THE ROWAYTON LIBRARY PRESENTS...
Programs and services dedicated to educating and entertaining our community

For more information on our events, please see This Month at the Rowayton Library

May Events at the Library

All events are free and open to the public; some events require a courtesy reservation call to the Library to ensure the Library’s ability to accommodate those interested in participating.

MoneyTalk for Women – By Women – Wednesdays @ 10:00 am

Wednesdays (10:00 – 11:00 am) -- MoneyTalk for Women by Women.  An easy-to-follow discussion on what has been going on in the financial markets.  Julia Strayer and Cathy Tanzilli each have over 20 years of experience in breaking down complex financial strategies in an interactive and relaxed manner.  You will come away feeling confident and able to ask the questions you didn’t know to ask. 

Julia Strayer is a Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch.  She is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor and a Certified Investment Management Analyst.  Cathy Tanzilli is a Vice President with Merrill Lynch.  She is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor and an Accredited Estate Planner.

Pajama BookTalk for Kids (grades pre-K-3) – We are Family Series, Thursdays May 1, 8, 15, 22 @ 6:00 pm

Thursdays May 1, 8, 15, 22 , (6:00 pm) Pajama BookTalk for Kids – We are Family Series. Participants in this series will look at what makes a family, how choices we make can affect our lives, ways in which we learn from each other, and how family traditions make us who we are. Through reading these eight picture books together, children and parents will consider their own family stories and adventures.

Whether it is the decision of the wise Miss Bridie whose shovel shaped her life, the cross cultural eating habits of a young couple, a trip back to the family homestead, or the clever ways in which a young one makes it clear which family he belongs in, these stories celebrate life, family, and the power of story.

Book Titles

 
HOW MY PARENTS LEARNED TO EAT, Ina R. Friedman

WATCH THE STARS COME OUT, Riki Levinson

BACK HOME, Gloria Jean Pinkney

GUJI GUJI, Chih-Yuan Chen

UNCLE JED’S BARBERSHOP, Margaree King Mitchell

THE KEEPING QUILT, Patricia Polacco

WHEN I WAS YOUNG IN THE MOUNTAINS,

Bina Williams is our discussion Leader.  For more information, please call the Library at (203) 838-5038 or visit us on the web at www.Rowayton.org.  Multiple copies of the books are available at the library.  Pizza Dinner will be served.  Kids can come in Pajamas. This program is co-sponsored by the Rowayton Civic Association and Business Connections and is made possible in part through a grant from the Connecticut Humanities Council.  This program is free and open to the public.

Music StoryTime for Pre-School Kids with Dre Towey on First Fridays May 2 @ 10:30 am

Friday May 2 (10:30 am) Music StoryTime for Pre-School Kids with Dre Towey.  Dre Towey, aka Andrea Loomis Towey, thrives on kid energy! While raising her three children she writes, illustrates and performs for your children. She loves what she does and does what she loves, and you will hear in her music this certain...joie de vive.
A former elementary school teacher and art educator, Dre’s experiences with children resonate through her lyrics and music while touching upon a range of subjects from the dog across the street to the harrowing experience of losing a balloon. Her dream of becoming a rock n’ roll mom came to fruition this past spring when she recorded her first solo CD, Chester the Dog Unleashed, with members from the band King for a Day.

Dre was first introduced to children’s music when asked to illustrate the CD Dancin’ in the Kitchen for her friend Wendy Gelsanliter. Inspired by the success of their first collaboration, Dre continued to write and illustrate for Wendy’s second CD, Ants Wear Underpants (www.bizzybum.com).

Excited by the creative process and the positive reaction to her lyrics, Dre decided to move beyond monkey noises and produce her own music. You may see Dre Towey performing at many local venues but her most consistent gig still resides at The Rowayton Library where she continues to build an audience and work off her library fines.

Stories and Songs for children ages birth – age 5.  For more information, please call the Library at (203) 838-5038 or visit us on the web at www.Rowayton.org.  This program is free and open to the public.

HealthTalk – experts in the field from Norwalk Hospital – First Fridays May 2 @ 11 am

Friday, May 2 (11:00 am) – HealthTalk:  Decoding Food Labels .  Norwalk Hospital’s Barbara Schmidt, registered dietitian and the nutrition Lifestyle Program Specialist will present the first in the Rowayton Library’s monthly HealthTalk series. A Q & A will follow the session.  For more information, please call the Library at (203) 838-5038 or visit us on the web at www.Rowayton.org.  This program is made possible – in part – through the generosity of Norwalk Hospital.  This program is free and open to the public.

DogTalk:  with Bean and Zara, First Saturday, May 3 @ 10:30 am

The Rowayton Library hosts a monthly program (first Saturday of the month) for children who wish to improve their reading skills by reading to Bean, a certified therapy dog -- Labrador Retriever. Bean and her handler Stephanie Breneman, are at the Library the first Saturday of each month to share their love of reading with children of all ages. We will also be introducing Zara, a loveable German Shepherd Therapy Dog who will be joining Bean on First Saturdays with her handler, Claudette Tallon.  This program is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact the Library. Come to the library for reading fun and dog crafts. This event is co-sponsored by Therapy Dogs International, Inc. and Therapet Inc. For more information, please call the Library at (203) 838-5038. 

AuthorTalk for Kids with Deborah Freedman and Scribble, Friday, May 9 @ 3:30 pm

Friday, May 9 (3:30 pm) Come meet author Deborah Freedman and enjoy her new book Scribble. Deborah Freedman is an architect and author/illustrator who lives with her family in Connecticut. Her first picture book, SCRIBBLE, was published by Knopf in 2007.
SCRIBBLE has been listed as a Book Sense Children's Pick, a Best Book by the Association of Booksellers for Children, one of the 10 Best Children's Books of 2007 by the Rocky Mountain News, and the Best "Under the Radar" Picture Book for 2007 by School Library Journal's Fuse #8.

Emma loves to draw princesses. Her little sister Lucie prefers kitties. Emma and Lucie might not always get along, but can their drawings?Deborah Freedman makes a wholly original picture-book debut with this charming story of two sisters and their scribbling rivalry.

Multiple copies of the books will be available at the library to purchase and have autographed by the author.  Snack will be served.  This program is co-sponsored by the Rowayton Civic Association and Business Connections.  This program is free and open to the public.

CraftTime for Kids Saturday, May 10 @ 10:30 am

Saturday, May 10 (10:30 am)Join our staff for fun crafts and stories – Mother's Day Craft Fun for everyone. For more information, please call the Library at (203) 838-5038. This program is free and open to the public.

BookTalk for Adults Small Island Wednesday, May 14 @ 12:00 Noon (luncheon series)

Wednesday, May 14 12 pm Noon) BookTalk for Adults: Small Island by Andrea Levy.

Starred Review. After winning the Orange Prize and the Whitbread Book of the Year Award, Levy's captivating fourth novel sweeps into a U.S. edition with much-deserved literary fanfare. Set mainly in the British Empire of 1948, this story of emigration, loss and love follows four characters—two Jamaicans and two Britons—as they struggle to find peace in postwar England. After serving in the RAF, Jamaican Gilbert Joseph finds life in his native country has become too small for him. But in order to return to England, he must marry Hortense Roberts—she's got enough money for his passage—and then set up house for them in London. The pair move in with Queenie Bligh, whose husband, Bernard, hasn't returned from his wartime post in India. But when does Bernard turn up, he is not pleased to find black immigrants living in his house. This deceptively simple plot poises the characters over a yawning abyss of colonialism, racism, war and the everyday pain that people inflict on one another. Levy allows readers to see events from each of the four character's' point of view, lightly demonstrating both the subjectivity of truth and the rationalizing lies that people tell themselves when they are doing wrong. None of the characters is perfectly sympathetic, but all are achingly human. When Gilbert realizes that his pride in the British Empire is not reciprocated, he wonders, "How come England did not know me?" His question haunts the story as it moves back and forth in time and space to show how the people of two small islands become inextricably bound together.

Suzanne Eisner of the Connecticut Humanities Council will lead the discussions on May 14 with Small Island by Andrea Levy. A light Lunch will be served. Multiple copies of the books are available at the Library. This program is made possible -- in part -- by Business Connections and the Connecticut Humanities Council. For more information, please call the Library at (203) 838-5038. This program is free and open to the public.

StoryTime for Pre-School Kids on Thursdays and Fridays @ 10:30 am

Thursdays and Fridays (10:30 am) StoryTime for Pre-School Kids.  Stories and Songs for children ages birth – age 5.  For more information, please call the Library at (203) 838-5038 or visit us on the web at www.Rowayton.org.  This program is free and open to the public.

BookFLIX for Kids online at www.Rowayton.org

Scholastic BookFlix is a new online literacy resource that pairs classic video storybooks from Weston Woods with related nonfiction eBooks from Scholastic to build a love of reading and learning.  This services is available to Rowayton Library patrons though the Internet and with your Rowayton Library Card bar-code. 

Children just learning to read or wanting to read “on their own” can do so through BookFLIX.  The engaging way to link fact and fiction, BookFlix reinforces early reading skills and introduces children to a world of knowledge and exploration.  BookFlix fiction-nonfiction pairs are organized around nine categories that are largely centered around content-area topics, though some are just for fun!  Each pair, made up of a Weston Woods animated storybook and a nonfiction Scholastic eBook, is sure to delight and interest early readers. 

For more information, please call the Library at (203) 838-5038 or visit us on the web at www.Rowayton.org.  If you need a Rowayton Library card, you may apply for one from our website or come into the Library.

New Online Catalog

The Rowayton Library’s New Online Catalog is now available to all of its patrons. Card holders of the Rowayton Library can search the Rowayton Library’ collection, reserve material, renew, check what is already borrowed by the patron, see what Best Seller’s the library has on its shelf, and so much more… and all without traveling to the Library.. For more information, please call the Library at 203-838-5038 or visit the Library’s website at www.Rowayton.org.

Downloadable Audiobooks

The Rowayton Library’s Downloadable Audiobooks are available and free to all of its patrons. Card holders of the Rowayton Library can listen to a wide selection of audiobooks from home or on the road—without traveling to the Library. You can download a wide variety of titles to your computer or portable device. Many titles can be burned to CD for your listening pleasure anywhere, anytime. For more information, please call the Library at 203-838-5038 or visit the Library’s website at www.Rowayton.org.

Playaway Digital Audiobooks

The Rowayton Library continues to increase its collection of Playaways -- those self-contained easy-to-use audiobooks. With Playaways, you don’t have to juggle between multiple cassettes or CDs, or download files to an MP3 player. Simply plug in headphones and press play! Each Playaway device contains one of today's hottest titles. Each Playaway comes with a fresh battery, new headphones, and a Playaway player. You can listen either though the headphones, or use your own home speakers, or personal auto FM cable. Come in and check one out at 33 Highland Avenue, Rowayton, CT.

PrepMe!

FREE Customized Online SAT preparation for Rowayton Library patrons -- all you need is the desire to prepare... and a Rowayton Library Card

The PrepMe SAT preparation course offers 40+ hours of instructional content, practice quizzes, and full length tests. PrepMe's online system will automatically identify your strengths and weaknesses and create a customized week-by-week schedule for you to help you raise your score. PrepMe is a premium online test preparation company founded by graduates of top schools such as Caltech, the University of Chicago, and Stanford. PrepMe has been featured on the front cover of Fortune Small Business, CNN/Money, BusinessWeek and is the test preparation of choice for many schools and districts around the country including the entire state of Maine. For more information, please call the Library at (203) 838-5038 or visit us on the web at www.Rowayton.org.  This program is free and open to the public with Rowayton Library Cards.

LearningExpress Library!

Preparing for a test middle school, high school, college, and career? LearningExpress is the easiest way to prepare. Free practice tests and learning areas include: ACT, Advanced Placement, Border Patrol, Business Writing Success Skills, CBEST, Civil Service, College Entrance Exams, Computer Skills, Corrections Officer, Cosmetology, E-Books, Elementary School Skills Improvement, EMS, Firefighter, GED, GMAT, Graduate School Entrance Exams, GRE, Health Careers Entrance Practice, High School Skills Improvement, Job Search and Success Skills, Law Enforcement, LSAT, Math Skills Improvement, MCAT, Middle School Skills Improvement, Military, Nursing, Nursing School Entrance Practice, Paramedic, Police Officer, PRAXIS, Reading Skills Improvement, Real Estate, Resume And Interviewing Success Skills, SAT, Skills Improvement Courses, Skills Improvement with Spanish Instructions, State Trooper, Technical and Career College Skills, TOEFL, U.S. Citizenship, Writing Improvement Program, Writing Skills Improvement, AND MORE! All you need it your Rowayton Library Card barcode... use is as your Username and create a password and you are set. Give it a try. For more information, contact the Library at (203) 838-5038 or come in for a demonstration. This program is free and open to the public with Rowayton Library Cards.

InfoAnytime!

Have a question? We have the answer! The Rowayton Library brings to its patrons InfoAnytime, a real-time, web-based free reference service provided by professional librarians, so when you are out there on the web, you are not alone! By going to the Rowayton Library’s website (www.Rowayton.org), you can connect with a reference librarian who will help you to navigate through the increasingly complex world of web-based research.

Over 130 public libraries and 30 academic libraries in Connecticut have joined together to offer this new online research service to the public. "The InfoAnytime librarians provide a seamless experience that matches our high standards for local service," says Carl Antonucci, Chairman of the Connecticut Library Consortium’s InfoAnytime Steering Committee. "All of the librarians have received extensive training in order to most effectively offer research assistance in an online environment."

InfoAnytime can be accessed through any computer at the Rowayton Library or at home, school or work with the help of your Rowayton Library card (barcode). This services uses chat and co-browsing web pages and electronic databases, including iCONN.org, the suite of research databases provided to Connecticut residents free of charge by the Connecticut State Library. At the end of each session, a transcript of the session can be emailed to the user. With no downloads or special software required, anyone with a web browser and a bar coded Rowayton Library card can access the service.

As the InfoAnytime posters and bookmarks say, "It’s Sunday night and your librarian wonders if you’re ever going to call." Go ahead, try it, and you’ll never get lost on the web again!

This service is free and available to all Rowayton Library patrons with a bar coded library card. For more information, please call the Rowayton Library at (203) 838-5038 and you can find the Rowayton Library and InfoAnytime on the web at www.Rowayton.org.

On-going Events at the Library

Every Wednesday: Open until 7 pm "Late Check-out at the Rowayton Library" – The Rowayton Library is open until 7 pm every Wednesday evening for your convenience. Come in and use the computers, check out books, DVDs, CDs, magazines, videos…or come in and read.

Free Books @ the Rowayton Railroad Station.

.All events are free and open to the public (unless otherwise noted); some events require a courtesy reservation call to the Library to ensure the Library's ability to accommodate those interested in participating.

For more information on our events, please call the Library at (203) 838-5038 or click on the link of our newest issues of This Month at the Rowayton Library

We thank the Rowayton Civic Association, the Connecticut Humanities Council, and many other local sponsors for their generous contributions towards our programs.