Donald Davis Family Storytelling Concert, Feb. 22nd

Perrot Memorial Library will present an afternoon of storytelling in memory of our beloved Children's Librarians, Kate McClelland ("Mrs. Mac") and Kathy Krasniewicz ("Mrs. K"). Those who knew Kate and Kathy know how much storytelling was a part of their lives and how they used it to enchant and educate the youth of our community.

We are delighted that Donald Davis, a nationally-known storyteller and a friend of Mrs. Mac and Mrs. K, will be returning to entertain us with more of his fabulous tales in a special family storytelling event. Please join us at the First Congregational Church of Greenwich at 3:00 PM on Saturday, February 22nd, 2014. No tickets are required, but seating is limited.

Donald Davis was born in a Southern Appalachian mountain world rich in stories. "I didn't learn stories, I just absorbed them," he says as he recounts tales learned from a family of traditional storytellers who have lived on the same Western North Carolina land since 1781. Davis grew up hearing gentle fairytales, simple and silly Jack tales, scary mountain lore, ancient Welsh and Scottish folktales and, most importantly, nourishing true-to-life stories of his own neighbors and kin.It was Uncle Frank, a man who "talked in stories," who helped Donald capture the real and daily adventures of life... and it was Uncle Frank who gave him the creative courage to tell about them. Davis remembers, "I discovered that in a story I could safely dream any dream, hope any hope, go anywhere I pleased, fight any foe, win or lose, live or die. My stories created a safe experimental learning place.”

For more information about Donald Davis, please visit his website: http://www.ddavisstoryteller.com/

Perrot staff in the news

Perrot's Youth Services Director, Kathy Jarombek, was a member of the 2014 Newbery Award Committee. The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery, and is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. This year's Newbery winner is Flora & Ulysses, by Kate DiCamillo. Four Newbery Honor Books were named this year: Doll Bones, by Holly Black; The Year of Billy Miller, by Kevin Henkes; One Came Home, by Amy Timberlake; and Paperboy, by Vince Vawter. Read an interesting interview with Kate DiCamillo, that includes her experience receiving the call informing her of her Newbery win. And kudos to Mrs. J for all her hard work this year!

Part-time Youth Services Staff Member Annie Merrill has advanced to the finals of the Intel Science Talent Search! She will travel to Washington, D.C., in March to compete for the first-place prize of $100,000. Annie's research focused on the environmental benefits of pairing a form of charcoal known as biochar with worms. Read more about Annie's research in the front page Greenwich Time article, Greenwich High senior reaches Intel finals. Congratulations, Annie!

Kate McClelland and Kathy Krasniewicz Memorial Scholarship to the ALA Annual Conference

Random House Children's Books continues to honor the memories of Perrot's beloved librarians, Kate McClelland and Kathy Krasniewicz, with their annual scholarship for a new or student librarian to attend the American Library Association Annual Conference.

ALA Members: In 500 words or less, tell us about a new librarian or library student who has never attended an ALA Annual Conference, and in whom you see great devotion to the library community and promise in the field. Tell us how he/she would benefit from attending the ALA Annual Conference. The new librarian/library student could win a trip to attend the 2014 ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Visit the Random House Teachers & Librarians website for more information and to make a nomination.

Perrot Closing at 4pm, Tuesday, January 21st

Perrot Library will close early today, Tuesday, January 21 at 4 pm due to the inclement weather. 

Children's Winter/Spring Program Lottery/Program Openings

Registration cards for our Winter/Spring 2014 children's programs were mailed back today! If you don't receive your card in the next few days, please don't hesitate to call (203-637-8802) and we can check the rosters for you.

Also, we still have room in our Spotlight program (for 2nd & 3rd graders). The theme for Spotlight this session is Go For the Gold: Super Achievers, and it will meet on 1/29, 2/5, 2/26, and 3/5 (Wednesdays) at 4 PM. Please give us a call if you would like to sign up your child for Spotlight.

Upcoming Event: Observations of the Superintendent

Dr. William McKersie, Greenwich Superintendent of Schools, will be visiting Perrot to discuss Greenwich Public Schools today. This is part of our continuing series of Community Conversations.

Wednesday, January 15th, 2013
7:30 PM in the Children's Wing
Doors will open at 7 PM