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Final Week for Community Survey
| The deadline for participating in our community survey is this Saturday, April 30. Please help us out by taking this survey online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/RLSurvey2016 or picking up a paper copy at any public service desk. Thank you for your help!
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Spring Stroll in Downtown Ridgefield Friday and Saturday
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 Downtown Ridgefield's annual Spring Stroll is coming on April 29th and 30th. There will be a chalk art festival, live music, street performers, a fashion show, store promotions, restaurant specials and much more. Mark your calendar to join us Friday from 5:00 - 9:00 PM and Saturday from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM on and around Main Street. Pick up a brochure at the Library or participating merchants and check Thursday's Ridgefield Press for details.
Volunteers are still needed for various tasks throughout the weekend. Shifts of one or more hours available Friday and Saturday. Sign up on your own or with a friend or family member. Perfect for community service or just for fun! Contact Mary Rindfleisch at the Library at 203-438-2282 x11009 or mfrind@ridgefieldlibrary.org.
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Important Notice for Ridgefield Library Borrowers
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For the foreseeable future we will no longer process requests for items we do not own and must revise the procedure for placing a hold on items we do own.
Please do not use the REQUEST IT feature in our online catalog to request items from Ridgefield or other Bibliomation libraries. Instead, please go to any service desk in the library, and our staff will be happy to assist you.
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Book Discussions this Week
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Wednesday, April 27, 10:00 AM
Randolph Room
AM Book Group
Under the Net by Iris Murdoch
No registration required for Library book discussions - new readers always welcome! Inquire at the Circulation Desk about copies of the selected title, or purchase at a special book club discount at Books on the Common.
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Don't Let a Little Tick Become a Big Problem: Presentation and Social Media Launch
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Thursday, April 28, 7:00 PM
Main Program Room
Don't Let a Little Tick Become a Big Problem: Best Practices for Family Lyme Disease Prevention and Community Launch of a Social Media Prevention Campaign
Tick- borne disease prevention expert and Ridgefield resident Neeta Connally PhD, will present best-practice strategies for staying safe while continuing to enjoy the great outdoors with your family. Dr. Connally is an Assistant Biology Professor at Western Connecticut State University and Director of the Tick Research Lab at WCSU. She is also scientific advisor for Ridgefield's BLAST Prevention Program. Kate Fitzpatrick, of Kate Fitzpatrick Social Media & Public Relations Consulting, will officially launch our Social Media Prevention Campaign exclusively designed for Lyme Connection by Discovery Communications. Bring your smartphones to share the campaign! Please register.
 Building a Model Community Response to End Lyme Disease is a new initiative developed by Ridgefield based Lyme Connection, SmartRevenue, and the Ridgefield Library, with support from Western Connecticut Health Network, to promote Lyme disease prevention and to provide greater understanding of the seriousness of the disease among all community members.
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Making STEAM: Orientation to 3D Printing
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 Saturday, April 30, 10:00 AM
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.
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Celebrating Shakespeare!
|  We have an entertaining and educational line-up of lectures, films, book discussions and more scheduled for April and May in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the death of the Bard. This week's highlights:
Saturday, April 30, 2:00 - 4:00 PM
On the Library lawn
Meet two of Shakespeare's women in different stages of life and love out on the Library Lawn (or in the Program Room if it rains!)
Barefoot Shakespeare Company is a new group with a pedestrian, engaging and modern outlook on the works of the Bard. Barefoot Shakespeare company is dedicated to bringing Shakespeare's work to a wide, diverse audience. They strive to create work that is grounded, accessible and applicable, dissolving the divide between spectator and performer. No registration required - stop by anytime.
Click here for a full list of project partners and activities.
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Ridgefield Folk with Caroline Doctorow
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Sunday, May 1, 2:00 PM
Main Program Room
Ridgefield Folk with Caroline Doctorow
Caroline Doctorow is a chart-topping Americana folk singer songwriter, with a stirring voice that recalls Judy Collins and Sandy Denny. Her style echos the great '60s folk songwriters. In addition to eleven solo albums, she also released the first retrospective of the work of Richard and Mimi Fariņa called Another Country, which received critical acclaim. Ms. Doctorow tours with her folk band The Steamrollers (fiddle and upright bass). She is the daughter of world-renowned author, the late E.L. Doctorow.
Free tickets are given out on the day of the concert starting at 1: 00 PM. Doors open at 1:30 and the show starts at 2:00. Ridgefield Folk is made possible thanks to the Friends of the Ridgefield Library.
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Special Offers for Library Cardholders @ the Ridgefield Playhouse
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Sunday, May 1, 12:55 PM
Ridgefield Playhouse
Metropolitan Opera in HD: Elektra
The Library is pleased to join the Ridgefield Playhouse in bringing to Ridgefield great stories, told through opera, ballet and drama by the greatest performing companies in the world. Come to the Library to learn more about the history of these masterworks and their creators, then experience extraordinary performances on the big screen in HD @ the Playhouse.
Ridgefield Library cardholders receive the Playhouse member discount price of $20 on tickets to these HD cultural series - just show your card at the box office. College students pay only $15 and students 18 and under attend FREE, so introduce your favorite young person to these classics. Contact the Playhouse at 203-438-5795 for information and tickets.
 Sunday, May 1, 5:30 PMRidgefield Playhouse Entertaining Conversations: John Patrick on Health Care in the Digital Age John Patrick, a supporter of the Ridgefield Library, welcomes you and a guest to the Ridgefield Playhouse on May 1st at 5:30 PM for an entertaining conversation about the future of healthcare. Healthcare in the Digital Age is transforming how we live and this is an exclusive opportunity to learn how to manage your own personal health during in the Obamacare era.
The Playhouse is offering our library patrons the opportunity to purchase a ticket and bring a friend for free to this event. Just show your Library card when you pick up your ticket at the box office. All purchased ticket holders will receive a signed copy of John Patrick's book. Contact the Playhouse at 203-438-5795 for information and tickets.
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Get your Passport to Connecticut Libraries
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Did you know that you can use a Ridgefield Library card throughout the state? During the month of April, we will be participating in the Passport to Connecticut Libraries program to encourage cardholders to visit and explore the amazing diversity of the state's public libraries. 
With sponsorship from the Connecticut Library Association, over 120 libraries will be participating. Starting on April 1st, pick up your passport and the list of participants at any of our service desks. Then take along your passport as you travel to other libraries and receive a stamp and a token gift from each place you visit. If you have stamps from at least five participants by April 30, you will be entered into a statewide drawing for a chance to win a $150 Visa Gift Card (for adults 18 and over) or a $100 Visa Gift Card for children and teens (under 18). A total of four winners will be randomly selected from two categories; the first is for those who have visited at least five libraries and the second is made up of those from each library with the most passport stamps.
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Job Opening: Children's Library Assistant
| | Children's Library Assistant - A year-round position in the Ridgefield Library's children's department at 19 hours per week. Experience working with children, strong customer service and computer skills are essential. Some college required. Library experience desired. Must be available afternoons, evenings and weekends. Hourly rate starts at $16. Application form is required and available here. Application deadline is May 9, 2016. |
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Special Children's Programs this Week
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 Wednesday, April 27, 4:30 PM
Kellen Family Children's Program Room
Nutmeg Nibblers/Junior Critics Now that we've read and discussed all of this year's Nutmeg nominees, let's start reading some of the nominees from past years. They're just as wonderful! This month's title: Archer's Quest by Linda Sue Park. We have plenty of copies in Children's Services, so stop in and check one out! Registration required.
Thursday, April 28, 4:30 PM
Leir Children's Program Room
Mystery Science
For kids in 4th & 5th grade. Join Head of Children's Services Gayle Pulley and Children's Services Librarian Mary Beth Rassulo and discover how much fun science can be. Registration is required.
Saturday, April 30, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM On the Library lawn Bossy Frog Band Concert Stop by the front lawn of the library during the Spring Stroll to enjoy the Bossy Frog Band! Dance along with a spring frog and enjoy the original music for children ages 6 and under. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be in the Main Program Room on the Library's lower level. No registration.
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Weekly Drop-In Children's Activities
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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. This week: stories featuring Curious George, in conjunction with the live Curious George performance at the Ridgefield Playhouse on May 7th.
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Time for Teens
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Tuesday, April 26, 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.
 Wednesday, April 27, 4:00 PMDayton Program Room
Tools for Teens: Life Hacks to Calm the Chaos
Rebalancing with movement, breath, energy work & mindfulness with Christel Autori, Yoga, JoAnn Inserra Duncan, Energy Techniques and Sharon Todd, Mindfulness Meditation. Tools for Teens is a new series in partnership with the Health & Wellness Council of the Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce for teens striving to live healthy lives. Please register.
Thursday, April 28, 4:30 - 6:30 PM
Kellen Family Children's Program Room Trading Card Game Club People in grades 6 - 12 who enjoy trading card games such as Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, and Yu-Gi-Oh! are invited to come play on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at the Library. The club is run by middle school students who are fans of the games. Current players of the games will find people to play against, and those who are interested but have never played are welcome to come and learn. This is a drop-in program, no registration required.
 Friday, April 29, 4:00 - 5:30 PM Donofrio Family Technology Center Fandoms Unite
Are you a Whovian or a Potterhead or manga maniac or a Camp Halfblood wannbe? Do you love Sherlock or Supernatural or Star Wars or Once Upon a Time? Come to this gathering of the fans! It's like a book club, but for anyone devoted to pop culture in all its forms. We'll focus on a different aspect of fandom each time. We'll discuss our favorite things, our newest discoveries and our latest obsessions. Drop in - no registration.
Also check out the listings above for 3D printing orientation on Saturday morning, Barefoot Shakespeare on the lawn Saturday afternoon and Ridgefield Folk with Caroline Doctorow on Sunday.
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