T-25: Countdown to Opening Weekend

“Storytime” is the name of the life-sized bronze sculpture by Glenna Goodacre of a woman reading to a child that has graced the Library since 2001, when it was given by an anonymous donor to honor Anita Daubenspeck’s retirement after 25 years of service as Library Director.

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.

Putting It Together...Piece by Piece

To steal a line from Stephen Sondheim in "Sunday in the Park with George," the crew is putting the New Ridgefield Library together piece by piece.  Just a few of the things that happened on Tuesday: the wood floors in the Library Commons were finish (and look gorgeous), parking lot lights were installed and are now working, and new energy-efficient refrigerators for program room kitchen and staff breakroom were delivered, courtesy of our friends at GE. 

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!

Saving Money and Resources

Library Executive Assistant Leslie Vuilleumier is always on the look-out for ways to save money and resources. While a lot of the furniture that had been in use in the old library was truly falling apart after years of hard use, Leslie was able to identify several dozen chairs and tables that could still be useful with a little TLC.  Then she called Correctional Enterprises of Connecticut, a state program that trains prison inmates in several useful trades, including high-quality furniture re-finishing and re-upholstery.  CEC supervisors came and collected our items and brought them back mere weeks later, looking like new.  And the charge was a fraction of what new purchases would have cost.  Thanks, Leslie!

Before: Dark and dirty after years of hard use

After: Clean and re-finished to match newly purchased furnishings

Drive-Up Book Drop on Tap

Many people have asked whether we can have a drive-through book drop at the New Ridgefield Library.  A full drive "through" option would take up more parking spaces than we want to lose, so we have planned a drive "up" alternative.

A return box will be positioned to the left of a designated parking space at the front of the building, so people can pull in, load their returns into the box through the driver's side window without getting out of the car, then back out and continue on their way. Fast and easy!

The outside book return box has already been purchased, and we are putting it to good use at the temporary library on Governor Street!

New Library Will Be a Safe Place

Many thanks to the generous donor who just purchased an AED defibrillator for the New Library through our Wish List program.

In addition to the "heart safe" designation this equipment will make possible, the New Library will have other safety features that were not available in the old building, including a full sprinkler system and video surveillance of key areas.  We look forward to offering a safe destination for all!

Wish List for the New Ridgefield Library Launched

Our new Library Wish List has just been launched! Furniture, fixtures and equipment to support library services and operations in the new building have been ordered, and now we are seeking individuals, families and businesses to step up and help pay for these purchases.   Choose from dozens of items at giving levels from $50 to $15,000. In addition to furnishings for the New Library, you may also choose to support some of our ongoing programs and collections like Books & Breakfast or downloadable e-book subscriptions.  

You can browse the entire list here.

Envisioning the New Ridgefield Library Presentation Informative and Inspiring

Great presentation last night by our design team from Newman Architects, Owner's Representative Robert Cavello and Library Director Chris Nolan and Board Chair Peter Coffin.  For those who missed it, you can check out Peter's exhaustive timeline of the path we have traveled from our first strategic planning conversations in 2003 to today! It is amazing how many people over so many years have dedicated so much time to make the New Ridgefield Library a reality.

Kudos to Program Assistant Laurie McGavin Bachmann for this timely addition to the ongoing ARTalk series she organizes.

Envisioning the New Ridgefield Library: A Lively Panel Discussion About the Library Design

Thursday, October 10, 7 PM@ The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum

258 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT

 

Please join us for a preview of the New Ridgefield Library design.  Our panel has two representatives from the Library's architect, Newman Architects, Principal Richard Munday and Senior Associate Michelle Newman; the Library's Owner's Representative Robert Cavello; Director of the Ridgefield Library Chris Nolan, and Library Board Chair Peter Coffin.

It is our aim to inform and excite our community about the new Library's "look and feel" through a visually rich presentation with an opportunity for Q & A.

Please register.

We're choosing chairs!

This is the fun part!  We have several samples of chairs on hand for possible use in the Program Room in the New Library.  Stop by in the next week or so and give them a try - we want to select something that will be comfortable, lightweight and durable.  Tell us which you prefer!