Danbury Library Blog

I have recently been following a discussion on a listserv that I belong to about Connecticut history. The discussion is about what are called demonyms. Demonyms are (also referred to as gentilics) names for residents of a locality which are derived from the names of the particular localities. The word (which I was not acquainted with) is little known outside of geographical circles and does not yet appear in mainstream dictionaries. One would think that Connecticut has a simple demonym but one would be very wrong. There is no simple answer to this problem and no nickname has been officially adopted by Connecticut for its residents. However we have a plethora to choose from: according ot Webster's New International Dictionary (1993) a person who is a native or resident of Connecticut is a Connecticuter (also spelled Connecticutter). But there are several other possibilities available including Connecticotian, Connecticutensian and Nutmegger. This is derived from the nickname, the Nutmeg State, based on the Connecticut peddlers who travelled about selling nutmegs. For more on Connecticut's Nicknames see the Connecticut State Library page.

Posted by John O'Donnell at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Keep in mind your library is the place to go for your book club picks. If we don't already have enough copes of a title, we will get them for you. Current titles with several copies on hand are: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro--a story of a society where the few sacrifice the ultimate for the many ;The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz, this award-winning novel tells the story of a young man, his multigenerational immigrant family and their unique approach to assimiliation. We have many more great titles available.

Please contact us with your book requests. Call 203-797-4527 and ask for Mary or Colleen.

Posted by Mary at 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Veteran's Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifices that so many men and women have made in the defense of our country. Recently someone, because they know of my interest in the Civil War, sent me a remarkable story about one Union soldier who died in the Battle of Gettysburg. The story is entiltled Whose Father Was He? and appeared in the New York Times. It is actually two stories: the first part is the story of a soldier who was killed but had no identification on him save for a photograph of three children that he died clutching to his chest. The story of his identification is an intriguing one that is very Dickensian especially in the section on the doctor who helped in identifying the soldier and who started a home for the fatherless children of soldiers with very tragic results. The second story is the modern attempt of one dogged writer to give substance to the soldier's life before the Civil War. That writer used many of the tools of family history research to unearth facts about his life. One of my favorite parts was his ability to take advantage of a librarian's expertise to find out about the soldier's work as a whaler in the 1850s. He was able to contact a librarian at the Providence Public Library who was able to tell him that the man in question sailed out of New Bedford on the ship Harrison in 1850 and also that the library had the logbook of the voyage! Librarians usually play a pivotal role in these searches.

Posted by John O'Donnell at 02:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Starting Saturday, November 14, we'll all have to push a few more buttons to make a phone call to Connecticut. You must dial the area code every time you dial now, even if it's just a local call down the street. Why the change? Connecticut is adding two new area codes. The new 475 area code will serve the same locations as the 203 area code, and 959 will eventually serve the 860 area code location.

Things to know:
* Even though you will be dialing the area code to make local calls, it will still be considered a local call.
* Your own phone number will not change. Beginning in mid-December, new phone numbers may come with the new 475 area code. The new 979 area code will be implemented in the near future.
* You can still just dial the three digits to reach 911.
* Danbury's 311 line works just by dialing 3-1-1 as well.

So remember, starting Saturday, dial the area code + the seven digit number to make your phone calls. Don't forget to update your cell phones, pagers, speed-dialing services, alarm or security systems, anything else that might automate your calls. Also, don't leave out your area code anymore for business cards and flyers!

For more information, visit Connecticut's Department of Utility Control.

Posted by Merry at 12:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Man Booker Prize,a prestigious British literary award for fiction, assures the winner international exposure and the success that brings. This year's winner, Wolf Hall by Hillary Mantel is historical fiction at its finest. Set in Tudor England -- one of the characters complains 'there are too many Thomases" and there are --but these are no ordinary Thomases: Wolsey, Cromwell and More to name a few. There is, however, only one Henry VIII and he wants a divorce from first wife Catherine to marry Anne. In this version, it is Thomas Cromwell and not Thomas More who, emerges as "a man for all seasons"--giving this story a whole new spin. Highly recommended.

Posted by Mary at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)