WILTON LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
137 Old Ridgefield Road
Wilton, CT 06897
Tel: 203-762-3950
  • Hours:
  • Mon-Thurs: 10-8
  • Fri: 10-6
  • Sat: 10-5
  • Sun: 1-5 (Sept-June)


Contact Information
email: library@wiltonlibrary.org
voice: 203-762-3950
web: www.wiltonlibrary.org


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Wilton Library Association Newsletter
June 2008

in this issue
-- Computer Classes in June - Sign Up Now!
-- For, By, and About Teens
-- Teddy Bear Picnic for Tots and Sleepy Time Stories
-- June's Behind the Blossoms Art Exhibit
-- Hot & Cool Jazz with Taylor Eigsti
-- Tango and Swing!
-- Father's Day Crafts for Kids
-- Museum Trip to The Florence Griswold Museum
-- Summer Reading Debut is Monday, June 16th
-- Did You Know?
-- Kids' Book Club Starts June 24th
-- Special "Miss Lesley Craft" on Summer Fridays!

Hello!

June 30th is the official end of the Library's year when we take the opportunity to review the ways in which we've been able to serve the community and celebrate those who have made exceptional contributions. We invite you all to join us at 4pm on Sunday, June 15th, at the 113th Annual Meeting. We'll congratulate a volunteer and staff person of the year (plaques commemorating them both will join those of others named in the past decade or so and hung upstairs outside the Rimer Room). In addition, we will say thanks to Trustees departing from the Board of the Wilton Library Association, presenting a book in the name of each to the Library's collection. Wilton Library Friends (those who have made donations to the Library in FY'08) will elect new Trustees to fill vacancies on the Board and name the officers for the coming year.

After the business portion of the meeting, we'll adjourn to hear and view an entertaining presentation about modernist architecture by Frederick Noyes, architect and son of the late Eliot Noyes, who designed the 1975 portion of our building. Fred recently appeared at the Aldrich Museum and was very warmly received by the audience there; we are excited to welcome him to Wilton on the 15th.

Finally, and with great fanfare, we will announce the new Wilton Reads! selection for the fall, and distribute 100 complimentary copies of the novel, made possible by a generous donation from The Wilton Bank. Come hear what the community will be discussing in coming months and get a copy to read this summer. Please note that the Library will close at 4pm so that everyone may attend the Meeting and a brief reception will follow the proceedings.

I hope to see you there!
Kathy Leeds, Wilton Library Director


Computer Classes in June - Sign Up Now!
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Computer Our very own computer guru and Head of Network Services, Mary Anne Mendola Franco, will offer a quartet of computer classes in June. Please note that advance registration is required for these popular free sessions and class size is limited to 10 students. To insure the best learning experience for all students, latecomers will not be seated after ten minutes past the listed start time.

Basic Internet
Feeling behind the times? Want to jump on the information superhighway? Anxious to learn how to search for restaurant reviews, stock prices, or movie times? There are no prerequisites for this class on basic Internet skills other than a desire to learn. Sign up now!
~~Tuesday, June 3rd, from 6:30 to 8 pm
~~Thursday, June 5th, from 12:30 to 2 pm

Intermediate PowerPoint
Learn how to add and format charts and graphs in your presentations. Basic computer skills, including mouse proficiency, are required. Sign up now!
~~ Tuesday, June 10th, from 6:30 to 8 pm
~~ Thursday, June 12th, from 12:30 to 2 pm


For, By, and About Teens
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Megaphone Wilton High School Film Festival
On Wednesday, June 4th, from 7:30 to 8:30 pm, an exceptional display of talent and creativity will take place at the Library. For the fifth consecutive year, Wilton High School Video Production students have assembled the best of their video projects to be viewed by the public. This year's screenings will be on the big screen in the Brubeck Room. There is no charge for the program, but we ask that you register in advance. The film festival is co-sponsored by Wilton Library and Wilton High School.

Fades to Gray Teen Band Concert
On Tuesday, June 17th, from 8 to 9:30 pm, local teen band "Fades to Gray" will play classic rock tunes. Members include: Greg Golterman, Will Boudreau, Devon Jeffries, John Liebowitz and Jeff Liebowitz. Refreshments will be served. The concert is open to teens and all those who love classic rock tunes. No registration is necessary - just come and enjoy the music.

Teen Book Talk
On Wednesday, afternoons June 18th and 25th, from 4 to 6 pm, we'll hold the first of our weekly drop-in book discussions for teens. These talks are open to students entering grades 7-12, and teens can come in and talk with other teens about any book they've just read in an informal roundtable format. Free snacks will be provided. No registration is required - just stop by. This series of summer Wednesday talks is sponsored by the John and Patricia Curran Teen Fund.

"Gotcha Reading" Teen Photo Contest
>From Monday, June 23rd through Friday, July 25th, teens entering grades 7 through 12 and 2008 high school graduates can enter the Library's very first "Gotcha Reading" Photo Contest. Enter your 5x7 or 8x10 photos of people reading, compete for prizes, and have your work displayed at the Library in an August show. Prizes will be awarded for the most original place found reading, the most humorous photo and the most artistic composition. Photos should be dropped at the Circulation Desk if the Teen desk is closed and must be accompanied by entry forms. This contest is sponsored by the John and Patricia Curran Teen Fund. Call for details.

Body Collage for Teens
On Thursday, June 26th, from 3 to 5 pm, teens entering grades 7 through 12 can create life-size images of themselves using paper, markers, yarn, fabric, and other materials. All necessary materials will be provided by the library. Please register in advance. This program is sponsored by the John and Patricia Curran Fund.


Teddy Bear Picnic for Tots and Sleepy Time Stories
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Teddy Bear Reading and a love of books are essential ingredients to a happy, healthy childhood. On Thursday, June 5th, from 10:15 to 10:45 am, toddlers ages 1 to 2 are invited with their cardgivers to a special book sharing time. The finger plays, songs, books and activities that morning will be selected to introduce children to the Library and to story times. Children are welcome to bring their teddy bears or any snuggly. No registration is necessary - just come and be enchanted with the magic of reading!

Additonally, please note that our Sleepy Time Story Times start Monday, June 23rd, from 6 to 6:30 pm for kids ages 2 through 6. Children can put on their pajamas, grab a blanket, and come to the Library for stories before they head home for bed. Children under the age of 4 must be accompanied by an adult, and no registration is necessary for this great way to end those summer days. Additional dates in the Sleepy Time series are July 7th, 21st and Aug. 4th.


June's Behind the Blossoms Art Exhibit
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Flower On Friday, June 6th, from 6 to 7:30 pm, you are invited to attend the opening reception for our June art exhibit, which combines the work of six exceptional professionals. These botanical artists, all instructors at The New York Botanical Gardens, represent well more than 100 years of experience in interpreting nature and have spent countless hours in creating highly accurate and detailed representations of plant life. Included is the work of Carol E. Hamilton (Wilton, CT), Lauretta Jones (Purdys, NY), Kathie K. Miranda (Shelton, CT), Dick Rauh, Ph.D (Wilton, CT), Louisa Rawle Tiné (South Salem, NY) and and the late Eleanor Wunderlich (Ossining, NY).

We hope you'll be able to come to the reception to shop and meet the artists attending, and the show will run through Saturday, June 28th. A portion of the proceeds from all purchases during the month benefits the Library's Art Fund for the purchase of materials on art and art instruction.


Hot & Cool Jazz with Taylor Eigsti
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Taylor Eigsti On Sunday, June 8th, from 5 to 7 pm, we'll be treated to an encore performance by the pianist who began our amazing Hot & Cool: Jazz at the Brubeck Room concert series last year. The two-time Grammy award nominee, Taylor Eigsti, returns to Wilton Library's Hot & Cool: Jazz at the Brubeck Room series. The two-time grammy award nominee was an unqualified sensation when he thrilled his debut audience and we've been looking forward to his return for a year. The 22-year-old pianist/composer/bandleader's sound is rooted in jazz history, but it also incorporates the progressive jazz sound of the 21st century. His most recent release, Let It Come to You (Concord), is currently #3 on the JazzWeek sales chart!

A reception will follow the concert and we'll have CDs available for sale and signing. The series is funded by the William and Karen Tell Foundation with special thanks to Ed and Catherine Romer and Tish and Chris Brubeck.

Advance registration is strongly recommended and pre-registrants must arrive by 4:50 pm to be guaranteed seating. After 4:50 pm, and if space is available, wait-listed and walk-in registrants will be admitted. We ask that you consider a donation of $10 per person for the outstanding concerts in this series so that we can continue to bring outstanding music to the Brubeck Room all year long.


Tango and Swing!
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Tango Come for a great evening of dance at the Library on Thursday, June 12th, from 7 to 8:30 pm! No experience or partner is required, just a sense of adventure and fun. The free class will be taught by Master Instructor, Sharyn Berman, who says she hopes to "inspire playfulness, confidence, and the building of strong relationships through the dynamics of partner dance."

Please dress comfortably and note that leather soled shoes are preferable. There is no charge for the program, but we ask that you register in advance.


Father's Day Crafts for Kids
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Trophy It's that time of year when we recognize dads and show them how much we appreciate them. On Friday and Saturday, June 13th and 14th, the Library will help kids out in their quest for the perfect way to express their love. Children of all ages can drop by all day during Library hours for a Father's Day-themed craft to present to their dads on Sunday.

All necessary materials will be supplied by the Library at no charge and samples will be provided to inspire and guide kid creations. No reservations are required - just come!


Museum Trip to The Florence Griswold Museum
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Florence Griswold Museum Over the past couple of years, the Library and St. Matthew's Episcopal Church have joined forces to explore museums in Connecticut and New York, particularly for special exhibits scheduled in our area. The series has been very successful, and I am excited to invite you all to the latest installment, a talk about and visit to the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, CT.

On Monday, June 16th, from 11 am to noon, popular art historian and guest lecturer Joan Kaskell will return to the Library to talk about the Florence Griswold Museum and a very special exhibit that will be a highlight for those who visit. Beginning in the early 1900s, Florence Griswold opened her timeworn family home to several artists searching for a quiet country retreat where they could rejuvenate their spirits and find sources of inspiration. The group was known as the Lyme Art Colony and Miss Florence's boardinghouse soon became the center of Impressionism in America. To honor Miss Florence and the Colony, the Florence Griswold Museum was established in 1947 and it has become one of New England's premier tourist destinations. Please register in advance for Joan's presentation (including a slide show with images from both permanent and special exhibits).

On Wednesday, June 18th, from 9:30 to 4:30 pm, we'll be off to visit the Museum. Our mini-bus will depart from the Library at 9:30 am, with the return trip leaving Old Lyme at 3 pm. The trip to Old Lyme includes a tour of the Museum including the current special exhibit entitled "Impressionist Giverny: The Americans, 1885-1915," and lunch at the wonderful Bee and Thistle Inn. The cost for bus, museum admission and tour, and lunch is $68 and reservations will be made on a first come-first served basis. Please call for more information about availability (762-3950) and stop by our Circulation Desk at the Library to register immediately if space is available or to be placed on the waiting list. Note that payment is required at the time of registration and is non-refundable unless we are able to fill your seat at the time of cancellation.


Summer Reading Debut is Monday, June 16th
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Sun With Book The Summer Reading Program at the Library is such a beloved part of the fabric of our community. This year, registration week for those 2-12 years old will run from Monday, June 16th, through Friday, June 20th. The theme for 2008 was chosen with the upcoming election in mind, and is entitled Travel the 50 States.

Each week kids will see a different focus on our country, from the South and Appalachia to the Prairies and all the way to California. Craft programs, live animal events, musical programs and Drop-In Story Times will take place throughout the summer to build excitement about reading and engender a love of literature. Children are invited to sign up, decorate their automobile-shaped posters, and begin a reading log at any point during the program which ends Friday, August 15th. June Summer Reading events include:

On Mondays, June 23rd & 30th, from 10 am to 8 pm, kids of all ages can drop in to create Crafts based on the weekly theme. Necessary materials for each craft will be supplied by the Library. There will be no charge for these "crafty Mondays" that extend throughout the summer, ending August 11th, and no registration is necessary.

Starting on June 24th, Travel the 50 States Story Times will take place on Tuesdays through August 12th. Please join us as our staffers entertain and engage Ones and Twos with caregivers, from 10:15 to 10:45 am, Twos and Threes with caregivers from 11 to 11:30 am, Threes and Fours on their own from 11:45 am to 12:15 pm and Fives through Eights from 2 to 2:45 pm.

On Wednesday, June 25th, from 3 to 4 pm, kids won't want to miss Wild Goose Nation, a string band specializing in an astonishing range of traditional American music. These three multi-instrumentalists learned their music from some of the master tradition bearers of Appalachian, African-American, Cajun, French-Canadian and Irish-American culture. Wild Goose Nation is dedicated to promoting America's rich heritage of traditional music. Their music will take listeners (ages 4-12 and caregivers) on a joyful trip across America! There is no charge for the program, thanks to underwriting by the Fannie Lienhard Fund, and no registration is necessary. The first 150 people (children and caregivers) to arrive will be admitted. Children must be accompanied by adults and seating will begin at 2:30 pm, one-half hour before the program.

On Monday, June 30th, from 6 to 6:30 pm, the Children's Library will be the site for American Tales. Staff members will read folk tales and stories about America for kids 5 and older. Stop by on the 30th and on additional dates of July 14th, July 28th, and August 11th. There will be no charge for the programs and no registration is necessary.


Did You Know?
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Question Mark Did you know that the Library has been offering a "self-checkout" option for the past couple of months? Because of our book sale and school art exhibition, and gala, the new self-check station has been temporarily subtle, tucked away on the side of the Circulation Desk for safe keeping. Now, though, it has emerged into the limelight! The corner of the Gallery near the new fiction is its new home and we urge you to give it a whirl. You can check books and other materials out by scanning first your library card and then the barcode on each of the items you wish to borrow. Any amounts owed on your account may be paid off on the spot with cash or a credit card. Only DVDs and CDs with locking cases must be brought to the Circulation Desk for special treatment by the staff to ready them for use.

We are hoping you will find this new service a time-saver and fun. In fact, we are soon going to apply for a grant to fund a second checkout machine in the Children's Library so that our youngest patrons and their caregivers can take advantage of the self-service model. We all know how tech savvy youngsters are and fully expect them to be on the front lines, explaining the user-friendly process to everyone around once we have our second station purchased and installed.

Please make sure you stop by the Gallery self-check station and "check it out!" Circulation staff members are close by to help you get started.


Kids' Book Club Starts June 24th
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Children Reading On Tuesday, June 24th, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, kids entering grades 3 through 6 can do more than just talking in the Children's Library Book Club! Each meeting throughout the summer will have a different theme and June 24th's theme is going to be Appalachia. Children will read novels about the area, then come to the Library for a book talk and more fun. Additional dates on the Kids' Book Club calendar are July 15th, July 29th, and August 12th. No charge for the program.

Registration is required for each individual meeting, so sign up for June 24th now.


Special "Mrs. Keogh Craft" on Summer Fridays!
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On Friday, June 27th, from 3 to 5 pm, kids entering grade 2 and older are invited to join Library Assistant Lesley Keogh for the first of her special summer crafts workshops.

The ever-popular Mrs. Keogh will provide an outlet for kids' creativity at these sessions on three Fridays during the summer (additional workshop dates are July 18th and Aug. 1st) at no charge and no registration is necessary...simply come and have fun!



Contact Information
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phone: 203-762-3950
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