Virtual Summer Programs for Kids

Register today for our summer virtual programs for kids! Programs will be held via Zoom. All registration links are available here. Questions? Please call us at 203-637-8802. 

Winners of the Perrot Memorial Library's Haiku Contest Announced!

During the COVID-19 crisis, we reached out to the public and asked them to submit haiku--3-line, 17-syllable Japanese-style poems--that described their experience with the pandemic, the closures, and the impact of both on their daily life. The response was terrific! We received over 160 original haiku from people all over the world, ranging in age from 9 to ??? Here is what our judges had to say about the submissions:

"We were struck by the universal themes of fear, love, anger, joy, surprise, sadness and loneliness, and we were intrigued by turns of phrase that demonstrated heart, humor and imagination. In nearly all cases, the haiku were heartfelt and intimate, and some were truly exceptional."

We are very pleased to announce the winners of our haiku contest:

Children

3rd-4th Grade Winner: Arielle Levy, Greenwich, Connecticut

5th-6th Grade Winner: Jingmi Chen, Old Greenwich

7th-8th Grade Winner: Sophia Singh, Denver, Colorado

Teens

First Place: Penelope (Penny) Duran, Frankfurt, Germany

Second Place: Yurika Sakai, Greenwich, Connecticut

Third Place: Divya Shenoy, Riverside, Connecticut

Adult

First Place: Heidi Stein, Mahopac, New York

Second Place: Michael Dudley, Ontario, Canada

Third Place: Susan Russo, Arlington, Virginia

Congratulations to all the winners, and a huge thank you to all those who participated, including our judges who gave of their time and expertise. We will publish all the haiku in a booklet, which will be available in printed form and as a pdf on our web site.

If you have any questions, please contact Judy Sgammato, head of Circulation Services, at 203-637-1066 or at jsgammato@perrotlibrary.org.

Adult Summer Reading Program 2020: Food for Thought

Following on the amazing response to our 2019 Adult Summer Reading Program, we are once again inviting our patrons age 18 and over to participate in our Food for Thought Summer Reading Program. Beginning Monday, June 22 and running through Labor Day, visit http://perrotml.readsquared.com to sign up and log your summer reading. Here's what you need to do to join in the fun:

1. Visit http://perrotml.readsquared.com.
2. On the right-hand side of the page, click on Register. Enter your name, phone number, library card barcode, and email address.
3. Enter a username and password you'll remember.
4. Make sure you click the small box to Accept the terms on the Registration page.
5. Once you're registered, you can log in at any time and enter information on the books you're reading this summer. Click on the Log Reading tab to enter the book's title and author, and click on the Review Book tab to give the book a starred rating and, if you choose, a brief review.
6. When you're done, click on Submit, and log out.
7. That's it. Enter as many times as you wish for a chance to win a gift card to a local eatery.
8. The winners will be announced the week of September 7th.
9. Call 203-637-1066 or email jsgammato@perrotlibrary.org for more information.
10. Happy Reading!!

When Will the Library Reopen?

When Will the Library Reopen?

The many questions we've received about the Library opening are certainly heartwarming. We're glad to be providing a service that you'd like to see resume. The decision to open our library building will be in accordance with a review and agreement by the Perrot Memorial Library Board of Directors, compliance with guidelines and recommendations by the Greenwich Department of Health and other Town officials, the physical characteristics of our building, and in coordination with the Greenwich Library. Our resources may not allow us to immediately restore the same levels of service we once provided.

Here are some of the things that we need to address before Perrot Library can reopen to the public in a way that is safe for both visitors and staff:

• Adequate PPE for library staff and visitors
• Possible limits on the number of people in the building
• Possible limits on the amount of time visitors spend here
• Separation of people using computers or study areas
• Redesign or suspension of events that bring in large groups
• Redesign or adaptation of places where people interact face-to-face, such as check-out desks or reference services
• Disinfecting of shared surfaces multiple times every day
• Installing air purifiers that kill mold, bacteria and viruses in our HVAC systems

We are anxious to return to the high quality personal services that you cherish, but we are now challenged by the need to make radical changes that will significantly alter how we serve you. Before we are ready to open fully, we will continue to help you by phone or e-mail and will expand no-contact services such as virtual programming and curbside delivery. 

While libraries have the State's permission to open during Stage Two of the reopening plan, we will not open until we have adjusted the environment to make it safe for all.

For a detailed list of rules and recommendations for reopening Perrot Library, please see: Connecticut Sector Rules for Reopen: Libraries

Visit our home page often for updates on our progress: www.perrotlibrary.org

-Kevin McCarthy, Library Director
203-637-3888
kmccarthy@perrotlibrary.org

Children's Summer Reading 2020 at Perrot: Imagine Your Story

Summer is here-- and that means it's time to sign up for Perrot's summer reading club for kids! You can participate (and win prizes for reading!) starting TODAY, through Wednesday, August 5th. The Summer Reading theme this year is IMAGINE YOUR STORY!

Because the library is still closed to the public, we will be using ReadSquared to manage our summer reading program. Simply make an account with ReadSquared, and you can log books read and even review them. After you read your first, third, and fifth books, you get a prize!  Once you've read your first book, you get a magnetic bookmark. When you read your third book, you can pick either a dragon grabber OR a unicorn headband. After you read your fifth book, you get a brand-new book (this year, we will have to select the book for you)! Once you are eligible for your prizes, please call us (203-637-8802) to set up a time to retrieve them via curbside pickup.

​Parents, you can also set up a ReadSquared account for your child who is not yet reading independently. Once you have logged 20 books read to your child, you will get a free book! Once you are eligible for your prize, please call the library to set up a time to retrieve them via curbside pickup.

Please note: Your Perrot ReadSquared account will be separate from your Greenwich Library ReadSquared account. You may sign up for both programs and receive prizes from both libraries. 

FAQs on No-Contact Curbside Pickup at Perrot Memorial Library

FAQ's on Non-Contact Curbside Pickup at Perrot Memorial Library

How Does No-Contact Curbside Pickup Work?
Place holds on books and materials in the Library catalog or by calling our librarians at 203-637-1066 (Adult Desk) or 203-637-8802 (Youth Services Desk). Curbside pickup is available on Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 9:30 AM-5:30 PM, Tuesday/Thursday from 9:30 AM-7:30 PM, Saturday from 9:30-4:30 PM, and Sunday from 1:30 PM-4:30 PM. Once your holds are ready, you'll receive an email notification with a link to choose the date and time that you can pick up. When you arrive on your self-selected date/time, please look for a bag labeled with your first name and the first initial of your last name, along with the last four digits of your phone number. Adult/Teen items may be picked up from the table outside our Main Building side entrance; Youth Services items may be picked up on the table outside the Radcliffe Building entrance. For your safety, remain in your car until library staff have returned inside the Library. And, please observe all social distancing rules.



What About the Books I Currently Have Checked Out? Will I Be Fined?
Our book drop has been reopened, but there's no need to rush. Please do not worry about fines. Although we cannot apply a further global extension beyond July 1st for all items still out (without disrupting the loan periods for new checkouts), we have increased the number of renewals to 10, which should give you plenty of time to return your items without charge. If you do incur a late charge during this time, please call Judy Sgammato at 203-637-1066 x15. Our book drop is once again open 24/7, including weekends.


How Will the Books and Materials Be Handled?
To protect our patrons and Library staff, all returned items will be quarantined for 96 hours before being checked in and returned to circulation. Library staff will handle books and materials with PPE, including gloves, masks, and protective gear.



Can I Bring Book Donations?
Unfortunately, we cannot accept book donations at this time, so please do not leave them outside the Library or in our Book Drop.


Are the Perrot Memorial Library Buildings Reopened?
The Perrot Memorial Library buildings continue to be closed to the public until further notice. We continue to plan the next phase of safely reopening our buildings to the Old Greenwich community.


What If I Have More Questions?
Staff are on hand to answer your questions by phone at 203-637-1066 (Adult Desk) or 203-637-8802 (Youth Services Desk), or by email at lending@perrotlibrary.org. Feel free to contact Library staff with any additional No-Contact Pick Up questions at 203-637-1066 or at lending@perrotlibrary.org prior to your arrival. We’ll be happy to answer any questions or concerns!