Peter Megargee Brown may be 88, but he still vividly recalls his boyhood days spent at the New York Public Library on the Upper West Side's 93rd Street.

Brown grew up nearby and heeded his father's advice that time in a library was time well spent, saying he idled away long hours and many, many days poring over books at the public library funded by the Carnegie Endowment.

Now Brown, an author and retired New York City litigator who makes his home full time in Stonington borough, wants to ensure that the Stonington Free Library continues to afford similar opportunities to local children.

The historic March flooding inundated the children's room on the lower level of the Wadawanuck Square library, causing upwards of $50,000 in damage. Federal disaster assistance covered less than half of it. Brown and his wife, the author and lifestyle guru Alexandra Stoddard, want to help close that gaping financial gap.

The two have come up with a plan, with help from restaurateur David Eck, an owner of the DogWatch Cafe at Dodson Boat Yard, where the couple are regulars.

Brown will donate 1,000 copies of his new book, "Figure It Out: A Guide to Wisdom," for a library fundraiser. The book is a compilation of inspirational observations, quotations and anecdotes from great thinkers. Brown collected and winnowed the collection over more than five decades.

While the couple was having extensive work done on their Water Street home - retiring to the borough full time three years ago - they spent long days over the course of a year at the Stonington Free Library working on their respective manuscripts.

Stoddard says the book her husband had talked about for 50 years was finally realized at the Stonington library, making the place all the more special. "I said to him, 'This is the time, get it done,' and he did, he finished the book there," she says.

So from noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 29, Brown and Stoddard will be at the DogWatch, and he will be autographing copies of "Figure It Out." For every volume sold ($25 checks will be made out directly to the library) the DogWatch will give away a free drink.

"We want to make it a big party," said Eck, whose wife, Wendy, is past president of the library's board. "The library suffered a big loss and we want to help out."

The goal is to sell all 1,000 books and raise $25,000 for the library, which librarian Margaret Victoria says would be just fantastic.

Volunteers have stepped up since the initial flooding to help mop up water, box and move books, remove shelving, and restack volumes following the extensive repairs. Now it's time to balance the books.

"It's in times of adversity when the spirit really shines through," says Scott Bates, president of the library's board, who is hoping for a big turnout on Aug. 29.

"That library is an exceptional one," says Brown, recalling the days he spent there finishing "Figure It Out." "And that children's library, well it meant a lot to me and Alexandra to see the children there. We want to help them out."

That's what gets Brown talking about his childhood days at the public library in New York City and the impression it made.

"Libraries really are special," says the former litigator, who regularly argued cases before the appellate and U.S. Supreme courts.

And he's right, libraries are special, but they're also hurting. In these difficult economic times, libraries face budget cuts. But thanks to people like Peter Brown and all the other volunteers who understand the importance of libraries, Stonington's little library on Wadawanuck Square is going to get a boost.

On Aug. 29, DogWatch customers willing to spend $25 will get a book, a drink and the opportunity to meet a true library-lover.

That's a good deal.

Ann Baldelli is associate editorial page editor.