Ridgefield Library

Friday, December 27, 2024: Families with children ages 2-5 years old are invited to a lively read-aloud followed by some pretend shopping and baking with author and grandma Margot Mustich as we celebrate grandmas around the world in her first illustrated children’s book, When Grandmas Cook. There might even be a sweet surprise to take home!  Books on the Common will have copies for sale and signing. Registration is required and opens on November 27, 2024. To register or for more information, visit the event page.

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”.

Tuesday, December 3rd @ 7:00 pm: How does knowledge about quantum theory and psychic phenomena affect our understanding of our world? Both are mysterious and both are topics of serious research. Both tell us that our world is much wilder than what we imagine. And, both have surprising connections to consciousness. This talk is an exploration into the microscopic world as well as the world of human experience and how they link together in surprising ways.

Peter Bancel holds a Ph.D. in experimental physics and is the author of numerous scientific papers and articles. He currently works at the Institut Métapsychique International in Paris, France, where he studies the interface between physics, consciousness and psychic phenomena. He is also an associate fellow at the Institute of Noetic Sciences in California.

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

Click here to learn more and to register.

Tuesday, December 3rd:  Please support the Ridgefield Library with a donation to the Annual Appeal!  Every gift matters and helps the Library provide the resources, programs and services our community depends on. Thank you!

BIG NEWS:  First time donor gifts made between Friday December 29th and 11:59 pm on Giving Tuesday, December 3^rd, will be MATCHED up to a total matching gift of $2,500 – thanks to the Friends of the Ridgefield Library!

Donate here: https://ridgefieldlibrary.ejoinme.org/MyPages/AppealDonations/tabid/119243/Default.aspx

Friday, November 29th through Sunday, December 1st:  Remember to shop locally at Books on the Common over Thanksgiving weekend!   The first 25 shoppers who show their Ridgefield Library card at check-out will receive the wonderful Nutshell Library collection by Maurice Sendak.  If you know this beloved collection, you know what special gift it makes!

Books on the Common donates 15% of book purchases to the Ridgefield Library during Library Days, when you show your Ridgefield Library card at the register.

Thank you, Books on the Common!