Wilton Library Association Newsletter
May 2005
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in this issue
-- Movies in May for Kids
-- ABCs of Children's Book Publishing
-- Poetry Reading by Sophie Cabot
-- Wilton Library Publications
-- Mother's Day Mementos
-- Norwalk Symphony (Not) Just for Kids
-- Marriages and Unions - A Civil Discussion
-- Technology Tutorials Galore!
-- Short Story Series with Ben Van Vechten
-- May's Book Discussions
-- Babysitting 101
-- Special Thanks
Greetings!I was reflecting recently on the amazing flexibility of the Wilton
Library staff and customers throughout the sometimes tumultuous happenings
of the last year or so. Never was that flexibility and good humor more apparent
than a couple of weeks ago as our annual book sale wrapped up at the same time
that we began moving some of our collections and furnishings in anticipation
of demolition of the northwest wing of the building. Hardy library patrons
(including one woman who confessed that she had come to the Wilton Library
to be able to concentrate on her work away from the noise and confusion her
two-year-old created) perservered as sale books were moved, tables were whisked
away and all the contents of our Wilton History Room were wheeled to their
new home on the second floor of the new building.To all of you who have been
so patient - the end is in sight! All our efforts - and yours - are coming
to fruition soon. During part of July, we will close sections of the new and
old buildings in order to perform the most extensive renovations. Although
I can't promise peace and quiet until we are entirely done in early December,
we'll begin to enjoy some new spaces (including the entire two-story addition,
new entrance and drive-up window) in mid summer. The prospect is thrilling
to all of us who have watched our library's transformation and taken part in
the fund raising that has helped it to happen. As we strive to finish the project,
we'll continue to ask for your support. Bear with us through the final stages
of construction and renovation, and please spread the word that we still need
$750,000 to complete the job we set out to do more than four years ago. Perhaps
you or someone you know will be able to "put us over the top!"
Sincerely,
Kathy Leeds, Director
Movies
in May for Kids
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 |
We
have a terrific lineup of movies coming for kids five and older
(children in kindergarten and younger must be accompanied by
an adult) in May. On Wednesday afternoons, our Community Room
will become a theater with free admission and popcorn courtesy
of the Louis Dreyfus Corporation. Be sure to show up early to
get a seat (the shows start at 4 pm each day): May 4th ~ The Incredibles May 11th ~ Shark Tales May 18th ~ Sponge Bob Square Pants - The Movie May 25th ~ Where the Red Fern Grows |
ABCs
of Children's Book Publishing
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| We
are so fortunate to have talented writers and illustrators in
our midst and two of them have agreed to let us know the secrets
to their success. Wilton residents Elissa Grodin, author of N
is for Nutmeg and D is for Democracy and Pamela
Hovland, illustrator of ABC NYC will talk about the
creative process and share tips on how to go beyond creation
to publication.
If you are an aspiring author or illustrator yourself or would simply like to hear these charming women speak about their experiences, join us on Sunday, May 1st from 2-3:30 pm in the Community Room. All three books will be available for purchase and signing following the program. Although there is no admission charge, we ask that you register in advance online or by calling 762-3950. |
 |
Poetry
Reading by Sophie Cabot Black
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On Sunday, May 15th at 2 pm, poet Sophie Cabot Black will
conduct a reading based on her two books, the newly-released The Descent and
the award-winning The Misunderstanding of Nature. Following the reading,
Sophie will be glad to answer questions and we'll have books for sale and signing.
Advance registration is suggested online,
by phone (762-3950), or in person.
Wilton
Library Publications
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Did
you know that the Wilton Library continually updates and makes
available to the public five useful and unique databases about
our town? They are available from our website and are maintained
by our reference librarians for those who live and work in town
as well as anyone doing research on Wilton. Businesses and individuals
considering a move here, genealogists looking for facts about
relatives, and reporters doing background work for stories often
consult these links for information. They truly present a picture
of the town filled with direct links, interactive searches and
comprehensive contact data.
|
 |
Mother's
Day Mementos
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Kids of all ages can drop in at any time the first week of May to make mom
a very special card. We'll have supplies on hand in the Children's Services
Area - please stop by anytime from Sunday, May 1st to Saturday, May
7th and create your own greeting to show your mom how much you care.
That homemade touch is sure to be appreciated!
Norwalk
Symphony (Not) Just for Kids
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
| Our
final Norwalk Symphony concert,
sponsored generously by The
Wilton Bank, will take place at 3 pm on Saturday,
May 7th in the Library's Community Room. Designed as
part of a 4-part series to introduce kids and their families
to the instruments in the orchestra, this session will be all
about brass!
Join us for fun and and hands-on participation. There is no charge for the program, but we do ask that you register in advance by phone (762-3950) or online to reserve your seats. This has been a tremendously popular series. |
 |
Marriages
and Unions - A Civil Discussion
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What constitutes a marriage? How does a civil union differ? Where do religion
and government diverge when it comes to family structure? How do insurance
companies weigh in on unions and marriages? The news (particularly in Connecticut)
has been focused on the legislature as it grapples to find an interpretation
of the law acceptable to all.
Join the Wilton League of Women Voters and the Wilton Library for a fascinating look at the issues involved on Thursday, May 19th at 7:30 pm in the Community Room. Advance registration is suggested by phone (762-3950) or online
.Technology Tutorials Galore!
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 |
During
the month of May, we'll have lots of learning available for those
who want to make the most of technology in their everyday lives: Saturday, May 7th from
10-11:30 am |
Thursday,
May 12th from 7-9 pm
Buying and Selling on eBay
Tom Greenbaum of Con$ign-Net will
reprise a daytime program on how to be a successful buyer and seller on eBay,
the Internet auction site.Saturday, May 14th from 11 am-12:30 pm
Digital Photography: Printing Your Pictures
Michael and Mary Anne Franco will provide expert information on printing digital
pictures, including a discussion of types of printers and their costs, types
of papers, and photo dimensions.
Advance registration is suggested for all three programs as they are likely to be quite well attended. Please call 762-3950, stop by or register online.
Short Story Series with Ben Van Vechten
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Popular lecturer Ben Van Vechten will lead us through "a short series on short
stories" on Thursday mornings during the month (May 5, 12, 19, 26 and
June 2 from 10:30 am to noon). If you haven't yet had the pleasure
of attending one of Ben's classes - this is the time to start. Simply stop
by the Circulation Desk to pick up your packet of stories to be discussed and
register to save a seat!
May's Book Discussions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As
usual, we have a wonderful crop of discussions planned for the
month - please join us!
|
 |
Babysitting 101
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 |
The
American Red Cross will hold another class in its ongoing curriculum
at the Wilton Library to bring all new babysitters up to snuff.
The training will be on Saturday, May 21st from 10 am-3:30
pm and participants must pay $50 to register in advance.
We ask all those taking the class to bring a bag lunch.
We have very limited seating, so reserve your place immediately to be sure of getting in. The Library is delighted to provide these classes for kids 11-15 years of age to help them be safe and feel confident in what, for many, is their first paying job. |
Special Thanks
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
| Although
it is impossible to adequately thank all who donate money, time
and services to the Library each month, I'd like to mention a
few recent gifts:
Thanks to Nick Lee and Lee Horticultural for refurbishing flower beds along our southeast corner. Nick has continued to maintain the garden on Old Ridgefield Road in memory of Virginia Adams, Past President of the Wilton Library Association. Thanks to Susan Wilterding for temporarily relocating the border of perennials she has planted and maintained for years. Susan is saving the plants at home to be brought back once our construction is complete. Thanks to all those who donated to the Library in memory of our friend Mary Ellen Ottavi. We miss her. |
 |
Thanks to all the volunteers who helped to make this year's Annual Book Sale a record-breaking success. Despite the construction, cramped conditions, and other challenges, we made more than $44,000 for Library operations at this single 4-day event. Special thanks to Jan MacEwen, Jan Galletly, Pat Curran and Shirley Robbins, without whom the sale could not have been successful.Thanks to the Wilton Woman's Club for granting us $1,000 toward the purchase of books and other materials for families of children with special needs.Thanks to the United Way of Norwalk/Wilton for giving us $2,750 for the purchase of materials related to diversity training. Following up on "Operation Respect," we will be offering a film discussion series in the fall based on the DVDs we purchase.
Thanks to the Connecticut Library Association for awarding our "Operation Respect" series its highest honor for a single library program in the State! I was most honored to accept the award at the CLA annual convention in New Haven in April.
Contact Information
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email: library@wiltonlibrary.org
voice: 203-762-3950
web: http://www.wiltonlibrary.org
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