News and events from the Fairfield Public Library!

September 2016

A Word from the Town Librarian
Dear Friends, 
September is Library Card Sign-up Month. So I am inviting you to let your family, friends and neighbors know how much you value what we do and to encourage those who do not yet have a Fairfield Public Library Card to do so.  Why not  become part of a community of 38,000 people who enjoy excellent library services?  They have free access to library materials including print and digital books carefully selected by professional librarians for them. Share that story time classes help children learn to read, socialize and make new friends in a safe, welcoming learning environment.  Let them know they can have an enriching cultural experience with world class music, literature classes, and art talks. Students and their parents can start to learn about college options with our college prep programs. Newcomers can join a knitting, sewing or crafting community and become part of a creative team that develops beautiful items and friendships. If a relative has fallen ill or needs extra care, librarians will hand select books, etc. and volunteers will deliver them to their home.  There is so much to learn and enjoy at the Fairfield Public Library.  And to fully indulge, all you need is a Library Card.
                     Regards, Karen

Creating Yourself in Retirement: The Emotional Aspect
For retirees and soon-to-be-retirees, this presentation by three retirement experts showcases various options for enhancing quality of life in retirement. Retirement is a time of enormous change that promises emotional rewards but also has the potential for emotional dangers (boredom, depression, addiction). Learn what to expect in transitioning to retirement and how to successfully navigate this life change.  Please register here.
Thursday, September 15, 7:00 pm
Rotary Room, Main Library

CHILDREN'S NEWS
Fall Programs are coming soon!
Our fall programs will resume the week of September 12 and continue through December 9. 
Story times, Special Events, Book Groups, Tech Clubs, Maker Series, Workshops and more! Check our website for a complete list of programs.
Registration opens September 6. 
Register online here, by phone (203.256.3161), or stop by the Children's Room.
 


Tomato Tasting Event
Nothing says summer like tomatoes! What's your favorite type? Did you know there are over 350 different varieties, all with their own unique flavor?  Share some of your varieties. We'll display and taste test everyone's. Are your tomatoes the plumpest, juiciest, sweetest?  Eric Frisk will talk about the Seed to Seed library at Fairfield Woods and demonstrate seed saving with tomatoes.  $10 donation suggested to cover costs. Any proceeds will go to the Seed to Seed library.
Saturday, September 10, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Greenfield Hill Grange #133, 1873 Hillside Rd. Fairfield, CT

GETTING READY FOR COLLEGE SERIES
Finding Your College
Wednesday, September 7, 7:00 pm
Rotary Room, Main Library
For teens and parents. Mary Spiegel returns to lay out the best practices for getting in to the colleges that best fit your needs. She will cover the college search process and an overview of the steps and strategies to create a plan for success in the coming months and yearsPlease register.

Demystifying Test Preparation
Monday, September 12,  7:00 pm
Rotary Room, Main Library
Test prep expert Lynn Carnegie returns for what is sure to be another popular discussion of the ins and outs of standardized testing.  She will address the different standardized tests - PSAT, SAT, and ACT, which have all made important changes recently. High school students and their parents are welcome.  Please register.


Friends Annual Membership Meeting
featuring Wendy Walker author of All Is Not Forgotten
Wednesday, September 14, 7:00 pm
Memorial Room, Main Library
Join the Friends of the Fairfield Public Library For their Annual
Membership Meeting and Author Event with special guest, Wendy Walker. Ms. Walker's latest book, All Is Not Forgotten is the next blockbuster thriller for fans of Girl On A Train and Luckiest Girl Alive - with film rights already snapped up by actress Reese
Witherspoon. For more about the author, please visit www.wendywalkerbooks.com.
There will be a brief business meeting and installation of 2016-2017 officers, followed by author talk and book signing. Books will be available for purchase. Light refreshments will be served. 
Reservations are required and all are welcome. Please register here or contact Danielle Sharp at [email protected]

Medicare Enrollment: What You NEED to Know.
Nancy Lombard, the Long Term Options Specialist for the Southwestern CT Agency on Aging, will present information for both existing Medicare beneficiaries and those who will be new to Medicare this coming year.  Thousands of people sign up for Medicare each year. Learn how to avoid enrollment mistakes that can be costly.  Ms. Lombard will cover eligibility criteria, initial and annual enrollment periods, preventive services, Medicare A, B, C, and D.
Join us and learn the "ins and outs" of Medicare.  And always, bring questions of your own! Please register.
Tuesday,  September 20,  7:00 pm
Rotary Room, Main Library


Sew Crafty Saturday
Special Program: Quilt in a Day
Have you wanted to learn quilting? What better way to learn than one condensed day of instruction. This special class requires you to know how to sew. Once you sign up you will be sent a list of supplies that you will need to purchase and bring to the program. Bring a lunch; you'll be quilting through the lunch hour.  Registration required.
Saturday, September 10, 9:30 am-4:30 pm
Platt Walsh Room,
Fairfield Woods Branch Library
Sewing Studio, Fairfield Woods Branch Library
Schumannia!
Soundwaves Fall Concert with the Lions Gate Trio
The fabulous Lions Gate Trio, the Library's chamber music trio in residence, return to perform works of Robert Schumann. The Trio will discuss Schumann's uniquely irresistible and idiosyncratic music: alternately lyrical, fantastical, robust and tender. He is a true Romantic soul. The program includes the beloved F Major Trio No. 2 and the four fantastic character pieces from the Fantasy Pieces for piano trio. Presented by the internationally acclaimed Lions Gate Trio featuring Darrett Adkins on cello, Katie Lansdale on violin and Florence Millet on piano. Please register.
Saturday, September 24, 3:00 pm
Memorial Room, Main Library

Walking at Woods
Walkers of all ages and abilities are invited to meet at the Library to go on a 30-45 minute walk around the neighborhood. The American Heart Association confirms that regularly walking briskly for 30 minutes has unlimited health benefits. They claim if you walk with others it can keep you motivated, improve your accountability and help you meet new people with similar goals. Come walk and talk with us about your past, present, and future reads! Meet us at the Flag Pole to begin! Drop in program.
Fridays, September 9-October 28, 9:30 am
Fairfield Woods Branch Library
Art of Daycations
A daycation is a micro adventure to get away from it all without the need to spend the night. Travel Artisan, Nina Lesiga, will share how to research the possibilities and how to design exceptional days away. Her passion is finding "vacation happiness" on day trips equal to or greater than what she experiences on longer trips. Whether heading out solo or with family and friends, approaching a daycation as a traveler can help you identify terrific options that uniquely suit you. In this fast paced world it's essential to refuel and to rebalance personal perspective for well-being. A daycation is a great way to achieve that! Presenter Nina Lesiga is a Travel Coach who encourages travel for learning and to feed one's happiness. She has appeared on Connecticut Style TV show and was featured in Connecticut Magazine. Please register.
Tuesday, September 13, 6:30 pm
Platt Walsh Room, Fairfield Woods Branch Library

Board Game Night for Teens and Adults
For ages 13-113. Looking for some new board game buddies? Curious to try out different games? Stop by and play games like Settlers of Catan, Pandemic, Dominion, Smash Up, and more. Bring a friend, and feel free to bring your own game to teach. Please register as space is limited.
Wednesdays, September 14, October 12, November 9 and December 14, 6:00 pm
Rotary Room, Main Library

DEMOCRACY IS in many ways dependent upon an educated electorate. This election season, libraries are in a perfect position to help their communities head to the polls with the knowledge they need to make an informed choice. The country is already knee-deep in one of the most contentious political seasons in recent memory, and chances are that library users are hungry for information on a wide variety of political subjects.
Whether you're looking for basics on voter registration and deadlines, interested in researching nonpartisan facts, or curious about the finer details of campaign contributions, you will find an abundance of helpful information here. These sites are all free and web-based. They are all relatively easy to navigate, are updated frequently, and offer credible information. Navigate from our website under the Learning & Research tab to Election 2016.

WELLNESS
Sahaja Yoga Meditation
This is a simple yet profound guided meditation including easy hand movements done while sitting in the comfort of a chair. Benefits include increased mental strength and focus; improved immune system and energy level and improved breathing and heart rate. Presented by Jesse Rovero.  Register for each session.
Thursdays, September 15, October 13 and December 1, 6:30pm
Fairfield Woods Branch Library
 
Proactive Brain Health (R)
Learn tips and healthy habits for maintaining a healthy brain, potentially reducing the risk of cognitive decline, especially helpful for older adults at risk for cognitive impairment. Presenter Alicia C. Seaver, Bridges by Epoch Director of Memory Care, is certified by the National Institute on Aging as a Memory Impairment Specialist, and is also a Certified Positive Approach to Care Trainer. She has nearly 20 years of experience in the senior living industry.
Monday, September 19, 6:30 pm
Fairfield Woods Branch Library
Men's Health at Midlife & Beyond
A key approach to graceful aging at midlife is to understand how to take a proactive approach to health. This course will provide men with knowledge of common health conditions that men suffer from and how to seamlessly incorporate nutrition and exercise to help overcome these diseases. Topics will include: cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, prostate diseases and sexual dysfunction. Presented by Kulveen Virdee, ND, professor of medical immunology and clinical nutrition and Bill Fellah, personal trainer, fitness director and strength coach. Please register.
Wednesday, September 21, 7:00 pm
Rotary Room, Main Library 

The Practical Parent 
Mondays: September 12, 19 & 26, 9:30 am
Children's Program Room, Main Library
playful-family-portrait.jpg
Join Susan Reichman O'Brien, LCSW as she provides three morning workshop on topics of interest for parents. Registration is required for each individual session.  
September 12: Discipline & Consistent
Parenting
September 19: Sleep Problems/Nutrition/
Toilet Training
September 26: Language Skills


CALLING ALL FAIRFIELD WOODS TEENS!
 
Click here to sign up for weekly downUNDER updates and get news and information about all the different teen activities each day in the downUNDER!  
 
The downUNDER Teen Center is located in the basement of the Woods Branch Library and is open Monday-Thursday when school in session from 3:00-4:45 pm.  

Jobs & Careers
Boost Your Network and Crush Every Interview!
Networking and Interviewing Master Class
Have you ever wished you could find a way to meet with a hiring manager, wanted to ace your interview, or sought to stand out from other talented candidates for a dream job?
Andrew Malkin has worked for and interviewed with start-ups, medium-sized businesses and Fortune 500 companies. These include RR Donnelley, Google, Amazon, LinkedIn, Boston Consulting Group, IBM, Twitter, McKinsey and others. In this Networking and Interviewing Master Class, he will help you discover how to foster and grow your network using the "Dead Mouse" concept, ace an interview using the SOAR method when answering questions, differentiate yourself from other talented candidates by creating a Personal Marketing plan. Andrew will also touch on thank you notes, types of interviews as well as questions to ask the hiring manager for the first time job hunter or the mid-career executive.  Please register.
Thursday, September 22, 7:00 pm
Rotary Room, Main Library

Jennifer Butler Fall Fashion Show
Sunday, September 25, 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Art/Place Gallery
70 Sanford Street, Fairfield, CT
Fairfield's own fashion designer, Jennifer Butler, will unveil her fall collection while benefiting the Library. Join us for a night of fashion, food and fun. Advance tickets are $50 for adults and $30 for students; $60 at the door. Checks should be made payable to Jennifer Butler and may be dropped off at the Circulation Desk at the Main Library.
You may contact Jennifer at 203-256-5768 or [email protected]. Net proceeds are donated to the Library.

Film Screening of His Neighbor Phil
Monday, September 26, 6:30 pm
Platt Walsh Room,
Fairfield Woods Branch Library
His Neighbor Phil is the story of Harvey, a man whose wife Mary has early onset Alzheimer's disease. The film shows the effects of the disease on his wife, the entire family and their community. While the film deals honestly with the realities of the disease, it also focuses attention on the tireless work of caregivers. Starring nationally-known actors Stephanie Zimbalist, Daniel Roebuck, Oscar nominee Sally Kellerman and Nashville recording star Ashlee Hewitt . Not rated. 89 minutes. Introduction will be by Mr. Jay Kiley, owner of SYNERGY Homecare of Fairfield. SYNERGY Homecare is a co-producer of the film along with My Town Pictures. Carolyn DeRocco, Vice President of Programs and Education at the Alzheimer's Association Connecticut Chapter, will also be there to answer questions after the film. Please register.

Small Business & Entrepreneurs
Grow Your Inbox: Quick, Easy Ideas to Expand Your Reach
How's your email list? Is it growing steadily or a bit stagnant?  When was the last time you actually contacted them? Are you ready to develop a great list of email addresses to start marketing to? Learn how to execute an action plan. This seminar will help you identify how to gather contacts of people interested in your organization wherever they have found you. Helpful technologies tips and tactics for keeping your contacts organized and segmented for more effective targeted marketing. In this seminar you will learn how to get started with gathering email contacts, establish an organized contact segmentation process, grow your email lists with social media and in person, and keep your subscribers interested & engaged after they sign up. Join us and learn some great strategies for collecting and managing your contact list -- so you can start to grow your email list, expand your reach and achieve your goals! Presenter Cheryl Henchar is the President and Founder of Cheryl's Creative Services located in Stamford.  Please register.
Tuesday, September 27, 7:00 pm
Rotary Room, Main Library

Tech Topics
Navigating the Library's Digital Content: hoopla
hoopla has over 500,000 digital items to check out for free with your Fairfield Public Library card including movies, television shows, music, e-books, comics, and audiobooks. Please register.
Wednesday, September 28, noon-1:00 pm
Rotary Room, Main Library
  
Introduction to Excel 2010  
Learn how to create spreadsheet documents and use Excel formulas to manipulate data. Formatting and editing basics will be covered. Prerequisite: basic mouse and keyboarding skills. Presenter Jan Byrnes works in the Fairfield Public School system and has been a popular computer instructor at the Library for many years. Please register.
Wednesday, September 28, 7:00 pm
Harold B. Harris Computer Lab, Main Library

BOOK SALE NEWS
The Friends of the Fairfield Public Library will have a Special Book Sale on Friday and Saturday, September 9 and 10. The sale will be held at the Main Library in the Twice ReAD Room during regular library hours. All adult fiction and non-fiction will be $5.00 a bag. Purchase ten children's books or CDs for $5.00. Only cash payments will be accepted for purchases made at this sale.

The Friends of the Fairfield Public Library raise money to support Library programs such as One Book One Town, Soundwaves concerts, the Kershner Gallery, author luncheons, mini golf, and children's programs. The Book Sale always welcomes books, CDs and DVDs in good condition. Donations may be dropped off at the receiving room near the circulation desk at the Main Library.


IN THE GALLERY

The current exhibit "Earth & Beyond", a show of the art of Fran Gallogly and Eric Chiang will run through September 25 in the Bruce S. Kershner Gallery at the Main Library.  

20th Century Short Stories with Dr. Mark Schenker
Thursdays: September 8, 15, and 22, 7:00 pm
Memorial Room, Main Library
Dr. Mark Schenker presents lectures/discussion on North American short stories of the latter half of the 20th century.  Works by three superb fiction writers - Joyce Carol Oates, Alice Munro, and Lorrie Moore - provide a brief introduction to the extraordinary variety of themes and styles that we meet in the best short fiction.  Register for each session.
September 8:  Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been
September 15:  A Wilderness Station
September 22: People Like That Are the Only People Here.
Copies of the short stories under discussion are available at the Main Library and the Fairfield Woods Branch Library.  Join us for some evenings of  great discussion and learning!
Fairfield Public Library                 203 256-3160 
1080 Old Post Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
  
Fairfield Woods Branch Library     203 255-7308
1147 Fairfield Woods Road
Fairfield, CT  06825
  
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