As we approach the coldest most dreary days of winter it is always rewarding to know the Library welcomes you to come in out of the cold and join us! Did you know that winter is one of our busiest seasons? People are looking for things to do together indoors. Several people who attended the Winter Words Writers Conference in December asked if we could start a Writers Group. Burgeoning writers, “wanna be writers,” and published writers want a regular meeting to network, discuss and largely support each other through the writing process. Well good news! On Saturday, February 23 from 10 to noon the Library invites writers to come to the inaugural meeting of such a group. Published author Linda Howard will lead the first meeting and share her experience and expertise about how to ensure you get the very most out of this group. Linda has run writing workshops at the Trumbull Library for five years, has published two books, has written scripts for plays, and she is presently working on a novel. Please call the library 256-3160 to register.
Winter is also a great time to catch up on reading while hibernating. Since we announced that Three Cups of Tea is our selection for the One Book One Town event in March we have heard from so many people about their appetite for reading. Someone on the library staff described it as “chain reading.” As soon you finish one book you greedily dive into the next. Members of book clubs feed and share their appetite for reading. The “librarians on loan” program with the Assistant Director and Branch Librarian going to book club meetings and presenting their ideas about the book Three Cups of Tea has reinforced our belief that the love of reading is alive, well, and thriving in Fairfield. A few words about the book. It is a biography about the life of Greg Mortenson. It is a cliffhanger — you are on the edge of your seat several times during the book when Greg is in serious trouble. And who is Greg by the way? He is not famous. He does not accomplish what he sets out to do initially. His charm stems from his rather unusual and endearing way of life. He grows on you as you see how he lives as a real “outsider” from the average American life. He is passionate about mountain climbing for a large part of his life until fate intercedes and his passion turns to helping people in some of the most remote, dangerous and poorest places on earth. Furthermore children are the catalysts for this change. The plight of children in Pakistan inspires him to help them and children in America help to realize his dream. We tend to forget that a large part of the credit for the story is due to the accomplished writing of David Oliver Relin – an award-winning journalist. Mr. Relin carries us along in an informative manner as we share Greg’s journey. There are tickets available to hear Mr. Relin speak on March 20 at 7 pm at the Roger Ludlowe Middle School auditorium. Call the Library at 256-3160 to reserve a place and come in and pick up your ticket.
