Wilton Library Association Newsletter
February 2008
in this issue
-- Tales to Tails Returns on February 2nd
-- Constitution Series Debuts in February with Christopher Collier
-- Art Exhibit and Reception
-- Fun, Facts, and Films for Kids in February
-- Knitting for Teens
-- Computer Classes This Month
-- Visiting Author David Blight Discusses A Slave No More
-- Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas: Impressionists in Paris, A Love Story
-- Connecticut's Own Concert on Sunday, February 10th
-- Jay Inslee and Apollo's Fire: Igniting America's Clean Energy Economy
-- In the Midst of Winter Series: Healing Through Spirituality
-- New Yorker Cartoonist Roz Chast Visits on February 12th
-- Book Discussions Include Daisy Miller and The World is Flat
-- Spotlight On: Book Discussion Groups
-- Field Office Hours at the Library
-- Did You Know?
-- Kids' Book Club: Roald Dahl
-- On Our Wishlist: Roots on CD
Hello! This time of year is particularly important for the Library, as it's the season when we're in the midst of our Annual Appeal. Every year, we must raise roughly 1/4 of the budget that brings great services, outstanding collections, and truly remarkable programs to Wilton. See the "Did You Know?" paragraph below to see how far we've come already, thanks to the generosity of our donors - if you haven't sent in your donation yet, please know that you can now do so easily and securely online! If you would prefer to support the Library via the mail, be on the lookout for our second wave of the Annual Appeal in your postal mailbox this month. Your help and the help of others like you makes it possible, in particular, to produce the wonderful lineup of programs we have upcoming in the month ahead, including:
I look forward to seeing you throughout the month at the Library! Kathy Leeds, Library Director |
Tales to Tails Returns on February 2nd ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 There will be doggies galore in the Children's Library on Saturday, February 2nd, from 2 to 3:15 pm when students in grades 2 and up can have fun reading to a certified therapy dog for 10-15 minutes. Kids can bring a book from home or choose one from the Library's shelves. Boosting reading skills can be tons of fun when furry friends are a part of the action!
As you might imagine, advance registration is required as dogs and space are limited. The Library will call to confirm registrations and assign time slots. If you have questions about this marvelous program, please call Pat Bergin at 762-3950, extension 265, for more details. We are most grateful to the dog owners who volunteer their time to help others. |
Constitution Series Debuts in February with Christopher Collier ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Our calendar for February includes the first two installments in a distinguished lecture and discussion series entitled, The United States Constitution: A Living Legacy made possible by a grant from Devereaux A. Clifford and Family and sponsored jointly by the Wilton Library and the Wilton Historical Society.
The first, on Sunday, February 3rd, from 2-4 pm at the Library, will center on Connecticut and the Constitution, and feature Christopher Collier, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Connecticut and former CT State Historian. Mr. Collier will discuss why Connecticut is called the "Constitution State," the role Connecticut played in the Constitutional Convention, and the issues that gave rise to a Constitution in the first place. A question and answer session will follow his talk, as will a book sale and signing. Please register in advance as space is limited (overflow seating will be accommodated in the Library's Rimer Room via simulcast). The second, on Thursday, February 28th at 7:30 pm at the Library, will be about the Founding of the Constitution and feature Akhil Amar, the Southmayd Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University. Professor Amar will speak on Constitutional law and history, discussing the defining elements within America's most cherished document, the various schools of analysis involved in interpreting the Constitution, and the issues that came close to preventing the formation of a national government. A question and answer session, followed by a book sale and signing will follow the talk. Again, please register in advance as space is limited (overflow seating will be accommodated in the Library's Rimer Room via simulcast). You may want to put in your reservations for the final two sessions, as well: |
Art Exhibit and Reception ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Please join us on Sunday, February 3rd, from 11:30 am to 1 pm , for the start of a wonderfully diverse art show that features the work of two Wilton artists, Manny Tamayo and Bobbie Shavel. Differing styles, subject matter, and media make this an exciting exhibit. Refreshments will be served and there is no need to register to attend the reception.
If you are unable to make the reception, stop by during the month, for the work will hang until February 28th. A portion of all art sold will benefit the Library's Art Fund, allowing us to purchase books and other media about art and art instruction. |
Fun, Facts, and Films for Kids in February ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 We have a delightful lineup of events for kids in the next few weeks - be sure to take part!
On Monday, February 4th, from 10:30-11:30 am, children ages 4 and up will be able to listen and dance to music from all over the world when talented musician Chris Merwin brings his Global Sounds to the Library. Chris has traveled extensively and studied music from Tibet, China, Japan, Egypt, and all over the United States. Kids will learn about the cultural and historical background of each instrument Chris plays - including Hawaiian drums, a Japanese bamboo flute, and a giant Tibetan trumpet. Please register in advance, as space is limited. There is no charge for this magical hour of music and more. On Tuesday, February 5th, from noon to 8 pm, kids of all ages are invited to create their own Mardi Gras crafts with all supplies provided for free. At 3:30 and 4:30 pm, children will have their very own Mardi Gras parade around the Library so they can show off their Mardi Gras creations. No registration is necessary - just come to have fun! On Thursday, February 14th, from 10 am to 8 pm, children can drop by to create Valentine's Day crafts in the Children's Library. Again - no reservations are required. A week later on Thursday, February 21st, free movies will be shown for little kids (morning) and older kids (afternoon), sponsored by the Louis Dreyfus Corporation. Children must be accompanied by adults and no registration is required. Films for this Reel Thursday will be: On Saturday, February 23rd, from 3-4 pm, we'll have a special Folklore & Fantasy story time for children in grades K-4, with stories from our extensive folktale collection. Please register in advance, as space is limited. And don't miss our Tales to Tails and Kids' Book Club programs described above and below, respectively. What a wonderful pallet of programs for our youngest customers! |
Knitting for Teens ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Want to learn how to do something new and fun? Teens in grades 7-12 are invited to take part in a two-session program that will not only teach them knitting basics, but will also allow them to knit a simple scarf in just two weeks! Needles and yarn will be supplied by the Library, thanks to the Pat and John Curran Teen Fund. A maximum of 12 teens can take part, so register for this great program soon.
Remember - the class is in two parts, but you need register only once to be on the list for both. The Tuesday night sessions, held from 5 to 6:30 pm, will take place on February 5th and 12th. Sign up now! |
Computer Classes This Month ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Our technology guru, Mary Anne Franco, has a good selection of free computer classes in store. Her sessions are always in great demand, so be sure to register now. Class size is limited in each case to ten students and, to insure the best learning experience for all, registrants will not be seated if they arrive more than ten minutes late. Take a look at what's planned:
~~ Tuesday, February 5th, 6:30 to 8 pm - Introduction to Computers: Files and Folders ~~ Thursday, February 7th, 12:30 to 2 pm - Introduction to Computers: Files and Folders ~~ Tuesday, February 26th, 6:30 to 8 pm - Basic Word ~~ Thursday, February 28th, 12:30 to 2 pm - Basic Word (class repeated) |
Visiting Author David Blight Discusses A Slave No More ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 On Thursday, February 7th, from 7 to 8:30 pm, the Library will be proud to bring historian, scholar, and acclaimed author David Blight to the stage in the Brubeck Room to talk about his new book, A Slave No More: Two Men Who Escaped to Freedom, Including Their Narratives of Emancipation. This book combines two newly discovered slave narratives in a volume that recounts the lives of their authors, John Washington (1838-1918), and Wallace Turnage (1846-1916), as well as provides an incisive history of the story of emancipation.
Publishers Weekly commented, "These powerful memoirs reveal poignant, heroic, painful, and inspiring lives." The Chicago Tribune called the book "an enthralling, intimate read, and The Christian Science Monitor said, "[The] narratives are powerful and poignant and help to fill in the cracks of history in voices too rarely heard.... While nothing can match the power of the men's own words, Blight's commentary does much to round out the portrait of the slave and former-slave experience.... Readers will ... be powerfully grateful." Please register in advance and come celebrate Black History Month with us in a meaningful and informative way. Books will be available for purchase and signing. |
Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas: Impressionists in Paris, A Love Story ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 On Saturday, February 9th, at 2 pm, we have a wonderful mid-winter delight for you! Our newest series, An Artist's Hour, will present its first production, entitled Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas: Impressionists in Paris: A Love Story. Written and performed by Westport resident Page Hedden Wilson, this one-woman play with costumes, props and lighting, presents the touching, up and down romance of two strong, opinionated artists and the personalities that surround them in the "world of the impressionists".
A reception will follow the performance.so that you may meet Ms. Wilson. Please register in advance so that we know you are coming. What a lovely way to spend part of your Saturday afternoon! |
Connecticut's Own Concert on Sunday, February 10th ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 The fabulous Quadrivium String Quartet will be back in the Brubeck Room on Saturday, February 10th, from 4 to 5 pm. You won't want to miss this group, formed in 2002 by members of the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra to bring musicians of diverse backgrounds together in the collaborative art of chamber music. The Brubeck Room at Wilton Library is a fitting locale for their collaboration, as it is an acoustically-engineered performance space designed to provide a rich, listening experience. Performers include Larry Shiller, violin; McNeil Johnston, violin; Christopher McCormack, viola; and Richard Brown, cello.
Please register in advance and arrive by 3:50 pm to be guaranteed a seat. After 3:50, and if space is available, waitlisted and walk-in registrants will be admitted. |
Jay Inslee and Apollo's Fire: Igniting America's Clean Energy Economy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 On Monday, February 11th, from 7 to 8:45 pm, the Library will be proud to host Congressman Jay Inslee, representing the First District of the State of Washington who will speak to us about his new book, Apollo's Fire: Igniting America's Clean Energy Economy (Island Press, 2007). Inslee is a recognized leader in Congress on energy issues and the prime sponsor of the New Apollo Energy Act, a comprehensive plan to build a clean energy economy in America. Co-authored with Bracken Hendricks, Apollo's Fire was called "a brilliant, inspiring book on the need to set goals and find future solutions to achieve clean, efficient energy" by Helen Thomas, Hearst Newspapers columnist. She went on to say, "It is beautifully written, exciting, and hopeful. It's a must read for every American who wants to save the planet." Robert Redford, actor, director, and environmental activist said of the book, "For those of you who want to move beyond the doom and gloom of the global warming dialogue, Apollo's Fire fits the bill. Set in a frame of optimism and urgency, this book thinks big and shows that innovation, curiosity, and imagination already are driving the beginnings of an Apollo-like leap toward necessary solutions. The authors' sweeping and attainable vision for America's energy independence shows we can once again reach for higher goals and succeed."
If you care about our environment and want to understand and feel hopeful about realistic solutions to the problems posed by global warming and our energy crisis, join us on February 11th - you may just help shape a brighter tomorrow for yourself and generations to come. Congressman Inslee's appearance is sponsored by the Betsy and Jesse Fink Family Foundation for Wilton Library's Environmental Initiative. Please register in advance and arrive by 6:50 pm to be guaranteed a seat. After 6:50 pm, waitlisted and walk-in registrants will be seated if space allows. Overflow seating will be available in the Rimer Room via simulcast. Please note that the book's publisher, ISLAND PRESS, is a nonprofit organization that stimulates, shapes, and communicates the ideas that are essential for solving today's environmental problems-at home and around the world. Through cutting-edge publishing projects, innovative programs, and outreach initiatives, leaders around the globe recognize Island Press as a key resource for multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed information and solutions for scientists, policymakers, environmental advocates, the media, and the general public. |
In the Midst of Winter Series: Healing Through Spirituality ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Would you like to learn some simple ways to enhance your sense of well-being and life balance? Please come to the third of a five-part series of interesting and inspiring talks sponsored by Mid-Fairfield Hospice to help us all navigate some of the challenges that face us and our loved ones year round. This session on February 12th, from 4 to 5:30 pm, is entitled Healing Through Spirituality. Please register in advance and come learn to cope from those who can give you the tools you need. |
New Yorker Cartoonist Roz Chast Visits on February 12th ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Roz Chast is internationally recognized as a regular contributor to The New Yorker Magazine since the 70s. Nine collections have been published of Chast's work, most recently Theories of Everything, a twenty-five year survey. Roz is known for her cast of recurring hapless characters. In her cartoons, she addresses the issues of our time: guilt, anxiety, aging, families, friends, money, real estate, and as she would say, "much, much more!" The editor of The New Yorker, David Remnick, has called her "the magazine's only certifiable genius."
Her most recent book, The Alphabet from A to Y With Bonus Letter Z!, written with celebrated entertainer and writer Steve Martin, creates an alphabet that will captivate Mom and Dad as much as the kids. For each letter, readers will find Martin's zany humor in an alliterative couplet, accompanied by a cleverly detailed Chast drawing. From Bad Baby Bubbleducks who "beat up his bed with bashed up bananas," to Quincy the kumquat who "queried the queen," Chast and Martin's lettered world will delight readers of all ages. And it only gets better with each rereading. The ABCs have never had it so good! Roz will have books available for purchase and signing at the conclusion of her talk - come meet her in person when she joins us in the Brubeck Room on Tuesday night, February 12th, at 7 pm! Please register immediately in person, by phone (762-3950), or online to reserve a seat. Pre-registrants must arrive by 6:50 pm to be guaranteed seating. After 6:50 pm, and if space is available, waitlisted and walk-in registrants will be admitted. |
Book Discussions Include Daisy Miller and The World is Flat ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Two Wilton Library book discussions will take place this month:
On Wednesday, February 13th, from noon to 1:30 pm, discussion leader extraordinaire, Susan Boyar, will take on Daisy Miller, by Henry James. This classic novella probes the social and emotional complications that follow the overly familiar but innocent behavior of Daisy Miller, a newly rich American traveling in Switzerland and Rome. All are welcome to join the Wilton Library Readers as they talk about both author and work. Please register in advance to let us know you're coming, and bring your lunch if you like! On Tuesday, February 26th, at 11 am, at the Wilton Senior Center (in Comstock Community Center on School Road), Librarian David Ostergren will talk about Thomas L. Friedman's The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century. The Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist and best-selling author of The Lexus and the Olive Tree gives a bold, timely, and surprising picture of the state of globalization in the twenty-first century that will be fascinating to discuss. All are welcome, but please call the Senior Center (834-6240) to register. |
Spotlight On: Book Discussion Groups ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Book groups exist all over town where groups of friends or co-workers or total strangers come together periodically to discuss fiction and non-fiction, classics and best-sellers, the obscure and the obvious. If you're in a Wilton book group, you are probably familiar with our Book Group Books collection - multiple copies of titles that local groups are reading. It's my favorite place in the Library to browse for interesting reading, and I know the same is true for many of you, for the circulation rate on this portion of our holdings is quite robust! You may also have noticed that we have launched a new effort this year to bring "A-list" authors to the Library to talk about, sell, and sign their books. Authors we have hosted to date include Gail Tsukiyama, Charles Grodin, Dick Morris, and Leslie Garis. This month Christopher Collier, Akhil Amar, David Blight, Jay Inslee, and Roz Chast will speak in the Brubeck Room. In March, The New York Times technology guru David Pogue is coming and we are working with R.J. Julia Booksellers to bring more outstanding authors to our neighborhood.
We need your help! In order to make sure that we reach all book group participants with our notices of upcoming programs about author visits and other book discussion events, we need to beef up our e-mail list for notices. If you are a member of a book group, please ask the other members of your group to subscribe to librarEmail by sending me an email or entering theirs on the subscription box on the left side of our homepage. I'll send a monthly newsletter like this one and a few very special invitations each month that will keep everyone abreast of exciting events related to their interests. One of the programs we are working on right now is a panel of "book people" including me, Roxanne Coady (owner of R.J. Julia Booksellers) and one or two publishers' representatives to give you a peek at the new titles coming out and get an idea of how best to run a lively discussion or research books and their authors. No date has been set, but we want to make sure you and other book lovers are among the first to know when it's on the calendar. As an example of what they'll discover if they subscribe is the thrilling news that has just broken... our Wilton Reads! book for the fall will be The Namesake, by Pulitzer Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri. Most exciting is the fact that Ms. Lahiri will make one of her very rare public appearances this October in the Brubeck Room! |
Field Office Hours at the Library ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 A representative from the office of Congressman Christopher Shays will be on hand at the Library from 10 am to 1 pm on Tuesday, February 19th, to answer any questions or respond to concerns residents may have. No registration is necessary - just stop by. |
Did You Know? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 There are several ways in which the Library raises the funds needed to expand our adult, teen, and children's collections (books, music CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, reference materials, and magazines), offer interesting and informative programs to the community (758 last year, attended by almost 25,000 individuals), fund the final touches on our building expansion, and purchase technology for Library users. But our largest annual fund-raising effort, by far, is through the Friends Campaign.
The Town of Wilton provides approximately three quarters of our annual budget, and the remaining quarter comes from private donors like you. Our 2007-2008 Annual Friends Campaign, which kicked off in early November 2007 with a goal of $210,000 has brought in $153,000 to date, and it is of utmost importance that we reach our goal by the end of June. You can make a difference in the quality and quantity of our programs, collections, and services by giving as generously as you are able to the Friends Campaign when you receive our second mailing in February. If you would prefer to make a secure donation online, visit us at www.wiltonlibrary.org/giving. Please know that we truly appreciate any and all gifts and that we take seriously our goal to keep Wilton Library as up-to-date and vital as our community deserves. If you have any questions about giving, please call our Development Director, Anne Rowlands, at 203-762-3950, extension 216 or write her at anne_rowlands@wiltonlibrary.org. |
Kids' Book Club: Roald Dahl ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 On Wednesday, February 27th, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, children in grades 2 to 6 are invited to take part in a book "happening" at the Library. The Kids' Book Club is more than just talking about books!
Read a book by Roald Dahl and then come to the Library for a scrumpdiddlyumptious meal, a golden ticket contest, and other Dahl-inspired activities. Please register in advance for this spectacular session as space is limited. |
On Our Wishlist: Roots on CD ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 The powerful novel Roots, by Alex Haley, has been present in the Library's collection since it was first published (1976) and produced on DVD from the ground-breaking television series aired in 1977. To celebrate Black History Month and have this powerful saga of an American family available for listening, we would like to purchase it for the media collection as a book on CD. If you would like to help us acquire this award-winning work, please let me know by return email at kcleeds@wiltonlibrary.org . And if you would like to make your gift to the Library in the name of a loved one or special acquaintance, include that information in your message. Your contribution of $60 is entirely tax-deductible and will bring hours of enjoyment and understanding to all its borrowers. |
Contact Information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
phone: 203-762-3950
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |