Just as the cicadas are tuning up with the summer heat, so are the bands tuning up for the Summer Music & More Concert Series in the library's courtyard. This very popular summer ritual begins its fifth season with Chance Browne and the blues band Twinkies ready to perform on Thursday, June 30 from 5 - 6:30 p.m. This is the fifth straight year that Chance and his group have opened the evening concerts. Also returning this summer is the teen band Flooded headed up by Alex Blair and Mike Grippi and accompanied by their friends on July 7; Bob Riccio returns with the rock 'n' roll band, Kix, on July 21. On July 14, Jeff Harding is returning to Wilton after many years of playing, working and living in Florida. Jeff, a 1994 graduate of Wilton High School, will be performing with Frank Licari on guitar and vocals. The Summer Music & More Concert Series entices more than one hundred people to come to the library's courtyard to listen and to enjoy the free concerts, food and refreshments. For the fifth year in a row The Village Market is the sponsor of the concert series and for the third year, Michael Crystal, founder of the Grand Crew Wine Club, is donating the wine.
For the week of July 4, the library will be closed so that the move of the Children's Library to its new location can take place. From July 11, the new Children's Library is planned to open with the Adult Services portions of the library remaining closed through the end of the month. This allows the construction crews to do major structural renovations of the existing building without endangering or inconveniencing patrons. During this time, the concerts will take place in the courtyard. For more information, call 762-3950.
Summer Reading Passports available at libraryThe Children's Library staff is frantically issuing "passports" to kids who register for the summer reading program, Passport to Adventure. The theme of the program reflects the cultures and customs of children around the world. The individually created passports include the child's photo taken at the library along with his or her name. The passports will keep track of books read and visits made to the library during the summer weeks ahead. Along with the passports, children have many programs in which they can participate. Drop-In Story Times for kids ages one to eight are on Tuesdays, July 12, 19, 26, August 2 and 9 at various times depending on the age. There is no charge for the program and there is no registration. Adventurous Entertainment takes place on various dates and times as follows: Wednesday, July 13 at 4 p.m. with Caribbean for Kids. The programs continue on various days and times as follows: Wednesday, July 20 Across the Americas with Roger Tincknell at 1 p.m.; Friday, July 22 Won-Ldy Paye, a Liberian storyteller at 2 p.m.; Wednesday, July 27 The Lost Ark - Animals of the World at 2 p.m.; Friday, July 29 Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut represented by Shane Long at 2 p.m. and Thursday, August 4 The Irish Minstrel with Richard Stillman at 2 p.m. There is no charge for each program. Advance registration is required. Children must be accompanied by adults. Cultural Crafts take place on Thursdays from 3 - 4 p.m. for kids ages 3 - 7 as follows: July 14 Antarctic Antics, July 21 Native Americans and July 28 Down Under. Advance registration is required for each program. The materials fee is $5 per child/$4 Young Readers per session. To register for the summer program or any of the individual events, please call the library at 762-3950 or register online. A brochure is available at the library detailing all the dates and times for the various programs.
Amnesty on late fees during closingThe library will be closed the week of July 4 in order to move the Children's Library in its entirety from one wing of the library to the new expansion. Because the move would be so disruptive to patrons, it was decided to close the entire library for this purpose. Thousands of books, hundreds of DVDs and videos, myriad computers will be rolled, rumbled and carted through the existing lobby past the Adult Services area beyond the new lobby and into the west wing where the children of Wilton will have their new space. The planned opening of the new Children's Library and lobby is Monday, July 11. The remaining sections of the existing library will stay closed through the end of the month. During this time, major structural renovations will be made to the existing library all at once allowing for the work to be streamlined and more efficiently managed while at the same time eliminating any danger or inconvenience for patrons. The plan calls for the existing library to re-open on August 1 with new carpeting, lighting, paint and furnishings in most of the sections. The northeast structure of the building which will enclose the courtyard will continue to be built along with the 150-seat Brubeck Room.
While the library is closed, patrons will be able to take advantage of an amnesty program. Items taken out just before the closing will be excused from any late fees through the close of business on August 1. The amnesty is provided as a courtesy to patrons who may be impacted by construction vehicles or site parking changes during this time. Starting on August 2, the fees will revert back to normal and items will be charged for the full time they were held out. The amnesty does not apply to late fines that are already on patrons' records as of July 2.
As stated previously, the courtyard concerts will continue to take place in July. For more information, call 762-3950.
Reminder: The library is closed on Sundays in the summer through September 4.