Hello!

The winter holiday season is upon us and, having just enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family, many of us are forging ahead with shopping for special gifts and retrieving special recipes for the weeks ahead. In the flurry (frenzy?) of chores you may have planned, please take time to join us for two lovely events at the Library - events that bring folks together to kindle a spirit of community and caring in a special way at this time of year.

First, on Sunday, December 2nd, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, the Wilton Library Association Board of Trustees invites you all to join them for the Library's Annual Holiday Party. We promise good cheer, holiday music, our traditional spread of refreshments and festive beverages, and a chance to chat with friends and neighbors. Please stop by and let us thank you for your support for our efforts during the year past.

On Friday, December 7th, from 5 to 7 pm, the Library will join other business members of the Wilton Chamber of Commerce in helping to host the popular Wilton Holiday Walk. As you and your family wander through the Center to shop and perhaps to catch a glimpse of Santa, make sure you stop by the Library for hot apple cider, sweets of all kinds, and special hors d'oeuvres provided by our generous neighbor, Luca Ristorante. We'll have the Kiwanis fireplace lit and great goodwill on the menu, as well, and look forward to seeing you all.

Stay warm, safe, and healthy...
Kathy Leeds, Wilton Library's Executive Director

~~ On Sunday, December 2nd, from 2 to 3 pm, a very special Hanukkah celebration for kids ages 5 to 9 will take place. Our Children's Library staff will read Hanukkah tales, help with Hanukkah crafts, and serve special refreshments. We ask that caregivers accompany children attending and register in advance. Because of the activities planned, our registration is limited to 25, including adults and children, so please sign up soon.

~~ On Monday and Tuesday, December 3rd and 4th, from 10 am to 8 pm, children of all ages are invited to stop by to create Hanukkah crafts. There is no registration required and no fee for materials. Call 762-3950 for more information.

~~ On Wednesday, December 5th, from 3 to 4 pm, popular presenter Raye Forsey will treat children ages 8 to 11 to a Christmas in Great Britain, sharing traditional stories and customs. Raye will focus particularly on the Christmas traditions of her native Wales. Please register online for this enthralling program!

~~ On Thursdays, December 6th and 13th, from 6 to 6:30 pm, the Children's Library will have a special story time with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Kids ages 3 to 6 are invited to stop by for the fun, and no registration is necessary. Call 762-3950 for more information.

~~ On Friday, December 7th, from 5 to 7 pm, kids and their parents are welcome to stop by to warm up and enjoy wonderful refreshments (and to borrow a book, video, CD, or DVD!) during the Wilton Holiday Walk.

~~ On Saturday, December 8th, from 2 to 3 pm, Ebenezer Scrooge and his friends from Charles Dickens' A Chrismas Carol will make appearances for a Victorian-style celebration at the Library. Children in grades 2 through 6 are invited for stories, activities, and refreshments with the Dickens characters. Advance registration is required.

~~ From Thursday, December 18th through Thursday, December 20th, from 10 am to 8 pm, kids of all ages can stop by to make their own Christmas creations at the Library. There is no registration necesary and no fee for materials. Call 762-3950 for more information.

On Friday, December 28th, from 10 am to 6 pm, children of all ages are invited to drop by to create Kwanzaa crafts. No registration is required, and there is no fee for materials. Call 762-3950 for more information.

Call Pat Bergin in the Children's Library at 762-3950, extension 265 for more information and to confirm your reservation and get your assigned time slot.

Truly, if you would like to gain an informed perspective on our energy future and the relative cost of all the alternatives open to us, this brief session will stand you in tremendously good stead. A question and answer period will follow Kit's talk, and audience members are encouraged to bring their concerns and queries. Please register in advance for this informative session sponsored by the Betsy & Jesse Fink Family Foundation for Wilton Library's Environmental Initiative.

Come with your list and shop for everyone! The store will stay in business until the shelves are empty.

As an added shopping opportunity, our annual "Giving Tree" will be decked with dozens of suggestions for holiday giving, including books, DVDs, and programs for all ages. You may grant the Library any of the items on our wishlist (represented by tags on the Giving Tree) in your own name or that of a loved one. Stop by for more information and select perfect gifts for your relatives, teachers, and friends.

Please note that for hands-on classes, not only is pre-registration required, but you must also arrive on time to insure a great learning experience for all students. There will be no further seating after ten minutes past the posted start time.

Books will be available for purchase and signing. We ask that you register in advance for this enlightening and entertaining talk. Note that Dr. Labriola will be giving away free copies of his previous books with each purchase!

Bill Clinton's former political consultant for twenty years, Dick Morris is the author of five New York Times bestsellers (all with Eileen McGann). A regular commentator on the Fox News Channel and columnist for The New York Post and frontpagemag.com, Dick Morris is known for his take-no-prisoners political commentary. There will be ample time for audience questions following the talk.

Books will be available for purchase and signing at the conclusion of the program, thanks to Wilton's Open Book Shop. Please register in advance and arrive on time - latecomers and those without reservations will be seated in order of arrival immediately at 2 pm.

In November, Wilton Library was granted the State of Connecticut Award for Excellence in Public Library Architecture for libraries over 18,000 square feet in size. This award is presented only once every two years, and we were up against some pretty stiff competition.

In addition, Tai Soo Kim Partners and Turner Construction won the American Architecture Award from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design for their expansion and renovation of Wilton Library. Presented for a handful of projects each year, the Award celebrates "the most significant new contemporary architecture, landscape architecture, interiors, and urban planning in the United States." How thrilling!

Additional topics and dates in the series include: January 8th: Caring for a Loved One Who Is Ill; February 12th: Healing Through Spirituality; March 11: Lifecare Management: Coordinating Your Parent's Care; March 25: Techniques for Coping With Stress.

Children under 8 must be accompanied by adults; children 8 and over must have caregivers remain in the building. No registration is required. Reel Thursdays are sponsored by the Louis Dreyfus Corporation.

On Mondays, December 3rd and 10th from 10:15 to l0:45 am, we will offer drop-in story times for ones, twos and threes with caregivers, featuring finger plays, songs, books, and activities selected to introduce children to the Library and to story times.

In the afternoon on Mondays, December 3rd and 10th, from 2 to 2:45 pm, children who are 4, 5, and 6 are invited to drop in for stories and fun.