librar November 2003 Wilton Library Association Newsletter

Transcription

1 librar Wilton Library Association Newsletter November 2003 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ in this issue -- Expansion News -- Don't Miss "Murder by the Book" - November 15th! -- Jack Mitchell "Hugs His Customers" on November 9th -- Teens, Teens, Teens -- Art and Music Lectures: Kaskell, Wittry, Brings and Lauer -- Movies and Literature Discussions for Adults -- "Free to Read" Children's Author Panel -- What Every Woman Needs to Know About Investing -- Computer Classes Continue -- Thanksgiving Film Fest for Kids Greetings! Expansion News The Library went before Wilton's Planning and Zoning Commission Monday, October 27th and formally presented its plan for the expansion. Commissioners questioned Building Committee Chairman Malcolm Whyte, Engineer Holt McCord and Landscape Architect Richard Kent about aspects of the site plan, including the parking lot lighting specifications, the sort of trees that will be planted around the property, and the degree to which the plan had been modified in various ways to accommodate suggestions made in previous informal meetings. Comments from the audience were few, but included one from First Selectman Paul Hannah regarding a change in the mortgage held by the Town for the Library on the "Goslee property" on which the new rear parking lot will be built. The hearing was continued to November 10th primarily so that Library officials can respond more formally and fully to questions posed by P&Z Commission members and others. Those in attendance on the 27th were gratified by the warmth with which the Town Planner and the Commission received the plan, clearly indicating their appreciation for the way Malcolm and Tai Soo Kim Partners have communicated throughout the planning process. Thank you from us all, Malcolm!

2 On the funding front, we have just mailed more than 6,500 letters and brochures to Wilton residents and out of town Friends of the Library, asking that they contribute to both the annual Friends appeal and the Building Fund this year. We need $160,000 to purchase materials (books, audio books, videos, DVDs and CDs) and just about $1 million more to fund the $8.7 million expansion project - a challenging prospect, for sure. If you have questions about the mailing, please don't hesitate to give us a call ( ). People continue to ask about when construction will start - at this point we are looking forward to donning hard hats next March or as soon as the asphalt plants open to work on our new parking lots. As soon as that work is completed, we'll start excavation for the two story addition that will sit roughly where our rear parking lot is now. The entire project is expected to take between 18 months and 2 years, an extended period due to the fact that we plan to remain in operation and continue to be Wilton's library throughout the process. We have already begun talking with potential construction management firms about how to minimize disruption of library and Town operations as construction moves forward... Don't Miss "Murder by the Book" - November 15th! The Wilton Chamber of Commerce and the Wilton Playshop have joined forces to create a mystery cocktail party at the Library to benefit the Library's expansion. Restaurants and liquor stores will provide the food and drink for free, Playshop actors will solve an original mystery with a distinctly literary flavor and all the proceeds of the $25 or $50 (your choice of giving level) tickets will be added to the Building Fund. Join us for two hours of tremendous fun and fabulous refreshments from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday night, November 15th. You may want to go on right from there to the Playshop's production of Camelot at 8:00 p.m. and make an entire evening of it! Please call to reserve your spot today! Jack Mitchell "Hugs His Customers" on November 9th Jack Mitchell, CEO of Mitchells and Richards stores in Fairfield County has written "Hug Your Customers: The proven way to Personalize Sales and Achieve Astounding Results," called "a surprising little gem" by William J. Holstein of "The New York Times." "Publishers Weekly" relates: "Hugging your customers, [Jack Mitchell] says, has nothing to do with being touchy-feely around them and everything to do with offering them over-the-top service. For Mitchell, that means literally offering a customer the coat off your back, if that's the only one left in the store in the customer's size and preferred style and color. It means going to customers' homes to tie their bow ties for big events. It means serving coffee and bagels in the store and giving away hot dogs in the parking lot on summer Saturdays. Some might view this as fawning, but for Mitchell, it's the best way to keep customers coming back. His advice-know your customer, think outside the box, have a "no problem" attitude-is hardly groundbreaking. But those who work with customers daily have much to gain from this chipper, inspiring handbook."

3 Join Jack on Sunday afternoon, November 9th, at 2:00 pm to purchase an autographed copy of his book and hear his words of advice. This exciting and inspiring "author talk" is jointly sponsored by the Library and the Wilton Chamber of Commerce. Teens, Teens, Teens Teen Librarian Susan Lauricella has planned a full month for Wilton Library teens in November: Friday, November 7th 5-7 pm Teen Movie Night: Remember the Titans (sponsored by Louis Dreyfus Corporation) - free refreshments and no reservations needed! Saturday, November 8th 1-3 pm Comic Drawing for Teens with Frank McLaughlin will include hands-on experience in drawing techniques and creating characters. Frank is a professional artist who has worked with Marvel Comics and Walt Disney. Registration is required as space is limited - call right away to reserve your place! Friday, November 14th 7-9 pm is Teen Poetry Open Mike Night where teens can sing, read, "rap" or play music to original or existing pieces of poetry. Registration and presubmission of entry are required. Call for details! Fridays, November 15 and am-1 pm (both sessions required). $50 per student aged Babysitting Training by the American Red Cross. We are currently overbooked for this course and hope to be able to expand the session or offer a second one - call for information. Art and Music Lectures: Kaskell, Wittry, Brings and Lauer We are truly fortunate to be able to be a cultural center for our community and November's offerings highlight that role. We hope you will be able to join us for some or all of the lectures this month: Sunday, November 2nd 2-3 pm Joan Kaskell, Metropolitan Museum lecturer discusses the Frick Collection. Sunday, November 16th 2-3 pm Diane Wittry, Norwalk Symphony director and conductor will speak about her passion for and programs of music. Sunday November 23rd 2-3 pm Dr. Allen Brings and Elizabeth Lauer share their expertise and experiences with classical music composition. Movies and Literature Discussions for Adults Join us for Reel Wednesdays from 10:30-12:30 in November - free and fantastic foreign films on the "big screen" in our Community Room: November 5th: A lonely retired schoolteacher takes a young child under her wing in this Brazilian film.

4 November 19th: A substitute teacher tries desperately to find a lost student in this Chinese import. Literature discussions will include The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway led by Ben Van Vechten at the Senior Center, Comstock Community Center at 11 am on Tuesday, November 25th and Enduring Love by Ian McEwen led by Susan Boyer in our Community Room on Wednesday, November 12th at noon. Both promise to be entertaining and stimulating. "Free to Read" Children's Author Panel Head of Children's Services Sharrie Alechman has again put together a wonderful panel of children's authors to discuss their writing and give tips and encouragement to children ages 7 and up. Parents are most welcome to attend and books will be available for purchase and signing. Join us Thursday, November 20th (4-6 pm) for the panel and a free light supper - this is truly a holiday treat! Registration is required so that we can have books and food for you all. What Every Woman Needs to Know About Investing Lynn Everdell of Morgan Stanley, Anne Crane of Gregory and Adams, and Lauren Sanders of Reynolds and Rowella will address the specific concerns of the female investor and provide information on simple steps to help women take control of their finances. Join us Thursday, November 6th at 7 pm. The program is free, but advance registration is suggested in person, by phone ( ) or online. Computer Classes Continue Computer guru Mary Anne Franco will conduct the following sessions "before hours" from 8:30-10 am during November: Web-based (11/5), Intermediate Excel (11/6), mail merge (11/19) and Intermediate PowerPoint (11/20). Make sure you sign up early - the classes fill up fast. The cost of $20/$15 for Friends supports our program budget. Thanksgiving Film Fest for Kids Want your kids to have fun the Friday following Thanksgiving? Thanks to sponsorship by Louis Dreyfus, we'll be able to show the continuing saga of a "cuddly" alien (it's a stitch!) from 11:30 to 1 and the story of a little lost fish and the quest to find him from 2-3:30! [Remember, we can't say the titles here due to contractual obligations.] There is no charge and no registration is required. Children under 5 must be accompanied by a parent.

5 Contact Information voice: web: