The Perrot Memorial Library Blog

In memoriam

2012-01-27T15:59:00.000-05:00

Perrot Library staff warmly remember our beloved librarians, Kathy Krasniewicz and Kate McClelland, today on the eve of the third anniversary of their deaths.

An illustration of Kathy and Kate by award-winning children's author and illustrator Brian Selznick, which is displayed in Perrot's children's wing

2012 Children's Literary Award Winners

2012-01-27T15:51:00.001-05:00

The winners of the 2012 major literary awards for children were recently announced at the American Library Association's Midwinter Conference in Dallas.
[Click on each title to view in the catalog and to place a hold.]

Caldecott Medal Winner

A BALL FOR DAISY, illustrated by Chris Raschka

Any child who has ever had a beloved toy break will relate to Daisy's anguish when her favorite ball is destroyed by a bigger dog. This wordless picture book explores the joy and sadness that having a special toy can bring.

Newbery Medal Winner

DEAD END IN NORVELT, by Jack Gantos

Twelve-year-old Jack's plans for vacation excitement are shot down when he is "grounded for life" by his feuding parents, and whose nose spews bad blood at every little shock he gets. But plenty of excitement (and shocks) are coming Jack's way once his mom loans him out to help a fiesty old neighbor with a most unusual chore-- typewriting obituaries filled with stories about the people who founded his utopian town. Endlessly surprising, this sly, sharp-edged narrative makes readers laugh out loud at the most unexpected things in a dead-funny depiction of growing up in a slightly off-kilter place where the past is present, the present is confusing, and the future is completely up in the air.

Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner
HEART AND SOUL: THE STORY OF AMERICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICANS, written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
This is the story of the men, women, and children who toiled in the hot sun picking cotton for their masters; it’s about the America ripped in two by Jim Crow laws; it’s about the brothers and sisters of all colors who rallied against those who would dare bar a child from an education. It’s a story of discrimination and broken promises, determination and triumphs.

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner
UNDERGROUND: FINDING THE LIGHT TO FREEDOM, written and illustrated by Shane W. Evans
A pivotal moment in American history is shared with young readers by following a slave family's escape to the North by crawling on the ground, running barefoot through the woods, sleeping beneath bushes, and eventually reaching freedom.

Geisel Award Winner (for beginning readers)
TALES FOR VERY PICKY EATERS, written and illustrated by Josh Schneider
James is a very picky eater. His dad has to get creativ in order to get James to eat foods he thinks he doesn’t like. He presents James with a series of outlandish scenarios packed with fanciful and gross details-- like pre-chewed gum as an alternative to broccoli and lumpy oatmeal that grows so big it eats the dog-- in an effort to get James to eat. But it is eventually James himself who discovers that some foods are not so bad, after all, if you’re willing to give them a try.

Sibert Award Winner (for non-fiction)
BALLOONS OVER BROADWAY: THE TRUE STORY OF THE PUPPETEER OF MACY'S PARADE, written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Who invented the first balloons for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade? Meet Tony Sarg, puppeteer extraordinaire! Everyone's a New Yorker on Thanksgiving Day, when young and old rise early to see what giant new balloons will fill the skies. Who first invented these “upside-down puppets”? Melissa Sweet tells the story of Tony Sarg, capturing his genius, his dedication, his zest for play, and his long-lasting gift to America-- the inspired helium balloons that would become the trademark of Macy's Parade.

For the complete list of this year's award winners and honor books, take a look at the ALA website.

Greenwich Reads Together 2012: Zeitoun, by Dave Eggers

2012-01-18T12:48:00.001-05:00

Greenwich Reads Together is a community-wide reading experience which engages all of Greenwich in exploring a single book. Zeitoun, by Dave Eggers, is the book that has been chosen as the 2012 selection for Greenwich Reads Together. The Book Selection Committee, composed of Greenwich Library staff from across several departments, focused on selecting the one book that will span the community in appeal and will lend itself to engaging public programs.

When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, Abdulrahman Zeitoun, a prosperous Syrian-American and father of four, chose to stay through the storm to protect his house and contracting business. In the days after, he traveled the flooded streets in a secondhand canoe, passing on supplies and helping those he could. But, on September 6, 2005, Zeitoun abruptly disappeared. Eggers's riveting nonfiction book, three years in the making, explores Zeitoun's roots in Syria, his marriage to Kathy—an American who converted to Islam—and their children, and the surreal atmosphere (in New Orleans and the United States generally) in which what happened to Abdulrahman Zeitoun became possible.

Visit Greenwich Library's website for more information on the book.

Tax Forms Available at the Library

2012-01-18T11:26:00.000-05:00

Perrot has copies of both federal and state income tax forms available (ask at the Reference Desk).

Or, you can get tax forms online here:

Tax help and information:

The Ernst and Young Tax Guide 2012 (book)
Frequently Asked Questions at the IRS Website
For live tax help from the IRS, call 1-800-829-1040, Monday through Friday, between 7 A.M. and 7 P.M.
For in-person assistance, the closest IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center is located at 24 Belden Avenue in Norwalk. They provide these services. You must schedule an appointment in advance. Their telephone number is 203-840-4195.
The IRS also offers free tax help for low- to moderate-income individuals, the elderly, and military personnel

Kate McClelland and Kathy Krasniewicz Memorial Scholarship to the ALA Annual Conference

2012-01-17T16:24:00.001-05:00

Random House Children's Books continues to honor the memories of Perrot's beloved librarians, Kate McClelland and Kathy Krasniewicz, with their annual scholarship for a new or student librarian to attend the American Library Association Annual Conference.

From Random House's Website:

ALA Members: In 500 words or less, tell us about a new librarian or library student who has never attended an ALA Annual Conference, and in whom you see great devotion to the library community and promise in the field. Tell us how he/she would benefit from attending the ALA Annual Conference. The new librarian/library student could win a trip to attend the 2012 ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, California.

More information, as well as the application, are available at this website: http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/the-kate-mcclelland-and-kathy-krasniewicz-memorial-scholarship/

Upcoming Event: Four Steps to a Healthy Immune System, with Dr. Susan Blum

2012-01-10T16:01:00.000-05:00

Perrot Memorial Library presents

FOUR STEPS TO A HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEM

with Dr. Susan Blum

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012, at 7:30 PM

Do you wonder why you or your family members get sick all the time? Or do you have one of the many autoimmune conditions, such as thyroiditis, inflammatory arthritis, or food sensitivities? Dr. Susan Blum, an assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Preventative Medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, will address these questions and will explain the workings of the immune system and what it needs to function at its best. She will examine the four main sources of immune problems and what you can do to fix them.

A true pioneer in Functional Medicine and founder of The Blum Center for Health in Rye Brook, New York, Dr. Blum’s mission for personalized medicine is paramount for treatment and prevention. The Center focuses on the comprehensive integration of Functional Medicine, Mind-Body Medicine, and Nutritional Medicine. She completed her Internal Medicine training at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, her residency in Preventive Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, and is Board Certified in Preventive Medicine. She received her Masters in Public Health at Columbia University, and her training in Functional Medicine from The Institute for Functional Medicine in Gig Harbor, Washington. Her work has been covered widely in national news and health media and she will be appearing on The Dr. Oz Show on January 13th, 2012.

Spaces Still Available in Our Spotlight Program for 2nd and 3rd Graders

2012-01-10T15:43:00.001-05:00

Spotlight, our after-school story and crafts program for 2nd and 3rd graders, still has spaces available for the winter/spring session! The theme for this session is Read All About It. The program meets Wednesdays from 4 PM-5 PM on January 25th, February 1st, February 8th, February 29th, and March 7th.

Please call the Youth Services Desk (203-637-8802) to sign up your child!

Eco-Tots- Crafts & Stories at Greenwich Point

2011-12-22T15:32:00.000-05:00

Eco-Tots

Winter at the Beach with Mommy & Me

For Children Ages 2-4

Join your child and discover the beauty of nature at the Seaside Center at Tod’s Point! Share in the experience of learning and make memories with your child. Spend one hour learning about the creatures of Long Island Sound, making a craft to take home and listening to a nature story. Each program meets weekly for one hour. Child must be accompanied by parent or caregiver.

Wednesdays

9:30—10:30 AM

January 11th, January 18th, January 25th, and February 1st, 2012

Location: Floren Family Environmental Center, Innis Arden Cottage at Greenwich Point

$60 per child

For more information, or to register, call: 203-406-3312 or e-mail alisha@soundwaters.org.

Golden Y Award Winners, Winter 2011

2011-12-14T10:44:00.000-05:00

CONGRATULATIONS to the winners of the Semi-Annual Young Young Critics' Club (Y2C2) Jeopardy Tournament!

The winning team, Team Anonymous (L-R): Ajax, Emma, Stephanie, Kate, and Edward

They are the current holders of the coveted Wonderful Golden "Y" Award! The winners have demonstrated their mastery of trivia questions related to the books that the Club has read during the past year. (Yes, it looks like a lobster, but trust us, it’s also a wonderful golden ‘Y’-- stop by the Youth Services Department and see for yourself!)

Youth Services Staff Picks: Yearly Round-Up

2011-12-13T17:22:00.000-05:00

Hey! Did you know that Youth Services makes a monthly list of recommendations? We pick a new, timely theme each month, and then pick our favorites! We have lots of lists from you to choose from. Here's a look back at all of our picks from 2011:

January 2011: Easy Reader Favorites
February 2011: Our Favorite 2010 Award-Winners
March 2011: Books About Baseball
April 2011: Books About Princes and Princesses
May 2011: Books About Birds
June 2011: Mystery and Detective Stories
July 2011: Stories About Camp
August 2011: Stories About Africa
September 2011: Stories About School
October 2011: Stories About Farms
November 2011: Stories About Colonial America
December 2011: Holiday Stories

Have a suggestion for a topic you'd like us to cover? Comment on this post!

Children's Program Registration Is Going on Now!

2011-12-12T11:15:00.001-05:00

Registration for Youth Services' Winter/Spring 2012 Program Session is going on now through Sunday, January 8th, 2012. [View the winter program schedule]

Our program registration is by lottery
You must have an active library card in good standing to register
Obtain a registration postcard for the program(s) of your choice from the Youth Services Circulation Desk
Fill out ALL of the required information. Incomplete applications will not be considered
Address the reverse of the card to yourself
Affix a first-class stamp (44¢)
Drop off your card at the Youth Services Desk by January 8th
Registration cards will be mailed back to you within a week of the close of registration

Questions? Please give us a call at 203-637-8802, or comment on this post.

Youth Services' Holiday Gift-Buying Guide 2011

2011-11-29T12:41:00.001-05:00

Each year our Youth Services Librarian and young readers put together a list of recommended books to buy for holiday gifts. Our list features picture books, books for beginning readers, books for middle graders, and books for ages 12 and up.

View the list online, or pick up a paper copy at the Youth Services Desk.

Perrot Presents The Grace Notes on Dec. 3

2011-11-28T15:36:00.001-05:00

Perrot Memorial Library is pleased to host a musical performance of carols by the Grace Notes in the Radcliffe Children's Wing on Saturday, December 3rd, 2011, from 3:30 PM-4:30 PM.

The Grace Notes, a women's a cappella group, has been dedicated to providing music to our community for more than 40 years. The free performance will be followed by A Stroll Among the Luminaries in Binney Park at 4:30 PM. The Luminaries is a project of Boy Scout Troop 11 with Family Centers of Greenwich, and will feature a brilliant candlelight display throughout the Park.

The Old Greenwich First Light Festival, sponsored by the Old Greenwich Merchants' Association, follows later that evening. The festival transforms Old Greenwich into a winter wonderland, decked out in its finest holiday trimmings! Other attractions will include horse-drawn carriage rides, activities and food hosted in the local shops, and of course, a visit from Santa Claus himself. Bring the whole family!

Hugo, the Movie Adaptation of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Opens Soon!

2011-11-16T16:42:00.003-05:00

Hugo, the film adaptation of Brian Selznick's award-winning book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, opens in theaters on Wednesday, November 23rd. Be sure to read the book before you see the movie! Hugo was directed by Martin Scorsese, and stars Asa Butterfield as Hugo, along with Chloë Grace Moretz, Jude Law, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Ben Kingsley.

You can read more about the movie at Publishers Weekly, and view the trailer on the movie's website. You can also view some video clips of Brian Selznick talking about the book when he visited Perrot's book clubs in 2007.

Changes in the Watt (Media) Room

2011-11-09T15:03:00.000-05:00

The Library has had many requests for Blu-rays, and, as a result, our Blu-ray collection has grown. Please note the following: All children's Blu-ray movies will now be located with the regular children's DVDs and all non-fiction Blu-rays will now be located with the regular non-fiction DVD collection.

NEW Museum Pass- The Bruce Museum

2011-11-07T16:50:00.001-05:00

Now available to borrow from the Youth Services Desk-- two museum passes for the Bruce Museum, right here in Greenwich! You may borrow a pass for 3 days, and it entitles you to free admission for up to 2 adults and 2 children under the age of 18.

Consistently voted the "Best Museum" by area media, the Bruce Museum is a regionally based, world-class institution highlighting art, science and natural history in more than a dozen changing exhibitions annually. The permanent galleries feature the natural sciences encompassing regional to global perspectives.

More information at: http://www.brucemuseum.org/

[See a list of all the museum passes you can borrow from Perrot]

Family Program at the Greenwich Historical Society

2011-11-03T15:49:00.001-04:00

Greenwich Historical Society Family Program

How Do You Know a Hero?

Paper Crafts Workshop with Timothy Bellavia

Sunday, November 13th, 2011

Kids of all ages will enjoy this paper crafts workshop led by award-winning children's author, illustrator and educator Timothy D. Bellavia. How Do You Know a Hero? will challenge boys and girls to design their very own action figures by transforming plain templates into police officers, firefighters and paramedics. Kids can deck out their heroes with uniforms, badges and other pintsized accoutrements replicated from objects and photos showcased in the Historical Society’s current exhibition, Everyday Heroes: Greenwich First Responders. They’ll then set their creations’ heroic feats against scenes from the exhibition. The How Do You Know a Hero? workshop was designed to promote understanding of the importantrole first responders play in daily life. This workshop is a new spin on Bellavia’s well known franchise We Are All The Same Inside® workshop in which children create individual characters with the goal of learning to recognize our common humanity while embracing diversity.

Workshops will be held at 1:00, 2:30 and 4:00 PM

Vanderbilt Education Center, 39 Strickland Road, Cos Cob, CT

$10 for members; $15 for nonmembers.

Reservations required: http://www.greenwichhistory.org/children.php

For additional information, please call 203-869-6899, Ext. 10.

Upcoming Event: Our Old Stones, A Talk with Andrew Pighills

2011-10-18T11:16:00.000-04:00

Our Old Stones: A Talk with Andrew Pighills
Monday, November 7th, 2011, at 7:30 PM
Radcliffe Children's Wing, Perrot Memorial Library

Andrew Pighills, an accomplished stone artisan, gardener, and horticulturalist, will give a talk on old stone walls, accompanied by photographs of walls in and around Greenwich. Mr. Pighills received his formal horticulture training with The Royal Horticultural Society. He has spent 31 years creating gardens and building dry stone walls in his native England, in and around the spectacular Yorkshire Dales and the English Lake District.

Dreaming of Chanel- A Talk with Charlotte Smith

2011-10-18T11:11:00.001-04:00

Dreaming of Chanel: A Wardrobe Full of Stories- A Talk with Charlotte Smith
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011, 7:30 PM
Radcliffe Children's Wing, Perrot Memorial Library

The Chanel suit: it is one of the 20th century's most iconic garments. Seen by many as the epitome of style, its classic silhouette is instantly recognizable, and yet owning one is, for most women, only a dream.

Author and curator Charlotte Smith will return to Perrot to discuss her latest book, Dreaming of Chanel, which reveals the backdrop and dreams attached to pieces of clothing, whether they are made by famous designers or unknown dressmakers. She chronicles the lives and times of the wearers, and what evolves is a fascinating history of style and couture throughout the ages. Ms. Smith is the curator of the Darnell Collection, Australia's largest private collection of over 3,000 items of vintage clothing and accessories, which she inherited from her American godmother, Doris Darnell. Ms. Smith will enhance her stories with examples of some of the fabulous pieces from the collection.

Elimination of Mailed Overdue Notices

2011-10-07T12:37:00.000-04:00

Due to rising costs, Perrot and Greenwich Libraries have stopped mailing paper overdue notices, effective October 1st.

Currently, patrons with email addresses in their library card records receive courtesy notices (reminders of when books are due), notices of holds that are ready to be picked up, as well as overdue notices by email. We will continue to send out all of these notices.

If you do not have an email address in your library card record, you will no longer receive overdue notices by mail.

If you would like to add an email address to your library account, please let us know at your next visit and we will be happy to assist you.

You can also add an email address by accessing your account from home. Log in to your account with your name and library card number, click Submit, and then click on the Modify Personal Info button. At this point you can either add or change your email address. When you are done, click Submit.

If you have any questions or concerns about this new policy, please comment on this post, or give us a call at 203-637-1066.

New Book Recommendations from the Reference Desk

2011-10-06T17:10:00.000-04:00

What We're Reading at Perrot- New Book Recommendations from Our Reference Desk

BOTTOM OF THE 33RD: HOPE AND REDEMPTION IN BASEBALL'S LONGEST GAME, BY DAN BARRY

[Non-Fiction] "Getcha Beer heah!" For baseball’s longest game ever played, one would need more than just a beer. On April 18, 1981, Holy Saturday, just after dusk, the game between the Pawtucket Red Sox and the Rochester Red Wings was underway. It played on and on into the night. What a good look into the lives of many people: umps, players, bat boys who carried on with the integrity of the game in the forefront. Enjoy this wonderful baseball book as our own baseball season is almost ending. Once reviewer writes: "…a pitch-perfect and seamless meditation on baseball and the human condition."

Read the rest of our list of recommendations!

Library E-Books Now Available on Your Kindle

2011-09-28T13:08:00.000-04:00

You can now access free library e-books via your Kindle device!

“Libraries are a critical part of our communities,” Jay Marine, director of Kindle at Amazon, said in a statement. “And we’re excited to be making Kindle books available at more than 11,000 local libraries around the country.” Read more at the New York Times.

The Greenwich Library System Overdrive downloadable eBook collection features over 8,000 titles that are compatible with the Kindle. Choose from a wide selection of fiction, nonfiction and children's titles, with more to come.

Greenwich and Branches Closed Sept. 26th / Perrot Will Be Open

2011-09-21T13:02:00.000-04:00

Greenwich Library and the Byram and Cos Cob branches will be closed all day on Monday, September 26th so that staff may participate in a Strategic Planning session. Perrot WILL be open on the 26th for our regular hours, 9 AM to 6 PM.

Upcoming Event: Da Vinci's Sweet Tooth: Desserts of the Renaissance

2011-09-15T12:12:00.002-04:00

Da Vinci's Sweet Tooth: Desserts of the Renaissance
Wednesday, October 5th, 2011
7:30 P.M.
Radcliffe Children's Wing
Perrot Memorial Library

Celebrate Italian Heritage Month by learning about the history of Italy's sweets! Noted food historian and author Francine Segan will regale the audience with a fascinating presentation on the festivities of the Renaissance, featuring a tasting of classic Italian sweets. Hear about the lavish desserts, intriguing table manners, and unusual dining customs of the time.

Francine Segan is the author of four cookbooks, including Opera Lover's Cookbook: Menus for Elegant Entertaining, which was nominated for both the James Beard and IACP awards. Her latest book, Dolci: Italy's Sweets, will be available for purchase at the event. You can view several recipes from Ms. Segan's book in this article from the Wall Street Journal.

Spaces Available in 4s and 5s and Spotlight Programs for Kids

2011-09-06T16:39:00.000-04:00

Spotlight, our after school story and crafts program for 2nd and 3rd graders, still has spaces available for the fall session! The theme for this session is Thrills and Chills. The program meets Wednesdays at 4 P.M. on September 21st, September 28th, October 5th, and October 19th. Participants also receive tickets to our evening of scary stories, NIGHTMARES, on October 26th at 7 P.M.

We also have spaces available in our Fun for 4s and 5s program, which meets on Mondays at 1 P.M. from September 12th through November 14th (there is no program on October 10th).

Please call the Youth Services Desk (203-637-8802) to sign up your child for either of these programs!