We're Making STEAM @ the Ridgefield Library, and the Playhouse is also focusing on creativity and innovation. Join us at the opening session of the TED conference in HD, for the first time on the big screen right here in Ridgefield! Hosted by TED's curator Chris Anderson and featuring guest speakers Shonda Rhimes, Astro Teller, AR Rahman, Prime Minister Ushering Tobgay, Bill T. Jones, Riccardo Sabatini.

Contact the Playhouse at 203-438-5795 for information and tickets and join the creativity conversation!

First-Time Homebuyer Seminar

Wednesday, February 17, 6:00 PM

Main Program Room

First-Time Homebuyer and Credit Education Seminar

- The Mortgage Process with Joseph Chelednik, Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist for the Fairfield County Bank.
- What is the role of the real estate agent? with Kyle Neumann and Heather Salaga-Neumann, Licensed CT Real Estate Agents
- What Is the Role of my Attorney? with Attorney George Cohan
- Credit Education and Restoration with Stephen Roberts, Bedrock Credit and Restoration.

Registration is suggested but walk-ins also welcome.

Dramatic Reading with Alan Sklar

Thursday, February 18, 7:00 PM
Main Program Room

Dramatic Reading with Alan Sklar: The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber by Ernest Hemingway

Voice actor Alan Sklar will give a dramatic live reading of The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber by Ernest Hemingway. The story was first published in the September 1936 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine and has been called one of Hemingway's best artistic achievements.

Alan Sklar has been a freelance voice actor for over twenty years, voicing radio and TV commercials, narrating over 200 audiobooks and working on thousands of corporate video projects. Visit www.alansklar.com to learn more. Please register.

Joel Grey @ The Playhouse

Friday, February 19, 8:00 PM

Ridgefield Playhouse

Cabaret: Joel Grey

The Library is pleased to join the Ridgefield Playhouse in bringing to Ridgefield performers and composers who have shaped the American musical landscape. Learn more about these artists and their work through books, recordings and more on display this month @ the Library. Contact the Playhouse at 203-438-5795 for information and tickets.

Hard Drive Smash Saturday

It's mean AND green!

Saturday, February 20, 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Main Program Room

Hard Drive Smash & Computer Recycling

Bring in your old hard drives, PCs, Macs, and laptops, and we will smash them for you so that no one can take your information. Computer parts will then be safely recycled. Brute force provided by the Teen Advisory Group. Secure recycling provided by NewTech Recycling, with thanks to the town of Ridgefield. $20 per hard drive; proceeds benefit RidgeCon 2016, coming in August!

Parenting Lunchtime Discussions

Tuesday, February 16, 12:00 - 1:00 PM

Dayton Program Room

Brown Bag Lunch Discussions

Open to the public. Join us for follow up discussions of topics raised during our Parenting the Selfie Generation series. No registration.

This program is part of a series of talks designed to help parents navigate the often-complicated waters of child-rearing. The series, Parenting the Selfie Generation: Raising Successful Adults, is a joint collaboration between Ridgefield Public Schools, the Ridgefield Council of PTAs, Project Resilience, Silver Hill Hospital and the Ridgefield Library.

Book Discussions this Week

Tuesday, February 16, 7:00 PM

Dayton Program Room

Critics' Circle Book Group
Fifth Business by Robertson Davies

More about this and upcoming Critics' Circle selections

Thursday, February 18, 3:00 PM
Founders Hall

Founders Hall Book Group

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Open to all members of Founders Hall

Friday, February 19, 1:00 PM

Dayton Program Room

Poetry Discussion Group

New and Selected Poems by Samuel Menashe

Join us for a monthly discussion of a chosen poet. The discussion is led by retired English Professor, Dr. Alan Holder. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ridgefield Library. Free copies of the poetry books are available for members of the Friends who attend the discussions. Learn more.

No registration required for Library book groups. New readers always welcome!

Tech Topics: Orientation to 3D Printing

Thursday, February 18, 6:00 PM

Donofrio Family Technology Center

Orientation to 3D Printing

Are you interested in printing your own 3D design on the Library's Makerbot? We are now offering use of our 3D printer to Ridgefield Library cardholders. Before reserving printer time (available in two-hour blocks), we require attendance at a 90-minute orientation session to go over how to format a design to be print ready, how to operate the Makerbot, and for an overview of our usage policies. Patrons under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Registration required.

AARP Tax-Aide

Thursday, February 11 - April 14

8:15 AM - 12 noon by appointment only

Dayton Program Room

AARP Tax-Aide

Volunteers from the AARP will offer free help with income tax filing for low- and moderate-income taxpayers, especially those 60 and older.Tax-Aide sessions will be held at the Ridgefield Library on Thursday mornings from February 11th through April 14th BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Tax-Aide is not a Library program. For appointment or information please call 203-438-4288.

Bookmarks Mark Ridgefield

Running through April 3, 2016

Bookmarks Mark Ridgefield is a community initiative undertaken with The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum and inspired by Aldrich artist Ruth Root's ongoing project exploring her love of books. You can take part by creating your own one-of-a-kind bookmark and distributing bookmarks throughout the Library's stacks. Learn more here.

Reading Is a Family Affair Coming for Children, Teens

Reading Is a Family Affair is the Library's intergenerational book discussion program, now expanded to add sessions for middle schoolers and their parents. Sign up now at the Library and get your free family copy of the book, courtesy of the Friends of the Library. Pizza dinner will be served!

Wednesday, February 24, 6:00 AM

Adult and Child Family Book Discussion

El Deafo by Cece Bell

For grades 3-5, with an adult.

Tuesday, March 15, 6:00 PM

Adult & Teen Family Book Discussion

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt

For grades 6-8, with an adult.

Special Children's Programs this Week

Tuesday, February 16, 11:30 AM

Main Program Room

Life in the Wild with the Beardsley Zoo

The Beardsley Zoo will visit with a live animal presentation for children ages 4 and older. Children will learn about the amazing adaptations animals have for thriving in their habitats. The Beardsley Zoo is part of the library's museum pass program sponsored by the Friends of the Ridgefield Library. Children under 6 must be accompanied by an adult. No registration.

Wednesday, February 17, 4:30 PM

Kellen Family Children's Program Room
Harry Potter Book Club

Calling all muggles in 5th-8th grade! Join us to read and discuss Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. This month we will be discussing chapters 17-20. Snacks will be served and magic may happen : -) Registration is required.

Thursday, February 18, 4:30 PM

Kellen Family Children's Program Room

Bookworms Book Club

Readers in Grades 2 & 3 are invited to a book discussion group! Children pick up the book at the library and return to discuss it. Snacks will be served. This month's book: Marty McGuire by Kate Messner. Registration required.

Saturday, February 20, 11:30 AM

Main Program Room

Music for Little Ones with Evan Gottfried

Evan Gottfried will play original songs in this interactive family concert for children ages 4 and under. Children need to be accompanied by an adult. No registration required.

Weekly Drop-In Children's Programs

Monday, 10:30 AM

Leir Children's Program Room

Drop-In Storytime

Children ages 3 and up are invited for stories, songs and a short book-based film.

Tuesday, 10:15 AM

Leir Children's Program Room

Mother Goose

Mother Goose is a language enrichment program for "walkers" ages 12 months through age 2 including finger plays, music and movement.

Wednesday, 11:30 AM

Leir Children's Program Room

Baby & Me

Finger plays and songs for newborns through age 12 months with a caregiver. Parents of infants are invited to network with each other.

Wednesday, 2:00 PM

Leir Children's Program Room

Time for 3s and 4s

A program just for the three- and four-year-olds including stories, songs and a short film. Children may attend alone or with an adult.

Friday, 11:00 AM

Leir Children's Program Room

Friday Flicks

Book-based movies for ages 2 and up.

Saturday, 10:30 AM

Leir Children's Program Room

Drop-In Storytime

Children ages 3 and up are invited for stories, songs and a short book-based film. The theme today is Charlotte's Web! Hear about Charlotte and other pigs from favorite stories. The Library is pleased to join the Ridgefield Playhouse in bringing to Ridgefield live stage adaptations of beloved children's books. Come to the Library to check out the originals or hear them read at storytime, then experience them live @ the Playhouse.

Time for Teens

Tuesday, February 16, 4:30 PM

Kellen Family Children's Program Room

Middle School Critics

For people in grades 6 through 8. We'll chat about books, movies, plays, music, games, and more. We'll provide snacks, you bring your opinions about whatever media you've been consuming lately!
No registration needed.

Thursday, February 18, 4:30-5:30 PM
Ellis Family Teen Center

Teen Tech Thursday

People in grades 6 - 12 are invited to explore technology and create things, not consume them. This month we'll learn a little about lasers and logic!
Drop in program, no registration needed.

Saturday, February 20, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Study Room 213

Teen Writers Group

For people in grades 6 - 12.Want to improve your writing? Want to get feedback about your work? Come to our teen writing group. There will be writing games, flash fiction challenges, chances to learn about new writers and how to improve your own writing. Drop in for as long as you can. This is a friendly, safe space to grow as as writer.

Also check out details above for Harry Potter Book Club, Hemingway reading and 3D printing orientation.

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