Darien Library
Cozy nook photo from Darien Library

Darien Library’s January Wellness Series Starts With ‘The Art of Coziness’ on Jan 4

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Looking to reset in 2022? Want to start new habits in the new year? Darien Library is hosting programs geared toward personal wellness throughout the month of January. — an announcement from Darien Library

From evenings with authors who specialize in topics like personal retreats, sleep science, and plant-forward diets to local experts in microgreens and plant propagation, learn a variety of new skills and information to lead you through 2022. This series of wellness programs begins with “The Art of Coziness with Vanessa Young” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan.

Books & Authors
Darien Library Tween Book Club event

Booktweens (9 to 12 Years Old) Invited to Read a Mystery, Tell Others What You Think on Dec 29

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Darien Library invites bookworms between the ages of 9 and 12 to join this month’s Tween Book Club. Read any book that falls under the month’s theme, then stop by the virtual book group to chat with fellow book lovers. Share book recommendations, enjoy snacks, and find a safe space to share your thoughts. December’s theme is “M is for Mystery.” Read or listen to a book that centers on a character that has to solve a mystery. This story can be in any format, from chapter books to audiobooks to graphic novels.

Darien Library

You Can Vote in the Library’s ‘Great Darien Gingerbread Competition’ Till Friday

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Calling all fans of “The Great British Baking Show” — you are invited to cast your vote to find Darien’s own star baker. Darien Library is bringing back its annual gingerbread house competition onto the shelves of the Children’s Library. Participants were challenged to build their own gingerbread house at home, then bring it to the Children’s Library to put on display. Now, it’s time for the community to vote for their favorite. From now through Friday, Dec.

Darien Library
Christmas holiday floral arrangements

Create a Floral Holiday Arrangement with Darien Library

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Darien Library is presenting an opportunity to create a festive decoration or a holiday gift for a loved one. Floral designer Jamie from The Gardener’s Center will demonstrate how to make a long-lasting winter arrangement with seasonal florals. — an announcement from Darien Library

Registrants can use their own florals or purchase a kit hand-selected by Jamie, which includes a festive container and florals for a winter arrangement. Kits can be purchased through The Gardener’s Center before Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 5 p.m. and will be ready to pick up on December 14.

Darien Library
Darien Library General 10-13-17

Job Opening at Darien Library, Shelving Books

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The Materials Management Department at Darien Library has a part-time position open on our shelving team. We are seeking an energetic and organized individual who will work efficiently to keep the Library collections in order. — an announcement from Darien Library

Duties & Responsibilities

The shelving team is responsible for managing all of the returned library materials (averaging 1000 per day) and returning them to the shelves quickly, efficiently, and in good order. Our unique automated materials handling system helps by checking in and sorting items. Shelvers are responsible to learn how to work with the automated system and troubleshoot problems when they occur. Other duties include performing inventory projects and managing holds.

Christmas 2021
Christmas lights Christmas tree

Virtual Tour Presents Holiday Decorated Mansions, Gardens, Conservatories on Dec 7

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Start off the winter holiday season with an online tour of magnificently decorated conservatories and mansions. Garden designer Jana Milbocker returns to lead a tour of the beautifully lit scenery at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania; Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library in Delaware; Blithewold in Rhode Island; Heritage Museums and Gardens in Massachusetts; and more. — an announcement from Darien Library

No scarves or mittens required — enjoy these sights from the comfort of your own home. This virtual event will start at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 7.

Books & Authors

Cooking Simply: Online Presentation From Two Cookbook Authors Thursday Night

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With Thanksgiving around the corner, Darien Library and Barrett Bookstore are presenting an online program that simplifies the art of cooking. Founding editor of New York Times Cooking Sam Sifton and cookbook author Dawn Perry will discuss their latest cookbooks: The New York Times Cooking No-Recipe Recipes and Ready, Set, Cook. Learn how to cook intuitively and confidently, whether you are serving up a regular weekday meal or a holiday feast. — an announcement from Darien Library

This event is co-sponsored by Barrett Bookstore. If you would like to add to your cookbook collection, please visit their website.

Barrett Bookstore 2021
Greg Peters

Learn About America’s National Forests in an Online Presentation Tuesday Evening

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Travel through the United States’ national forests from the comfort of home with author Greg Peters, who will discuss his book, Our National Forests, in a virtual conversation Tuesday evening. From the lowland swamps of coastal Carolina, across the tallgrass prairies of Illinois, to Colorado’s iconic snowy peaks and California’s towering redwood forests, our national forest system is a legacy that belongs to each of us. These beautiful landscapes have a story to tell, and so do the people who help keep them alive and thriving—whether it’s citizen scientists tracking wildlife populations, dedicated members of the Forest Service overseeing sustainable timber harvests, or everyday advocates for responsible usage and equitable access. If You’re Attending … The event runs from 7 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov.

Books & Authors
Elizabeth Kolbert from her website https://sites.prh.com/elizabethkolbert

Read Elizabeth Kolbert’s ‘Under a White Sky’ and Discuss It With the Author

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What’s better than a night under a starry sky, by a warm fire, with great food and a good book? Darien Library, Barrett Bookstore, Darien Land Trust, and Darien Nature Center are excited to host a unique book group for Under a White Sky by Elizabeth Kolbert. Join Kiera Parrott, director of Darien Library, at the Darien Nature Center on Oct. 28 for an enlightening discussion. — an announcement from Darien Library

Elizabeth Kolbert’s highly anticipated new book, Under a White Sky, is a powerful and resonant exploration of human innovation.

Alan Despres
New York National Historic Sites

Tour Through New York National Historic Sites with Darien Library

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Darien Library is hosting a virtual tour of natural and man-made wonders in New York in the first of an eight-week online series. Each event will be accessed on Zoom. Week 1, Oct 5 — From the Seven Wonders to National Parks
Retired United States park ranger Allen J. Despres will explore the seven wonders of the world to America’s National Parks system. Even in ancient times, there were those who loved to travel to see great natural places as well as man-made ones. The growth of the middle class in the 19th century and the advances in transportation technology made our present age of easy travel possible.

Darien Library
Batman going to the library

Digital Library of Comic Books, Graphic Novels, Manga Now Offered Through Darien Library

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ComicsPlus, a digital library of comic books, graphic novels, and manga, can now be accessed with your Darien Library card through either a portal for adults or one for kids and teenagers. Here’s Darien Library’s announcement:

Fans of superheroes, sci-fi adventures, and slice of life cartoons can enjoy comics from major publishers such as Boom Studios, Dark Horse Comics, IDW, and TokyoPop. Darien Library cardholders may borrow an unlimited number of comics via the ComicsPlus website or the LibraryPass app for iOS and Android. Comics may also be downloaded on a computer, tablet, or phone for offline reading. There are two main collections in the ComicsPlus library: the Full Library, which contains all titles available via ComicsPlus, and the Kids and Teens Collection, which contains only titles marked as suitable for children and teen readers.

Arts & Entertainment
Chinese Acrobat Li Liu performs

Chinese Acrobat Li Liu Performs Twice Saturday Morning in Darien Library Courtyard

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Chinese Acrobat Li Liu will perform hand balancing, plate spinning, ribbon dancing, Chinese yo-yos and foot juggling in two performances Saturday morning, July 17. Registration is required to attend either the first 40-minute performance of “Traditions of Chinese Acrobatics” at 10 a.m. or the second at 11:30 a.m. in the Darien Library courtyard. — an announcement from Darien Library

A limited number of volunteers get to create an impromptu ribbon dance, and to try their hand at plate spinning. Educational connections are made with the Chinese language and culture. Li explains some of the rituals of Chinese New Year, teaches the audience some basic Chinese phrases, and encourages them to think about what it might have been like to grow up in a different time and place.

Community Organizations

Abilis Expands Special Needs Services in Darien With Four Programs This Year, More Expected

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Abilis, a nonprofit that serves people with special needs and their families, will be expanding programs and services in Darien, starting with four programs in the areas of job training, life skills, employment and housing. — an announcement from Abilis

Abilis is now accepting applications for two programs: Abilis LEAP Transitions Program, which helps people acquire life skills, as well as Project SEARCH, a 10-month internship at the Darien YMCA to provide job training. Two other programs are still in the works: Sometime later this year Abilis will open Darien Library Café. Later this summer and early fall, the organization will run the supportive living program for 12 new, large studio apartments on East Lane, as part of the Corbin District project. “Having these four initial Abilis programs, and more to come, in the Darien community, will only strengthen our ability to help more individuals with disabilities or special needs,” said Amy Montimurro, CEO and president of Abilis.

Gardening
Flower

Learn About Native Plants and Pollinators: Webinar Monday Night

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Learn about native plants and pollinators in our community by joining Deepika Saksena and Juliet Cain Darien Pollinator Pathways in a Zoom webinar from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday in an event sponsored by Darien Library. — an announcement from the library

Native plants and pollinators are an essential part of creating a healthy habitat. Native plants provide food and shelter to an array of butterflies and moths, which are often dependent on specific native plant species. You’ll learn about native plants and pollinators in our community, how we can encourage them to thrive and how you can become a citizen scientist with the iNaturalist App and assist Pollinator Pathways’ ongoing pollinator habitat research by tracking native plants and pollinators in our area. About the Presenters
Deepika Saksena is a co-founder of the Darien Pollinator Pathway.