New & Now @ the Library

After a little reorganization of shelving units in the Bossidy Commons, our "New & Now" collection is now front and center.  Here is where you will find multiple copies of the hottest new adult books and DVDs, available for the taking on a first come, first served basis - no waiting lists, no reserves, no renewals. Books go out for 1 week and DVDs for 3 days;  fines are $1.00 per day.  You never know what you'll find, but it is well worth the time to browse for a lucky find.

Don't forget to visit the Upper Level for more new adult fiction and non-fiction, the Ellis Family Teen Center for new materials for middle and high school students and the Lodewick Family Children's Library for the latest in books and more for children.  And if you don't want to take your chances with New & Now, you can always request to be put on a waiting list for any title.

T-19: Countdown to Opening Weekend!

Nineteen new titles have been added in the past year to the Book Club Corner, our collection of multiples copies of titles selected for their suitability and interest for book discussion groups.  Over 60 fiction and non-fiction titles are now available, from the brand-new releases like Transatlantic by Colum McCann to classics like Elie Wiesel’s Night.

Want to learn more about Ridgefield and our Library?  Visit our beautiful new building starting May 9th.  If you can't wait that long, you can go to ridgefieldlibrary.org today.

Now Hiring Shelvers for the New Library

The Library is seeking applicants to re-fill several Shelver positions that have been left empty during our temporary relocation.  Shelvers have primary responsibility for maintaining the physical organization and condition of the Library’s various collections, especially the return of all borrowed materials to their proper shelf location after use.  $9 per hour for 8-12 hours per week. Year-round position (no summer only applicants, please). Start date: late March 2014.  Full job description.

All applicants must complete an Employment Application, available at the Circulation Desk at the Library’s temporary location at 21 Governor Street, Ridgefield, or by clicking here.  Completed applications must be received by Monday, March 10, 2014 in person at 21 Governor Street, by mail to 472 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT  06877 or by email to tngladwin@ridgefieldlibrary.org.

It's beginning to look like a real library!

A huge shipment of boxes was delivered to 472 Main Street on Friday, each full of a different component of the shelving for the New Ridgefield Library.  There are boxes of flat shelves, boxes of the vertical supports they hook onto, boxes of built-in bookend mechanisms, boxes of "endcaps" - the flat panel at the end of each aisle that can accommodate book displays, posters, catalog computers and other useful things.  It is going to be like putting together a giant Lego (TM) creation for the next couple of weeks!

YA Will Be Teens in the New Library

“Divergent” by Veronica Roth, “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer and “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins used to be in our YA (Young Adult) fiction collection. Now, to find one of those titles, you need to go to our Teen fiction collection. 

The Future Business Leaders of America from Ridgefield High School spent several hours in the Ridgefield Library on October 24, helping us re-label the entire YA Fiction collection. These cheerful teenagers spent their volunteer time sticking new labels that read “Teen” over old labels that read “YA”, then taping the labels down.  They handled several thousand books and helped us quickly make the transition to the collection’s new designation. 

Why did we make this change? Well, we have a staff position called Teen Services Librarian, who works with our Teen Advisory Group. The Teen Services Librarian serves people in middle school and high school; they are ages 12-18; they are teens, not young adults. “YA” is a jargon-y term that book publishers’ marketing departments use. It seems right to eliminate it from the Library, and to use a word that is clearer, more accurate, and reflects what our patrons call themselves: teens.

When the New Ridgefield Library opens in the spring, there will be a new Teen Room for these patrons - the first dedicated space for this age group we have ever offered, where they will be able to study together, chat about books, play games and more.