March 2023

Message from the CEO

In February, for a special Valentine’s Day contest we asked library users to tell us why they love the Ferguson Library. The answers were timeless and I’d like to share a couple with you:

Joan Madison, the randomly-chosen winner, wrote, in part: "I love the Ferguson Library for many reasons. During the pandemic it sponsored…many opportunities for learning via Zoom about racial awareness and racial justice. The online groups that I joined during this time facilitated my networking and developing of working relationships and friendships. It is a wonderful community resource."

Here are a few of my other favorite comments.

- "It brings Joy!!

- It is a spiritual salve for my soul. Thank you for the excellence.

- It has so many books for me to read to my baby sister. She likes when I do the voices to the people in the stories.

- I love books about sharks and makes me happy (when) I find them."

- Alice Knapp, CEO

Don't Miss A Novel Affair
April 20

Join us for an evening of food and festivities to benefit the Ferguson Library.

We’re delighted to honor Polly O’Brien Morrow and Pitney Bowes for their service to the Ferguson Library and the Stamford community. Tickets are $135 until March 30, then $150. The Junior Professional price (age 35 and younger) is $75.

REGISTER HERE

Thank you to our major sponsors to date:

Morrison: Friends of the Ferguson Library

Du Bois: Pitney Bowes

Lahiri: Judith Block; Ellen E. Bromley & Tom Gizicki; First County Bank; Amy & Andrew George

Baldwin: Abate & Abate, LLC; Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey; Connecticut Public; Amy & Tony Downer; Garden Homes Management; Harman; Michael & Jennifer Hyman; Sopong Kim & Eunjin Park; KPMG; Point72; Stamford Health; Wells Fargo Advisors

For sponsorship information, contact Linda Avellar at [email protected] or 203 351-8208.

Art at the Ferguson: Celebrating Women in Life And Art

In recognition of Women’s History Month, our spring art exhibit, Celebrating Women in Life and Art, opens March 13 at 6 p.m. at the Main Library. An opening reception will follow March 30. The juried show, curated by the Stamford Art Association, features works by local and regional artists. The exhibit will be on view through June 8.

New Passport Hours at Harry Bennett

The Harry Bennett Branch passport office is now open Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in addition to Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Passport service at Harry Bennett is walk-in only. The Main Library passport office offers appointments as well as walk-in service.

For information and a full schedule of our passport services visit our Passport page or call 203 351-8298. We take photos at both locations.

New Passport Hours at Harry Bennett

The Harry Bennett Branch passport office is now open Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in addition to Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Passport service at Harry Bennett is walk-in only. The Main Library passport office offers appointments as well as walk-in service.

For information and a full schedule of our passport services visit our Passport page or call 203 351-8298. We take photos at both locations.

Digital Library: Medici.tv

Calling all music lovers! The medici.tv online video collection contains an extensive selection of concerts and documentaries for fans of classical, opera, ballet and jazz. Featuring legendary historic performances and current live-streaming events, medici.tv highlights some of the world’s most acclaimed musicians, singers and conductors, all presented with high quality sound. For those honing their own skills, the collection also includes master classes taught by prominent music educators. To get started, visit the library’s Download & Stream page under Borrowing/Listen on our website and create your free account as a library user.

Library Gets New 3D Printer

Check out our new LulzBot Workhorse 3D printer. Donated with the generous support of a First County Bank grant, the printer will spend a few weeks on the first floor of the Main Library so visitors can learn about its technology and creative potential. This machine uses state-of-the-art CAD software to create everything from architectural renderings to smartphone cases and much more. Look for new technology classes for library users interested in creating their own 3D projects.

The new 3D printer is part of a larger effort to engage the community in all the interesting resources our Makerspace and technology programs offer. Our Makerspace collection includes everything from baking pans and sewing machines to microcomputers and ukuleles. For more information, call 203 351-8231 or visit our Makerspace page at fergusonlibrary.org/services/makerspace. 

Teens Can Review Books for Volunteer Credit

The Ferguson Library is offering volunteer hours to teens in grades 6 to 12 to write book reviews, which will be featured on the library's Youth Instagram page and displayed at the library.

Teens may submit up to two reviews per week. For each review approved by a librarian, teens will earn one hour of volunteer credit. Posted reviews will be edited for clarity and will include the reviewer’s first name, last name initial and grade, unless reviewer wishes to be anonymous. For information, call 203 351-8242 or email [email protected].

Friends of the Ferguson Library

Book Shop News

Save the date for our March Media Madness sale March 25 and 26 at the Main Library Book Shop. Take home all the media you want for $10 a bag. Mix and match CDs, DVDs and vinyl. You don’t want to miss this!

Mini-Golf at the Harry Bennett Branch was a fun time for the whole family!

Staff Recommends: Celebrate Women's History Month

Shirley Chisholm: Champion of Black Feminist Power Politics by Anastasia Carol Curwood

Off with Her Head: Three Thousand Years of Demonizing Women in Power by Eleanor Herman

Brave Hearted:: The Women of the American West 1836-1880 by Katie Hickman

Proving Ground: The Untold Story of the Six Women Who Programmed The World's First Modern Computer by Kathy Kleiman

Discover Her Art: Women Artists and Their Masterpieces by Jean Leibowitz

We Are Still Here: Afghan Women on Courage, Freedom and the Fight to Be Heard by Nahid Shahalimi

Library Hours

Main Library

Monday – Thursday 10 to 8

Friday 10 to 6

Sat 10 to 5

Sunday 1 to 5 

Harry Bennett Branch

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday  

10 to 6

Wednesday 10 to 7

Saturday 10 to 5

South End Branch

Monday – Thursday 10 to 5:30

Saturday 10 to 2

Weed Memorial & Hollander Branch

Monday Wednesday & Thursday 10 to 6

Tuesday 12 to 7

Saturday 10 to 5

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 – Thursday 10 to 7; Friday 10 to 5; Saturday 10 –to 4; Sunday 1 to 4

Harry Bennett Passport hours:

Monday 10 to 5 (New!)

Wednesday 10 to 5

Saturday 10 to 4

(WALK-IN ONLY at Harry Bennett)