As if we weren't already excited enough about this summer's Adult Summer Reading Program...now we get to celebrate! (Well, I know we celebrate books and reading here every day...but, this...THIS(!) is different!) On Wednesday, August 13 at 7 p.m. we will host the Grand Finale! and it's going to be good. Really good.

Join us for a wine and cheese party and Grand Prize drawing...AND... meet Hillary Jordan, the author of Mudbound! We are extremely happy that she's agreed to come to Darien Library. First of all, we love the book. Period. It's an extraordinary story, incredibly well told. My hunch is that it is destined to become an important American book; one which earns a spot in our collective memory. Not a lot of books are able to do that.

Erica and I met Hillary back in January when we attended a conference in Philadelphia, and we each received advance reading copies of Mudbound. Neither of us big fiction readers, Mudbound swallowed us whole and we came out the other side richer for the experience. The word-of-mouth about this book is loud, and clear, and sustained, which is unusual for a first-time author. And it's not just here in town. We're hearing Mudbound-chatter no matter where we go. We're calling this "the little book that could" and we're just watching as it gains momentum. It's a beautiful thing.

It's no "mystery," really...on Wednesday, July 9th at 7 p.m., mystery authors Rosemary Harris and Jane Cleland will be here to talk about their books. It's another "Meet the Author" event here at the Library, adding yet another layer of excitement to our Adult Summer Reading Program, which began two weeks ago today and will continue until August 13th. 344 people have already registered!

Mystery authors, (l-r) Jane Cleland and Rosemary Harris

To read the first chapter of Antiques to Die For, click here.

To read the first chapter of Pushing Up Daisies, click here.

To reserve the books, click on the images below.

To share in an enjoyable evening of conviviality, congenialtiy, and conversation (where you may consume some refreshments), all evidence points to being here on the 9th when the clock strikes 7.

There will be a book signing following the presentation and books will be available for purchase.

That's the theme for our Adult Summer Reading Program and we do believe that no matter where you find yourself this summer (or anytime, actually), reading is the ultimate escape! Whether that ultimate-summer book is on your beach blanket or in your backpack or on your back porch, plan for adventure and leave the rest to us. This is our 3rd annual Adult Summer Reading Program, so we've been living and learning. We'll have weekly prizes, a wine and cheese party with Grand Prize drawing, and two "Meet the Author" events.

MEET THE AUTHORS

Mystery Writers
Wednesday, July 9 at 7 p.m.
Mystery authors Rosemary Harris, author of Pushing Up Daisies, and Jane Cleland, author of Antiques to Die For, will talk about their books. A book signing will follow the event and refreshments will be served.

Grand Finale!
Wednesday, August 13 at 7 p.m.
We conclude our Adult Summer Reading Program with a wine and cheese party and our Grand Prize drawing. Hilary Jordan, author of the award-winning (and, by the way, staff favorite), Mudbound will be here. She'll talk about the book and will also sign copies of this, her debut novel.

Here's what you'll need to do to get started:

3. Submit a Grand Prize entry form for every book you read (all books and audio books count).

The more you read, the more chances you have to win!

Simple.

Wishing you happy and simple summer days.

At the Library in May, John Feinstein will talk sports and Bob Spitz will talk cooking. (And I'll try and lay off the puns.)

John Feinstein will be here this Sunday, May 4th at 5:30 p.m. It's a rare personal appearance for him and we are very excited that he's coming to Darien...and just a few days after the release of his new book, Living on the Black: Two Pitchers, Two Teams, One Season to Remember!

The premise of the book? Glavine and Mussina, Mets and Yankees. 2007. Lots of drama. High stakes. The inside scoop. What's happening in their heads? In spring training? On the mound? With the team? With the press? At home? You won't get any closer than this. Feinstein's insight and his ability to convey what he knows and what he learns makes this a fascinating read even for the non sports fan (so engrossed was I, I nearly missed my subway stop).

We know this is going to be a great program! We know John from NPR's "Morning Edition," ESPN, CBS Sports...and we've seen him on Charlie Rose and The Colbert Report. You'll want to make a point to be here on Sunday. (If there's a game on that you want to watch at that time, dvr or tivo it....excellent technology...excellent advice.)

Janet and I had the great experience of interviewing John this morning! Click here
to listen to the podcast.

And (hooray!), on Sunday, May 18th at 5:30 p.m., Bob Spitz returns to tell tales out of school...cooking school. Cooking schools, actually. The Saucier's Apprentice: One Long Strange Trip through the Great Cooking Schools of Europe is his brand new book and we are the first stop on his book tour! The book is filled with wonderful stories, cooking instructions, and (hard-to-pronounce) recipes.

When Bob was last here, he talked about his New York Times bestseller, The Beatles: The Biography. It was a fabulous program, and we are quite fond of Bob....not just because he's a bestselling author...and not just because his articles appear regularly in almost every major magazine and newspaper...and not just because he lives right here in Darien...it's just... because. (And now we know he can cook!). He was here in October 2006 and he told us about working on this memoir -- about how he'd finished the Beatles book, his marriage had ended, his heart had been broken on the rebound, and he turned 50, and how he took off for Europe and attended some of the finest cooking schools and returned a world-class cook. He promised us that he would come back to talk about it when the book was published (it comes out on May 12th). The man who calls himself "a barbarian in the temples of haute cuisine" is a man of his word. (Thank you, Bob.)

(Receptions and book signings will follow both of these presentations. Books will be available for purchase.)

Ed Gray

Watergate. One word. Yet, what that one word represents is enormous. It shook this country to its core -- causing disappointment, despair, and disillusionment. The impact of Watergate was stunning and is forever etched in our collective memory. Many men went to jail. The President resigned. The nation's mistrust of its government intensified.

L. Patrick Gray III was the acting director of the FBI at the time. A by-the-book, loyal, honor-bound, former submarine commander, Gray found his life shattered by the affairs of Watergate and a White House that he had trusted. He was vilified, talked about, whispered about, in Nixon’s words, “cut off,” and in John Ehrlichman’s chilling words, left to “twist slowly, slowly in the wind.”

More than 30 years have passed. Now comes his story. Ed Gray is the co-author of In Nixon’s Web: A Year in the Crosshairs of Watergate. The book is a memoir, written by his father. L. Patrick Gray did not live to see his memoir published, but his son Ed, who is an author himself, continued his father’s undertaking, resulting in this new book, which comes out on Tuesday, March 4th. When Ed speaks here on the 9th, it will represent the launch of his book tour.

The first of the reviews just came out, and it's from Library Journal, an excellent source. Take a look at the great review they gave it and note that the book received the much-sought-after "Recommended for all public libraries."

We had a chance last week to interview Ed about the book and the discussion makes us even more eager to hear his presentation on the 9th. To listen to the interview, click right here.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase. A book signing and reception will follow the presentation.

It is often by challenging convention that we acquire the space to expand our vision, question established values, and allow ourselves to grow. Stretch the status quo with these authors whose lives and work have led them to unexpected insights and surprising places. Join us in an exploration of new horizons and start thinking Outside-the-Box!

Michael Gates Gill
Author of How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else
Thursday, February 28
7 p.m. in the Program Room
At the age of 63, Michael Gates Gill lost it all – his job, his family, his home, and his health. Dejected and desperate, he accepted an entry level job at a local Starbucks and embarked on a journey that reached out across race, class, and age to transform his life. With thoughtfulness, humor, dignity, and honesty, the author shares what's he's learned about hard work, respect, camaraderie, humanity...and coffee.

Lee Siegel
Author of Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob
Thursday, March 6
7 p.m. in the Program Room
Does the internet connect us or separate us? Lee Siegel, senior editor at The New Republic, dissects our cultural love affair with the internet and its byproducts. In an intellectually engaging and spirited style, Siegel argues that the web has spawned an "electronic mob" that threatens to overwhelm long-held concepts of humanity. He takes on the web, reality television, film techniques, and internet dating, with a view that is critical, provocative, passionate, fresh, and entertaining.

Copies of the books will be available for purchase.

A book signing will follow the presentations and there will be drawings for prizes.

Refreshments will be served.

The EASTERN BRASS QUINTET will provide WOW! entertainment (and we'll provide the refreshments)!

Here's some background information about the Quintet, which Robert Sherman of The New York Times called "One of the best groups in the business."

One of the first groups of its kind in America, the Eastern Brass Quintet was founded over 20 years ago, and quickly established a reputation as a brilliant and sought-after ensemble. Today, after more than a thousand concerts and several outstanding recordings, the Quintet still offers the same sound, showmanship, and charm that have delighted audiences throughout the country since its debut.
The Quintet has appeared at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Casals Festival, and in concert series at institutions including Princeton, Yale, the University of Michigan, and the University of Texas. The group has always been known for its imaginative programming and its versatility, offering convincing performances of music from five centuries. With the success of their new recording, “An American collection, came an invitation to perform for the 1991 Grammy Awards festivities in New York, along with such musical luminaries as Tony Bennett, the Count Basie Orchestra, Tito Puente, and Clark Terry.
The Eastern Brass Quintet has been featured on radio stations WNCN and WQXR in New York. Its members have performed with groups such as the New York Philharmonic, and the American Symphony Orchestra.

(The Eastern Brass Quintet is made up of Richard Green on trumpet, Gary Capetandes on trombone, Morris Kainuma on tuba, Rich Clymer, also on trumpet, and Peter Reit on horn.)

Join us for a gathering that will include some heartfelt smiles, some wonderful music, and some sweet refreshments. Happy Holidays!

You also won't want to miss two special events at the meeting.

First, David Campbell, head of the New Darien Library Building Committee, will talk about the progress of new construction, with pictures and illustrations. This major investment in the future of the Town of Darien, funded by private donations, is now beginning to take shape, and David will give you some insight about what you can expect over the next 15 months as we work to completion.

And then, something very different, and we'll bet you'll agree, quite fascinating. The Library has been working for the past year to develop a new brand identity to go along with our new building and all the new services that we be part of our future. This has led us into thinking about the way we present ourselves in the community, what our patrons expect of us, and the commitments we make.

Steff Geissbuhler, a partner in C&G Partners, is among America’s most celebrated designers of integrated brand and corporate identity programs, with clients such as IBM, NBC, and New York Public Library, and has been working with us on the project. At the meeting, he will discuss his work to develop an updated identity for Darien Library and he will unveil our new logo.

Coming right up in September, our Fall Technology Education Series begins, and we've got Passport Day on the 15th. Whether it's a new passport, a replacement, or renewal, Peg Andral and more of the friendly folks from the Darien Post Office will be set up downstairs in the Program Room from 9 a.m. until noon to help. The return of Jordon Pecile with the Fall Book Discussion Series will make many happy. The selection of books for the Series is superb. That will begin on Sunday, September 16th at 2:30 with A Thousand Splendid Suns. On September 17th, we'll resume Monday Matinee Movies. Showtime will be at 11:30 a.m. and our first feature will be Away From Her. The Master Gardener Program will visit on Wednesday, September 26th at 7:30 p.m. with a welcome and well-timed discussion: "Putting the Garden to Bed."

On Thursday, September 27th, at 11 a.m., First Selectwoman Evonne Klein will be at the Library for a short ceremony to proclaim that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. On September 27th and 28th, the Library will host the powerful Silent Witness Exhibit, and we'll be open on that Friday evening for a special program and a showing of the movie, Waitress.

Our big event during the month of October is, of course, our Annual Meeting. On October 28th our special guest will be Steff Geissbuhler, one of the world's leading designers of logos and corporate identities. We're so looking forward to his talk...he will discuss and reveal our Library's new logo!

In October, we'll also begin our Foreign Film Series, collect dvds and videos for shelters, and hold another Knit-a-Thon.

Don't put the pen away yet! We have a big event for November to tell you about! On November 4th, at 5:30 p.m., Michael Korda will be our guest. With his new book Ike: An American Hero just out, he'll be here for a lecture and book signing. This is certain to be a very popular event!

Details and more information will be available on our Events blog as the event dates near.

This year participants in our adult club, “Book A Trip”, can travel the world without leaving the hammock. Beginning on Monday, June 18, pick up your passport at the Front Desk. Once you read five books you’ll receive a unique luggage tag. At the same time, fill out an entry form each time you read a book this summer to be entered into weekly drawings for bags of bestsellers and a grand prize drawing for Vera Bradley and L.L. Bean luggage.

We’ve also got some great programs for summer readers including a Passport Day, a local author event, and a grand finale celebration.

For many years, our summer reading programs for children and teens have been the highlight of summer in Darien and this year is no exception. Clubs for pre-readers, readers, and teens all begin Monday, June 18th. This summer, the Children’s theme is Jump Into a New Hobby at the Darien Library! And for teens, Get into Focus with summer reading, programs, and volunteer opportunities.

Join the Pre-Readers: Read-to-Me Club in the Children's Room and receive a reading record to keep track of books. Read 15 books to your child this summer and receive a fun sand toy and a nautical tote.

Independent readers in elementary school: join the Summer Reading Club on our website and log books online after you read or listen to them. Read 10 books this summer and win a squishy pen, a fold up Frisbee, AND an invitation to an evening with author Dan Greenburg at the Darien Library.

Calling all teens! If you read during the summer (and we know you do!) then you'll want to sign up for our Teen Summer Reading Club. Join on our teen website, and log in the books you've read or listened to. Each week you'll be entered to win a $25 gift card to a local or online store. Read or listen to 5 books by the end of the summer, and you'll be entered to win a $200 gift card.

We’ll also have great programs all summer long for children and teens, including Harry Potter of course. Check our website for more details.

As you may or not know, the new Darien Library will be a "green" building. So lucky are we to have Dot involved in this project; not only is she extremely knowledgeable, she brings to the project a contagious enthusiasm ("It's fun!" she declares!). Thank you, Dot for all that you do and for agreeing to meet with us for a chat!

Check back later in the week to listen by visiting our Events blog, and clicking on podcasts.

This interview will be the first of many, so, grab a hardhat and continue with us on our journey to the New Darien Library!

There's no question about it -- February is the movie-month for the Darien Library. Not only are we co-sponsoring a showing of An Inconvenient Truth at Town Hall this Friday, we've got lots more in store! Our popular Friday Film Series, which will run for 12 weeks, starts next Friday, the 9th, and(!) beginning February 12th, we'll be offering Monday Matinee Movies right here at the Library.

Showing at Darien Town Hall
Friday, February 2 -- 7:00 p.m.

An Inconvenient Truth is former Vice President Al Gore’s multimedia documentary about global climate change. Admission is free. Click on the photo above for a preview.

...and showing in the Library's Program Room:
Our annual Friday Film Series begins on February 9th and continues straight through until April 27th. We've got a great lineup planned (including 2 Friday Film Votes!).

Show time is at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Admission is free.
Click here for the full schedule for our Friday Film Series, and to view the trailers from each of the films.

New! New! New!
We are very excited to be announcing our newest in film news! Beginning Monday, February 12th, and every Monday at 11:30 a.m. we'll be showing Monday Matinee Movies! No, these will not be encores of our Friday films; they'll be all new! The decision of what to show will likely be very last minute...

...so, come for the coffee and cookies, bring your lunch, and enjoy the shows.
Doors open at 11:00 a.m.
Admission is free.

Acabella's got a terrific repertoire which includes big band tunes, show tunes, old standards, and popular music. Would you like a preview? Here's a sampling from this talented vocal group. Listen...

Click here to listen to "We are Acabella."
Click here to listen to "The Water is Wide."

...and of course there will be holiday music! I have it on good authority that we may sing along, so come one...come all! Don't miss this chance to make some joyful and welcome noise in the Library! Oh what fun!

Darien Library has been ranked as one of the top ten libraries in its population category by the HAPLR index, making it one of the top 100 libraries in the United States. This year, as in most years, no other Connecticut library was ranked.

Hennen's American Public Library Rankings (HAPLR) evaluates objective federal government statistics for the more than 9,000 US public libraries -- determing ranking on measures of use, circulation, efficiency and funding. The HAPLR rankings have been published for seven years, and Darien Library has ranked as one of the top ten libraries in its class each year.

Louise Berry, Director, said, "We're pleased to be recognized once again by the HAPLR ratings, especially since it is a recognition of the hard work of our staff and Library Board. What interests us is that HAPLR does not evaluate either customer service or technology, two areas where Darien Library is very strong -- so to gain recognition for the other aspects of our performance is gratifying, to say the least."

More information on the HAPLR ratings is available here.

You don't have an annual meeting like this every year!

2006 has been one of the most extraordinary years in the history of an extraordinary Library. Great progress has been made in planning and funding our new building, while active use of the Library's programs, information, books and other materials continues.

At the Annual Meeting on Sunday, October 29, at 5:30 pm, Friends of the Library will elect new Trustees, the Board will elect new officers, and all present will learn about the year's developments from George Wyper, President of the Board, and Louise Berry, Director of the Library. Darien resident Bob Spitz will discuss and read from his book, "The Beatles: The Biography."

After the meeting, you can discuss the new building with architect Peter Gisolfi and members of the Building Committee, who will have plans and a model for review.

At the same time, Bob Spitz will be available for a book signing at the reception that follows the meeting.

More information is available here.

We look forward to seeing you all on Sunday, October 29th at 5:30 pm.