DON'T MISS EARLY REGISTRATION FOR

A NOVEL AFFAIR

Join us April 20 for A Novel Affair, an evening of food and festivities to benefit the library. We're delighted to honor Polly O'Brien Morrow and Pitney Bowes for their service to the library and the Stamford community. Early registration available through March 30. Purchase tickets here.

PROGRAMS

Happening Today!

Annual Celebration of Women

Saturday, March 11 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

South End Branch

Commemoration that explores the 2023 theme: Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories. Event will feature guest speakers Ana Gallegos of the Mayor's Multicultural Council; Bianca Shin-Desras, Director of Family Advocacy, Middle School Programs at Domus Kids; Lana Gifas, Executive Director of the Women's Mentoring Network, Inc.; and a musical performance by King School student Ayanaa Doreste. Lunch will be served.

Happening Today!

Documentary Screening

Chisholm '72: Unbought and Unbossed

Saturday, March 11 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Main Library, Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

This Peabody Award-winning documentary takes an in-depth look at the 1972 presidential campaign of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress and the first to seek nomination for the highest office in the land. Registration required.

An Afternoon of Jazz

Sunday, March 12 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

Free concert celebrating the diversity and global appeal of jazz. Features performances by the Joe Corsello Trio, the Stamford High School Jazz Ensemble, and ZuZu Ramos and the OGs. All ages welcome. Registration suggested.

Presented in partnership with the Mayor's Multicultural Council.

Celebrating Women in Life and Art

Exhibit opens Monday, March 13

Reception: Thursday, March 30 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

Juried show of works by local and regional artists. On display through June 8.

Presented in partnership with the Stamford Art Association.

Healing Drum Circle

Monday, March 13 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

South End Branch

A meditative gathering dedicated to healing the wounds of racism and supporting equity activism. Facilitated by Evelyn Avoglia.

Harry Bennett Branch Book Discussion

Monday, March 13 from 7 to 8 p.m. via Zoom

A discussion of Kwei Quartey's novel The Missing American.

English Language Learners

Easy English for Beginners: Side by Side (Part 3)

Monday, March 13 and Thursday, March 16

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Third Floor Technology Center

Learn language and life skills through reading, speaking and writing. Registration required. Register at the Second Floor Reference Desk or by calling 203 351-8228. For information, email [email protected].

 

Let's Talk: Conversation Groups

Tuesday, March 14 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

In person

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

Tuesday, March 14 via Zoom

New students welcome for English-language conversation groups.

New Students: noon to 12:30 p.m.

High Beginner: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Low Intermediate: 2:30 p.m.

Advanced: 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 15 via Zoom

High Intermediate: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Beginner: 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Tech Tips for Older Adults

Tuesday, March 14 from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

South End Branch, Second Floor Program Room

Free weekly tech help with our experienced bilingual English and Spanish team.

Community Mindfulness Project: Meditation

Tuesday, March 14 at 12 p.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

This 45-minute session will include a 30-minute guided meditation to help reset your nervous system and support your emotional and physical well-being. Please arrive five minutes early.

Estate Planning

Wednesday March 15 from 2 to 5 p.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Second Floor Study Room

Create your own will in as little as 15 minutes with help from Just in Case Estates, a Stamford-based online estate planning startup.

Presented in Partnership with Just in Case Estates

*This program has a waitlist.

Ballroom Dance Workshop

Wednesday, March 15 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

The second of a four-part workshop covering the basics steps of the sultry rumba and high-spirited swing.

Registration required.

NEW! Short Story Discussion Group

Wednesday, March 15 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Harry Bennett Branch

Read selections of your choice from Ayiti, a powerful short story collection by Roxanne Gay exploring the Haitian diaspora experience.

Mah-Jongg Club

Thursday, March 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Harry Bennett Branch

Play mah-jongg with us. Beginners to advanced players welcome.

Classic Movie Matinee

Gaslight

Friday, March 17 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Harry Bennett Branch

A newlywed is driven to the brink of madness by her deceptively charming husband at their Victorian mansion in London. Starring Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer and Joseph Cotten. Rated PG.

Documentary Series:

The Black Church

Saturday March 18 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

South End Branch

First installment of the documentary series The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song, hosted, produced and written by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. This four-part series traces the 400-year-old story of the Black church in America, down to its bedrock role as the site of African American survival and grace, organizing and resilience, and autonomy and freedom.

Co-sponsored by the Stamford NAACP and the Stamford MLK, Jr. Committee.

FAMILY PROGRAM

Harry Bloch Family History Program

Book Illustrator Jerrard K. Polk

Saturday, March 18 from 2 to 3 p.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

An art and musical presentation by Jerrard K. Polk, illustrator of A Child's Introduction to Jazz: The Musicians, Culture and Roots of the World's Coolest Music. All ages welcome.

This program made possible by a generous donation from Louise Stern in memory of her brother, Harry Bloch.

BUSINESS, CAREERS & TECHNOLOGY

Career Planning

Wednesday, March 15 from 3 to 4 p.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Third Floor Technology Center

Identify a career path that suits your qualifications, interests and goals while learning how to research options. Registration required.

Intermediate Microsoft Word

Thursday, March 16 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Third Floor Technology Center

Learn how to add images and tables to documents, use Styles to format a document, and format text. Registration required.

TechXel Stamford Accelerator Series Venture Expert Talks

Term Sheets

Thursday, March 16 from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. via Zoom

Frank Eucalitto, J.D. Lowenstein Sandler

Frank Eucalitto, an associate at Lowenstein Sandler, represents startups and emerging companies as well as the angel investors and venture capital funds that invest in them. Registration required.

Basic Microsoft Excel

Saturday, March 18 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Third Floor Technology Center

Learn how to create and save a spreadsheet, enter data and write formulas. Registration required.

COMING SOON

CrimeCONN Mystery Lovers' Conference

Saturday May 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

 

Fans and writers of whodunnits gather for the annual CrimeCONN Mystery Lovers' Conference.

 

Presented by the Friends of the Ferguson Library and the Mystery Writers of America/NY chapter, this day-long conference will examine the future of this popular genre. Join us to investigate the shape of things to come!

CrimeCONN will once again be a hybrid event with in-person and Zoom ticket options available.

Tickets purchased before April 6 are $40 per person. Tickets purchased after that date are $60 per person and $45 for MWA and Friends members, seniors and students. Livestream registration is $25 per person. Buy Tickets Here.

LIBRARY NEWS

Bookmobile News

Our Bookmobile is back on the road and good as new! See our schedule.

ONGOING AT THE LIBRARY

Covid-19 Vaccination Clinics

Tuesdays through Fridays in March from 1 to 5 p.m.

Lower Level Community Area

Free Covid-19 vaccines and boosters are available to adults and children from 1 to 5 p.m. No appointment necessary. Please bring your vaccine and insurance cards if you have them. In addition to primary vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna Bivariant boosters will be available Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays and Fridays through March 31.

This clinic is offered in partnership with the Stamford Health Department and Griffin Health.

The library recently expanded its Passport Services to include new hours at our Harry Bennett Branch on Mondays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

For information and a full schedule of our passport services at the Main Library (appointments and walk-ins) and Harry Bennett Branch (walk-ins only), visit our Passports page or call 203 351-8298.

AARP Tax Assistance

Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Harry Bennett Branch

Trained tax counselors from AARP will offer help with basic federal and Connecticut income tax returns. For more information, including a list of required documents for tax filing and how to file online visit our Income Tax Resources Page.

 

This assistance will continue at the Harry Bennett Branch through April 17.

Tell Your Story Project

We have resumed our oral history project, Tell Your Story, an effort to capture Stamford's history through the lives of its residents. If you are a long-time resident and would like to share memories of growing up in Stamford, please let us know. We welcome photos and other memorabilia, too. You can experience the stories we have collected so far by visiting the Ferguson Library Digital Archive at fergusonlibraryarchive.org. If you are interested contact Frank Skornia at [email protected] or 203 351-8220.

We Can Help Your Book Club

Need a suggestion for your book group discussion or help locating copies? We're ready to support your book group with a variety of resources. The library has a well-curated book discussion collection, with multiple copies of each book. We can also get books for you if we don't have the title and share resources about how to have a successful book discussion. And of course, our readers advisory services can help you find your group's next great read.

For book group services, contact Anthony Marrocolla at [email protected].

Digital Navigators  

Do you need technology assistance? Have an issue with your laptop, or a new device that needs to be set up? The Ferguson Library’s Digital Navigators are here to help!

Digital Navigators operate by appointment only. Please call 203-351-8221 to set up and appointment.

LIBRARY RESOURCES

Just finished reading an amazing book and don't know what to read next? Complete this form and a librarian will send you three suggestions based on your response. We will reply to your email within 24 hours.

Notary Services

Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m.

Weed Memorial & Hollander Branch

Our notary public is available to notarize your paperwork for free. By appointment only. For information or to make an appointment, call 203 351-8292.

Entrepreneurs-in Residence

Starting a new business? Looking to expand your current business? Have an idea and don't know where to start? 

Our Entrepreneurs-in-Residence are available by appointment to help early stage entrepreneurs conceptualize and grow their ideas into companies. Book an appointment. For more information, call 203 351-8221. 

Book-A-Librarian

Reserve up to one hour with a librarian for information or technology assistance, including assistance with our virtual resources like e-books, e-audiobooks and movie streaming. Complete this form to make an appointment.

COMMUNITY GOINGS ON

Person-to-Person Mobile Food Pantry and Casework

Schedule subject to change

-Yerwood Center - 90 Fairfield Avenue: Mondays from 11 a.m.– 1 p.m.

-Stamford Manor - 26 Main Street: Mondays from 2 to 4 p.m.

-Ferguson Library South End Branch - 34 Woodland Avenue: Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

-Quintard Manor - 18 Quintard Terrace: Tuesdays from 2 to 4 p.m.

-DOMUS - 82 Lockwood Avenue: Wednesdays from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

-Building One Community - 75 Selleck Street: Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m.

-DOMUS - 82 Lockwood Avenue (Subject to change): Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE: All clients must wear face masks inside P2P buildings and P2P on Wheels.

[More information]

Library Hours

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday 1 - 5 p.m.

Harry Bennett Branch

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Wednesday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

South End Branch

Monday through Thursday 10 – 5:30

Saturday 10 – 2

Weed Memorial & Hollander Branch

Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Tuesday 12 - 7 p.m.

Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.