laureen Bubniak who retired from her position earlier this summer after 12 years of service. Library Director Brenda McKinley said, “We are thrilled to have Jane step into this critical role for the Library. Her professional experience and deep knowledge of our community make her the ideal candidate to continue growing and expanding on Laureen’s important work building the Library’s successful development program.”
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit association library, the Ridgefield Library is not fully funded by the Town of Ridgefield. The Development Director plays a vital role in helping to close the estimated 30% operational budget gap each year, enabling the Library to meet its stated mission: “The Ridgefield Library anticipates and meets the evolving needs of our community. We are an essential partner and the place where people discover, question, learn and connect.” Ms. Lindenburg will begin in her new role at the end of September, just in time for the Library’s annual LYL:Love Your Library weekend scheduled for Friday, September 30th-Saturday October 1st.
(Pictured left to right): Assistant Library Director Andy Forsyth, Development Director Jane Lindenburg, Library Director Brenda McKinley)
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 available for use by patrons holding valid Ridgefield Library cards and 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.
On Saturday, September 17th at 2:00pm, the Ridgefield Library will celebrate the creativity of local writer and longtime Ridgefield resident Ron Goulart.
You are invited to join his family and friends as we celebrate the life of Ron Goulart, author of more than 200 works of fiction and non-fiction: science fiction, mysteries, comic novels, TV and movie scripts, newsletters, cartoon strips, and more. Many of Ron’s books, manuscripts, sketch books and other memorabilia will be on display. Light refreshments will be served.
To register, please visit our calendar at ridgefieldlibrary.com or call (203)438-2282
August 20th–September 29th: Works by Phil Demise Smith are on view now in the Library Gallery on the Lower Level of the building during open hours. An artist, poet and musician, Smith applies the concept of Zuihitsu (“follow the brush”) to all of his creative pursuits. This expressive way of painting has no central point, but rather has many parts that interact with each other. Smith’s colorful, jewel-toned paintings mirror what Smith says is his “train of thought” which presents form and color “all at once,” “going in all directions,” and “presenting the past, present, and the future simultaneously – all at the same time”. The artworks being exhibited are from 1987 through 2022.
On Saturday, September 10th at 2:00pm, Smith will talk briefly about his approach to his artwork, read some of his poetry, and perform a few of his songs. This event will be held in the Library’s Main Program Room. Please register to attend.
Immediately following this presentation there will be an artist’s reception starting at 3:00pm. Refreshments will be served. Both events are free and open to the public.
After two postponements due to the COVID pandemic, the Ridgefield Library’s 2021 Great Expectations Gala will take place virtually on Saturday, May 22, 2021 and will honor Eileen and Jay Walker with the Hope H. Swenson Visionary Award. This year’s Gala will be an extraordinary virtual Roaring 20s event including a fun and engaging virtual pre-party, three-course elegant dinner by Sarah Bouissou, a wine selection by Ancona’s Wines and Liquors, a package of Roaring 20s themed table décor, Roaring 20s musical performances by the Ridgefield High School Jazz Combo and the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, an exclusive personal virtual tour of the Walker Library of the History of Human Imagination by Jay Walker, and more. The Ridgefield Library plans to present a Roaring 20s jewelry and headpiece making virtual program in the weeks leading up to the Gala.
The Walkers have been chosen as recipients of the seventh annual Swenson Visionary Award for their work and philanthropy benefiting Ridgefield and the larger national and global communities. The Walkers’ contributions to the many communities they enrich personify the spirit of the Library’s vision to be the model for a vibrant and vital 21st century community library and its mission to meet the evolving needs of our Ridgefield community as the essential partner and place for people to go to discover, question, learn and connect.
The Ridgefield Library is delighted to honor the Walkers at the 2021 Great Expectations Virtual Gala and present them with the Swenson Award in May.
The Great Expectations Gala is the Ridgefield Library’s biggest fundraiser of the year and helps support operations of the Library year-to-year. The Ridgefield Library is a 501(c) 3 and must raise 30 percent of its operating budget privately each year. For additional information and sponsorship and ticket opportunities, contact Laureen Bubniak, Director of Development at 203-438-2282 Ext. 11029 or [email protected]
2021 Great Expectations Tickets
2021 Great Expectations Sponsorship Opportunities
2021 Great Expectations Advertising Options
April 19th @ 6PM: Ridgefield Action Committee for the Environment (RACE) and Ridgefield Library present the first in a series of six weekly Zoom sessions on Making Smart Energy Choices. The presenters are Ridgefielders with experience in these topics. RACE serves in an advisory capacity to Ridgefield’s Board of Selectmen. RACE’s mission is to raise awareness, educate and bring about actions that can be taken to become smarter about energy use, be good stewards to our natural resources and reduce waste.
Rudy Marconi, First Selectman of the Town of Ridgefield, will introduce the series on April 19. He will highlight what the Town has done, is doing, and plans to do, to help reduce energy use.
- April 19 – Modelling solutions to Climate Change – find out what works and what doesn’t with Roberta Barbieri – Are you interested in a deeper understanding of the solutions to climate change? Do you wonder how much impact solutions such as planting trees or energy efficient buildings can really have on climate change? To find out, join us for a facilitated workshop introducing EN-ROADS, the Climate Solutions simulator developed by MIT Sloan and ClimateInteractive.org.Roberta Barbieri is a Ridgefield resident and Vice President of Global Sustainability for PepsiCo. Roberta is an environmental scientist and engineer with over 25 years of experience in corporate environmental sustainability.
Other programs in the series:
- April 26 – Installing a Solar System on Your Home with Dwayne Escola
- May 3 – How to Get a Free Energy Audit with Gavin Watson
- May 10 – Replacing Your Oil Furnace and HVAC with Geothermal with Beth Ingram
- May 17 – Replacing Your Oil Furnace with an Air Source Heat Pump with Gavin Watson
- May 24 – Electric Vehicle Charging for the Curious with Vincent Giordano
April 20th @ 11AM: The League of Women Voters of Ridgefield and the Ridgefield Library will host the League’s 12th Get To Know Your Town Meeting.
Get To Know Your Town Meetings are a series of educational programs for Ridgefielders to learn about their community and the “inner workings” of the Town, its government, boards, commissions, and councils as well as other Town organizations and entities that provide important services to all of its residents. Join Ridgefield Library Director Brenda McKinley and Ridgefield Library Assistant Director Andy Forsyth to learn more about the Library’s mission and the myriad services and opportunities that are offered to residents of all ages as the Library continues to be “an essential partner and the place where people go to discover, question, learn, and connect”. There will be a brief question and answer period after the presentation.