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October 31, 2006
You'll need to carve out some time
...to take in this new exhibit!
"Grasslands of Eastern Tibet: Nomads, Festivals, Monasteries" is our current Art on View in the Main Reading Room. A photography exhibit by Barbara Paul, a Westport resident, this impressive display is brand new to us today. Surrounding the room are 120 photographs featuring the unique costumes and lifestyle of Amdo, nomads of Eastern Tibet, and the high landscape of the Tibetan Plateau where they live.
Ms. Paul photographs people living in remote regions of Asia and Africa, where few travelers visit. The photos in this particular exhibit are from her month-long trip to the area two years ago. She is attracted to their ethnic dress, tribal and religious customs, festivals and daily way of life. Her passion and interest in the area and the subject are apparent. If you find her enthusiasm and curiosity contagious, you may want to follow up your visit to the Library with a trip into New York City to check out the Rubin Museum of Art.
There will be a festive reception for Ms. Paul at the Library this Friday, November 3rd, from 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Posted by BarbaraT at 04:13 PM
Wonderful November-ful Films
Our Foreign Film Series continues right on through November and we're really proud of our schedule this year!
This month we'll be showing films from Germany, Argentina, and Norway. Hope to see you there!
Just a reminder...Show time is at 7:30 p.m.
Doors open at 7:00
Admission is free.
Posted by BarbaraT at 04:00 PM
October 30, 2006
Coming this Friday!
Hawaii, Oslo will be our feature this Friday, November 3rd as our series continues through the month of November. Sure to draw comparisons to the 2005 Academy Award winning Crash, I feel that I should mention that this film was released in 2004.
It's a powerful film, with many subplots and lots of interwoven threads.
I really liked this film. I'd recommend making the time to visit Hawaii, Oslo.
Posted by BarbaraT at 03:26 PM
October 28, 2006
Annual Meeting Tomorrow!!!
Don't forget! The Library's Annual Meeting is tomorrow at 5:30 p.m.
Our speaker will be Darien resident and author, Bob Spitz.
Spitz will answer questions and will do a short reading from his best-selling book, The Beatles: The Biography.
He was so kind to come into the Library yesterday (at our request) to meet with me and Janet for an interview. So generous was he with his time, and so thoughtful with his remarks, we are now especially looking forward to his talk tomorrow. Click here to listen to yesterday's interview.(Note that we plan to record his talk at tomorrow's meeting, so you may want to check back at our home page soon for that link.)
Preceding the speaker, election of officers and new trustee nominations for the year 2006/2007 will take place. Kim Huffard has been nominated as President. Nominated as new trustees are Margot Congdon, Sheila Daley, Karen Elders, Randi-Jean Hedin, Peggy Hersam, and Dot Kelly.
There will also be a report from George Wyper, President of the Board of Trustees, and Library Director Louise Berry at the annual event.
A book signing and reception will follow the meeting.
Posted by BarbaraT at 12:09 PM
October 20, 2006
Knit-a-thon success!
Thank you to all who participated or contributed!
Posted by BarbaraT at 06:23 PM
Fall Book Discussion Continues
Sunday, October 22nd at 2:30 p.m.
"THE WAY WE LIVE NOW"
The discussion book for this Sunday's gathering is Heat: an Amateur's Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany by Bill Buford.
This book is an immensely enjoyable memoir by the longtime fiction editor for The New Yorker. Overcome with a yen to be a chef, Buford apprenticed himself to New York chef Mario Batali and other famous chefs in England and Italy. He writes unsparingly and most amusingly about his experiences.
"Buford may be a culinary apprentice, but he's a master prose stylist." -- Chuck Leddes, The Boston Globe
We welcome back Professor Jordon Pecile who will lead the discussion. 
Posted by BarbaraT at 01:29 PM
October 19, 2006
This Week at the Library 10/19/06 to 10/26/06
Beatles’ Biographer Bob Spitz to Speak at Darien Library Annual Meeting
Darien resident Bob Spitz, author of The Beatles: The Biography will be the featured speaker at the Darien Library Annual Meeting of Friends of the Library on Sunday, October 29th at 5:30 p.m.
Preceding the speaker, election of officers and new trustee nominations for the year 2006/2007 will take place. Kim Huffard has been nominated as President. Nominated as new trustees are Margot Congdon, Sheila Daley, Karen Elders, Randi-Jean Hedin, Peggy Hersam, and Dot Kelly.
There will also be a report from George Wyper, President of the Board of Trustees, and Library Director Louise Berry at the annual event.
Bob Spitz will answer questions and do a short reading from the book, which is considered by many to be the “definitive story” of the Beatles. After eight years of exhaustive research, Spitz released this best-selling book to mostly excellent reviews, and it was named one of the 100 Notable Books of 2005 by The New York Times.
Spitz combines his experience as a journalist and his extraordinary knowledge of the music business to tell this insightful and enlightening story of the Beatles.
Mr. Spitz is also the author of Dylan: A Biography, Barefoot in Babylon: The Creation of the Woodstock Music Festival, 1969, and The Making of Superstars: Artists and Executives of the Rock Music Business.
A book signing and reception will follow the meeting.
Display Case:
Where were you on February 9, 1964? If, like nearly 74 million other Americans, you were watching the Beatles make their American debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” you’ll want to circle October 29th on your calendar. Darien resident Bob Spitz has written the most comprehensive biography of the Beatles to date, critically acclaimed and full of new information that he discovered while researching the group’s history. He’ll read from his book and answer questions during the Annual Meeting of Friends at the Darien Library. Our October display case celebrates nearly 43 years of Beatlemania with Beatles trading cards, toys and artifacts, and even some vintage vinyl records. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!
Foreign Film Series Begins at Darien Library:
The Darien Library’s annual Foreign Film Series begins on Friday, October 20 at 7:30 p.m. The Library is pleased to announce that the number of films to be shown for the Series has been increased this year from five films to seven films, continuing on consecutive Fridays through December 1. “Our Film Series are perennial favorites that have our audiences asking about them all year round.” said Barbara Thomas, coordinator of the Library Film Series. “Not only have we expanded the number of films for the Foreign Film Series, our Friday Film Series, which will begin in February, will run for 12 instead of the usual 10 weeks. We are also excited about the addition of a new eight-week Summer Film Series.”
An additional change to the Series is a new show time. According to the Library, as a result of numerous requests, the films will begin at 7:30 p.m. Doors will open at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free.
Darien Library to Collect DVDs and Videos for Shelters:
From Monday, October 9th through Tuesday, October 31st, Darien Library will accept donations of children’s and family DVDs and videotapes (G and PG-rated only) to be distributed to the Domestic Violence Crisis Center Shelters.
The Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC) has offices in Stamford and Norwalk. The agency provides counseling, advocacy, shelter, and safe housing to victims of domestic violence, and also promotes community education and public awareness. Last year, DVCC sheltered 84 women and 98 children.
Please bring your donations into the Library and place them in the designated donation box.
Art Exhibit:
An art exhibit featuring the abstract paintings of artist David Morico will be on display in the Main Reading Room at Darien Library from September 26th to October 30th. This new series by Mr. Morico features landscapes with bright colors and earth tones. The show is entitled “Glimpses.” Mr. Morico is a graduate of Paier College of Art. He has exhibited throughout Fairfield County and New Haven since 1993, and his paintings have been added to the permanent collections of Ronald McDonald House and Save the Children.
Childrens Room:
“Book a Film”
The Darien Library is pleased to continue the “Book a Film” book group for grades 4 to 7. This session will discuss “The Thief Lord” on Wednesday, November 1st from 4 to 5 p.m. Read the book beforehand, and compare it to the movie. Clips of the movie will be viewed at the book discussion. Registration is required.
The Darien Library programs for children, teens, and adults are funded by the Friends of the Darien Library. Contact the Children’s Room at 655-1234 x117, or visit the Library’s website at www.darienlibrary.org for more information.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month – Knit-athon:
On Friday, October 20th from 3 to 5 p.m., Darien Library will hold a knit-athon to make caps and scarves for children at the shelters run by the Domestic Violence Crisis Center. This program is open to adults and children. Registration and previous knitting experience is required. Patterns, knitting needles, and yarn will be provided. Final drop-off of caps and scarves will be on Wednesday, November 15. Register at the Children’s Room desk: 655-1234 x 117.
HOURS:
Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
World Wide Web: darienlibrary.org
Posted by Cathy at 01:08 PM
October 09, 2006
Starting today...
...and continuing through October 31st, we will be accepting donations of children's and family DVDs and videotapes to be distributed to the shelters run by the Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC). We will accept new and used items with a G or PG rating.
DVCC has offices in Stamford and Norwalk. The agency provides counseling, advocacy, shelter, and safe housing to victims of domestic violence, and also promotes community education and awareness. Last year, DVCC sheltered 84 women and 98 children.
Please bring your donations into the Library and place them in the designated donation box. 
Posted by BarbaraT at 09:53 AM
October 05, 2006
This Week at the Library 9/28/06 to 10/05/06
Display Case:
Where were you on February 9, 1964? If, like nearly 74 million other Americans, you were watching the Beatles make their American debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” you’ll want to circle October 29th on your calendar. Darien resident Bob Spitz has written the most comprehensive biography of the Beatles to date, critically acclaimed and full of new information that he discovered while researching the group’s history. He’ll read from his book and answer questions during the Annual Meeting of Friends at the Darien Library. Our October display case celebrates nearly 43 years of Beatlemania with Beatles trading cards, toys and artifacts, and even some vintage vinyl records. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!
Master Gardener Program at Darien Library
Master Gardener Wally Pugh will provide an informational presentation on the UCONN Master Gardener Program at the Darien Library on Thursday, October 19th from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. The Master Gardener Program provides horticultural training to individuals who have gardening interest or experience and to those who wish to expand and share their knowledge with the public through community volunteerism. A question and answer session will follow the program.
Darien Library Art Auction
Recent works by local artists will be auctioned off at the Meadowlands on Saturday,
October 14th at 6:00 p.m. to benefit the Capital Campaign for the new library. This
fundraising event is by reservation only since space is limited. Tickets start at $100 per
person. A free public preview will take place on Friday, October 13th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
For more information visit www.darienlibrary.org.
Darien Library to Collect DVDs and Videos for Shelters:
From Monday, October 9th through Tuesday, October 31st, Darien Library will accept donations of children’s and family DVDs and videotapes (G and PG-rated only) to be distributed to the Domestic Violence Crisis Center Shelters.
The Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC) has offices in Stamford and Norwalk. The agency provides counseling, advocacy, shelter, and safe housing to victims of domestic violence, and also promotes community education and public awareness. Last year, DVCC sheltered 84 women and 98 children. Please bring your donations into the Library and place them in the designated donation box.
Art Exhibit:
An art exhibit featuring the abstract paintings of artist David Morico will be on display in the Main Reading Room at Darien Library from September 26th to October 30th. This new series by Mr. Morico features landscapes with bright colors and earth tones. The show is entitled “Glimpses.” Mr. Morico is a graduate of Paier College of Art. He has exhibited throughout Fairfield County and New Haven since 1993, and his paintings have been added to the permanent collections of Ronald McDonald House and Save the Children.
Children’s Room:
“So Long Snicket!”:
Celebrate “The End,” the last (and 13th) book in the Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. “So Long Snicket!” is a game show for students in grades 3 to 5 that will take place on Friday, October 13th from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Parents and spectators ages 5 and up are welcome to attend and cheer.
Students will join an “unfortunate” team and compete in games based on the first 12 books. The three challenges include “Words of Misfortune,” a hybrid of hangman and the television show Wheel of Fortune, “Spelling Torture,” which requires students to spell terrible places and words in the books, and “Vile Vocabulary,” a multiple choice game highlighting words the author humorously describes in the series. All participants should have read at least two books in the series.
Register in the Children’s Room beginning Monday, October 2nd. Responsible teens in grades 7 and up interested in volunteering to set up and assist librarians during the event are also asked to register in the Children’s Room.
Children’s programs are funded by the Friends of the Darien Library. Please contact the Children’s Room at 655-1234 x117, or visit the Library’s website at www.darienlibrary.org for more information.
Teen Read Week - Read-athon:
The Darien Library is celebrating the American Library Association’s Teen Read Week with a Read-athon on Friday, October 20th from 7 to 10 p.m., for students in grades 6 through 12. The money raised will fund materials and books in the Teen Center of the new Darien Library on Hecker Avenue, to be completed in Fall 2008.
Teen Read Week encourages teens to use resources in their libraries to lead active lives in their community. The Darien Library will join thousands of other libraries, schools, and bookstores across the country that will participate in this national adolescent literacy initiative.
Since this year’s theme is “Get Active @ Your Library,” teens can “get active” philanthropically by registering in the Children’s Room between Monday, October 2nd and Thursday, October 19th. Upon registering, teens will receive a donor sheet to keep track of their friends’ and family’s donations, and a detail sheet outlining the night’s events. They may read any fiction, non-fiction book, or graphic novel of their choosing. Snacks will be provided.
In appreciation, teens will receive a $25 punchcard to reduce current and future Darien Library fines. A special thank you to the Read-athoners will also be displayed in the new Darien Library.
Contact the Children’s Room at 655-1234 x117, or visit the Library’s website at www.darienlibrary.org for more information. For more information regarding Teen Read Week, contact the American Library Association at www.ala.org/yalsa.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month – Knit-athon:
On Friday, October 20th from 3 to 5 p.m., Darien Library will hold a knit-athon to make caps and scarves for children at the shelters run by the Domestic Violence Crisis Center. This program is open to adults and children. Registration and previous knitting experience is required. Patterns, knitting needles, and yarn will be provided. Final drop-off of caps and scarves will be on Wednesday, November 15. Register at the Children’s Room desk: 655-1234 x 117.
HOURS:
Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
World Wide Web: darienlibrary.org
Posted by Cathy at 04:12 PM
October 03, 2006
"Faces of Light" All Around the Town
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Pink is the color for Breast Cancer Awareness and Darien is Painting the Town Pink for the month of October. As part of this awareness campaign (sponsored by Stamford Hospital), Darien breast cancer survivors tell their stories in "Faces of Light: Stories from Breast Cancer Survivors." Photographer, Ben Larabee took portraits of these women and the beautiful and moving results are being displayed throughout town right now. A breast cancer awareness campaign delivers the message of the importance of early detection. The survivors, who so courageously shared their stories for "Faces of Light," build on that and offer hope.
We're honored to have 2 of these portraits hanging here at the Library. They add a powerful voice to the campaign, the cause, and our collection of books on the subject. The portraits are featured prominently in our lobby next to the display case.
Posted by BarbaraT at 11:20 AM