Looking to purchase a franchise? Thinking of investing in Exchange Traded Funds? On the prowl for killer marketing tactics? Answers to all of these questions (and many more!) can be found at digital.darienlibrary.org, the home base for our Business eBook collection.

Darien librarians are always looking for the best e-titles available. If you are looking for something but don't see it in our collection, just let us know. Send your suggestions to askus@darienlibrary.org. In the meantime, have fun browsing the list below, a selection of the most popular business eBooks in our collection.

Few things are more stressful to the holiday host and hostess than getting ready for company. Have no fear, there are some great resources available that will get you through the season with a minimum of anxiety and fuss. USA.gov offers a handy list of tips, tricks, and hints covering everything from how to care for a live Christmas tree in your home to avoiding problems when shopping online. With a few simple clicks you can sign up for a daily email filled with useful information.

Here at the Library we have a great selection of books that will show you how to make your house shine, not to mention how to take water spots off of crystal goblets (hint, try wiping with a little white vinegar on a soft cloth, gently rinse and dry immediately.)

Sometimes just planning a menu or selecting the right wine can be a challenge. We can help you with that too. Check out our selection of books on wine and entertaining. You're sure to find plenty of easy, fun, and affordable tips for entertaining.

Still feeling a little anxious? Then ask a Librarian-- we're here to help you find exactly what you are looking for! Call 203-669-5236 (the direct line to the Information Desk, always answered when we are open,) email us at AskUs@darienlibrary.org, or simply text the keyword AskDL to 66746. 

Image by Flickr user Stonehorse Studios.

We would like to share our best kept secret for checking addresses and phone numbers.  Are you finalizing your holiday card mailing list?  Tracking down relatives or friends that may have moved?  Reference USA compiles White Pages listings to give you the most accurate and up-to-date information possible, all in one easy search.  They update their records at least once a month, and you can be assured that if the address or phone number you're looking for is listed, you will be able to find it here.

You have the option to search simply by last name and city, or even as specific as a street address.  You can access Reference USA here: http://www.darienlibrary.org/phone_numbers.  Just click on Reference USA, then U.S. Standard White Pages and get started!

Of course you can always Ask Us for help with phone numbers and addresses, but Reference USA is available 24/7 through our website. 

One of our most heavily used resources by librarians, and we just couldn't resist sharing it with you!

PS - Reference USA is also a great way to locate and research companies and industries.  Ask a librarian to show you how!

In honor of National Gaming Day @ Your Library, I present to you my top three favorite games:

1. Catch Phrase - This one is a staple at my household over Thanksgiving, Christmas, and pretty much any Sunday night.

2. Cranium - Whether you're an artist, a vocab guru, or a music nerd, this game tends to have something for everyone.

3. Jenga - Even though I'm always the one who knocks it over. Every. Time.

And an honorable mention goes to Quelf because I have never played it but I have a strong feeling I would love it!

Check out these links on National Gaming Day @ Your Library:

• I Love Libraries: Gaming
• Board Game Ratings
• Brain Workout Benefits

What's your favorite game?

Darien City Directory, 1953

Saturday, January 21 at 2 PM

Co-sponsored by Darien Library and the Middlesex Genealogical Society, presented by Toni McKeen.

City directories are one of the most overlooked source of historical information about families. You will learn how and where to find city directories, the important and surprising clues they hold, and their use in finding those missing census records and vital records.

For the last 7 years, Toni McKeen has been teaching several levels of genealogy in her home town of Ridgefield, Connecticut. Toni also has been a popular lecturer at various genealogical societies in the New York, Connecticut, Boston, and Long Island areas. Toni has been a frequent presenter at MGS meetings. In her lectures, Toni shares the tips and tricks she has developed over the years to help locate difficult relatives who don’t seem to want to be found.

Effective Use of City Directories

Skill Building: Analyzing City Directories

Using City Directories in Genealogical Research

City Directories on Microfilm at the Library of Congress

Circa 1930 City Directories available at the National Archives

City Directories of the United States of America

Old Directory Search: Stamford, Connecticut, 1907

Your Guide to Finding Ancestors in City Directories

City Directories at DistantCousin.com

Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs available on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).

November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and Family Caregiver Month. For more information on Alzheimer's Disease prevention, visit our book display on the second floor or check out these links:

Alzheimer's Association

Alzheimer's Awareness Source

On Thursday, November 17, Aging in Place + Gallivant will be hosting their Annual Luncheon at The Darien Community Association. The guest speaker will be Dr. Danilo de la Pena, the Executive Director of the Research Center for Clinical Studies in Norwalk, Connecticut.  Sustaining a Healthy Brain is the subject of Dr. de la Pena’s presentation.

The luncheon is free and open to the public. More information can be found here.

Pretty much anyone you could imagine!  Check out our Lives section on the second floor and browse our extensive collection of biographies & memoirs.  To make it even easier, we've put together a display with some featured titles.  Among these books, you can find out How Starbucks Saved My Life, learn about what Mrs. Astor Regrets, get the inside scoop on some of President George Bush's Decision Points and much more!  

Just want to do some quick research on a historical figure that you've always wondered about?  Visit our databases, including the Biography Resource Center and Encyclopedia Britannica Online for articles and short biographies.  They're all here on the History Resources page, and you can browse other databases by subject too.

PS - Every day, Encyclopedia Britannica has a "Biography of the Day!"  Click here to see who is featured now: http://library.eb.com)

In Darien, we're used to cheering for the Blue Wave. But who is cheering for our ocean ecosystem? Get your feet wet with these great reads, many of them replete with beautiful, full-color photographs. Then join us on Monday, November 7 for a presentation on Healthy Oceans with Stephanie Wear, Director of Coral Reef Conservation for The Nature Conservancy.

This event is co-sponsored by Northern Trust.

Wired Magazine recently came out with a list of "nine essential geek books you must read right now." We agree. For a crash course in geekdom, check out some of the titles below. If they look familiar, we salute you fellow geek!

While the folks at Wired have their personal favorites, we want to know yours. What books make your geek flag fly?