Historic Walking Tour of Springdale

Sunday, November 6 from 1 to 2:15 p.m.

Weed Memorial & Hollander Branch

Join preservation planner and architectural historian Wes Haynes for a one-hour tour of historic Springdale buildings that offer insight into the neighborhood's evolution from industrial village and streetcar suburb into a bedroom community. Bring water and wear comfortable walking shoes.

Please Note: This program was rescheduled from October 23.

Registration required.

Introduction to Web Development

Sundays, November 6 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Third Floor Technology Center

Learn how to construct the layout of a website, understand basic design principles and styling with CSS, and add interactivity with JavaScript.

Registration required.

Presented in collaboration with Synchrony Skills Academy.

Let's Talk: Conversation Groups via Zoom

Tuesday, November 8

New students welcome for English-language conversation groups.

New Students: noon to 12:30 p.m.

Basic: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Low Intermediate: 2:30 p.m.

Advanced: 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, November 9

High Intermediate: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Beginner: 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Easy English for Beginners: Side by Side (Part 2)

Monday, November 7 from 10 a.m. to noon

Thursday, November 10 from 10 a.m. to noon

Main Library, DiMattia Building Third Floor Technology Center

Learn language and life skills through reading, speaking and writing during this six-week interactive English course based on the Easy English TV program by Steven Molinsky and Bill Bliss. Registration Required.

Tech Tips for Older Adults

Tuesday, November 8 from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

South End Branch, Second Floor Program Room

Free weekly tech help with our experienced bilingual English and Spanish team.

Book Discussion

Weed Memorial & Hollander Branch

Monday, November 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. via Zoom

A conversation about the collection of essays, Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing by Lauren Hough.

Community Mindfulness Project: Meditation

Tuesday, November 8 at noon

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

This 45-minute session will include a 30-minute guided meditation to help reset your nervous system and support your emotional and physical well-being. Please arrive five minutes early.

Mah-Jongg Club

Wednesday, November 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Weed Memorial & Hollander Branch

Our Mah-Jongg Club is open to beginners, intermediate and experienced players.

Come play this game of strategy with us.

Mystery Book Discussion

Wednesday, November 9 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom

Do you love mysteries? Join the Mystery Readers Book Group!

This month's book is The Push by Ashley Audrain.

Emotionally devastating and compulsively readable, The Push explores the ramifications that come about when mothers are not heard and not believed, and the interminable questions that swirl around the notion of nature versus nurture. Thought-provoking and impactful, this is the type of story that will stay with you.

Death Cafe Stamford

Thursday, November 10 from 2 to 3 p.m. via Zoom

A discussion about increasing the awareness of death to help people make the most of their finite live led by Sarah Farrugio, a licensed funeral director specializing in advanced planning.

Note: Death Cafe is not grief support or counseling.

Spanish Book Discussion

Thursday, November 10 from 5 to 6 p.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Ann M. Sexton Board Room

Join us for a Spanish-language discussion of Mandibula by Monica Ojeda.

Fernanda and Annelise are so close they are practically sisters–a double image, inseparable. So how does Fernanda end up bound on the floor of a deserted cabin, held hostage by one of her teachers and estranged from Annelise?

Friends of the Ferguson Library Author Series: An Evening with Fiona Davis

Thursday, November 10 at 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

Join the Friends of the Ferguson Library for an evening with New York Times bestselling historical fiction author Fiona Davis.

The author's popular novels are well-known for exploring the storied histories of iconic New York City landmarks. Davis will be discussing her most recent novel, The Magnolia Palace, set in The Frick Mansion (now The Frick Collection) home of the late industrialist Henry Clay Frick.

The presentation will be followed with a book signing hosted by Elm Street Books.

Tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for Friends members.

Happening Today!

Friends Annual Bag Sale

Saturday November 5 from 10 to 3 p.m.

Harry Bennett Branch

Buy a big yellow bag for $10 and fill it with your choice of books, CDs and DVDs to benefit the library. This year's annual book sale will include adult and children's books, fiction and nonfiction, and more. Proceeds benefit the library's programs and services

TechXel Stamford Accelerator Series Venture Expert Talks

Wednesday, November 9 from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. via Zoom

Financial Modeling with Ted Stone, Tech CXO

Ted Stone has been CFO for companies ranging in size from start-ups to $2 billion global firms, including public, private equity, employee and angel ownership.

Registration Required

Celebrate Diwali: Festival of Lights

Sunday, November 13 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

A festival featuring traditional dance performances and a rangoli exhibition. Diwali, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, is one of the most important holidays in India. All ages welcome.

Co-sponsored by GOPIO-CT

Friends of the Ferguson Library Author Series: Royal Biographer Andrew Morton, Author of The Queen

Tuesday, November 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

Wear your best royal attire to meet biographer Andrew Morton, who will discuss his latest book, The Queen, which takes an in-depth look at Britain’s longest reigning monarch and explores the influence the late Queen Elizabeth II had on Britain and the rest of the world. This presentation will be moderated by special guest, royal expert Victoria Arbiter. A book signing hosted by Elm Street books will follow.

This event is free and open to the public. Registration required.

Access Health Ct Open Enrollment

Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Second Floor Study Room

Open Enrollment Period for 2023 health and dental insurance coverage. Representatives from Access Health Ct will be on the library's second floor weekdays through January 13 to help you enroll in or renew a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) and/or Stand-Alone Dental Plan (SADP). Whether you are renewing coverage or looking at insurance options for the first time, Access Health CT can help you understand how to enroll and what to expect during Open Enrollment. For more information, visit the program's web site.

Covid-19 Vaccination Clinics

Tuesday, November 8, Wednesday, November 9 and Friday, November 11 from 1 to 5 p.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

Free Covid-19 vaccines and boosters will be available to adults and children from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Main Library on weekdays beginning on November 8. No appointment necessary. Please bring your vaccine and insurance cards if you have them. In addition to primary vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna Bivariant boosters will be available.

More community clinic dates will be offered weekly at the library through December 29.

This clinic is offered in partnership with the Stamford Health Department and Griffin Health.

Tell Your Story Project

We are resuming our oral history project, Tell Your Story, an effort to capture Stamford's history through the lives of its residents. If you are a long-time resident and would like to share memories of growing up in Stamford, please let us know. We welcome photos and other memorabilia, too. You can experience the stories we have collected so far by visiting the Ferguson Library Digital Archive at fergusonlibraryarchive.org. If you are interested contact Frank Skornia at [email protected] or 203 351-8220.

Art at the Ferguson

Celebrating New Art: Work Created Since 2020

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

The juried show, curated by the Stamford Art Association, features work by local and regional artists and will be on display through January 19, 2023.

Pictured: See Through by Cecile Roberfroid.

Volunteers Wanted to Help English Language Learners

The Ferguson Library is looking for enthusiastic, sensitive volunteers interested in helping English language learners develop their speaking skills in our weekly, virtual classes.

We are looking for volunteers with the following qualities and availability:

-At least 18 years old.

-Tact, sensitivity and respect for people of diverse cultural backgrounds.

-Weekly availability for several consecutive months (or the equivalent of a college semester).

No prior teaching experience required.

Interested? Contact Yelena Klompus, ELL, Citizenship & Cultural Programs Manager at [email protected] or call her at 203 351-8228 to set up a an interview.

We Can Help Your Book Club

Need a suggestion for your book group discussion or help locating copies? We're ready to support your book group with a variety of resources. The library has a well-curated book discussion collection, with multiple copies of each book. We can also get books for you if we don't have the title and share resources about how to have a successful book discussion. And of course, our readers advisory services can help you find your group's next great read.

For book group services, contact Anthony Marrocolla at [email protected].

Digital Navigators  

Need help accessing health or banking information online? Want to get up to speed on Google tools or help your children succeed in school? 

Our Digital Navigators can help you with all this and more, and even set you up with a digital device if you need one. Don’t be left behind in a digital world.

Appointments are required, and are available in English, Spanish, Arabic and Haitian-Creole. Call 203 351-8251 to book a time at the Main Library or the South End Branch.

Notary Services

Wednesdays beginning November 2 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Weed Memorial & Hollander Branch

Our notary public is available to notarize your paperwork for free. By appointment only. For information or to make an appointment, call 203 351-8292.

Entrepreneurs-in Residence

Starting a new business? Looking to expand your current business? Have an idea and don't know where to start? 

Our Entrepreneurs-in-Residence are available by appointment to help early stage entrepreneurs conceptualize and grow their ideas into companies. Book an appointment. For more information, call 203 351-8221. 

Book-A-Librarian

Reserve up to one hour with a librarian for information or technology assistance, including assistance with our virtual resources like e-books, e-audiobooks and movie streaming. Complete this form to make an appointment.

Person-to-Person Mobile Food Pantry and Casework

Schedule subject to change

-Yerwood Center - 90 Fairfield Avenue: Mondays from 11 a.m.– 1 p.m.