Wednesdays from February 1 through February 22

On her 11th birthday, Kate receives an unusual present from her rich Uncle Herbert: a train! No, not a toy train or a train set, but a real-life, full-size working train called the Silver Arrow. As Kate and her brother, Tom, begin to explore her gift, the train steams to life and soon stops to pick up a wild band of ticket-holding animals. The two children are quickly faced with the challenge of catering to their animal passengers and figuring out just how this mysterious locomotive works. In some ways, the Silver Arrow is every child’s dream come true: there are cars filled with candy and a library on board full of wonderful books. But, as Kate and Tom communicate with their animal passengers, they learn that all is not well: some species are invaders, threatening others, while other animals are in danger of disappearing altogether, like the polar bear whose train car is melting away. In order to keep the Silver Arrow running, the human children in charge of it must learn how to care for its other inhabitants. This is a richly imagined ecological fable that stimulates the imagination and provokes the best kind of questions. What will some of yours be?

Children in grades K to 3 are invited to join us for this 4-week book club series with Tammy Malkin, long-time Rowayton Elementary School teacher and parent, to discuss The Silver Arrow. This first book in the popular fantasy novel series by Lev Grossman blends magic and adventure with a clever metaphor that gently introduces the realities of a global environmental crisis.

Copies of the book will be given to each participant to keep! Space is limited so please register here to reserve your spot today!

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Mad for Mah Jongg or crazy for Canasta? Here’s your chance to meet other players, benefit from consistent play, and build your confidence. If playing Mah Jongg, we have eight cards for people to use, but if you are considering becoming a frequent player, please bring your own 2022 NMJL card (Available for purchase at nationalmahjonggleague.org). The Canasta card sets are on us and available for use. Register online for a spot in each individual session as we can only accommodate 16 people per afternoon.

Register for each individual session below:

• January 30
• February 6
• February 13
• February 20
• February 27

New Photo Release Policy effective February 1, 2019. See here for details.

January 5 through February 23

Maybe you already have a subscription but only consistently glance at the cartoons? Or perhaps you yearn for in-depth reporting, written well without the prefab soundbites of TV news? Or you might just like to meet up with interesting individuals to talk about current events, the latest big hit on Broadway, upcoming museum exhibits worth a look all while enjoying a sip of wine and savory bites on a crisp winter evening. If so, check out the selected articles to be discussed below. The magazine issue is on us. Pick up your copy at the library!

Register for the Winter 2023 series here!

Selected articles from the January 30 issue for the February 2 meeting:

• • Page 16 – Friend of the Mayor: The fraudster in Eric Adams’s entourage by Eric Lach
  • Page 30 – Lula’s Restoration: The left-wing leader returns to the Presidency by Jon Lee Anderson
  • Page 42 – Novels of Empire: Rereading great Russian literature in wartime by Elif Batuman
  • Page 58 – Books: How monks fought distraction by Casey Cep
  • Page 63 – Books: Why are men falling behind? by Idrees Kahloon

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Online and hybrid programs hosted by the library will be provided via Zoom. Visit their website here to find the appropriate download instructions and download link for your device. Registration for all programs is required. Participants who register for any program will receive an email with the link to join.

Great Decisions is America’s largest discussion program on world affairs and created by the Foreign Policy Association. This program provides background information and policy options for the eight most critical issues facing America each year. The topics and corresponding discussion Wednesday meeting dates are:

• January 18 – Energy Geopolitics
• February 1 – War Crimes
• February 22 – China and the U.S.
• March 1 – Economic Warfare
• March 22 – Politics in Latin America
• March 29 – Global Famine
• April 19 – Iran at a Crossroads
• April 26 – Climate Migration

Rowayton resident Jim Frayer will facilitate discussions. Copies of the briefing book are available for pickup today!

A video showing of the topic up for discussion will be shown at 6:30 p.m. every week. Actual discussion of the topic will begin at 7:00 p.m. Participants are invited to tune in to both! Register here!

New Photo Release Policy effective February 1, 2019. See here for details.

Online programs hosted by the library will be provided via Zoom. Visit their website here to find the appropriate download instructions and download link for your device. Registration for all programs is required. Participants who register for any program will receive an email with the link to join.

Ron Feuchs and Jackie Tepper, partners at Stand Out For College, LLC, are offering this Zoom presentation to help families understand how the lingering effects from the pandemic have changed the college admissions landscape and how it affects Juniors, Sophomores and Freshmen.

The recent college admissions cycle was the most competitive to date. With most colleges continuing their test-optional policies as well as increasing their virtual outreach to high school students, many schools had record numbers of applicants. Record high numbers of applications result in record low acceptance rates which is what most popular colleges and universities experienced this past admissions cycle.

They will discuss current college admissions trends, the importance of researching and visiting colleges to find schools that can be a good fit for your child, a timeline and other action steps that can be taken to make this second half of the school year productive and help reduce the stress around the college admissions process.

They’ll examine the holistic admissions review process, what admissions officers consider important when they review applicants, and how students can position themselves to develop a compelling narrative to increase their chances for admission.

They will also discuss the importance of community service, how it can provide an opportunity for personal growth and a way to showcase a student’s character. Admissions officers place great emphasis on a student’s character and how the student has been able to give back and help others. This program is recommended for parents and their high school teens.

Register for any of the sessions below:

• Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 7 p.m.

Presentation will be conducted via Zoom. Visit their website here to find the appropriate download instructions and download link for your device.

Young ones ages 4 and under are invited along with their caregivers to listen to stories, participate in rhymes and sing songs. Just drop in!

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Please refrain from bringing snacks and drinks-the instruments get too sticky!

Children ages 5 and under are invited to come sing, play musical instruments and dance to the beat! Be ready to participate in this highly interactive program. Just drop in!

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.