Monday,

3:30 PM

Burroughs & Saden Teen Cafe

Calling all Teens! The Burroughs and Saden Great Teen Library  Outreach Space downtown (BPL’s own version of GTL) which opened last December, is in search of teens who want to share their creative talents and help direct the future of the Teen Café. 

On Monday, May 21, 2012 at 3:30 p.m. there will be a brainstorming session to form a new Teen Library Advisory Board. Open to Junior High & High School students, teens will work with library staff to participate and promote future programs they help design!  Current programs include: Chess club, Video gaming, Zombie workshops, Scrabble club, feature films, and more.

Light refreshments will be served.                            

For further information regarding this program please contact the Bridgeport Public Library

Youth Services Division at (203) 576-7408, find us on Facebook under Bridgeport Public Library Teen Café or visit our website at: www.bportlibrary.org/teen-news. The Bridgeport Public Library’s Teen Cafe is located in the Burroughs and Saden Library at 925 Broad Street, Bridgeport, CT.

Bridgeport Public Library loses a good friend.

The Bridgeport Public Library extends its condolences to the friends and family of Friend of the Bridgeport Library Patricia (Pat) Ryan.

We will miss you Pat.

Obituary and Guest Book

In preperation for Mother’s Day a large number of patrons (young and not so young) came to the Black Rock Branch to learn how to make beaded jewelry from expert beaded jewelry makers and library staff members Henrietta and Tina. From all accounts a good time was had by all.

To the left, a father and daughter make sure they they will be ready to present Mom with some special gifts on her special day.

For more photos:

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 Each year, the Voluntary Action Center, a partnership of Human Services Council and United Way of Coastal Fairfield County, give local non-profit organizations the opportunity to select one adult and one youth volunteer to be awarded at our recognition reception.”

The two BPL honorees are:  Julio Reinoso,  a BPL Friends Board Member who Runs the Friends of the Library Book Sale and Jacquanna Wilson, our Wednesday Night Computer Coach since August of 2011.

135 people gathered at Fairfield Ludlowe High School to celebrate with the winners, their families, and staff from the nominating non-profit organizations. 33 adults and 18 teens were presented with awards from Louis Schulman, Human Services Council Board of Directors Member.

Sunday Jazz with Michael Dunham

Bridgeport vocalist Michael Dunham, the 2006-2007 Fairfield Weekly Best Soul Singer nominee & 2008 Best Band winner, concludes a month-long Sunday Jazz series at the Main Downtown Bridgeport Public Library, working with some of the area’s best musicians. Michael is a respected veteran of the business, with a wide ranging baritone voice, and a variety of performance experiences in the area of Jazz, Soul, Old School, R&B, Funk, and Pop.

A big thank you goes out to the Black Rock Garden Club,  members of whom spent the better part of last Sunday morning weeding and sprucing up the Reading Garden at the Black Rock Branch.  

The Black Rock Garden Club has been instrumental in the creation and maintainence of the Reading Garden and we look forward to holding  many events in the garden over the next few months – the highlight of which will be the the Black Rock Garden Party hosted by the Garden Club on Saturday, July 14th. Stay tuned for more details.

For pictures of last year’s Garden Dedication Party: click here.

Bridgeport Titanic Survivor Oscar Palmquist Drowns in Beardsley Pond?

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Read more →

It’s Support Teen Literature Day!!

Would you like to be on the committee that helps choose the Teens’ Top Ten?  Applications are now being accepted!

http://www.ala.org/yalsa/teenstopten

BPL Closed Easter Weekend

All locations of the Bridgeport Public Library will be closed from Friday, April 6th through Sunday, April 8th for the Easter weekend.

The main library and branches will reopen Monday, April 9th at their normal starting times.

Friday, April 13th
2:00 PM

Burroughs and Saden-Teen Cafe

The film “A Night to Remember” will be shown twice this week in the Teen Cafe in honor of those lost 100 years ago on April 14, 1912. Based on Walter Lord’s famous novel, this classic film depicts the hour by hour drama as it unfolded onboard the Titanic before she slips below the North Atlantic.

Some scenes might seem familiar… James Cameron’s 1997 movie “Titanic” borrows some of this film’s powerful imagery.

Movie Trailer

MISSION STATEMENT

We believe that libraries change people’s lives. They are cornerstones of democracy. The Bridgeport Public Library provides opportunities for residents to learn, enjoy and achieve. To accomplish that mission, the Bridgeport Public Library offers free and open access to a relevant collection, staff knowledge, and modern facilities.

FY 2012 Bridgeport Library Budget

2010-11 Annual Report to the State

Cilck here to view article

Support the BPL

City Librarian Scott Hughes and the Bridgeport Public Library Board will be meeting with the Bridgeport Charter Revision Committee Tuesday, April 3rd at 5:30 PM in Bridgeport City Hall’s Wheeler Room.  The purpose of the meeting is to demonstrate to the Committee the importance of the BPL and the positive impact it has on the Bridgeport Community.

Please join Scott, the Board, your friends and your neighbors in helping to ensure a bright future for the Bridgeport Public Library and the Bridgeport Community.

The greater the turnout the brighter our future!

How to Survive a Zombie Attack!!

The Black Rock Branch Library – Teen Center, presents a series of zombie survival workshops. This fun and informative program is open to teens in grades 7-12. Special activities planned will include:

April 17th Make Your Own Zombie! Make a Zombie feltie! For more information contact:  

April 24th Zombie Book Discussion 3:30 PM World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks. Copies of World War Z may be checked out from the Teen Café and the Black Rock Branch.

For more information contact: Bina Williams 203 337-9676

Zombie events will also be held at the Burroughs & Saden – Teen Café Please call 203 576-7408 for times and dates.

Kathryn Ann van Renesse

The Black Rock Branch Library has just lost a good friend. R.I.P. Kathy.

Our sincerest condolences go out to Kathy’s family and many friends.

John S. BPL

Obituary

RFP for BPL Library Facilities Master Plan

The Bridgeport Public Library (BPL) seeks a consultant to develop a citywide library facilities master plan that will provide recommendations regarding size, location and service priorities projections.

For Bid Packet: Click here For Q&A: Click here

An Evening with Governor Malloy:

Bridgeport parents you are invited to an evening with Goovernor Malloy! Come and be a part of the discussion on the future of our schools. Get informed. Take action. Make change.

Space is limited! Parents please RSVP by Tuesday, April 17th at 5:30 PM to 203 923-8777 or info@excelbridgeport.org with your name and child’s school.

Sponsored by Excel Bridgeport.

Event flyer

Friends of the BPL Very Big Spring Book Sale

The Friends of the Bridgeport Public Library’s Very Big Spring Book Sale will be held in the Burroughs-Saden Library garage, State and Broad Streets, on Thursday May 3, 12-4, Friday May 4, 11-4, Saturday May 5, 11-4 and Monday May 7, 1-5. Hard cover books $2.00, paperbacks 25¢, CDs, DVDs, and videos $1.00. Monday – fill a bag for $4.00.

Book Sale Flyer

Happy Hunger Games!

Teens in grades 6-12, join us for a celebration of The Hunger Games.

Are you looking forward to the movie release on March 23rd?

Did you read The Hunger Games? What did you think?

Light refreshments will be served.

Co-sponsored by MYO  an initiative of RYASAP which is part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s STARTSTRONG National Initiative for building healthy teen relationships.

A program for girls age 12-14

REGISTER NOW

Girls Incorporated of Southwestern Connecticut is proud to announce a series of programs which will be be held Tuesdays, March 1 - April 5  from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM, co-sponsored by the Bridgeport Public Library.

Girls Inc. Friendly PEERsuasion® is a six week program designed to help girls
identify negative peer pressure, understand the consequences, and build the skills necessary for resisting it.
The program will have a particular focus on substance use.

We will identify legal and illegal substances, determine responsible uses of readily available prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements, and analyze the harmful effects of media messages that glamorize substance use.

Participants will develop healthy ways to respond to stress and resist peer pressure. We will then take these skills and become PEERsuaders for younger girls. By serving as peer educators and mentors, everyone will be reinforcing their commitment to avoiding substance abuse

To register please call 203 576-7408

This six week program is also taking place at the Old Mill Green branch starting on Wednesday, February 29 at 3:30 p.m.

Black Rock Branch is doing a Girls Inc.  six week Media Literacy Program starting Monday, February 27 at 3:00 p.m.

Click here for full obituary.
An oral history of his life can also be read at: www.bridgeporthistory.org

BPL closed for Presidents’ Day

In observance of Presidents’ Day, all locations of the Bridgeport Public Library will be closed Monday, February 20th.

2012 Tax Info Center:

Check out the BPL’s Tax Information Center:  a comprehensive listing of free and/or low cost tax preparation services as well as federal and state tax related information.

Tax Preparation Services

2012 Tax Centers List

Tax Center – State and Federal

• Connecticut Tax Forms
  Department of Revenue Services
• Federal Tax Forms
  Internal Revenue Service
• Prior Years Federal Forms
• Tax Forms for other States
  Includes a table with links to tax forms for all states and territories.
• E-File (Federal)
• Free File (Federal) and free fill-able forms
• Connecticut E-file

 “Who Believes in freedom cannot rest” – Ella Baker

Celebrate Black History Month

Click here

photo: Civil Rights Movement Veterans 

Copies of the Magnet School descriptions will be available beginning Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at all of our Bridgeport Public Library branch locations.

Those wishing to download a copy -please follow this link.  Magnet School Descriptions 2012-13 Revised

For those wishing to do the application online or download a hard copy please visit the Bridgeport Public Schools online application center

The application deadline is March 2, 2012

 Take Your Child to the Library Day

The Bridgeport Public Library will join other libraries throughout the country and participate in the first “Take Your Child to the Library” Day on Saturday, February 4.  Parents with children of all ages are invited to visit the Burroughs and Saden library downtown.  Discover the wonders of having a Bridgeport Public Library card. Check out a book, magazine, talking book or DVD. Find out how you and your child may learn another language, get free online tutoring, free early literacy software, access children’s books online and more.

Special activities planned at the main Burroughs and Saden library will include:

• 10:15 a.m.  Mother Goose story time for 0-36 month olds.
• 11:00 a.m.   Family movie for all ages
• 2:00 p.m.     Teens and tweens- photo project. Back by popular demand!  Make a snow globe. Bring in two identical 3 x 5 photos to create this unique craft.

Partners include: Connecticut Library Consortium, Connecticut Library Association and the Connecticut State Library.

Logo courtesy of author Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

For more information contact the Youth Services Division at 203 576-7408. The Bridgeport Public Library Burroughs and Saden is located at 925 Broad Street. These programs are free and open to the public.

Join the Tuesday Teen Cafe Chess Club.

Learn to play chess or test your skills against others. All skill levels welcome and the 4th Tuesday of each month get tips on improving your game from chess pro John Farwell.

Co-sponsored by City Lights Gallery.

Contact: 203 576-7408

After years of struggling with budget constraints and cutbacks, the Bridgeport Public Library has been given a new lifeline.

NEWS 12 video

Saturday, January 28
2:00 PM
Newfield Branch

Get your “Green” on this winter.  Join Groundwork Bridgeport  and their
teen volunteers as they read aloud City Green by DyAnne  DiSalvo-Ryan at
various Bridgeport Public Library branch locations this month.

Patrons will then participate in planting seeds in decorative containers and
learn about basic gardening.

**This program is open to children in first and second grade.

Old Mill Green Branch- Postponed due to weather on Saturday. 1/21.  Future time and day TBA.

For more information please contact the Bridgeport Public Library Youth Services Division
at (203) 576-7408.

Main Street Bridgeport - Bridgeport History Center Photo

 Happy Holidays from the Bridgeport Public Library

New Year’s Closings

The Bridgeport Library System will be closed from Saturday, December 31st through Monday, January 2nd. All BPL locations will reopen on Tuesday, January 3rd at their normal times.

Best wishes for a Happy New Year from your friends at the Bridgeport Public Library.

The BPL Board of Directors is accepting applications for a volunteer board position.

Any registered voter in the city of Bridgeport who has a high level of familiarity with the city’s libraries and who holds a library card may apply. Individuals who have a strong interest and wish to help reposition the Bridgeport Public Library facilities, collections, programs, and staff to help focus on building community, helping people, and changing lives are attributes sought. Applicants must be able to attend two or more monthly meetings.

Board members serve three year terms and can be reappointed by the full Library Board or nominated by the Nominating Committee.

Please address letters of interest to: Ms. Sauda Baraka, Nominating Committee, Bridgeport Public Library, 925 Broad Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604

OverDrive News!

On December 14, the Bridgeport Public Library moved from Bibliomation’s OverDrive to its own version of OverDrive to better serve your ebook and audiobook needs.

You will notice a new look and you will no longer have to log in first to see all of the items available, nor wait in long hold queues for the books you want.

On the new site, we encourage patrons to use the “Suggest a Title” link on the left side of the page to help us build the type of content you would like to see. Not every book is available in every format, but we will do our best to get you what you want.

Download Audiobooks and eBooks Anytime, Anywhere

Enjoy popular titles from the comfort of home

The Bridgeport Public Library is proud to announce a new and improved way to offer you best-selling and classic audiobooks and eBooks available 24/7 from the library’s website, http://bportlibrary.lib.overdrive.com

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You can browse the collection, check out with your Bridgeport library card, and download to PC, Mac®, Kindle and many mobile devices. To get started, you will need to install free software on your computer or an app for your smartphone. Titles can be enjoyed immediately or transferred to a variety of devices, including iPod®, Sony® Reader™, and many others. Some audio titles can also be burned to CD to listen on-the-go. Titles will automatically expire at the end of the lending period. There are no late fees!

With hundreds of popular fiction and non-fiction titles to choose from, the new collection is guaranteed to have something for everyone. You can download best-selling novels, urban titles, self-improvement guides, travel, cooking, and much more. New items will be added weekly.

This new service, powered by OverDrive, is free with your Bridgeport library card. To get started downloading audiobooks, eBooksvisit http://bportlibrary.lib.overdrive.com

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. ”Best Books for Children: A List for Holiday Giving” – is a compilation of the best gift books of the year, chosen by Youth Services Librarians around Connecticut!

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Feel free to pick up a list at the library or download and print at home.
**Compliments of the Connecticut Library Consortium

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All documents are in PDF format.

Santa Claus is coming to Town

Santa Claus will be visiting the Newfield Branch Library this holiday season. 

Bring your camera and get a picture with Jolly Old St. Nick himself.

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Santa Claus will be visiting all the locations of the Bridgeport Public Library this holiday season. 

Bring your camera and get a picture with Jolly Old St. Nick himself.

Here’s Santa’s complete BPL schedule:

Thursday, December 8th
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Black Rock Branch (BR Rotary Family Holiday Party)

Saturday, December 10th
1:30 – 2:30 PM
North Branch

Wednesday, December 14th
4:00 – 5:00 PM
Newfield Branch

Saturday, December 17th
1:00  – 2:00 PM 
Burroughs & Saden-Children’s Department

Tuesday, December 20th
3:30 – 4:30
Old Mill Green Branch

WORKSHOP to re-design the NEW Newfield Library.

The Bridgeport Public Library Board of Directors would like your attendance and input at the upcoming WORKSHOP to re-design the NEW Newfield Library.

WE’RE LISTENING TO YOU.

WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT.

WE WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

Comments may also be emailed directly to

Scott Hughes at shughes@bridgeportpubliclibrary.org

(Subject: Newfield Library) or faxed to 203.333.0253

New! Try our online catalog

The Bridgeport Public Library’s new online catalog lets you search for items, renew your material, and place holds from anywhere, anytime.

We have partnered with Bibliomation, Inc. and its sixty member libraries to bring you a brand new catalog.

You can search for materials at individual branches of BPL, all of Bridgeport Library, or all the libraries in the BibliOak catalog.

You can also place holds on items from other libraries in the shared catalog and pick them up at any one of the Bridgeport Public Library branches.

Click here for full details of our new and much improved online catalog.

A Gallery of Waiting Hearts

The Heart Gallery is a photo art display featuring remarkable children and youth in state care who need an adoptive family.  Volunteer professional photographers give their time and talent in capturing each child’s and youth’s personality in a photograph portrait. 

Portraits of children that need an adoptive family are being show on the third floor gallery of the Bridgeport Public Library.

For further information, please call Mary Witkowski at (203) 576-7417 or Contact -1-888-KID-HERO with Questions (1-888-543-4376)

The exhibit will be up until January 2012.

BPL Closed Veteran’s Day weekend

All locations of the Bridgeport Public Library will be closed from Friday, November 11th through Sunday, November 13th in honor of Veteran’s Day. 

Veteran’s Day history and info.

The BPL will also use this time to migrate to a new and improved library catalog.

The main library and branches will reopen Monday, November 14th at their normal starting times.

Children’s Movie

Contact: Children’s Department   203-576-7408

Book Discussion for Children and Families

What is your favorite book? Who is your favorite character? Let’s talk about books! Be prepared to discuss a book you love and get some suggestions on what to read next!

Contact: Old Mill Green Library   203-576-7634

A History of Poli’s Palace and Majestic Theaters

Presentation by Mary Witkowski, Bridgeport History Center/Bridgeport Public Library.

click here for more info

“Bridgeport Public Library Hours Expanded Citywide”

City Librarian Scott Hughes is proud to announce that starting October 15th the Bridgeport Public Library plans to provide seven days of service for the first time since 1989.

.Thanks to the overwhelming support of the voters of Bridgeport, the BPL will be providing 7 days of service a week including Saturdays at all branch locations.

Commenting on the additional hours of service, Jim O’Donnell, President of the Library Board of Directors, stated, “We are so pleased, in the face of all the administrative challenges presented, to finally be able to open our doors seven days a week.  These additional hours will give patrons more opportunities in these difficult economic times to use the essential services provided by our libraries.  All of us connected with the Library are grateful to the Bridgeport community who recognize the priceless value of our libraries expressed by the overwhelming support of the Library Referendum which has provided the BPL wit sustainable funding.

Being able to use the Library in person, and not just on-line, any day of the week is just one of the many ways the Bridgeport Public Library is working to be there for you.”

New Library Hours – Starting October 15th

Burroughs-Saden Main Library
925 Broad Street Bpt., CT 06604
203.576.7403

Black Rock Branch Library
2705 Fairfield Ave. Bpt., CT 06605
203.337.9676

Newfield Branch Library
1230 Stratford Ave. Bpt., CT 06607
203.576.7828

North Branch Library
3455 Madison Ave. Bpt., CT 06606
203.576.7003

Old Mill Green Branch Library
1677-81 East Main St. Bpt., CT 06608
203.576.7634

Check Out What Sources the Library has to Help You Prepare for the Upcoming Bridgeport City Firefighter Exam.

The most up-to-date study guides and practice firefighter exams typical of tests given to candidates across North America.

Come to a demonstration session on how to access these test preparation resources in print or electronically through the Testing and Education Reference Center to supplement your firefighter exam preparation.

Space is limited so register for one of the following dates:

Tues. 10/25 noon

Sat. 10/29 2pm

Wed. 11/9 Noon and 5pm

Tues. 11/15 6pm

Contact: Rachel Gaither   203-576-7412 .

Black Rock Image & Video Gallery

Check out the new and improved Black Rock Image & Video Gallery – Featuring some of the best moments at Black Rock since our reopening in July 2009.

Peace Pole Dedication – 09/21/09
slide show: click here

1st annual Black Rock Halloween Parade & Party Parade – 10/29/09
video: click here

1st annual Black Rock Block Party -
slideshow: click here

2nd annual Black Rock Halloween Parade & Party Parade – 10/30/10
video: click here slideshow: click here

Black Rock Teen Center Mardi Gras Party – 03/08/11
slideshow: click here

Grand Opening of Aiden’s Corner - 05/31/11
images: click here

Black Rock Garden Dedication and Party - 06/04/11
images: click here

2nd annual Black Rock Block Party (in the Garden) - 08/04/11
images: click here

Black Rock Teens and Fairfield University Students -09/21/11
images: click here

ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKS FOR ADULTS –WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn… Almost every teenager and young adult in the U.S. participates in one or more of these online social networks, yet people over 35 years of age constitute the fastest growing population of users of these tools. Why?

Learn, in plain and direct language, the basics of online social networks and, more importantly, find out what it is them for busy and/or techno skeptics individuals like you. This hands-on workshop will help you navigate these spaces in a safe, meaningful, and productive way. The only pre-requisite is knowing how to operate an e-mail account.

The workshop will be led by Dr. Gisela Gil-Egui, Associate Professor of Communication at Fairfield University. A native from Venezuela, Dr. Gil-Egui specializes in mass media and new information technologies. Her research explores, among other things, cultural and institutional factors that affect adoption of different communication tools by different populations.

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REDES SOCIALES EN INTERNET –¿POR QUE DEBERIAN IMPORTARNOS?
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn… Casi todos los adolescentes y adultos jóvenes en los Estados Unidos son parte de estas redes sociales; sin embargo, la población de usuarios de estas herramientas que está creciendo más rápidamente está compuesta por personas mayores de 35 años. ¿Por qué?
Aprenda, en lenguaje sencillo y directo, los fundamentos básicos de las redes sociales y, sobre todo, descubra cómo pueden serle útiles a individuos ocupados y/o tecnológicamente escépticos como usted. Este taller práctico le ayudará a navegar esos espacios de manera segura, relevante y productiva. El único pre-requisito es saber manejar una cuenta de correo electrónico (e-mail).

El taller será conducido por la Dra. Gisela Gil-Egui, Profesora Asociada de Comunicación de la Universidad Fairfield. Venezolana de origen, la Dra. Gil-Egui se especializa en medios de comunicación y nuevas tecnologías de información. Su trabajo se enfoca, entre otros temas, en la manera en que factores culturales afectan a diferentes poblaciones en sus decisiones de adoptar diferentes herramientas comunicacionales.
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Get Fit Bridgeport – “Walking Down Your Blood Sugar”

The Black Rock Branch announces a physical fitness series using exercise DVD’s, that are available at the library. They are simple to use and appropriate for those who have not exercised regularly, or who need a gentler way of exercising, yet want results.

The first program is entitled “Walking Down Your Blood Sugar” from the Leslie Sansone ‘Walk at Home’ DVD Series.  It includes an educational ‘Talk’ offering a doctor’s expert advice on the importance of fitness walking while managing diabetes

The format will be 15 minute welcome and education, 30 minute walking with the video, 15 minute handout /repeat education and close.

Little Rocks

Join us for our popular Little Rocks program for children up through age 3 with a caregiver. Stories, rhymes, music, movement, short films, and time for play are all part of the mix!

Contact: Miss Bina:   203-337-9676

Free Computer Classes

Build your basic computer skills with an individual coach, every Wednesday!

One of our volunteers will work with you, one-on-one to help with essentials such as checking email and writing resumes and will provide assistance with programs such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

“Classes are first come, first serve”

Contact: Sharaya Smith for more info:  203 576-7778

Children’s Wii Wednesday

Attention gamers! Join the Children’s Department for an In-House tournament just for fun. All skill levels welcome.

Contact: Children’s Department 203 576-7408

Grassy Headed Guys

Join us in welcoming spring by making a Grassy Headed Guy! Decorate the guy, put some seeds and dirt together and water…watch as the seeds sprout and give your guy a nice head of GREEN hair! Easy Peasy! For all ages….

Flower of Your Region – An International Children’s Art Exhibition – All BPL Locations

The BPL Library and Friends of the BPL are honored to present 75 Children’s works of art from ten different countries.

The ages of the children are from 3 years old to up.

Bangladesh ~ China ~ Estonia ~ Finland

Latvia ~ Lithuania ~ Malaysia ~ Philippines

Russia ~ The United States

First Thursday Movie – A Man For All Seasons

One of the best movies to come out of Britain. It is based on the play by Robert Bolt, who also wrote the screenplay. Paul Scofield is a rock in the title role and Robert Shaw a storm as King Henry VIII. Light on the action but the acting doesn’t get much better.

The movie will be presented by Douglas Gill, local film and culture junkie

View trailer

Historical Drama
Rated PG
1964
120 minute

Position Your Business for the Economic Resurgence, Part 1

You Are Cordially Invited to:

Position Your Business for the Economic Resurgence, Part 1

Co-sponsored by SC Consultants Group and SCORE

6:00 pm – 6:30 pm Networking

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm the Business Forum Event

Early Bird Registration:

sc-consultantsgroup.com

or call 203 916 7555 by Tuesday, January 3, 2012 to enter grand prize drawing.

Career Webinar Series: Making a Career Change

Find out how to decide if a career change is right for you!

• Learn the 15 questions you need to ask before making a career change.
• Discover how to create and execute a successful career change plan.
• Avoid the most common mistakes people make when changing careers.

Course instructor Barbara Safani, owner of Career Solvers, has over fifteen years of experience in career management, recruiting, and executive coaching. She is a triple-certified resume writer, a six-time award winner in the international Toast of the Resume Industry competition, and her work has been featured in over two dozen resume writing and career management publications.

Presented By Tutor. Com

For more information contact Michael Bielawa 203 576-7404 at Burroughs & Saden or John Soltis 203 337-9676 at Black Rock.

Kathy Maher  Executive Director and Curator  of the Barnum Museum will provide a talk on preservation and conservation jobs in the museum world.  
Learn about our downtown business world,                       
Kathy will also give an update regarding restoration work at the Barnum!

For more information call Michael Bielawa at 203 576-7404

Celebration of City’s 175th Anniversary Kicks Off Monday, Oct. 25th

Mayor Bill Finch and City Historian Mary Witkowski will join City senior citizens to celebrate the City’s 175^th anniversary, and the 75^th anniversary of the Bridgeport History Center during an event at the Burroughs & Saden Library Main Branch on Monday, Oct. 25at 1 p.m.

Ms. Witkowski will share her nostalgic history of the City called “Coming Home to Bridgeport,” an overview of the people and places that made the City great.

Attendees will be treated to a specially made anniversary cake and refreshments.

Mayor Finch also will discuss upcoming events to celebrate the City’s 175^th anniversary year.

The Bridgeport Library community is saddened to announce the death of  Karl “Zane” Yost, who had served on the Board since July of 2005.

A memorial service for Zane will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, October 8th, at the Bessemer Center, 2200 North Avenue Bridgeport.

“Zane was a forward thinker and consummate professional, who despite his background in architecture and building could envision the benefits of the virtual library of the future,” said Library Board Secretary/Treasurer Tom Errichetti.

Karl Zane Yost, architect and disciple of Buckminster Fuller, died at St. Vincent’s Hospital on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 after a long illness. He was 81. Affectionately know as “Zane,” he was born in Zanesville, Ohio on May 3, 1930 to Karl Yost and Laverna Imes Yost. After graduating for Canandaigua, N.Y., Academy, he received a BA in Architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he studied under Buckminster Fuller. As a sophomore at MIT, working solely from Fuller’s earliest formulae, Zane built the first wood-strut geodesic dome. It was later reassembled as a guest house on his parent’s property in New Hampshire. After graduation, Zane was selected by Fuller to supervise the construction of the first public geodesic dome at the Trienalle in Rome, Italy where he lived and studied on Fulbright Scholarship. He was drafted into the US Army during the Korean War and served in Germany until 1957. In the early part of his career, he worked for architect Victor Christ-Janer in New Canaan, before establishing Zane Yost and Associates in 1962. He worked in association with fellow MIT classmate and engineer, Donald Tarinelli of Bridgeport, and later moved his practice there until retiring in 2011. His firm was responsible for designing and building low, moderate and high-income housing across New England. A member of the American Institute of Architects, he served as chair of the National Housing Committee and received a CSA/AIA honor award in 1979 for the development “Summerwood on the Sound” in Old Saybrook, the first condominium project in CT to receive funding form the U.S. Dept of Housing and Urban Development to utilize active solar technology. He lived in New Canaan from 1961 to 94 until moving to Bridgeport. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Megan Owen Yost; four children, Owen Yost of Hoboken, N.J., Deirdre Yost of Saranac Lake, N.Y., Jason Yost of Norwalk, and Molly Yost DiStefano of Randolph, Vt.; as well as five grandchildren; and a sister, Theda Yost Clemans of Marysville,Ohio. Services are private. Arrangement are in care of the Larson Funeral Home 2496 North Avenue, Bridgeport.

September 11th Remembrance Event sponsored by buildOn*

Join us as buildOn students and members of the community gather at the library to make flags to honor the brave men and women who helped on Sept. 11th 2001. Then we will walk from the Library to the Bridgeport Fire House at 30 Congress Street and plant the flags outside.

While at the Fire House students will have a chance to interact with some of the fire fighters and see the station and equipment.

*buildOn website

Shadow Ball in Jasper’s Town

The Bridgeport Public Library History Center is proud to display the artwork of Duane Corey.   The unique baseball paintings feature a history of the Negro Leagues and local baseball. The work, will be displayed now until October 31, 2011.

For further information please contact Mary K. Witkowski at 203-576-7417

Duane Corey’s work has displayed at private shows in Atlanta and in galleries all over Connecticut with themes ranging from early American to multicultural mosaics. Duane Corey’s style can be summed up as a mix of many styles, modern, impressionist, photo realistic, as well as animated. Duane Corey has been influenced by artist from Michael Angelo, Diego Velazquez to Ernie Barnes and Hanna Barber’s animated creations. Duane Corey’s work can be viewed at www.artbyduane.com

Duane grew up in the South, and migrated to Bridgeport.  Living in the North End, Mr. Corey attended public and parochial schools in the Bridgeport area.

Duane’s parents stressed education and personal development and also to his two sisters growing up. While attending St. Joseph’s in Trumbull, he took an art class at the old art emporium at the Trumbull Mall. During the summer he worked for numerous Federal Funded youth programs and learned to create stag props. He knew from this point art would always be a component of his life. After St Joseph’s he received a scholarship to Morehouse College in Atlanta with a BA in Accounting.

When the potential for severe weather threatens to impact our area, the most important thing you can do is to get yourself, your family and your home prepared.

By preparing early, you’ll avoid the rush at home supply stores, grocery stores and other venues that are typically crowded and often times chaotic when hurricane watches and warnings are issued.

Click here: Hurricane Preparedness

Novel Destinations is this year’s theme for Bridgeport Public Library’s Summer Reading Program for adult library cardholders. Participants can set their own summer reading goals and submit a book review at any Bridgeport Public Library branch for a chance at a weekly prize between  July 5-August 12.

A grand prize of all submissions will take place on Friday, August 19.  Book reviews will be on display throughout the summer.  In addition families may take part in two puzzle contests for a chance at a family prize.

Special programs for all ages will take place at all Bridgeport Public Library locations throughout the summer. Some of these will include: cartoonist and original storyteller Kevin Munslow, magicians Jay Reidy and Ed Popielarczyk, Ron DeLuca’s Curious Creatures with live animals, Cajun storyteller Papillion, a Harry Potter film series, Kellogg Environmental Center and more.

The adult program will run concurrently with the children’s program, titled One World, Many Stories; and the teen program, You Are Here.   Kids and teens may sign up at any Bridgeport Public Library branch and receive a log to participate in our annual reading program for fun themed incentives.  

All programs are free and open to the public.

2nd Annual Black Rock Branch Block Party

A large contingent of friends and neighbors of the Black Rock Branch gathered in the new library Reading Garden last Thursday to celebrate the 2 year anniversary of the Black Rock Branch’s reopening. Over these past 2 years the  community has been extemely supportive of the  Black Rock Branch and the annual Block Party is our way of saying thank you.

Entertainment was provided by the The Mimosa Steel Pan Band and Hudson, Grace and the Invisible Rhythm Section. Along with the great music there was an abundence of great food from some of Black Rock’s finest eating establishments.

Suffice to say, a good time was had by all.

A special thanks to the Ash Creek Saloon and Taco Loco for their generous contributions.

Click here for photos.

Help make the Park City’s parks even better.

Take the City of Bridgeport Parks Master Plan Survey.

The City of Bridgeport’s and Mayor Bill Finch are undertaking a Parks Master Plan Process that includes a community survey to gather feedback about how Bridgeport residents and visitors use the park system, recreation programs, and neighborhood open spaces.

Click here to take survey.

Cook for Kids Benefit for Cook and Grow

Enjoy an array of food prepared by local Chefs under the tent at Michelle Obama ‘s Community Garden located off of the children’s wing of the downtown Bridgeport Library. $25 per person, $40 per couple, $20 Friends of the Bridgeport Library. Pay in person with cash at Gumdrop Swap Kids Boutique inside the Arcade Mall, 1001 Main St. or…

Send checks to:
Friends of the Bridgeport Library
c/o Cook and Grow
925 Broad St
Bridgeport, CT 06604

Monsters, Inc.

Please join us for the Disney Pixar hit MONSTERS, INC. This animated movie was one of the first to make use of Pixar technology….but besides that, it is a LOT of fun.   Monsters generate their city’s power by scaring children, but they are terribly afraid themselves of being contaminated by children, so when one tiny and loveable girl named Boo enters Monstropolis, top scarer Sulley finds his world disrupted. With John Goodman as the giant monster Sully and Billy Crystal as his short round pal, Mike, this movie is sure to make everyone in the family laugh…..

View trailer

Bring the kids and PJs are okay! We will have some treats for all.
Part of our new series of monthly Family Nights!

“click for a virtual linkage to business information, services,

resources, & opportunities in Downtown Bridgeport”

Arts, crafts, music and more at Saturday’s Bridgeport Fest at McLevy Green

Don’t miss the fun including the Friends of the BPL Book Sale.

Read more →

2011 BPL Summer Reading List – One World, Many Stories

Entire List – K – 8

Click here for full full article by Sean O’Connor, Chicago Libraries Examiner

Fourth of July Closings

All Branches of the Bridgeport Public Library will be closed Saturday, July 2nd through Monday, July 4th in honor of Independence Day.

 Teen Summer Reading Program  June 27th – August 19th

Sign up at any of our library branches to participate in our seven week summer reading program.

Read books to win prizes!

Bookmark, mood pencil, READ bracelet and keychain compass!

Click here for Book List.

**Summer reading books may also be downloaded to your portable device using Overdrive.

Teens-do you like to talk about books?  Then join your fellow Facebookers online at the Bridgeport Public Library-Teen Café Facebook page this summer.

Throughout the months of July and August we will  discuss four great titles! Just “LIKE” our page and then simply click on the “discussions” tab to participate!

http://www.facebook.com/bridgeportpubliclibrary.teens

 Eddy Rivera and Son Tres

Listen to local Bridgeport musicians perform their Latin rock music. 

Contact: Sharon Breslow   203 576-7408

It was another great Black Rock Day Parade and the Library and Friends of the BPL were there. A good time was had by all.

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Harry Potter Film Festival

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Come see the magic.

Read more →

The Black Rock Day Parade

Hailed as the “Best Small Parade in America,” the Black Rock Day Parade winds from the Burroughs Community Center to Ellsworth Field.  Bands, floats, local groups and celebs will be part of the event.

March in the Parade

If you would like to march in the parade and show your support for the BPL, please contact John Soltis: Friday – 203 337-9676 Saturday – 203 576-7417 or email: jsoltis@bridgeportpubliclibrary.org 

After the parade there will be much celebating at Ellsworth Field.

Click here for more details.

The Bridgeport Public Library will kick-off this year’s children’s summer reading program “One World, Many Stories” on Wednesday, June 22, 2011  at 6:30 p.m. at the Burroughs & Saden Library in the Fine Arts Room downtown Bridgeport. Families of all ages are invited.

Domino the Great ‘s special Around The World With Books (Magic & Variety Show)” is an action packed program that will grab the attention of children (and fun loving adults, too) with amazing magic tricks, hilarious age-appropriate humor, tons of audience participation, music and more.

Admission is free with a valid Bridgeport Public Library card.  Seating is limited

School age children may sign-up for our annual summer reading program before the start of the show.  This seven week program which encourages children to read over the summer will feature a variety of themed incentives. All branches will play host to a number of special programs throughout July and August.

In addition teens are invited to participate in our “You Are Here” summer reading program. Read books and win prizes.

 Adults participating in our “Novel Destinations” summer reading program may read books, submit reviews (optional) and have a chance at a weekly prize. Drawings will take place every Friday from July 5- August 12. A grand prize will also be given.

One World, Many Stories Brochure & Program Schedule

The Day the Music Died

On February 3, 1959 three of the most popular Rock ‘n Roll artists of the time died in a plane crash.

Here’s their story

The Day the Music Died

The timeline of Rock ‘n Roll is teeming with important dates.  The first Rock ‘n Roll concert, Alan Freed’s “Moondog Coronation Ball,” took place March 21, 1952 in Cleveland, Ohio.  On July 5, 1954 Elvis recorded “That’s All Right” on the Sun label, fueling both Rockabilly/Rock ‘n Roll music and his amazing career.  One of the most important dates, albeit tragic, is February 3, 1959.  Troubadour Don McLean, in his epic ballad American Pie, called it “The day the music died.”  Yes, that’s the date when a small airplane carrying three of the most popular Rock ‘n Roll artists of the time crashed in a snowy cornfield in Iowa.  Buddy Holly, “The Big Bopper” (J.P. Richardson), and rising Latino star Ritchie Valens all died instantly, as did their pilot, Roger Peterson.  To many Rock historians the plane crash signaled an end of the music as fans knew it.  At that time Elvis was in the Army; Little Richard recently found religion and stopped recording; and Jerry Lee Lewis was publically disgraced for marrying his 13 year old cousin, Myra.  The airplane crash was the final blow.  However, no matter how one may view it, the fact is that we lost three great talents that day.

Jiles Perry Richardson called Beaumont, Texas his home.  Before he started recording his own hit 45rpm singles, he was spinning other singers’ music as a successful disc jockey.   “The Big Bopper” was Richardson’s on-air persona for Beaumont radio station KTRM.  Richardson gained some fame when, in May 1957, he set a record of continuous on-air broadcasting, besting the previous mark by eight minutes.  During his stint of five days, two hours, and those eight minutes, the Big Bopper spun 1,821 records while holding court in the lobby of Beaumont’s Jefferson Theatre for the remote broadcast.

More interested in just spinning records, however, Richardson tried his hand at songwriting and discovered a talent for “novelty,” or comedy, compositions.  He reached #6 on the pop charts in the summer of 1958 with Chantilly Lace. The Mercury label record actually spent 22 weeks in the Top 40 charts!  He also wrote songs for others including Country Music legend George Jones.  Richardson’s composition, White Lightning, propelled Jones to his first #1 on the Country charts in 1959.  One of the Big Bopper’s friends, Johnny Preston, was the recipient of another Richardson ditty called Running Bear.  Not only did the Bopper write the song, but he was in the studio performing the background vocal sounds when Preston recorded the number.

Ricardo Esteban Valenzuela Reyes hailed from the Pacoima neighborhood of Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley.  A seventeen year old local singing/guitar playing sensation, Valenzuela was discovered by Bob Keane, owner of Del-Fi Records.  Keane already had experience in discovering, recording, and popularizing young talent. In 1957 the irrepressible Keane was responsible for doing all that and more for Sam Cooke with his first hit, You Send Me, on Keen Records, another of his labels.  In the culturally-correct atmosphere of 1950’s America, it was common for artists of ethnic backgrounds to anglicize their names.  This practice was thought to create wider audience appeal.  Such was the case for Valenzuela when Keane redubbed him Ritchie Valens.

Ritchie was left-handed yet taught himself to play guitar in a right-handed manner.  His first hit for Del-Fi was the rocker, Come On, Let’s Go, in the summer of 1958.  Ritchie followed this in the autumn with a double-sided smash; La Bamba was side A and Donna was side B of the disc.  La Bamba was a Rock ‘n Roll version of a traditional Mexican folk song while Donna was a slow, romantic ode to his girlfriend Donna Fox.  The release followed the Rock tradition of a “jump” tune on one side of a 45 (as it was known) backed-with a “dreamy” song on its flip.

Buddy Holly, born Charles Hardin Holley, was a native of Lubbock, Texas.  His entire family was musically-oriented.  Buddy joined in at an early age playing fiddle and guitar.  One of his earliest recordings was done on a wire recorder at the age of 13 or 14, before his voice changed!  He and friend Bob Montgomery created the duo “Buddy & Bob” and had their own radio show on a Lubbock station while still in their mid-teens.  Even then Buddy was writing songs, although they were all Country & Western-flavored.  In 1955 everything changed!  “Buddy & Bob” was booked at the same personal appearance as “Elvis, Scotty, & Bill.”  When Buddy saw Elvis Presley jumping and gyrating to this new style called Rockabilly, the flood gates were opened, never to be shut.

Buddy managed to land a recording contract with Decca Records out of their Nashville, Tennessee office in 1956.  He had a couple of releases, but they didn’t get much airplay or sales.  He soon hooked-up with three other friends (Jerry Allison on drums, Joe Mauldin on bass, and Niki Sullivan on rhythm guitar) and created the band they called “The Crickets.”  Writing most of their own material, they travelled to Clovis, New Mexico in 1957 to Norman Petty’s recording studio.  Petty then produced the Crickets’ recordings and started marketing them to various labels.  Brunswick Records was the first to pick up the group.  Ironically, Brunswick was a subsidiary of Decca and didn’t realize that Buddy had recorded for them and had been dropped.

The Crickets soon had hit records like That’ll Be the Day, Oh Boy, and Maybe Baby; all had vocal backing.  Concurrently, Buddy had solo billing on the Coral label (another Decca subsidiary) with hits like Peggy Sue and Everyday.   The interesting thing is that the Crickets played on all these recordings yet were only billed on the Brunswick discs because of the inclusion of those background vocals.  Niki Sullivan got homesick and tired of touring, so he left the group sometime in 1958.

Unfortunately, Buddy and the other two boys had a falling-out late that year.  He had just been married in August to Maria-Elena Santiago (now pregnant) and was relocating to Greenwich Village in New York City.  He was also having contract and money difficulties with Norman Petty.  Buddy was in need of cash in early 1959.  To make money and further his career, the “Winter Dance Party” was organized to tour the Mid-West U.S. throughout January and February.  Not having Jerry and Joe, Buddy hired fledgling singer/radio disc jockey (and future Country Music superstar) Waylon Jennings, veteran record session guitarist Tommy Allsup, and drummer Carl Bunch as the new Crickets.  

Other artists were booked for the tour to join Buddy and to promote their records.  Soon the Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, vocal group Dion & the Belmonts (riding high with I Wonder Why and No One Knows), and young singer Frankie Sardo (his Fake Out was a Mid-Western hit) inked contracts.  The tour was grueling.  Battling bitter cold, snow, and a zigzagging confusing route, the artists still managed to thrill the teenage audiences gathering for each rocking show.

The cold and snow conquered the reconverted school bus they used as well as the artists themselves; Carl Bunch had to be hospitalized with a case of frostbite.  By February 2, everyone on the tour was exhausted.  Also, since they hadn’t had time to stop at a laundromat, their stage clothes needed to be washed.  Buddy had an idea.  He thought about chartering a plane for him & the other two remaining Crickets to get to Fargo, North Dakota (their next tour stop, Moorhead, Minnesota was nearby).  He wanted to rest and get that much-needed laundry done.

Stories vary about how this occurred, but Jennings and Allsup decided to give up their seats to the Big Bopper (who was feeling sick) and Ritchie Valens, in the wee hours between February 2 and February 3 right after a successful concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa.  Aviation officials blamed “pilot error” for the crash soon after take-off in a light snowfall; Roger Peterson may have misread the cockpit instruments.  No one will ever know.  Now it’s Rock ‘n Roll legend.

© 2011 Ronald G. Fontaine

Thank You Public Allies.

Click here for photos and more.

Over 75 friends and neighbors attended the Black Rock Garden Club’s Garden Party and Fundraiser for the new Reading Garden at the Black Rock Branch held on Saturday evening June 4th. There was music, food, wine and lots of good conversation. Stay tuned for many events to be held in the “Garden” this summer and fall.

Thanks to all who attended and Thank You Black Rock Garden Club.

Here are some photos from this very successful successful event.

Click here for photos

More photos

BPL Closed Tuesday June 7th & Wednesday June 8th.

All locations of the Bridgeport Public Library will be closed Tuesday, June 7th & Wednesday June 8th for staff training. 

The main library and branches will reopen Thursday, June 9th at their normal starting times.

Wii Wednesdays

 Breaking News!- We have added X-Box Wednesday on the 4th Wednesday of the month; also at 6:00.

Contact Newfield Branch: 203 576-7828

 Friends of the Bridgeport Public Library

Invite you to the…

BIG

BOOK SALE!!!

Join us at the

BRIDGEPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY

(925 Broad St. DOWNTOWN)

*** Monday Special ***

FILL YOUR BAG FOR JUST $4!!!

Bridgeport Public Library and University of Bridgeport Announce a New Strategic Partnership 

Two of Bridgeport’s premier educational and cultural institutions have announced the formation of a new strategic partnership.  Working together, the Bridgeport Public Library and the University of Bridgeport (UB) will provide programs in all five of the city’s library locations.

Designed to provide enriching educational and cultural opportunities for the entire Bridgeport community, the co-sponsored lectures, workshops, and other programs will be free to the public. They will be conducted by UB faculty and staff who are experts in fields, ranging from business and health, to technology and the sciences, arts, and politics. Events also will highlight the numerous Bridgeport Public Library resources that are available to the public and are suitable for all ages, from the youngest learners to senior citizens.

“Bridgeport’s residents are curious about their world and the world around them, and time and time again they look to UB and their libraries to provide information about a vast array of topics,” said UB Vice President of University Relations Mary-Jane Foster. “As a member of the University community and a longtime Bridgeport resident, I’m personally thrilled that the University and the Bridgeport Library will provide enriching programming to benefit the entire community.”

“This partnership is a win for the university, the library, and especially for the Bridgeport community,” said Community Librarian John Soltis. “We have exciting programs scheduled with UB’s health sciences and business departments, and are lining up even more programming, including homework help from the University’s School of Education, writing workshops, musical concerts, and more.”

Upcoming Bridgeport Library and UB events include:

·        The Danger of Stopping Vitamin D Supplements in the Summer! with Dr. Jared M. Skowron  – 12:30 – 1:30 PM Tuesday May 10^th at the Black Rock Branch 2705 Fairfield Avenue.

·        Coccygodynia “A Pain the Rear” with Dr. James J. Lehman, DC, MBA, DABCO – 12:30 – 1:30 PM Tuesday June 14^th at the Black Rock Branch 2705 Fairfield Avenue.

For more information contact:

John Soltis
Community Librarian
(203) 337-9676

Leslie Geary
Director of Public Information and Media Relations
University of Bridgeport
(203) 576-4625

The Bridgeport Public Library is proud to announce that almost 1600 cranes were sent to Students Rebuild last Thursday for the reconstruction effort in Japan.

During the course of the week staff and patrons sat at tables and patiently learned the art of origami. It didn’t stop there. 

 One patron was so moved that he made over 1000 cranes at home with his family and brought them to the library.  Other patrons upon reading the article in the Connecticut Post or seeing it covered on Channel 12 dropped off their cranes asking they be sent with ours.

This week the heartfelt stories continue…

At the North Branch:

When we put out the flyers to make cranes, hoping that most patrons would be able to make the cranes on their own, one library patron stepped up to the plate and went above and beyond. Sue D, a former teacher, perfected the directions we were using by taking home some paper and practicing, using different methods to achieve the end result. She came in the next day and put several cranes in the collection box, and felt so strongly about the cause, that she then sat at our craft table, helping anyone who wished assistance. She stayed an entire day, taking only a brief break for lunch.

One mom told the story of her son and daughter-in-law, who had folded 1,000 paper cranes in preparation for their wedding. She came in the next day with 500 of those wedding cranes to donate, to share the best wishes and hope for the future that the cranes represented. 

Our second shipment of cranes will go out at the end of this week. Thank you all for your wonderful outpouring of community spirit.

2010/2011 Tax & Budget Panel Discussion to be Televised

This important and very timely program was held at the Black Rock Branch Wednesday, March 30th. The panel came from across the political spectrum and featured former Comptroller General of the United States David Walker.

Please tune in to Channel 78 7:00 PM this Friday, April 8th and view this program in its entirety.

The program will also be available in the Sound View Community Media archives early next week. Stay tuned for more info on how to access it online.

Click here to view event details.

Vernon Boulevard:  Generations

Bobbie Bernstein explores the streets and character of Vernon Boulevard in Queens, New York through the magic of her camera.

A Westport resident and former Harding High School graduate, the photographs capture the heritage and beauty of life in a predominantly Italian Neighborhood.

For further information, please contact the Bridgeport History Center, Bridgeport Public Library:  203 576-7417

On Friday, March 11, 2011, a massive earthquake struck Sendai, Japan, resulting in a devastating tsunami that ravaged the coast. In response, Students Rebuild partnered with DoSomething.org, to ensure students worldwide have a way to support their Japanese peers.

The Bridgeport Public Library joined in this effort beginninga at the Burroughs & Saden and the Black Rock Branch with great success. Over 300 cranes have been made so far!

It’s not too late to make a crane for Japan. Crane making continues at the North and Old Mill Green Branches!

You can help Japan by making paper cranes. These simple yet powerful gestures will trigger a $200,000 donation from the Bezos Family Foundation—$2 for each crane received—to Architecture for Humanity’s reconstruction efforts in Japan. The goal is 100,000 submissions, then, the cranes will be woven into an art Installation—a symbolic gift from youth worldwide to their Japanese peers.

Instructions and origami paper will be provided in the main library lobby. Staff will be on hand to answer questions.

The Bridgeport Public Library will provide a drop off box in the front lobby for your crane to be sent to Students Rebuild for the reconstruction effort.

Branch Locations:

Thursday, April 7 1:00-4:30
North Branch

Thursday, April 7 12:00-8:00
Old Mill Green Branch

Wednesday, April 20 1:00-7:00
Newfield Branch

Free Computer Coaching 

Seating is limited. To register for a sesion call:

John Soltis for Black Rock 203 337-9676

Frank Basler for Burroughs & Saden 203 345-5682

Session will run through May 3rd.

Nunzio taking notes

Dewey Have to Keep the Cats at the Library to Make Them Library Cats?

 By Michele A. Jacobson

Vicki Myron does not have J.K. Rowling’s millions. Her Dewey: A Small Town Library Cat Who Touched the World wasn’t a zillion dollar seller. It really doesn’t matter.  I loved Harry Potter, but I adored Dewey. Since its publication this true tale of a library (and its four footed director) receive so much love Ms Myron was obligated to produce a sequel.  Dewey’s Nine Lives is a compilation of stories about Dewey and other less famous cats. (You bet we’re buying it at BPL.)

There you sit, waiting for the other shoe to drop.  It’s not a shoe, actually.  It’s a slipper.  Specifically, the purple fuzzy one with the cats embroidered on it.

My name is Michele and I love cats. At the moment, I am cat-less, my beloved furry roommate having crossed the Rainbow Bridge in June.  But the memory of Peanut lingers on.  Her ashes (and a clay medallion bearing her paw print) share a windowsill with her photograph. Over the last few months I have vacuumed up enough cat hair to knit five cats and a sweater.  I miss her purring and her determination to stay in my lap.  (I considered changing her name to Velcro because of this.) And let me tell you something, Miss Peanut was every bit as much a library cat as Dewey.  She just never actually went to the library.

Neo Fontaine met his forever family at the library.  When Ron and Lynn couldn’t get away to see him, he came to them.  The black kitten with the white tummy named himself as well: he performed a slo-mo-Keanu-Reeves-flies-through-the-air leap. Ron’s daughter exclaimed “His name is Neo.”

A small group of kids with a great big dog were bullying another black and white kitty.    Branch librarian Renate Ferree took action.  She dashed out of our storefront library and gathered up the ball of fluff.  Sheba now runs the Ferree home along with M.C. and Beth.

There are many other library cats at Bridgeport.    Impromptu conversations with cat lovers in general and library cat lovers in particular convince me that most cats are library cats.  This is true for Nunzio, Tessa, Spooner, Bootsie, Tiger and Bob. They have never trod the library halls but have left paw prints on the hearts of staff and patrons.

Over the years, the cat-crazy have shared photos, stories, advice and the sorrows of being cats’ personal slaves.  “Has Nunzio stopped sitting on your face at night?” “Does Bob like the new apartment?”   “Is Socks still making art projects of the toilet paper?” “Sneezer just loves to play fetch with that snake toy.” When Peanut first showed signs of struggling with Feline Urinary Disorder, patrons shared with me how they dealt with their own cats’ illnesses.  (The standard answer is patience, prayer and a bottomless wallet.)   Without ever seeing each other’s cats, we are bonded.

Bob survived a fire at Martha’s home.  Overcome with smoke he was rescued by a quick thinking fire fighter who grabbed an unused infant oxygen mask. Treatment continued at the vet’s.  We took up a collection to pay for Bob’s medical bills.  Martha?  She had to fend for herself.

There have been “honorary” library “cats” as well.  Elmo Guglielmo was a blue eyed puppy abandoned in the foyer.  Never was a dog so quickly adopted.  When he passed away this year, we nearly declared a day of mourning.

Matt Flynn—Mister Matt—was a gentle English Setter who worked as a therapy dog and came to visit from time to time.  Just patting Matt’s head made both patter and patted happy.

Peanut’s history amused the teens who saw her picture.  She belonged to colleague’s sister. Krista developed allergies to cat dander and my colleague’s apartment had rules against pets. As a new homeowner, I agreed to take a look at her.  I was so disappointed when I saw a tiny, ten year old cat in what appeared to be a fat suit. Her belly swung from side to side, her legs were sticks and her tail almost as thin.  But when I sat down, Peanut climbed up and into my lap.  With her paws on my shoulders, she touched noses with me and…well, she became The Most Beautiful Cat Ever.

“Okay,” said I “You have yourself a sucker.”

For six years, five months and three days she shed on my rug, sat on my books when I tried to read, clawed the sofa, and loved me so much it hurt to leave her for work.  Thanks to her I found friends on the internet to help me understand the harsh reality of her illness. She led me to friendships with my vets, their assistants and other cat loving colleagues.  It’s been five months.  I miss her every day. Patrons still ask about her.

None of these pets, with the exception of Mister Matt, have been to the library, but they are very much here.  Patrons love to look at their pictures and ask questions about them.  Somehow that leads to patrons being more comfortable asking us the questions they really need to ask.  If they think you are an animal lover, people who would rather die than admit they need background on [fill in embarrassing subject] will give you everything you need to answer their question. Maybe because, if you are someone who is kind to not-so-dumb animals, patrons figure you won’t mind answering their “dumb” question.  (It’s amazing how often patrons label perfectly legitimate questions “dumb”.)

Eventually there will be a new furry roommate to claim Peanut’s place by the window, but not yet.  When my new roomie does arrive, I expect they, like Peanut, Bob, Nunzio, Sheba and Neo will exert a gentle and calming influence over my life and subsequently the lives of my patrons. They are library cats; they just work from home.

 Curious Creatures – Summer Reading Program

A hands-on and interactive program with live animals from around the world. Always a crowd favorite, Ron DeLuca will once again teach respect and appreciation for these exotic and unusual animals.

Contact: Diane Antonelli  203 576-7413

 Are You Me? 

 All living things have similar needs but different ways to meet them.  Learn the many ways people, animals and plants are similar and  different by learning about three bears common to North America.  Using felt boards we will build habitats and listen to stories while making bear masks. 

Presented by the Kellogg Environmental Center.

Contact: Diane Antonelli   203 576-7413