FEATURED PROGRAMS

Civility in America Series:
General David Petraeus and Andrew Roberts
Sunday, October 22 from 4 to 5 p.m.
Main Library, DiMattia Building
Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

General Petraeus and historian Andrew Roberts will discuss their book, Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine, a sweeping history of the evolution of warfare leading up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Their book offers a penetrating analysis of what we must learn from the past to navigate an increasingly perilous world. The event will be moderated by Gerard Baker, Editor at Large, The Wall Street Journal. Book sale and signing by Elm Street Books. Also available via Zoom.

Registration required.

An Evening with Allan Houston and Barry Woods
Tuesday, October 24 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Main Library, DiMattia Building
Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

Two-time NBA All-Star Allan Houston, author of The Fundamentals of Life: Life in 3D, and Barry Woods, author of Reasons Why Youth Don't Give a Damn Anymore!, will discuss their books on how to raise resilient kids who care about themselves, their futures and their communities.

Registration required.

NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH PROGRAM

Latin American Film Festival
Wednesday, October 25 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Main Library, DiMattia Building
Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium
Gloria

In this 2013 romantic dramedy, a 58-year-old divorcee defies middle age and loneliness by immersing herself in singles parties and romance. Starring Paulina García, Sergio Hernández and Diego Fontecilla. Rated R.

FAMILY PROGRAMS

Happening Today!

Ukulele Singalong with The CUkes
Saturday, October 21 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Main Library, DiMattia Building
Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

Sing along to popular tunes played on ukuleles by The CUkes. Bring your own ukulele and join in. All ages.

Registration required.

Happening Today!

FULL Woodworking Workshop: Build a Stool
Saturday, October 21 from 2 to 4:30 p.m.
Main Library, DiMattia Building
Lower Level Community Area

Master woodworker Mark Andreas will teach basic techniques needed to assemble a footstool using pre-cut pieces of wood.

No prior experience necessary. All supplies will be provided. One footstool per family. Children younger than 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Registration required.

Open Game Night
Monday, October 23 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Main Library, DiMattia Building
Third Floor Technology Center

Play a game from the library's collection or bring your own to play. All ages.

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS SERIES

The following programs are presented in partnership with the Network of the National Library of Medicine.
    
Community Mindfulness Project: Meditation
Tuesday, October 24 from 12 to 1 p.m.
Main Library, DiMattia Building
Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

A brief discussion about meditation practice followed by a guided meditation with a chance to share and reflect. Please arrive five minutes early.

Lunchtime Yoga
Wednesday, October 24 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Main Library, DiMattia Building
Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

Yoga instructor Ngan Nguyen will lead a class in the Hatha style. Please bring a mat and water.

Registration required.

Zumba Dance Party
Saturday, October 28 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Main Library, DiMattia Building
Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

Dance your way to fitness with instructor Pamela Arenas. No excuses!

Registration required.

BOOK & READING DISCUSSIONS

Happening Today!

Silent Book Club
Saturday, October 21 from 12 to 1:30 p.m.
Harry Bennett Branch

Read in the quiet company of others. Bring a book of your choosing. Option to join a brief discussion about what you’re reading.

South End Branch African and African American Authors Book Discussion
Monday, October 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. via Zoom

A Tall History of Sugar by Curdella Forbes

Moshe Fisher was "born without skin," so no one is able to tell what race he belongs to. He relies on a quixotic soulmate, who makes it her duty to protect Moshe from the social and emotional consequences of his strange appearance. Join the discussion here.

Short Story Book Discussion
Tuesday, October 24 from 6 to 7 p.m.
Weed Memorial & Hollander Branch
Also available via Zoom
Here Until August by Josephine Rowe

Rowe introduces us to an eclectic cast of characters who must venture beyond the familiar boundaries of their worlds through acts of choice or force.

Registration required.

Sci-Fi, Horror & Fantasy Virtual Book Discussion
Wednesday, October 25 from 6 to 7 p.m. via Zoom
The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay

In Tremblay’s suspenseful novel, a family vacationing at a remote cabin finds themselves beset upon by mysterious strangers, who claim the apocalypse is impending, and the only way to stop it is by making an impossible choice. Teens and adults. Join the discussion here.

OTHER PROGRAMS

Happening Today!

Old Folkies Acoustic Singalong
Saturday, October 21 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Weed Memorial & Hollander Branch

An afternoon of toe-tapping, finger-snapping acoustic delights with Dr. Ev, who will take requests. Snacks will be served.

Easy English for Beginners: Side by Side Part 2
Monday October 23 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 26 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Main Library, DiMattia Building
Third Floor Technology Center

Learn language and life skills by reading, speaking and writing.

Registration required.

English Language Learners
Let's Talk: Conversation Groups

Conversation groups for English language learners. Registration not required. New students welcome.

Fall Sessions via Zoom
Tuesday, October 24

New students: from 12 to 12:30 p.m.

High beginner: from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.

Low intermediate: from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

Advanced: from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m.

Wednesday, October 25

High intermediate: from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

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

Evening Sessions: In Person

Practice your communication skills in a group setting at the Main Library and Harry Bennett Branch.

Tuesday, October 24 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Main Library, DiMattia Building
Lower Level Community Area

Harry Bennett Branch
Thursday, October 26 from 6 to 7:00 p.m.

A Conversation About Affordable Healthcare
Monday, October 23 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Main Library, DiMattia Building
Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

State Representative Corey Paris, Connecticut’s Healthcare Advocate Sean King, and Stamford Health’s Matt Simon will discuss how Stamford Health and the state of Connecticut are working to make healthcare affordable by educating consumers on healthcare costs, financial resources and public policy. Registration required.

Read with Libby
Tuesday, October 24 from 6 to 7 p.m.
Weed Memorial & Hollander Branch

Also on: Wednesday, October 25 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Harry Bennett Branch

Learn how to use Libby, a free app available for Android and iOS (iPhone/iPad) devices that allows you to borrow e-books, audiobooks and magazines from the library.

Bring your smartphone or tablet, and your library card.

Canasta Club
Wednesday, October 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Harry Bennett Branch

Come play this fun mix of bridge and rummy. All levels welcome.

Mah-Jongg Club
Thursday, October 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Harry Bennett Branch

Experienced players are invited to play the popular tile-based game of mah-jongg.

Beginners welcome from 1 to 3 p.m.

Classic Movie Matinee
Friday, October 27 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Harry Bennett Branch
Frankenstein

An obsessed Dr. Frankenstein tries to create life from the body parts of the deceased, resulting in an elusive and dangerous monster. Starring Colin Clive, Mae Clark, Boris Karloff, John Boles and Edward Van Sloan. 1931. Not rated.

Dungeons & Dragons
Thursday, October 26 from 6 to 7:45 p.m.
Main Library, DiMattia Building
Lower Level Community Area

Join a band of fantastical heroes who brave dangerous situations with swords, spells and wits.

New players are always welcome. Ages 18 and older.

Registration required.

Lawyers in Libraries
Thursday, October 26 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Main Library, DiMattia Building
Second Floor Study Room

Discuss your case with a volunteer attorney. To book a required 20-minute appointment, call 203 351-8221.

Friday Film Fest
Friday, October 27 from 4 to 6 p.m.
Harry Bennett Branch
The Addams Family

A stranger shows up on the Addams' doorstep, claiming to be a long-lost uncle. He is really a con artist in cahoots with a lawyer, and the two are trying to dupe the ghoulish family out of their fortune. Starring Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Dan Hedaya and Christina Ricci. 1991. Rated PG-13.

Friends Book Shop Bag Sale
Saturday, October 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, October 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Harry Bennett Branch

Stuff a bag with books and media for $15. Selections for adults and children. Proceeds benefit the library.

FINANCES, CAREER & TECHNOLOGY

Tech Tips for Older Adults
Tuesday, October 24 from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
South End Branch

Free weekly tech help on smartphones, tablets, laptops and other devices with our experienced bilingual (English and Spanish) experts.

Financing Your Business
Thursday, October 26 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Main Library, DiMattia Building
Third Floor Technology Center

Aspiring and established business owners can learn how to finance their businesses in this workshop offered by experts from Citizens Bank.

Registration required.

TechXel Stamford Accelerator Series
Thursday, October 26 from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. via Zoom
Software Development Best Practices

Seizo Mazer, Founder, Language Learning Mazer has extensive experience building commercial iPhone apps, most recently as Director of Software Development for Arccos Golf, a startup in the golf technology space.

Registration required.

Please register before 12 p.m. on October 26. Zoom invitations will be sent by 1 p.m.

COMING SOON

Howard Kaplan Memorial Lecture on Law and Society
Affordable Housing: What's Law Got to Do With It?
Tuesday, November 14 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Main Library, DiMattia Building
Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

Richard Freedman, President of Garden Homes Management, and Anika Singh Lemar, Clinical Professor of Law at Yale Law School, will debate affordable housing and whether current statutes and litigation are the best way to meet the housing crisis confronting Stamford and neighboring communities.

Registration required.

This lecture is supported by the Stamford law firm Wofsey, Rosen, Kweskin and Kuriansky and the family of the late Howard Kaplan.

Friends of the Ferguson Library Pub Crawl
Wednesday, November 15 from 6 to 9:45 p.m.
Main Library, DiMattia Building

The Friends annual Literary Pub Crawl returns to downtown Stamford for a convivial evening featuring roving visits to local bars and restaurants. Proceeds benefit the library's programs and services. Participants will meet at the Main Library and divide into groups to visit participating restaurants: Bar Rosso, Hudson Social, Towne Parlor and ZAZA Italian Gastrobar.

Tickets are $40 and $30 for Friends of the Ferguson Library members.

Registration required.

ONGOING AT THE LIBRARY

Art at the Ferguson
Connecting Nature and People
Main Library, DiMattia Building
Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

The juried show, presented in partnership with the Stamford Art Association, features works by local and regional artists and explores the bonds that exist between nature and people. The exhibition continues through January 2024.

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 an appointment.

By registering for programs, you may receive occasional emails about  upcoming events at the library. You can opt out at any time.

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 at the Library

Notary services are available on a walk-in basis at the Main Library Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays by appointment only. The notary desk at the Main Library is located in the lower level.

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

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.

IN THE COMMUNITY

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
96 Broad Street, Stamford
Monday through 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, Stamford
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.

South End Branch
34 Woodland Avenue, Stamford
Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday 10 am. to 2 p.m.

Weed Memorial & Hollander Branch
1143 Hope Street, Stamford
Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday 12 to 7 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.