WILTON LIBRARY ANNUAL REPORT 2017 / 2018 COMING TOGETHER A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT COMING TOGETHER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR @ WILTON LIBRARY “People still need a space Dear Friends: where they can be with other A recent New York Times article posed the question: “Is the public library obsolete?” The author, Eric Klinenberg, went on to explain that while funding people — a place that is free for libraries is challenged, “irrelevance” is not the problem libraries face today. Indeed, libraries are part of what Klinenberg calls the “social infrastructure” — and open to all.” one of the places in society that shapes the way people interact. So, the answer to the question is “No; public libraries are not obsolete.” A visit to Wilton Library reveals our town’s heart and soul. We strive to be the place that connects Throughout the year, our patrons frequently told us how much they appreciated our community in a way that benefits everyone. It the wide variety of offerings at our library; they said: is here that we come together to learn, share and “The library is so alive, and there is so much from which to choose” celebrate -- where we live, who we are, and what we want to become. As we reflect on this statement, we recall some of those new and unique experiences that made our library come alive and demonstrate how we are a Wilton Library is more than a place where you can key part of that important “social infrastructure.” Wilton Library draws our borrow books for free, access the internet or use community together, whether to satisfy intellectual interests, mollify curiosities, a printer. We have those services of course, but or to interact or share memorable experiences with each other. even more than that, our building is a community space, designed to serve you and your neighbors. One such unique experience was our Total Solar Eclipse Viewing Party. In WILTON LIBRARY Our resources will indeed enrich you — but August, several hundred visitors of all ages waited patiently on the sidewalks go beyond accessing our wealth of traditional to enter the library’s courtyards where they, as a community, could witness MICHELE KLINK ANNUAL REPORT and digital materials and you will find plentiful and celebrate this celestial phenomenon. Leading up to the event, there were opportunities to discover, connect, innovate, numerous displays, programs and activities in the library in order to educate PRESIDENT, WILTON learn and grow. The books are a bonus. everyone about this rare event. Most notably on the day, was the generous LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 2017 / 2018 sharing of a limited number of free give-away viewing glasses as well as several It is our mission as Wilton’s intellectual and other homemade viewing devices. The occasion was a truly gratifying sight! We cultural center to inform, enrich, connect and were also humbled by the many smiles and outpouring of thanks we received inspire our community. We accomplish this from attendees as they departed. not only through our initiatives and resources CONTENTS but also through the countless ways we come Another community gathering took place during the Human Library Project. In together as a community each year — with the small window of a few hours, hundreds of patrons were able to interact 02 Message from the President & Director patrons, local businesses, schools, community groups and organizations. with fellow human beings (checking out a human book) to expand their 03 Coming Together @ Witon Library understanding and appreciation of human conditions or societal challenges that these individuals face daily. 04 Wilton Library’s Human Library Our fiscal year 2017/2018 in particular was a year for coming together. Despite the increasing 05 Innovation Day On the fun side, our Hot and Cool Jazz series presented the world renowned reliance on information available through a few Cuban jazz virtuoso, Paquito D’Rivera for a concert in our Brubeck Room. His 06 Children & Teens Come Together for STEAM clicks on a touchscreen, people still need a space where they can be with other people — a place performance at our library was squeezed-in between performances at the 07 Let the Sun Shine In: Solar Eclipse Party Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and Le Poisson Rouge in NYC for a benefit that is free and open to all. Wilton Library is not concert to aid Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Paquito delighted 08 Brubeck Room Concerts just a resource. It is a community. Read on for a our audience with renditions of pieces by the legendary Dave Brubeck. He also 09 Art Connects Community snapshot of the community, coming together at charmed us by recounting some of his personal interactions with Dave Brubeck. Wilton Library. 10 Wilton Library Mini Golf ELAINE TAI-LAURIA These were just a few of the ways in which our library came alive and proved our 11 Wilton by the Numbers relevance as part of the essential social infrastructure of Wilton. We now invite EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR you to peruse this report to see the numerous other ways in which Wilton came 12 Cornerstone Society Members together at Wilton Library. 13 Friends of the Wilton Library 21 Volunteers Michele Klink Elaine Tai-Lauria 23 Wilton Library Association & Staff President, Wilton Library Association Executive Director 2 3 INNOVATION DAY If you build it, they will come.” It turns out this statement is true, but not onlyfor baseball fields. Wilton Library’s Innovation Day, held October 21, 2017, was a hands-on community festival of building, tinkering and exploring. The day attracted more than 1,000 visitors who came together to enjoy high-tech and low-tech fun for all ages. The theme of “Discover, Dabble and Do-It-Yourself” encouraged patrons to participate in more than 40 crafting opportunities, workshops and presentations. Patrons of all ages enjoyed “hovercraft” rides, green screen photos, an Oobleck Pool, spray tattoos, Zentangles and calligraphy. The Day also included wine tasting, floral design arranging, coaster tile making, emoji cookie decorating, henna tattoos, veggie-stamped bags, coloring, duct tape crafts, snap circuits, robotics, portrait painting and sculpture demos, a take apart table, GFI electrical circuits, LED light-up aprons, digital downloads instruction, tech help, popsicle catapults, HAM radio, as well as informational booths with Wilton’s Pollinator Pathways and Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue (ROAR). COMING TOGETHER TO INSPIRE THE FUTURE WILTON LIBRARY’S HUMAN LIBRARY Exploring our differences and engaging each other in new ways. Readers often strive to spend quality time with a good Wilton Library’s Human Library was an overwhelming success book that opens up new ways of thinking. Imagine if and far exceeded expectations. More than 250 readers that book were a real human being that could engage showed up for conversations with the 22 books during the in a meaningful dialogue as you ‘read’ their story. four-hour event. In just a few short hours, Human Library Wilton Library’s Human Library, held on Saturday, participants gained understanding and compassion for others March 24, 2018, offered just that opportunity. – their personal challenges, experiences and prejudices – and, at the same time, debunked their own preconceived notions. The Human Library is an international movement that started in Denmark in 2000. The concept was designed to shatter stereotypes through open conversations between two people in a non-judgmental environment. Wilton Library was the first non-academic library in Connecticut to receive permission from the Human Library Organization to host an event. New this year and very popular among the crowd was the virtual ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’ - our 22 human books reality with HTC Vive. Thanks to the Amadeo Family Fund, this were community members who volunteered to share new device enabled participants to visit virtual places and have their stories in order to break down barriers based on age, race, sexual orientation, religion, ability, lifestyle adventures they may not otherwise be able to experience. choices, or other aspects of their identity. Book The community’s enthusiasm to learn new skills and try new topics ranged from ageism to anorexia, from racism technologies on Innovation Day was contagious among all to surviving sexual assault, from being Christian to ages. It was such a successful day in terms of showcasing the being Pagan, from defeating addiction to living with talent of the community, the resources of the library and the Alzheimer’s and much more. opportunities for continued enrichment at any age. The Human Library was made possible thanks to the support of our sponsors, Catamount Wealth Management and Mountainside Treatment Center. Many thanks to our many community partners and media sponsor Good Morning Wilton. 4 5 CHILDREN & TEENS LET THE SUN SHINE IN: COME TOGETHER LIGHTING UP THE FUTURE SOLAR ECLIPSE PARTY FOR STEAM WITH STEAM PROGRAMS Coming together at the Library to experience STEAM programming gives our young the astronomical event of the century. The community maker movement is strong at Wilton Library, tinkerers a new kind of educational but perhaps the most inspiring is our Teen and Children’s experience, one that combines first-hand The great American eclipse descended upon the United States departments. Here creative STEAM (Science, Technology, learning with cutting-edge equipment on August 21, 2017, casting its shadow from coast to coast for Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) programming offers and fosters a can-do attitude. This the first time since 1918. It was one of the biggest astronomical the opportunity for our youth to explore new technologies, hands-on use of new technology in a events of the decade. Here in Wilton, the excitement, anticipation equipment and avenues of inspiration that might not otherwise group setting delivers a peek at future and -- most of all -- the hunt for eclipse glasses was intense.