August 2023

Message from the CEO
    
At the Ferguson Library, we take the critical role public libraries play in our democracy very seriously. It is one of the reasons we have taken such a strong stand against book challenges and bans. We believe you have the right to read (or not read) what you want and we strive to represent multiple views in our collections and programs.

It is important that we fight back not only against book challenges but also disinformation—about current events and our history. In this era, with social media and AI, it is even more important to learn how to evaluate our sources and think with a critical mind.

One of our most cherished rights is the right to vote. I’m pleased to share that as part of the community-wide commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington (see the calendar for more information) we are hosting an exhibit entitled Who Can Vote? A Brief History of Voting Rights in the United States. This exhibit, combined with other special programs this month, gives us an opportunity to reflect on our past and march with hope toward the future.

Alice Knapp, CEO

Support for Sunday Hours

Many thanks to the Batkin family for supporting Sunday hours at the Main Library on August 20. Sundays are one of our busiest and most important days of the week. If you are interested in helping us provide Sunday service, please contact Linda Avellar 203 351-8208 or email [email protected].  

Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington

It’s been 60 years since the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, largely remembered for Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial. The Ferguson Library will pay tribute to this milestone from August 13 to August 28 with programming for all ages that commemorates the day when a quarter of a million people rallied to demand an end to segregation as well as fair wages, economic justice, voting rights and civil rights protections.

The highlights include an opening ceremony August 13 that will feature an interfaith panel discussion, music by the Union Baptist Church Choir, and a screening of the restored 1964 documentary, The March.
 
The ongoing exhibit Who Can Vote? A Brief History of Voting Rights in the United States will be on view at the Main Library, while the reproduction of the 1963 Lincoln Memorial Program will be displayed at the Main Library and the Harry Bennett and South End branches.

Activities conclude August 27 with a closing ceremony and August 28, the anniversary of the March on Washington, with two screenings of the 2013 documentary, The March: The Story of the Greatest March in American History, narrated by Denzel Washington.

Visit our calendar for more details and additional programs.

Presented in partnership with 100 Black Men of Stamford; Fairfield County (CT) Chapter, The Links, Incorporated; the Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut; the Mayor's Multicultural Council; Stamford Community; and Stamford NAACP.
       
Free Notary Services at the Library

Notary services are available by appointment at the Main Library Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 203 351-8221 to make an appointment. Walk-ins are also welcome. Weekend service is available by appointment only. The notary desk at the Main Library is located on the lower level.

Notary services are available at the Harry Bennett and Weed Memorial & Hollander branches by appointment only. Call 203 351-8290.

Find Your Voice This Summer

There’s still time to sign up the kids for our Summer Learning Club, Find Your Voice! We’re making it easy to read with lots of incentives and fun activities. Register online at fergusonlibrary.org or on the READsquared app from Apple Store or Google Play. Teens can register for their own Summer Learning Club, too. Find Your Voice is also the theme for our Adult Summer Reading Program. Pick up a Bingo card at the library and participate in our Adult Challenge, with a chance to win a special prize. Check our calendar for information on all our summer programs.

Get Tech Help
    
Need technology assistance? Have an issue with your laptop or a new device? The Ferguson Library’s Digital Navigators are here to help. We have dedicated team members who can assist with all kinds of tech issues from filling out a job application and accessing government services online to learning how to take pictures on your phone. Digital Navigators are available by appointment only. Call 203 351-8221 or sign up at fergusonlibrary.org/digital-navigators.

Digital Library: Mergent Intellect

Mergent Intellect is a global business database that provides detailed, up-to-date information on millions of public and private companies. Researchers, marketers and job seekers can access a treasure trove of company intelligence along with industry profiles, key business ratios and demographic census data. In partnership with Dun & Bradstreet, this authoritative tool also includes new U.S. business listings by state and a residential people search. To get started, find Mergent Intellect on the library’s A-Z Resources page.

Friends of the Ferguson Library

Book Shop News

Don’t miss the big sale this month! Everything in the Main Library and Harry Bennett Branch shops is 40 percent off from August 1 to August 15. It’s a great time to grab a few more beach reads or stock up on picture books for the kids. All proceeds benefit the library.

Staff Recommends: New Memoirs

Brown Boy by Omer Aziz

The Rooster House: My Ukrainian Family Story by Victoria Belim

Good Girls: A Story and Study of Anorexia by Hadley Freeman

The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions by Jonathan Rosen

Tell Me Good Things: On Love, Death, and Marriage by James Runcie

The Yards Between Us: A Memoir of Life, Love, and Football by R. K. Russell

Library Hours

Main Library
96 Broad Street

Monday – Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.

Harry Bennett Branch
115 Vine Road

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday  
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Weed Memorial & Hollander Branch
1143 Hope Street

Monday, Wednesday & Thurs, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

South End Branch
34 Woodland Avenue

Monday – Thursday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Passport Services

Appointments at the Main Library take precedence and are recommended. For more information or to make an appointment, visit our Passport page or call 203 351-8298.

Main Library Passport hours:
Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.

Harry Bennett Passport hours:
Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(WALK-IN ONLY at Harry Bennett)