T-11: Countdown to Opening Weekend!

Eleven employees of the Ridgefield Library hold a Masters of Library Science or comparable advanced degree, ensuring a high level of professional knowledge and service for our patrons.  Others have extensive education and experience in early childhood development, technology and other related fields. 

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.

Something to Look forward To

There will be a lot of things for many different people to enjoy in the new Ridgefield Library. One thing that has the Library staff very excited is the new technology we will be able to offer in the program rooms and also in our new Technology Resource Center. Just this week, our A/V vendors finished installing whiteboards for presentation and instruction and overhead projectors for showing films or for broadcast from a laptop.  There will also be an assistive listening system for the hearing impaired in the main program room, a 3D printer and many more goodies.  We are looking forward to being a truly 21st century Library!

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. 

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.

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!

Memorial Day Parade 2013

Memorial Day Parade 2013, a set on Flickr.

Here we are in our hardhats on a beautiful afternoon for a parade. We got lots of enthusiastic cheers for the New Ridgefield Library from our friends and supporters along Main Street.