But seriously there is much to learn especially about the new books coming our way.   Some receive immense praise from their publishers and reviewers and rightfully deserve it.  Poet Billy Collin’ s new books Ballistics and Other Poems is receiving rapt attention. The Last Lincolns: The Rise and Fall of a Great American Family by Charles Lachman has received great marks from respected library colleagues.  And many people are waiting not so patiently for Dennis Lehane’ s new book The Given Day  (October) and The Hour I First Believed (November) by Wally Lamb and Volk’s Shadow (July) by Brent Ghelfi. 

Others well..maybe one of the hottest titles about a woman’s physical and spiritual journey left some people a little cold.  Its publisher remarked that it was so amazing “it changed my life!” So yes some of us picked it up. And yes some of us kept reading it and were sadly disappointed.  Perhaps this was not the right book at the right time for this reader. Perhaps the praise was just hype.  Another book set in Massachusetts received even more hype and I have heard respected colleagues say they tried to read it but couldn’t.

Librarians are given the opportunity to read reviews and get their hands on advanced copies of books. We make a real effort to discuss, evaluate and select great books. We may not always make the right choice for each and every reader. However we are not beholden to specific publishers nor writers in the same way and we try to offer a professional opinion about what may be a book you would enjoy. 

Look for exciting new titles we have reviewed, discussed and bought for our community. Join us in conversation about what you think of good and not so good reads. Let’s generate our own buzz about great books!

Most libraries in America were established by groups of book-loving volunteers.  People donated their books to start the library usually housed in a private home or church.  (The Fairfield Memorial Library was established in 1876 and was first housed at the Fairfield Academy building.) Today this partnership continues with 100 volunteers helping at the Fairfield Public Library. 

Last Thursday on May 15 we honored our volunteers. The word “volunteer” stems from the French word “voluntier” meaning willing — just like our 100 volunteers who are always willing to help us.  These wonderful people contributed close to 3,000 hours of work to the Library this year. About 30 people keep our shelves organized in our adopt-a-shelf program. Teens who need community service hours help us the first Saturday of each month and contributed 228 hours since October.  Individuals work alongside us at events such as receptions, concerts, and author programs.  Some people conduct special programs for children and help with registration for programs such as the Summer Reading Game. Others help out regularly with mailings. The Art Committee helps to prepare for all the art shows.

We need people right now to help us with our Book Sale. We are expanding the sale and hope to train people to organize, market,  and sell books each day of the week. If you are interested please sign up for one of the training sessions next week May 21 at 10 am or 7 pm by registering via our website www.fairfieldpubliclibrary.org.

We need people to deliver books to the spinners generously donated by the Friends of the Fairfield Library at Lake Mohegan, the beach, and the train station.

We would love to work with people during receptions, concerts, author talks and other programs. Co-hosting an event is a wonderful way to enjoy a cultural program while helping others.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer email Karen Ronald at kronald@fplct.org or call 256-3158.

We have two authors coming to the Library whose books are perfect in terms of finding the next great read. On May 31 at 10 am at the Main Library Jim Malusa author of Into Thick Air, will share his experience of riding his bike to some of the largest depressions on earth on six continents. Jim, a botanist with a great sense of humor and Discovery Channel contributor,  will present a slide show and discuss his adventures biking and writing. Consider joining us and have Jim sign a copy of his book – a great gift for Father’s Day. Please register for this event by going to the Library’s website:  www.fairfieldpubliclibrary.org  or calling 256-3160.

Two weeks later on June 14 at 1 pm the Main Library will be hosting another writer – Michael White. Michael, a professor at Fairfield University, will discuss his latest book Soul Catcher. He has written five books, and Soul Catcher is his third historical fiction work.  He will discuss the research he conducted in preparation for this book. His writing is beautiful and the story is riveting. For those of us who procrastinate on the gift-buying front here is a last minute opportunity to buy a book for your father and have it signed by a very talented local author. Please register for this event by going to our website – www.fairfieldpubliclibrary.org or calling 256-3160.

The Fairfield Public Library has embarked on its long-range planning process. We hope the plan we develop reflects what the community wants in its library. We can continue to analyze statistics, trends, and read professional literature, however the best way to find out what the community wants is to listen. We handed out about 500 surveys recently. We also posted the survey on the website and on the computer lab. We want to gather as many ideas as possible over the next few months. Please email us, phone us, or come in and visit us and share your story of what you would like to see in your community library. Let us know how you think the library should be an integral part of your life story and the story of our community.  

What was immediately apparent about this Book Group was the obvious close ties between members. Someone shared their sad news about the death of a loved one. Another reminisced about all the years they have been together. Eighteen years of sharing good and not-so-good reads, of life changes, of friendships ebbing and flowing. What a wonderful coming together of people.

Can’t we do that in libraries too? Can’t we offer regular places and times for people to gather, communicate and experience. The answer is yes. The answer is we are doing this more and more in Fairfield. We have book clubs at the Main and Branch libraries.  We have a conversation group. Shortly we will have regular writing groups. We have music programs. We have Friday afternoon game days for teens.  We have the “Little Farm”  in the Main Children’s Library where parents and other caretakers gather while their children play.  And we hope to have more. Please let us know what you would like to enjoy at the library. Please fill out a survey and share your thoughts.  Respond to this blog and share your ideas.

The public library – the community library – thrives best when it reflects the richness of its community. 

The most profound comment made last night was made by a young mother who said:  ” We needed this book right now.” MUSIC TO THE EARS OF LIBRARIANS EVERYWHERE! What did she mean?

Here are a few reasons:

1. We need to read to understand others and ourselves – books like Three Cups of Tea is a biography about Greg Mortenson. Greg does not lead the “average” life and we learn to appreciate how unique he is and how this makes him capable of being a successful mountain climber and then a really impressive – dare I say - awesome – humanitarian and hero. 

2.  We learn about different cultures from the American way of life. We may not appreciate all the aspects of a different way of life but it does give us a window onto other ways of living.  For example, often we value material goods, compete with each other for status and wealth in the western world and we are not always happy. In poorer far more dangerous and precarious places like Afghanistan and Pakistan Greg encounters people who find satisfaction in drinking tea together and being accustomed to life unfolding in possibly a more “natural” less forced way. Greg learns patience from an illiterate wise man.

3.  We need this book to have a glimpse at a group of people - Muslims – many people have demonized this religious following in the aftermath of 9/11.  By spending time with these gentle, proud and welcoming people Greg encounters we understand their concerns are similar to our own. We realize we share the same dreams and aspirations with families the world over. Parents want their children to be safe, get good educations, and be happy in life.

And what about the more mundane but equally universal reasons for “needing” to read this book or any other? 

4.  The book is enjoyable to read. It is a cliffhanger. Many times we don’t know if Greg is going to survive let alone accomplish his mission.

5.  Three Cups is well written and humorous in parts.

6.  It is a great book for Fairfield. Men and women like it. Teens have read it. Excellence in education is a core value in our community.  Providing an education for girls and boys in Pakistan and Afghanistan is the catalyst for their lives to change profoundly.

7.  This book has prompted our community to gather together in libraries and other community centers, on the commuter train, in book clubs and share an experience.  One of the best gifts to offer anyone is a wonderful book and even better – when you can share and bond through that experience.

Our young mom-reader was right:  Three Cups of Tea is the right book at the right time for the individual reader, the book club, our community, and for readers anywhere.

 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.

If you attended our Writers Conference on Dec 1 you might have had the good fortune to hear Logan Ward talk about being a freelance writer and living the adventure. Logan traveled all the way from Stanton VA to join us for the day and to talk about his experience as a first-time author of his recently published book See You in a Hundred Years. Well guess what? Logan has more good news to share:  the Paperback rights to Logan Ward’s See You in a Hundred Years have been sold to Random House imprint Bantam Dell and film rights to the book have been optioned as well. Congratulations Logan!

During the conference we learned that people are interested in joining a Writers Group at the Library. So we are working on it. Please help us to figure out the best way to do this for you and for us especially when we really have no funds budgeted for such an endeavor in the middle of our fiscal year.  Please take a few minutes to answer the following questions and we will try to get something going really soon.

First, do Saturdays work for you?

Mornings or afternoons?

If not – what about evenings? Day? Time?

Could we start on a monthly basis for now and see what happens?

Could we invite all kinds of writers and then see if we need to  break out into different groups as we go along?

Would you or anyone else you know be willing to lead and/or organize the group over the next six months?

Would you like to have someone who has run Writer Workshops etc come in and give the group pointers to get the group focused?

What would you like to gain from this experience? Group support for your work? Motivation? Writing assignments? Professional advice? Other…. Please share any other ideas for writing programs you may have. Thank you for your input.
 

The success of this event reflects the special albeit rather quiet relationship between writers and librarians. Writers and librarians often become allies during the writing process. Librarians enjoy helping writers find information about publishing trends, writing genres, authors, and anything else asked of them. We especially like to welcome people who regularly seek quiet in the library as they write.  We also celebrate when we see a writer get published and then we welcome them back to present at book talks, book launches, and conferences.

Thank you to everyone who made the day such a success. Friends Board Member Maureen O’Rourke along with staffers Mary and Susan welcomed registrants and presenters tirelessly.  Barb posted the information to the website, Judy took photos, Sue got up early and made our breakfast coffee, and Valerie researched for moderators. Volunteers Pat and Korshed directed people and trouble-shooted beautifully.

The creative energy during the Keynote address by PW Editor-in-Chief, Sara Nelson, was palatable! Nelson shared her insider knowledge of the publishing industry with the standing-room audience. Authors shared their experience with aspiring writers. Freelance editors Marcela Landres and Eileen Robinson as well as author William Martin met with writers and discussed their manuscripts.  Landres and Robinson have reported a few writers are ready to find agents!  Borders Books sold books and authors signed books. Volunteers Catherine and Joan wrapped books ready for holiday giving.

We are planning to hold our Second Writers Conference next year about this same time. In the meantime we are also exploring hosting some writers programs during the year.  A workshop for people interested in writing mysteries, another one possibly about finding an agent as well as script writing are possibilities.  The possibilities are endless — isn’t that inspiring? 

 We will spend a full day discussing the art of writing with published authors, editors, writing coaches, freelance editorial consultants, and aspiring writers. I believe we are all writers. We write to our family members, we write personal diaries, we write briefs for work, we write articles for the media or for trade journals, and some of us are brave and talented enough to make this their chose profession.  I know of a group of young family men who met in college, chose their career as writers, pursued this dream successfully, and now have families and lifelong ties to each other.  These are my heroes.

This Saturday attendees to the Winter Words Writers Conference, a new endeavor underwritten by the Friends of the Fairfield Library, will revel in the challenges and successes of the literary arts. Sara Nelson, Editor-in-Chief, Publishers Weekly (and author of the delightful book So Many Books, So Little Time) will open the conference and discuss 21st Century publishing. Panel discussions will include:  how to write authentic dialog, memoir writing, writing for children and young adults, biography, how to make a living as a writer, how to break into writing, etc.  

Come and join us and be part of the class of 2007 writers and partners! Call the library at 255-3160 for more information.