A full parking lot on a rainy afternoon.

The Library will be hosting a number of events on Wednesday, February 29th so please expect a full parking lot! Another option is to park on Post Road.

If you cannot make it into the Library on Wednesday, you can still reach us via the multiple chat boxes on the website, via email or by calling us at 203-655-1234.

Need to do some research? Check out our online databases. If you just want to find something good to read, you can download an audiobook or eBook. If you need help with using your device with OverDrive, we have written instructions and video tutorials. You can also borrow an eReader. 

Photo by Flickr user Anne Davis

The Library will be closed on Monday, February 20th for Presidents' Day. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting a chance of snow for Sunday, so make sure to pick up a great book, game, or video!

Suggested Reads

Readers' Advisory shares their latest reads in You Are What You Read!!

Check out the latest bestsellers (block on the left).

Staff picks from Meet Us on Main Street.

Our favorite parenting blogs.

Celebrating Black History Month.

Or teens can work on their short story to submit to our 3rd Annual Teen Writing Competition (first prize: $100).

Photo by Flickr user MC Quinn

The Library will be opened later hours during the week of January 16th to January 22nd to allow students more time to study for their midterms. The opening and closing schedule will change to:

Wednesday, January 16th and Thursday, January 17th:

9:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Monday, January 21st and Tuesday, January 22nd: 

9:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Please note that during this time, the Library may have a higher than normal volume of patrons. 

at Darien Library, CT

An extraordinary opportunity for an extraordinary new children’s librarian.

We welcome your interest in the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Fellowship. 

Harold W. McGraw, Jr. was an active supporter of Darien Library with a personal commitment to education and a belief in the important role a child's library experiences play at the beginning of life-long literacy. The McGraw family has funded the formation of a Children's Librarian Fellowship at Darien Library to honor his memory, through a two-year full-salaried position for a recent Master in Library Science graduate who:

• demonstrates exemplary scholarship
• possesses a passion for working with children and for the development of literacy
• shows significant leadership promise
• has strong personal qualities
• demonstrates a penchant for technology 

Selection Process

The Fellowship will be open to LIS graduates from an accredited Library School in the United States or Canada who will have received their diploma between December 1, 2011, and July 1, 2012.

Applications will be due March 30, 2012. After initial screening, interviews for finalists will be held at a mutually convenient time and place, and the finalist will be invited to visit Darien Library for a meeting with the Fellowship Committee prior to appointment. 

Term

The successful applicant will be employed at Darien Library for two years, commencing approxiately July 1, 2012, with a final employment date of June 30, 2014.

Compensation

The Fellow will be paid initially at the Connecticut Library Association MLS minimum salary for entry-level positions (for 2012: $50,700) with full benefits, paid membership in CLA and ALA, funding for attendance at the American Library Association Annual Meeting and other meetings as appropriate.

Position Parameters
The Fellow will work as a member of the Children's Services team, providing reference and readers' advisory services in addition to creating and conducting programs for children and families. The Fellow will be given specific, defined, high-stakes projects and responsibilities that will be determined by the successful candidate's skills and interests. The Fellowship will provide experience, growth and challenges in the following areas

• Children's materials collection development
• Program development, implementation and evaluation
• Marketing to defined areas of the community
• Continuing education, professional development and support
• Access to the latest technology

Harold W. McGraw, Jr. (1918-2010) Chairman Emeritus and Former CEO, The McGraw-Hill Companies and Honorary Trustee of Darien Library, was a steadfast and generous supporter, esteemed leader, thoughtful mentor and beloved friend. His support of the engagement, education and entertainment of children was unwavering; it reflected his commitment to the important role of public libraries from the beginning to the end of the life of each person in the community. This Fellowship, created in honor of his memory, will provide a transformational experience for a highly-qualified recent Library School graduate to learn from, and contribute to, the leading role the Children’s Library at Darien Library is playing in developing new services to children and their families.

Application Process  

All applications should include the following:

• A cover letter of no more than one page
• Resume of no more than two pages
• Two essays
  • In up to 100 words, tell us "One thing I know for sure."
  • In up to 500 words, tell us "Why I will make a difference at Darien Library."
• A video of no more than two minutes in which you tell us which is your favorite children’s book and convince us to read it.
• No more than five references, attesting to your love of children, passion for literacy, and penchant for technology. (May be sent separately.)
• Graduate school transcript
• Undergraduate transcript
•  Application Checklist (pdf)

Applications are due by 5 p.m. on March 30, 2012 and should be delivered to:

Late applications will not be opened and will not be considered. Faxes cannot be accepted. 

Applications will be reviewed immediately, all respondents will be advised of our decision by April 10, and first round phone interviews will be held in April. Final interviews will be completed in May 2012. The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Fellow will be selected and notified by June 1, 2012, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2012.

Queries can be addressed to fellowship@darienlibrary.org

Monday at Seven is now meeting at a new location. As of December 27, 2010, the group will meet at the United Methodist Church in Westport. The meeting time will continue to be on Monday mornings at 7:00 a.m.

Monday at Seven is a networking group of professionals in transition.

Darien Library introduced Monday at Seven to the community more than 18 months ago, and is pleased to have hosted this important program; providing a resource and meeting center for job-seekers and networkers. 

Though the meeting site has changed, Darien Library staff will continue to provide assistance in job search, resume review, use of our Bloomberg terminal, and use of our technology resources to Monday at Seven participants.

United Methodist Church is located at 49 Weston Road in Westport. (It is just north of Exit 42 on the Merritt Parkway.) For more information, call James Ulrich at (203) 493-1236. For directions, call the church at (203) 227-4707 or visit westportumc.org.

See our tips when you check in!

From the Darien post office to your grocery store of choice to, of course, the Darien Library, there's a lot of places you visit in a day.  What if you recorded - checked in - where you went daily on your mobile phone and what if you were given points for those visits?  Sounds like the making of an interesting game...

That's the exact premise behind the online game foursquare!

Play along with your fellow community members to see what places are of interest in the area.  When you check in other folks may have left tips for you at different locations - called venues.  The library staff has put together a nice list of things to check out while in the library at our venue on foursquare.

The more you check in, the more points you get.  Check in enough times and become mayor of that location!  If you become mayor of Darien Library please stop by the Welcome Desk and show our staff your mayor badge to claim your very own Darien Library tote bag (a $25 dollar value)!

One bag per mayor please :)