New computers for the New Year

A New Year's Invitation: You are invited... ..to use the library's new computers in our Adult and Teen service areas. The PCs are brand new and ready for you to access the internet and use Microsoft Office applications. The PCs have read/write CD drives and USB ports to save your work. We even have new printers in black/white and in color. Come in and see us in 2010! You may be pleasantly surprised at all we have to offer. Holiday Schedule: The Library will be open until 8 pm on Wednesday, Dec. 30. We are closed on Thursday and Friday (New Year's Eve and New Year's Day) but we'll be open again our normal hours on Saturday (10 am - 5 pm ) and Sunday (1 pm - 5 pm). Have a great holiday and stay safe.

FINALLY!

Brand New Computers are coming!

They will be installed Monday, December 28th & Tuesday, December 29th

In order to upgrade the library's PCs and software, there will be No Computer Access on Monday, December 28th & Tuesday, December 29th.

During the PC upgrade, we will not be able to offer access to the internet, word processing, the Career Center, the Express Computers, or library databases.

Thank you for your patience while we make this long-awaited improvement!

Holiday Surprise

All we want for Christmas is....and we know you'll like it, too! Stay tuned!

Holiday Concert - Sunday December 13

The Stratford Library and Friends of Square One Theatre will present their annual holiday program on Sunday, December 13 at 2 pm. The event, “Holiday Music with Childs & Zamparo”, will take place in the Lovell Room of the Stratford Library. The concert is free and open to the public. Pianist David Childs and his wife, vocalist Janet Zamparo, will perform a variety of holiday favorites including “Sleigh Ride”, “Winter Wonderland” and “The Christmas Song”. David has been a full time pianist and educator for 25 years. He performs full time in the tri state region in a variety of venues.

Holiday festivities in Stratford kick-off at the Library, Dec. 2

The Stratford Center Holiday Festival will begin at the Stratford Library with a special, live performance of “The Snowmaiden” on Wednesday, December 2 at 4 pm. The free event will precede the Town’s gala tree lighting and choral programs at Stratford Center.

“The Snowmaiden” is a classic Russian folk tale told in toy-theatre style with two dimensional marionettes. It’s about a child made out of snow who delights her village before retreating into the forest, promising to return again each winter. The dances and songs that follow the story are adapted from Russian folk music and the library performance – presented by the acclaimed Purple Rock Productions – will feature live music with guitar and balalaika as it celebrates children, friendship and the change of the seasons.

“The Snowmaiden” will be held in the Stratford Library Lovell Room beginning at 4 pm on Wednesday, December 2nd. It is recommended for families with children ages 3 and up. The holiday program is free and open to the public but seating is limited and reservations are suggested. Call the Stratford Library Children’s Department at 203.385.4165 for further information.

After "The Snowmaiden," come together your fellow Strafordites for a warm community holiday festivities throughout town, listed in the flyer above.

LARGE PRINT BOOKS

Large Print is for Everyone!

Many people may not realize that the Stratford Library provides book titles that have been printed using a slightly larger type size and wider margins.

Large print books can help readers of all ages, including struggling or reluctant readers, anyone who needs glasses, and English as a Second Language readers.

Please visit the Stratford Library, and check out the terrific large print collection!

New Area Codes = New way to Dial

New areas codes to be added in Connecticut. The 475 area code will be added later this year to the area served by 203 and the 959 area code will be added at a future date to the area served by 860. What Will be the New Dialing Procedure? To complete local calls, the new dialing procedure requires callers to dial area code + telephone number. This means that all local calls in Connecticut that are currently dialed with seven digits will need to be dialed using area code + telephone number. Beginning November 14, 2009, you must use the new dialing procedure for all local calls in Connecticut. If you do not use the new dialing procedure, your call will not be completed, and a recording will instruct you to hang up and dial again. Any preprogrammed phone numbers will need to be changed. Visit Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control for more information

More Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports online is now available for Stratford Library cardholders. This subscription database offers more reviews and ratings that are not available with the magazine (the library has a subscription).

Find it- from our website (http://www.stratfordlibrary.org/)

Click on the "Check Our Databases" Icon

Scroll down & click on Consumer Reports

Job Seekers Workshop at Library on October 20

Department of Labor To Co-Sponsor “Job Search Strategies”

The Stratford Library Adult Services Department will offer a special workshop for job seekers on Tuesday, October 20 starting at 10 am. “Job Search Strategies” is hosted by the Connecticut Department of Labor’s Bridgeport Office in conjunction with the Adult Services Department of the Stratford Library.

The workshop will discuss job search strategies for the 21st century. New tools and techniques will improve one’s chances for success in today's job market. The program is presented by Michael Shavel, a career counselor from Bridgeport's Department of Labor. Following the workshop, there will be options for hands-on job searching practice. Inquire at the Stratford Library’s Reference desk about reserving a p.c. in their new, on-site Career Center. The library workshop is free and open to the public but seating is limited and advanced registration is required. It will be held in the Library’s Lovell Room between 10 am and noon on October 20th. To register, call the Stratford Library’s Adult Services Department at 203.385.4164.

Pink Ribbons

Have you noticed lots of people wearing pink lately? October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. The library has a display up with books & lots of pamphlets (& magnets)about all aspects of breast cancer - prevention, finding doctors, treatment options, emotional help and survivor stories. The Breast Cancer Network of Strength has kindly given the library a big box of information for us to pass along to you. Topics include- "What You Need to Know", "Breast Cancer Prevention" and "When the Woman You Love has Breast Cancer". The Breast Cancer Network of Strength is also looking for volunteers to help with various aspects of their services- we have volunteer applications at the library or you can contact Anita Patel, the volunteer coordinator at the Branford, CT office: 312-873-2757 or email apatel@networkofstrength.org

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Stratford Library Association - Stratford, CT

Promote Your Page Too Are you on Facebook? Want to get quick updates from the library? Become a fan of the "Stratford Library Association-Stratford, CT" and keep in touch. We promise we won't post too much stuff, just enough to keep you informed.

During the month of September, you can show your library card and save! See the list of terrific deals available at the various businesses.

Happy Savings!

Labor Day holiday

The Stratford Library will be closed on Saturday, Sept. 5, Sunday Sept. 6, and Monday Sept. 7 in observance of Labor Day. We will reopen on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 10 am.

(Above: the first celebration of Labor Day, in New York City)

The first Labor Day was celebrated in New York City on Sept. 5, 1882, when some 10,000 workers assembled to participate in America's first Labor Day parade. After marching from City Hall to Union Square, the workers and their families gathered in Reservoir Park for a picnic, concert and speeches. This first Labor Day celebration was initiated by Peter J. McGuire, a carpenter and labor union leader who a year earlier co-founded the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions, a precursor of the American Federation of Labor.

McGuire had proposed his idea for a holiday honoring American workers at a labor meeting in early 1882. New York's Central Labor Union quickly approved his proposal and began planning events for the second Tuesday in September. McGuire had suggested a September date in order to provide a break during the long stretch between Independence Day and Thanksgiving. While the first Labor Day was held on a Tuesday, the holiday was soon moved to the first Monday in September, the date we continue to observe.

New York's Labor Day celebrations inspired similar events across the country. Oregon became the first state to grant legal status to the holiday, in 1887; other states soon followed. In 1894 Congress passed legislation making Labor Day a national holiday.

You can watch an early motion picture by Thomas Edison of a 1904 Labor Day parade on the Library of Congress's American Memory site.

--This article originally appeared at the Library of Congress's "Wise Guide" page.

Summer Reading Program for Adults

Over 100 adults participated and over 475 books were read in our first-ever summer reading program for adults. We send hearty thanks to all the businesses and organizations helping to make possible the fabulous prize incentives.

Many participants told us that the program really did encourage them to read more this summer. Some individuals expressed their appreciation that the program allowed them to model good reading habits to their children - Mom or Dad was in a summer reading "club", too. Other people told us they were thrilled just to have a fun outlet for their steady reading habit. If you didn't join this summer, we hope you'll keep it in mind next year!

Shakespeare on a summer day

Three plugs for Shakespeare today.

First, the library just bought a set of 25 DVDs, all of Shakespeare's major works, produced by the BBC in the 1970s and 1980s. You can see Helen Mirren, Anthony Hopkins, Bob Hoskins, Sir John Gielgud, Dame Wendy Hiller, and even John Cleese in these made-for-tv movies, which were done with that expertise in the dramatic tradition that only British actors have.

Second, the Hudson Shakespeare Company will return to the Stratford Library on August 22nd with a free performance of The Merry Wives of Windsor. The 2 pm show will be outdoors, weather permitting, or indoors in the library's Lovell Room if the skies look threatening. The comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor is Shakespeare's only play to deal with his contemporaries -- the Elizabethan middle class.

And finally, if you like to go down to "the city," you might sign up for sword and unarmed combat classes, which the Hudson Shakespeare Company's fight choreographer regularly offers in New York City. Roman swords, found objects, rapiers, cudgels, broadsword, quarterstaff... you name it, Michael Hagins can teach you to wallop someone with it (theatrically, of course). The Hudson Shakespeare website can tell you more about these classes, which are recommended for general fitness as well as for aspiring actors.

The poet and the firefly

We're having a good time putting up a new poem every day in the library lobby. One of the best parts is looking at dozens of good poems looking for one really stands out, that will connect to a reader who is just glancing at the poem on the wall while waiting for the elevator. Here are two poems about fireflies that I came across today: one serious, and the other, not so much.

Fireflies in the Garden by Robert Frost Here come real stars to fill the upper skies, And here on earth come emulating flies, That though they never equal stars in size, (And they were never really stars at heart) Achieve at times a very star-like start. Only, of course, they can't sustain the part.

The Firefly by Ogden Nash The firefly's flame Is something for which science has no name I can think of nothing eerier Than flying around with an unidentified glow on a person's posteerier.

Poem of the day

The Adult Services Dept. is posting a new poem every day in the lobby during the month of August. So far, the poems have been personal favorites of one of the librarians, but we're interested in hearing from you, if you have a poem to suggest. Share your poems with us and other library devotees by sending your suggestion(s) to ask@stratfordlibrary.org.

Here's today's poem, by Nobelist Czeslaw Milosz.

Encounter We were riding through frozen fields in a wagon at dawn. A red wing rose in the darkness. And suddenly a hare ran across the road. One of us pointed to it with his hand. That was long ago. Today neither of them is alive, Not the hare, nor the man who made the gesture. O my love, where are they, where are they going The flash of a hand, streak of movement, rustle of pebbles. I ask not out of sorrow, but in wonder.

Do you have visitors from out-of-town staying with you this summer? People are sometimes surprised to find out that any adult can use the Internet at the Stratford library -- not just Stratford residents. Your visitors can check their email, get a schedule for the trains into NYC, update their vacation blog, and (finally) print out their boarding passes when it's time to go.

Summer breeze, makes me feel fine....

In the summer, the living is easy (and cheap!) from your couch. Just swing by the library to check out the interesting and fun travel DVDs, and do a little armchair traveling. Bon Voyage!

Pet Show!

The Stratford Library presents its Third Annual Children’s Pet Show on Thursday, July 23 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Children in grades 1 to 6 are invited to bring their pets to the Library courtyard to participate in the pet show. All animals are welcome, and pets will be judged on a variety of categories with prizes and certificates awarded. The pet show judges will be Dr. Louis Pieper, veterinarian, a representative from PetCo Animal Supplies, and staff from the Stratford Library Association. Pets must be pre-registered by Monday, July 20 to participate. For a list of pet show guidelines, and to register your pet, please stop by the Stratford Library Children’s Department desk. Spectators and pet lovers of all ages are also welcome to attend. This program is part of the Stratford Library’s Summer Reading Program, “Be Creative.” For further information, call the Stratford Library Children’s Department at 203.385.4165.

Help from the CT Agricultural Experiment Station

Gardeners of Stratford -- are you frustrated by your efforts to raise vegetables, flowers and fruit this year? Has a fungus attacked your fuchsias? Have bugs wiped out your broccoli? Don't know where to turn?

Well, we're sure you know that the library has a lot of great books on gardening and pest control. But you may not know that a state agency called the CT Agricultural Experiment Station is also available to help you solve your garden woes, for free. They will identify a mystery insect, diagnose a baffling plant disease, and test your soil to tell you why your plants aren't thriving. You can mail your samples in or just call and ask them for advice. And there's no fee for these services.

The CAES has been serving science in the public interest in New Haven since 1877. As part of their mission, "any consumer wanting to know the composition of his soil, fertilizer, cattle food, seeds, or whether an insect or plant carries a disease has only to fill out a form and agree that all results will be made available for public use."

You can read more about these specific programs at their website: Insect Information and Problems Soil Testing Plant Information and Problems

Yes we can! (fruits and vegetables)

Last week, All Things Considered ran a story called "During Tough Times, Canning Makes a Comeback." (Listen to their story here, if you like.) All over the US, people are asking their older neighbors to show them how to put up food or learning from books. The company that owns the popular Ball line of canning products, says it has already seen a 30 percent increase in sales of jars and lids this year!

The library has plenty of books you can borrow on canning and preserving if you want to brush up or learn how for the first time.

And here's the perfect reason to start canning: Stratford's farmers' market is up and running again for the summer. The market will be held every Monday from June 29th to October 2nd (1 - 6 pm) at DeLuca Field's overflow parking lot in the South End of Stratford. Senior coupons and WIC coupons are accepted. For seniors who participate in the Senior Nutrition Program, coupons are available through the Salvation Army at 367-0605. WIC coupons should be obtained for the month of July at the WIC office at 752 East Main Street, Bridgeport or by calling 576-8072. For more information about the Farmers Market, contact Greta Roberts at groberts@townofstratford.com or 385.4090.

Come to the Library on the 3rd of July

Yes, the library is open on Friday July 3, from 10 am - 5 pm... so come in and get some ideas for your Independence Day cookout. We have lots of books on grilling, on summer desserts, and on entertaining a crowd. You could also check out a few books on the American Revolution if you want to impress your friends and family with a reading of the Declaration of Independence. Here's a colorful but easy idea for dessert: Old Glory Cupcakes. You can make your own cupcakes, following the recipe below, or you can start with supermarket cupcakes as long as they have white frosting. If you use store-bought cupcakes, all you need to purchase for decoration are a pint of blueberries for every dozen cupcakes, and red "fruit leather" to make the stripes. Old Glory Cupcakes -- Makes 24 cupcakes 3 cups blueberries, washed and divided 1 (18- to 19-oz.) pkg. yellow cake mix 1/3 cup applesauce 3 egg whites 1 (8 oz.) pkg. reduced-fat cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup confectioners sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 roll red-colored rolled fruit leather (from a 4.5 oz. box) Preheat oven to 350° F. In a large mixing bowl, beat cake mix with applesauce, egg whites and 1 1/4 cups water for 30 seconds on low speed, then 2 minutes on medium speed. Spoon batter into 24 (2-inch) aluminum or paper lined muffin cups; evenly divide about 1 cup of blueberries on top of batter; do not stir. Bake cupcakes following package directions; remove to a wire rack and cool completely. In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, confectioners sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spoon onto cooled cupcakes; spread to the edges. Unroll fruit snack and, with a sharp knife, cut into strips 1/8 inch wide by 2 inches long. On half of each cupcake, arrange strips, as shown, trimming each to fit with clean scissors. Arrange remaining 2 cups blueberries on the frosting on other halves of the cupcakes, about 10 blueberries per cupcake. (This recipe is from Celebrate with Style, a good website for finding affordable and fun ideas for entertaining.)

Stratford Farmers Market opens Monday 6/29

Stratford's 2009 Farmer's Market will feature Connecticut-grown fruits and vegetables, locally made baked-goods, and several other items from area farmers. The Artisan Alliance will also provide a variety of crafts for purchase. The market will be held every Monday from June 29th to October 2nd (1 - 6 pm) at DeLuca Field's overflow parking lot in the South End of Stratford.

Senior coupons and WIC coupons are accepted. For seniors who participate in the Senior Nutrition Program, coupons are available through the Salvation Army at 367-0605. WIC coupons should be obtained for the month of July at the WIC office at 752 East Main Street, Bridgeport or by calling 576-8072.

Look for the Stratford Library's Tent - stop by and say Hi!

We need your help! Gov. Rell's proposed budget will CUT essential Library services

The state budget proposed by Governor Rell on May 29th eliminates state support for a number of programs that are very important to the services of the Stratford Library Association. What is at stake?

• Connecticut Education Network provides every public library with free Internet connection, reduced funding jeopardizes this essential service
• Interlibrary Loan Service reduced funding for the statewide delivery system between libraries. If local libraries had to mail these items it would cost over $5 million a year
• ICONN, the state-wide Digital Library provides access to thousands of journals, magazines, newspapers and other research resources affecting every school, public library and college in Connecticut
• Connecticard allows free access residents to borrow from any library in the state making many more books and other library resources available at great savings to taxpayers
• ReQuest, the statewide catalog which allows citizens to locate over 4.4 million titles in libraries across the state
• Grants to Public Libraries- basic grants to local libraries fund books, technology, and staff training
• Service Centers provide training, consulting services, professional collections and early literacy materials to Connecticut’s libraries
• Connecticut Library Consortium (CLC) negotiates discounts with vendors, including book and media distributors saving libraries and schools hundreds of thousands of dollars

PLEASE let Governor Rell and our state Senators & Representatives know that you value the library and do not want to see these cuts happen. Let them know that money spent on public libraries is money wisely spent Governor M. Jodi Rell (R) Governor.Rell@ct.gov State Senate District 21: Dan Debicella (R) Dan.Debicella@cga.ct.gov State Senate District 23: Edwin Gomes (D) Gomes@senatedems.ct.gov State House District 120: John A. Harkins (R) John.Harkins@housegop.ct.gov State House District 121: Terry Backer (D) Terry.Backer@cga.ct.gov State House District 122: Lawrence G. Miller (R) Lawrence.G.Miller@housegop.ct.gov Thanks!

Summer Reading - it's not just for kids anymore!

Be Creative: Find Time to Read!

Adult Summer Reading Program 2009 · No meetings! · Read any book you like! · You could win a gift! Do you have time to read just one book this summer? Let the Stratford Library help you find terrific books and audiobooks (so you can read “on the go!”).

Each time you read a book, stop by the Reference Desk to fill out a ticket which will make you eligible for drawings throughout the summer. You could win: Brakettes tickets, Square One Theatre tickets, YMCA Weekend Family Fun passes, gift certificates to local restaurants such as Blue Point Bar and Grill, Shell Station, Stephen’s Pub & Grill, plus gifts or gift certificates from Millers Hallmark, Janet Kemp Fine Yarns & Needlework, Sikorsky Financial Credit Union, and more! Be creative about finding time to read this summer! Registration begins Monday, June 22 at the Stratford Library Adult Reference Desk. Call 203-385-4164 for more information

Historic Lordship Tour on Saturday, June 13

On Saturday June 13, 2009 (10am to 4pm) a coalition of Lordship community groups will host a celebration of Lordship's history and its present, the "Historic Lordship Tour," to remember and celebrate those days of long ago when the Trolley brought tourists to enjoy the beach and the new-fangled horseless carriages ran along Prospect Drive.

For one day, the trolleys will come back to Lordship, bringing the community together for some old-fashioned fun. The trolley cars will circuit Lordship with guided tours, stopping at the three churches (with free parking and bathroom facilities), Audubon Center, the firehouse, Stratford Point Lighthouse, and Civil Air Patrol.

The Audubon Society will conduct tours of the old Remington Gun Club and the Firehouse. The Father's Club Building and the retired firemen will give tours of their facilities. And for the first time in decades, the Stratford Point Lighthouse (a fully functional Coast Guard operational lighthouse) and the Civil Air Patrol will be open to the public.

Each stop will feature a special display of historical highlights via video, photographs and special events lik a storyteller impersonating Igor Sikorsky. Eateries and booths along the way will provide ample opportunity for folks to go home full of goodies and memories. An antique car show, roller skating demonstration, live music by the Stratford High School Jazz Band, a quilt exhibition, and a booth about local history resources at the Stratford library will add to the fun. The participating organizations are the Lordship Fathers’ Club, Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church, St. Joseph National Catholic Church, and the Lordship Community Church, and the Stratford Civil Air Patrol.

Tickets are $10 per person or $20 per family and can be purchased at the Stratford Library by check or cash. For more information please see http://www.lordshiphistory.com/ or call: Christine Griffin -203-378-3537.

Memorial Day

The Library will be open on the Saturday before Memorial Day, from 10 am - 5 pm, but we will be closed on both Sunday, May 24 and Memorial Day, May 25. Maya Lin's design for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC is one of the most well-known pieces of sculpture in our country, despite the fact that it is less than 30 years old. The Library of Congress holds the archives of papers relating to the design contest which Lin won and to the building of the memorial. Looking at Lin's original submission to the contest, it seems somewhat amazing that the judges were able to visualize how profound and moving her design would be once built. In her text that accompanied her drawings, Ms. Lin wrote that "these names, seemingly infinite in number, [would] convey the sense of overwhelming numbers, while unifying these individuals into a whole." After Lin's design was chosen as the winner, the contest committee evidently felt that a more conventional drawing was needed in order to convey a sense of what the monument would look like to the visitor. Architect Paul Stevenson Oles was asked if he could create several drawings in just a matter of hours that would show the Lin's design in a more conventional manner. Oles checked with Lin to make sure that his drawing fit her conception. She asked him (shyly, as he recalls) if she could be included in his drawing. She seems to be the young lady standing at the top of the Wall looking down. More details of this story, and more pictures of her sketches, can be found at the Library of Congress's American Treasures website.

"Eating Healthy on a Budget" - May 19th

The Health & Wellness series continues at the Stratford Library in May. This is a free series presented by the Office of the Mayor & the Stratford Health Department. Join us on Tuesday, May 19th at 5:30 pm in the Lovell Room for: "Eating Healthy on a Budget" with Dr. Susan Rzucidlo, a Naturopath from The Center for Naturopathic Medicine, Inc. in Stratford. The talk will provide information on how to shop, eat and cook in a healthy way. "In todays' economy many Americans are looking for ways to lower their grocery bill," said Dr. Rzucidlo. "Eating healthy when on a budget is easier than you may think. It is important to keep in mind that health is the untimate wealth." Dr. Rzucidlo's talk is free & open to the public. Please contact Jennfer Sloat at the Stratford Health Department at 203-385-4090 or jsloat@townofstratford.com to register.

Glass Menagerie -at Stratford Library & at Long Wharf Theatre

Join us to discuss "The Glass Menagerie" on May 12th, then purchase a ticket to the Long Wharf production (running May 13th -June 7th) & get $5 off with your Library Card!

Script Talk - at the Stratford Library:

"The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams will be discussed on Tuesday, May 12th beginning at noon in the library’s Lovell Room. The Emmy Award winning film version of “The Glass Menagerie” starring Katharine Hepburn and Michael Moriarty will be shown after the talk. Discussion is moderated by area theatre and library programming director Tom Holehan. Patrons are invited to bring a bag lunch to the program – coffee and tea will be served. For further information, call the Stratford Library’s Public Relations and Programming Office at 203.385.4162 or http://www.stratfordlibrary.org/

The Play - at Long Wharf Theatre (May 13th - June 7th) :

Starring Judith Ivey of “Designing Women”, Josh Charles of “Dead Poet’s Society” and “Sportsnight”, Patch Darragh and Keira Keeley.

Get $5 off all tickets to Long Wharf Theatre’s production of The Glass Menagerie with a library card or a receipt from one of the following bookstores: The Book Trader Café, Labyrinth Books, Atticus Bookstore (New Haven); RJ Julia Booksellers (Madison); and Breakwater Books (Guilford). Or, for groups of 10 or more, get up to 35% off the regular ticket price. Call Leah Dudley at (203) 772-8242 for more information or www.longwharf.org

Percy Jackson Party

Saturday, May 9 from 10:30 a.m. to noon The Stratford Library Children’s Department will host a special party to celebrate the release of The Last Olympian, the fifth and final book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, created by Rick Riordan. This event will take place on Saturday, May 9 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Children’s Department. The program is free and open to all children 8 years and older.

In the first book, The Lightning Thief, readers meet Percy Jackson, who seems to be an average New York City kid until he learns his father is Poseidon, the Ancient Greek god of the sea. The other books in the series continue his adventures in a war between good and evil forces.

Activities at the party will include crafts, games, and Greek snacks. Copies of Mr. Riordan’s books will be available for reviewing and check out. Children are encouraged to dress as their favorite Greek character and will win prizes for their knowledge of Ancient Greece. For further information or to register, call the Stratford Library Children’s Department at 203.385.4165 or visit its website at http://www.stratfordlibrary.org/.

Urban legends, hoaxes and frauds

Have you heard that entering your ATM code backwards will automatically summon the police? Or that Revlon lipstick contains dangerous amounts of lead? These are some of the most popular rumors pinging around the internet right now.

At the library, when we hear a rumor that seems a little too much like an urban legend, we use one of our favorite websites, http://www.snopes.com/ to find out the truth. Snopes.com's authors are Barb and David Mikkelson, a married couple who turned their hobby -- documenting urban legends -- into a full-time job. Read about their passion for truth and fiction in this interesting profile of the Mikkelsons just published by Reader's Digest.

We love the Mikkelsons and snopes.com. They save us hours of work when patrons call us and ask, "Was John Denver a military sniper in Vietnam?"*

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*No, he wasn't. See the snopes.com article: http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/denver.asp

New Health & Wellness Series at the Library

The library will be hosting a monthly series of Health & Wellness programs sponsored by the Office of the Mayor & Health Department.

These programs are part of the Mayor's Passport to Health initiative.

Join us on Tuesday, April 21st at 6:15 pm in the Lovell Room -

Dr. David Brady, a licensed Naturopathic Physician and Nutritionist from Bridgeport, will be speaking about what you need to know to stay vital, resilient and healthy in today's unhealthy world.

Dr Brady is also the author of "Dr. Brady's Healthy Revolution: What You Really Need to Know to Stay Healthy in a Sick World"

If you would like to attend or want to know more about the programs - contact Jennifer Sloat at the Stratford Health Department at 385-4090.

Library helps to support Historic Lordship Tour on June 13

In the late 1910’s, the Lordship Trolley ran from Bridgeport to the sea wall in the Lordship section of Stratford, bringing folks to enjoy the sea air, savor an ice cream, and gaze at newfangled motor cars taking a Sunday drive. On Saturday June 13, 2009 (10am to 4pm) a coalition of Lordship community groups will host a celebration of Lordship's history and its present, the "Historic Lordship Tour," to remember and celebrate those days of long ago.

For one day, the trolleys will come back to Lordship, bringing the community together for some old-fashioned fun. The trolley cars will circuit Lordship with guided tours, stopping at the three churches (with free parking and bathroom facilities), Audubon Center, the firehouse, Stratford Point Lighthouse, and Civil Air Patrol.

The Audubon Society will conduct tours of the old Remington Gun Club and the Firehouse. The Father's Club Building and the retired firemen will give tours of their facilities. And for the first time in decades, the Stratford Point Lighthouse (a fully functional Coast Guard operational lighthouse) and the Civil Air Patrol will be open to the public.

Each stop will feature a special display of historical highlights via video, photographs and special events lik a storyteller impersonating Igor Sikorsky. Eateries and booths along the way will provide ample opportunity for folks to go home full of goodies and memories. An antique car show, roller skating demonstration, live music by the Stratford High School Jazz Band, a quilt exhibition, and a booth about local history resources at the Stratford library will add to the fun.

The participating organizations are the Lordship Fathers’ Club, Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church, St. Joseph National Catholic Church, and the Lordship Community Church, and the Stratford Civil Air Patrol. Tickets are $10 per person or $20 per family and can be purchased at the Stratford Library by check or cash. For more information please see http://www.lordshiphistory.com/ . For more information please call: Christine Griffin -203-378-3537.

The Queen's Library at Buckingham Palace

Seeing Queen Elizabeth in the news recently (as the Obamas paid her a visit) made me wonder whether the Queen has her own library in Buckingham Palace, and what it is like. You may not be surprised to learn that she has several. The Octagon Library, added during the time of George III, is the most spectacular. The room is 42 feet across and features an octagonal desk in the center.

During the time of King George III, the monarch's bedroom had a door directly into the library. Convenient for picking out a cozy mystery to read before bed, wouldn't you say?

Young Adult Novelist to Speak on April 7th

The Library will host a special "Meet-the-Author" program with novelist Susan Beth Pfeffer on Tuesday, April 7 at 7 pm. The program follows the library's recent intergenerational "Books Over Coffee" program where teens and adults discussed Pfeffer's award-winning novel, Life As We Knew It. The author program is free and open to the public.

Rosa DeLauro meets with you at the Library, Saturday, March 28

Congressman Rosa L. DeLauro will hold Neighborhood "office hours" here at the Stratford Library on Saturday, March 28, from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm. Rosa will be in our Main Lobby starting at 10:30 am to meet constituents on a first-come, first-served basis.

From Congresswoman DeLauro's official biography: Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro has worked a lifetime for the people of Connecticut . She was first elected to Congress from Connecticut 's Third District in 1990, and is currently serving her tenth term. Congresswoman DeLauro sits on the influential House Appropriations and Budget Committees. She serves as chairwoman of the Agriculture-FDA Appropriations Subcommittee and as a member of the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education and Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittees. In 1999, she was elected Assistant to the Democratic Leader by her colleagues, making her the second highest ranking Democratic woman in the House of Representatives. She was re-elected to this position in 2000. She has served as co-chair of the House Steering and Policy Committee since 2002.

Congresswoman DeLauro was born and raised in New Haven's Wooster Square, where for years her grandmother owned and operated a pastry shop. Her father, Ted DeLauro, was a New Haven Alderman whose hard work earned him the nickname "Mayor of Wooster Square." DeLauro's mother, Luisa, was the longest-serving member of the New Haven Board of Aldermen, serving from 1965 to 1998. Since coming to Congress, DeLauro has built a solid reputation for constituent service and hard work. In 1998, 2000 and 2002, she was recognized as one of the House of Representative's top "Workhorses" by Washingtonian magazine, and was called a "hero for working families" by nationally syndicated columnist Tom Oliphant .

Save money @ Stratford Library

Have you used the Stratford Library to help save money during tough times? Share your story with Woman’s Day magazine! Do you have a story about using the resources and services at the library to save money, search for a job or manage your small business? If so, you could be selected to appear in Woman’s Day magazine. Between February 17 – May 18, women 18 and over are invited to tell their story in 700 words or less and send it to womansday@ala.org. Up to four stories will be highlighted in the March 2010 issue of Woman’s Day. For more information and to read the official rules, visit www.womansday.com/ala. The initiative was developed by Stratford Library Association, Woman’s Day and the American Library Association’s (ALA) Campaign for America’s Libraries, (ala.org/@yourlibrary) ALA's public awareness campaign that promotes the value of libraries and librarians. To read the Women's Day March 2009 article "The Library Made Me Healthier" click here

Sensory Storytime

Sensory Storytime will meet this Saturday, March 14th at 10:30 a.m. And ... this week's theme is blocks! I've had a peek in the box, and there are crunchy blocks, squishy blocks, and blocks with bells inside. Share stories and songs and then use all your senses to enjoy everybody's favorite toy ... blocks!

Sensory Storytime is designed for special needs children with tactile interest. Please call the Children's Department at 385-4165 to register, or for more information.

Read Around The World

Travel the world through books! Last week, we displayed India-themed books to celebrate the Oscar wins for the movie "Slumdog Millionaire." This week, check out the fiction books from or about Ireland, currently displayed in the lobby. Later in the month? Who knows where you'll go!

Stratford Library in your in-box!

Would you like to sign up for email-delivered news about great books, movies, library events and more? Then look no further than the bright yellow Post-it note on our library's home page! When you click on the Post-it, you will see a list of terrific topics such as "Audio" or "Book Club Choices" or "Libros en Espanol" and much, much more. Sign up for email delivery of any or all the newsletters, or select the RSS Feeds option to the left of the long list of newsletter descriptions. Enjoy!

Award Winning Books

Okay, so I'm a few weeks late, but we're all busy people, and if you're like me, you may not have yet read this year's award winning children's books. Probably the book with the most media buzz is The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. It won this year's Newbery Award, which, to refresh our collective memory, is for excellence in literature. The winner needs to be an American or living in America. In his book, Gaiman describes a human baby raised by ghosts with all the concomitant sadness and humor. Gaiman is also well known for twittering in, um, colorful language, upon receiving the news of his award. But, hey, I'm sure it was an exciting moment. The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson won this year's Caldecott book. The Caldecott award is for excellence in illustration, so while the words are important, it is much more about the pictoral elements. It is based on an old rhyme, and it's a cumulative story. I would consider it a quiet, bedtime book. The illustrations are black and white scratchboard with gold embellishment. I can't quite decide on an age range; maybe 3 or 4 on up. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta is probably my favorite of the three winners. Jellicoe Road won the Printz Award for excellence in teen literature. This winner does not need to be an American, and I believe Ms. Marchetta is Australian. Jellicoe Road is the story of a boarding school and the mysteries several of its students keep. Students from a military school visit the area each year to camp, and while they are there, an unofficial war takes place. Boarding students, townies, and 'army' boys fight over territory and rights. But this year, the students find out how the war first started, proving the point there are no coincidences. Wonderfully rich and winding.

Be sure to check one out today!

Career Coach Returns!

The Department of Labor will return to the Stratford Library on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 with open sessions from 10-12, and from 1-3 on the very popular, helpful Career Coach bus. Free and open to job seekers 16 years of age and older, this service aims to help with basic computer skills and job hunting. First come, first served. The Career Coach parks on Main Street in front of the library.

Abraham Lincoln - Our Favorite Books

I loved the idea of Obama's favorite books so much, I thought I'd show y'all a smattering of the new crop of Abraham Lincoln books that have been emerging in children's literature lately. Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek by Deborah Hopkinson. This tall tale starts out with the true fact that Abe Lincoln was rescued from a raging river by a friend. Then the book speculates with different stories what would have happened if history hadn't turned out quite the way it did. Honest Abe's Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln by Doreen Rappaport. Written in free verse, this epic covers the course of Lincoln's life. Spectacular illustrations make this one worth looking at. It received notable reviews from many sources. The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary by Candace Fleming. A unique couple in American history, Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln have piqued our interest all along. Now explore portraits, maps, and other primary source materials to decide for yourself what made these great Americans real.