On a cool Saturday in April, over 150 guests assembled in the heart of Stonington Borough for the 11th annual Mystery Dinner at the Stonington Free Library, which had been transformed for the evening into the famous Parisian bookstore Shakespeare & Company circa 1919. Attendees mounted the front steps, decorated like the bookstore’s with the words of Hafiz of Shiraz: “I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astounding light of your own being,” and were welcomed by Mystery Dinner Co-Chairs Beth Leamon and Sage Williams. Upon arrival, guests were also presented with the solution to the mystery – the names and locations of their Mystery Dinner homes!
Adobe Creative Cloud Now Available at the Library
On Library Giving Day we received a generous offer from Sibby Lynch and Michael Schefers to fund a year’s subscription to the Adobe Creative Cloud. This includes well-known programs for video, design, photography, and the web, such as Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, Acrobat and more.
One-on-One Tech Help Sessions
Need help using your device? Downloading Library eBooks or audiobooks? Want to learn more about Microsoft Office? Book a 30 minute Tech Help appointment! Sessions are held weekly on Fridays 1 – 2 pm at the Library. These trainings are designed to help familiarize patrons with common computer and internet functions in order to foster a greater level of digital literacy in our community.
Announcing The J.D. McClatchy Memorial Corner
We are very excited to announce that The J. D. McClatchy Memorial Corner in the Library Gallery is completed. Our patrons and visitors are welcome to browse and enjoy this unique collection, a gift of the estate of J. D. (Sandy) McClatchy (August 12th 1945-April 10th 2018) to the Stonington Free Library. This collection is non-circulating, but can be explored and enjoyed within this special place.
Library Fundraiser at Social Coffee Roastery
Stonington Free Library extends its warmest thanks to Tom Piacenza of Social Coffee Roastery, and Italian singing sensation Gianpaolo Digrazia for raising over $1,800 in donations to the Library during
Stonington Free Library Awarded $145,000 Grant for Refurbishment from State Library
The Library is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $145,000 grant by the Connecticut State Library Board. The Library will use the grant to help fund Phase 2 of its planned Renovation and ADA Accessibility Building Project. This second phase of the project addresses the existing spaces of the Library and focuses on creating more flexible, functional, user-friendly spaces throughout the Library, including movable furniture, mobile shelving, new carpeting and paint, improved electrical infrastructure and critically needed work space for the public.
Be a Part of GivingTuesday This November 27th!
On November 27th, join our sponsors and the Stonington Small Business Collaborative in this amazing opportunity to support your Library!
SFL Nightclub
This summer the Library collaborated with Deidre Toole, Community Classroom Coordinator and Transition Counselor at Stonington High School on an inclusive pilot program called SFL Nightclub.
Sustainers Are Priceless!
Stonington Free Library offers those who wish to support the Library the option to become a sustainer. If you would rather donate on a monthly basis, securely and worry free, we’d be happy to set you up. Each year sustainers receive a report on their contributions along with our wholehearted appreciation for their steadfast support.
You’re special people and we are so grateful that you are with us for the long haul!
The Return of a Legend
Who is the imposing yet amiable man greeting you from above the entrance to the reading room in the Library? He is Samuel Denison Babcock, eminent financier, President, VP or Director of twenty-one different corporations including banks, telephone, railroad and steamship companies. He was born in Stonington in 1822. He was described as ‘a venerable patriarch, self-made, a very respectable man’.