One BookOne Town2015

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O N E B O O K O N E T O W N • M A R C H 2 0 15

Fairfield Reads Together

Borrow a copy today at the Fairfield Public Library, the Fairfield Woods Branch Library, Pequot Library, or buy it at the Fairfield University Bookstore.

AUTHOR PRESENTATION • Tuesday March 31, 7:00 PMRegina A. Quick Center for the Arts, Fairfield University

Program Registration opens March 4

PEQUOTLIBRARY

O N E B O O K O N E T O W NOne Book One Town Book Discussions

Senior Literary SocietyWednesday, March 4, 11:00 amFairfield Senior Center

Leaders: Karen Ronald, Town Librarian and Nancy Coriaty, Deputy Town Librarian

Books and Banter Thursday, March 12, 1:30 pmFairfield Woods Branch Library

Leader: Laurie Weiner

Purls of Wisdom Book ClubThursday, March 19, noon–1:00 pmFairfield Woods Branch Library

Leader: Nancy Coriaty

Pequot Brown Bag Book DiscussionTuesday, March 24, noon–1:00 pmPequot Library

Leader: Heather-Marie Montilla

Fairfield Woods Book ClubWednesday, March 25, 2:00 pmFairfield Woods Branch Library

Leader: Claudia Silk

Librarians on LoanIs your private book club planning to discuss Station Eleven during the One Book One Town celebration? You can “borrow” librarians to attend and facilitate your meeting. Available to book clubs throughout the year, our expert book-talkers will bring a new perspective to your group’s conversation. Contact Karen at kronald@fplct.org or call 203-256-3158 to schedule a librarian to visit your book group today!

Talking About Books with Dr. Mark Schenker: Station Eleven Join us for a lively conversation and wonderful exchange of ideas—always a “can’t miss” program!

Thursday, March 12, 7:00 pmRotary Room, Main Library

Presenter: Dr. Mark Schenker is a Senior Associate Dean of Yale College and Dean of Academic Affairs. He has led book discussions in Connecticut for more than 25 years.

An Evening of Shakespeare When there is nothing else, art remains…experience the Traveling Symphony from Station Eleven at this after-hours event. Local actors and musicians will provide the entertainment in a unique theatrical event followed by a small reception.

Friday, March 13, 7:00 pmFairfield Public Library

Backyard Foraging with Author Ellen Zachos The survivors in Station Eleven had to learn to forage to stay alive. Join us when foraging expert Ellen Zachos shows us how a surprising number of favorite garden plants can nourish both body and soul. Learn how to recognize, harvest and prepare foods like wintergreen sorbet, rosehip soup and dahlia tuber bread from plants you already have around your home and yard.

Sunday, March 15, 2:00 pmFairfield Woods Branch Library

Presenter: Ellen Zachos is a garden writer and photographer, and an instructor at the New York Botanical Garden. She is the author of six books including Backyard Foraging: 65 Familiar Plants You Didn’t Know You Could Eat. Ellen is the foraging expert at About.com, the senior advisor for New England for the gardening app Garden Compass, and writes a monthly column for the National Gardening Association. She lectures at flower shows and garden clubs worldwide. A former Broadway performer, Ellen has released a CD combining her passions for plants and music: Green Up Time, a botanical look at Broadway.

REQUIRES REGISTRATION

One Book One Town Writers’ Contest & Reading— “Losing Technology”Adult and teen writers are invited to create a work dealing with a prominent theme of Station Eleven: the loss of technology. Share an unpublished work (maximum: 500 words) as a part of our fifth annual Writers’ Contest. Send your entry via email attachment to obot@fplct.org and ensure that the attachment only contains the title of the work, not the author’s name. Also please include a cover sheet with the author’s name, contact information, word count and title of the piece. Winners will be notified by March 11 and will be invited to read their works at the Library. They will also be invited to a special reception with One Book One Town author Emily St. John Mandel.Submissions due: Friday, February 13. Email entries to obot@fplct.org.

Reading: Wednesday, March 18, 7:00 pmMemorial Room, Main Library

Art Activity for ChildrenJoin us for a technology-based, hands-on art activity in honor of Station Eleven, for children ages 6 and up. Led by Pequot Library Executive Director Heather-Marie Montilla.

Thursday, March 19, 4:00 pmPequot Library

The Age of Anxiety Why has there been an explosion in dystopian and apocalyptic entertainment in the past decade? What does that say about our culture? What are some ways to prepare in real life for the nightmare scenarios our entertainment centers around? Join Teen Librarian Nicole Scherer and Children’s Librarian Mary Sorhus for a conversation about this cultural age of anxiety and learn more about the best of these stories in books, film and television.

Thursday, March 19, 7:00 pmMemorial Room, Main Library

Survive the Apocalypse! For teens in grades 6 and up. In honor of this year’s One Book One Town selection, Station Eleven, we are asking if you have what it takes to survive the end of life as we know it. This after-hours game will ask participants to work in teams to demonstrate the essential skills and strategies needed to thrive in a world without technology.

Friday, March 20, 6:00–8:00 pmMain Library

The Museum of Civilization (Free Admission)In conjunction with Fairfield Public Library’s One Book One Town selection, take a look inside a Museum of Civilization from the 20th century. View objects from long ago and guess their purpose! Families are encouraged to bring their own small objects from the 20th century that show how technology has changed over time.

Sunday, March 22, 2:00 pmFairfield Museum and History Center

Talking About Books with Dr. Mark Schenker: King Lear Dr. Mark Schenker returns for a conversation about Shakespeare’s play King Lear, a tale with a significant impact on the story of Station Eleven.

Thursday, March 26, 7:00 pmRotary Room, Main Library

ADULTS :: TEENS :: CHILDREN :: BRANCH

An Evening with Emily St. John Mandel The author of our 2015 One Book One Town selection will visit Fairfield for the final event of our month-long celebration of Station Eleven. After the discussion, Ms. Mandel will be on hand to sign copies of her book, which will be available for purchase. Seating is limited: Please register early.

Registration begins on Wednesday, March 4 at 9:00 am on the Fairfield Public Library events calendar at fairfieldpubliclibrary.org, or by calling 203-256-3160.

Tuesday, March 31, 7:00 pmRegina A. Quick Center for the Arts, Fairfield University

Fairfield’s 2015 One Book One Town selection is Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. Station Eleven is Mandel’s fourth novel, a book that seems to defy categorization. It merges multiple genres—suspense, science fiction, dystopia—while remaining a true literary work. Station Eleven was a National Book Award nominee and has appeared on multiple best book lists for 2014. Lauren Gilbert in Library Journal called it “a brilliantly constructed, highly literary, post-apocalyptic page-turner.” The One Book One Town Committee emerged from their summer and fall meetings to bring us another intriguing book, different than anything we have read together previously. The Committee is comprised of over a dozen members, including: librarians from the Main, Fairfield Woods and Pequot Libraries; staff from Fairfield University, the Fairfield University Bookstore, and Fairfield Museum and History Center; library media specialists from Fairfield Public Schools; members of the Friends of the Fairfield Public Library; and community volunteers. The Committee strives to bring something new to the scope of One Book One Town’s history of selections each year. This is the eighth year that Fairfield has featured a One Book One Town event.March is One Book One Town celebration month, with a variety of book talks and activities listed inside this catalog. The most popular One Book One Town event is always the author visit at Fairfield University, to take place this year on March 31st. We look forward to reading together again as One Book One Town takes us on another adventure.

Main Library1080 Old Post RoadFairfield, CT 06824

All programs are free and open to the public. Register online at www.fairfieldpubliclibrary.org, or call 203-256-3160.

Fairfield Woods Branch Library1147 Fairfield Woods Road Fairfield, CT 06825

Event Sponsors

Anonymous

Anonymous

Fairfield Center Jewelers

Margaret Mary Fitzgerald

Joanna Gleason & Chris Sarandon

Eleanor Gonzalez

Deborah & Brian Henry

Dr. Elizabeth & Mr. David McKinnis

Donna & James Orazio

The Owens Family

The Rust Family Foundation

The Sharp Family

Alexandra & J. Stephen Theall

Sally Wanamaker & Chris Jay

With special thanks to the Friends of the Fairfield Public Library