Wondering what great books our Girls Book Club has read? 

From the story of an adventursome band of ex-Girl Scouts in Kiki Strike, to an inspiring tale of a young girl faced with a tough moral decision in How to Steal a Dog, the Girls Book Club members have chosen lots of interesting books.  To find out more information about upcoming children's book groups, check out our calendar of events.

Click below for a list of all of our past Girls Book Club picks!

Wondering what great books our Boys Book Club has read? 

From fantastic tales of heroism, to laugh-out-loud realistic fiction, the Boys Book Club members have chosen lots of great books.  To find out more information about upcoming children's book groups, check out our calendar of events.

Click below for a list of all of our past Boys Book Club picks!

Stand Against Racism Day - Friday, April 30th

. . . and there are many ways you can stand along with us!

The Stand Against Racism is a movement of the YWCA, with the goal of bringing people together from all walks of life - across the country - to help elimate racism. Friday, April 30th is "Stand Against Racism Day," and the YWCA Darien/Norwalk, along with 60 YWCA's and approximately 1,500 organizations, will celebrate diversity and raise awareness that racism still exists and should not be tolerated.

Please visit Darien Library on April 30th as we host programs and activities throughout the day in support of the Stand Against Racism:

Color Me Beautiful!
All day in the Children's Library
Like the many colors of crayons in a box, children come in all colors, too! Children of all ages are invited to color and design their own die cut people of all colors, shades, and hues to be displayed throughout the Children's Library.

Film Screening of "Crash"
2 PM in the Community Room
A seemingly simple car accident in Los Angeles brings together a very diverse group of people; as their lives collide, the issue of racism is explored as they each work through their own fears and inherent prejudices. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2006. Starring Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, and Thandie Newton; Rated R; 112 minutes.

Racism - No Way!
4 PM - 5 PM in the Teen Lounge
Teens, we'll have a variety of puzzles and group activities that explore issues relating to racism and cultural diversity. Bring a friend and join the discussion on what racism means to you.

Also, stop by all day to browse our display of books and films from our collection that capture the spirit of the day. Take a look at these booklists to get you started:

Multicultural Stories for Children

Around the World Kids
 

There is still space available for Spring is for Planting on Saturday, April 24 from 11 am - 12 noon. Register in the Children's Library, or call (203) 669-5235.

Spring is for Planting is a spring crafts, activities, and nature program for children ages 5 and up.

Photo courtsey of Flickr user Jerry

It's official. Darien schools will be closed on Tuesday due to the storm. (You can read all about it right here.) It also appears official that we are the place to be during this emergency. And we've been here through it all. Fortunately, we've had power...and heat...and lights...and internet...and wireless internet....and as you might suspect, lots of visitors. Right now, we are like a town unto ourselves; a hustling and bustling town. (Never has our first floor main area more earned its name, Main Street.) Our Main Reading Room (pictured left) is still pretty quiet, despite the large number of users.

Sharing the good news...

If you haves holds on Library items, the hold time is being extended.

If you have Library items marked due March 14 - March 17, that due date will now be March 18.

We have good parking news, too! Due to the storm emergency, Library visitors may park on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's) when the Library parking lot is full. (There is a lighted path that connects to the Darien Library parking lot.)

And here's even more good news: today, we did a little impromptu programming for children. We showed Ponyo at 1:30. The response was overwhelming, so we'll be doing the same thing tomorrow. Times two! (Click on the images below to learn more about and watch the trailers from the movies.)

Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Based on the children's book, this animated adventure follows a scientist who tries to solve world hunger only to see things go awry as food falls from the sky in abundance. This is the most delicious event since macaroni met cheese!

This film is rated PG. Running time is 90 minutes.

Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Where the Wild Things Are

This adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's story follows Max, a disobedient little boy who is sent to bed without his supper. Max then creates an imaginary forest world populated by the wild things, exotic monsters, and ferocious creatures who embrace Max as their ruler.

This film is rated PG. Running time is 101 minutes.

Keep checking back for announcements and the possible addition of more programs.

Please stay safe.

(If you would like information on emergency shelter, please contact Darien Police Headquarters at 203-.662-5300. Emergency shelter will be available beginning this evening after 7 at Tokeneke School. Tokeneke School is located at the corner of Tokeneke Road and Old Farm Road.)

Three big winners: the Newbery, Caldecott, and Sibert awards.

Today at 7:45am in Boston, the American Librarian Association and the Association for Library Service to Children announced before a packed room of hundreds, the winners for the 2010 Youth Media Awards. 

And the winners are.................... (click Read More)

You are raising kids in a digital world. Facebook, Twitter, and a growing number of websites and social tools are becoming increasingly important in most aspects of our 21^st century world. Information literacy is crucial to your children’s success in school and technology is now completely integrated into your child’s life. Today’s students want Web 2.0 tools to be a part of their learning lives because these are the tools that enable them to connect, collaborate, create, and engage in learning that is relevant, contextual and experiential.  

Why should they have all the fun? Join us in 12 weeks of learning through engagement in online technology, in 21 simple activities that you can do on your own time, at your own pace. This program is designed to help you learn about, and how to use, Web 2.0 technologies so that you may better support, guide, and parent your digital native kids safely and confidently through both the perils and the possibilities that this brave new digital world offers. 

Kids don’t just learn in school. You are your children’s first and forever teachers.

So, join in the fun – come play and learn with us!

Sign up HERE for the program and join us on February 6th, 2010 as we kick-off this unique learning program for parents of 21st Century learners! Parents can also sign up by emailing crstaff@darienlibrary.org or calling the Children's Library at (203) 669-5235.

~ Kick-off party and program introduction Saturday, February 6th, 2 PM. ~

This program is inspired by the Learning 2.0: 23 Things program developed by Helene Blowersat the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenberg County and adopted by many other libraries and organizations since then. Content and style for 21 Things for 21st Century Parents has been borrowed and duplicated under a Creative Commons license. We thank them for sharing the program so that we may spread the ideas and make learning fun for parents too!

image courtesy of Flickr user Flickerized.

curl up with a good book!

Click on the picture to discover our Booklists for Kids.

Have a great idea for a booklist?  We want to hear about it!  Send us an email at crstaff@darienlibrary.org.

And HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

We just got in two wonderful new series for beginning readers: the Max books and the Katie Woo books.  Both of these series can be found in our Learn to Read section (in the catalog, the call number is F5 Learn). 

Want more?  Ask us about other great series for children who are learning to read!

On Saturday, November 14, we will be participating in National Gaming Day @ Your Library, a one-day event coordinated by the American Library Association (ALA). Libraries across the country will participate in National Gaming Day, featuring board games for people to play together and interactive video games, including the largest simultaneous national video game tournament ever held!

According to ALA, the goals of this event are to: 

• Raise awareness about the use of games as a library program;
• Expose people to new types of board games;
• Establish connections between local board game groups and the library.

Throughout the day, board games will be placed all around the Library for people to play whenever they like. At 1 p.m., teens may enter the playoffs to determine which four teens will represent Darien Library and compete at 3 p.m. in Teen Super Smash Brothers Brawl National Tournament against other libraries from all over the country. The national competition begins at 3 p.m. This event will take place in the Community Room and refreshments will be served. Register for the Super Smash Brothers Brawl National Tournament by calling 669-5225, emailing ahylton [at] darienlibrary [dot] org, or stopping by the Teen Lounge.

 At 2 p.m., there will be a board game event in the Conference Room on the Mezzanine. There will be a wide assortment of board games, snacks, and drinks. It’s drop-in and lasts until closing. This event is for all ages, including families.

From 3 to 5 p.m., the Children's Library will have a special “We’ve Got Game,” for ages 7 and up. Children, parents, and grandparents are all invited!