Monthly Archives September 2021

Spooktober Book & Movie Pairings

Spooktober Book & Movie Pairings

Are you looking for something scary to read or watch this Spooktober? Adult Services Librarian Kristen compiled a list of books and movies that compliment each other's plot and/or themes. Some of these are sure to scare your socks off, so readers/viewers beware! If you're a fan of haunted houses… Read: Home Before Dark by Riley Sager Library Collection: Print / Large Print OverDrive/Libby: eBook / Audiobook Bells that ring themselves. Record players that turn on an play music to empty rooms. Ghosts that can climb out of wardrobes… Maggie Holt doesn't believe in these things, even though they are
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September 30, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books and Library News.
Tags: halloween, Halloween Books, horror, horror films, horror novels, Observances and Celebrations, October, Spooktober, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Let’s Draw Monsters

Let’s Draw Monsters

Kids, teens, and families are invited to join nationally syndicated award-winning cartoonist Rick Stromoski virtually on Tuesday, October 26th at 6:00 p.m. for a fun workshop to learn how to draw creatures, goblins, ghosts, and all things Halloweeny! All participants will need is a stack of paper and something they like to draw with! Let’s Draw Monsters! Tuesday, October 26th, 6:00 p.m. Grades 3+, teens, families Access the program here. Note: a free, registered Zoom account is required to join our youth-focused virtual programs. Sign up for a Zoom account is free and easy at http://zoom.us/signup. About Rick Stromoski Rick
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September 29, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: art, drawing, drawing workshop for children, drawing workshop for kids in Westchester, halloween, Halloween events in Westchester, Halloween events in White Plains, and Rick Stromoski.

Great SPOOKY Podcasts

Great SPOOKY Podcasts

Here are some great spooky podcasts to get your kids and teens (and you!) in the Halloween mood. All of these should be available on any service you use to listen to podcasts, such as Apple Podcasts, Apple Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, etc. If you have some great podcast recommendations, leave them in the comments below! For additional (non-spooky) podcast recommendations, click here! FOR KIDS & FAMILIES The Creeping Hour If your kids like Goosebumps, then The Creeping Hour horror anthology series from NPR is going to be a hit. Recommended for ages 8-12 and families, these are some
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September 29, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: Great Podcasts, halloween, Halloween Books, Observances and Celebrations, October, podcasts, Spooktober, spooky podcasts, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

SBA Disaster Assistance

SBA Disaster Assistance

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened a Business Recovery Center (BRC) at the New York Power Authority, 123 Main St, White Plains, NY 10601. Customer Service Representatives will be available at the BRC to answer questions about the disaster loan program and help businesses complete their applications. Hours of operations are Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (EDT), closed Saturday and Sunday. The center will operate until further notice. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the SBA has established protocols to help protect the health and safety of the public. Visitors to the DLOC are encouraged to
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September 28, 2021 4:22 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Director's Corner, Featured, and Library News.
Tags: Disaster Loans, SBA, and small business administration.

What You Need To Know About… Ragnarok

What You Need To Know About… Ragnarok

Netflix has a fairly new TV series called Ragnarok (seasons 1 & 2 are available to watch). Don’t be confused by the title, this has nothing to do with Thor: Ragnarok from the MCU. No, this is actually based on Norse mythology, not just the popularized versions of Thor, Loki, Odin, and Freya from the Marvel movies. The show was filmed in Norway with an all Norwegian cast. It is a modern telling of Ragnarok, the end of the world, which will happen in the small coastal town of Edda. The Giants (the enemies of the Aesir (Norse Gods)) are
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September 28, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: netflix, Ragnarok, staff picks, staff recommendations, The Edge, tv shows, and What You Need to Know About.

Halloween STEAM

Halloween STEAM

Halloween is a wonderful time to learn about ghoulish goblins, bob for apples, visit Sleepy Hollow, and go trick-or-treating. However, if some of these activities aren’t an option, there are still plenty of fun things to do virtually to satisfy your need for creepy crawlies and menacing mummies! The Library will be hosting two fun and spooky STEAM projects: one for grades 1-6 and one for grades 4-8. Twelve kits will be available for each age group and patrons can register online through the library calendar to pick up their kits. Both kits will include items needed for the program,
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September 28, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: halloween, Halloween Books, Halloween STEAM, STEAM activities, STEAM at home, and STEM.

Diwali: A Celebration of Light

Diwali: A Celebration of Light

Diwali, or Dipawali, is India‘s biggest and most important holiday of the year. The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects us from spiritual darkness. This festival is as important to Hindus as the Christmas holiday is to Christians. Over the centuries, Diwali has become a national festival that's also enjoyed by non-Hindu communities. For instance, in Jainism, Diwali marks the nirvana, or spiritual awakening, of Lord Mahavira on October 15, 527 B.C.; in Sikhism, it honors the day that Guru Hargobind
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September 28, 2021 9:13 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's books, children's literature, diwali, Diwali celebration in Westchester, diwali celebration in White Plains, Grab & Go kits, and Observances and Celebrations.

Teen Book Review: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

Teen Book Review: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

Title: To All the Boys I've Loved Before Author: Jenny Han Publisher: Simon and Schuster Library Catalog / Hoopla / OverDrive & Libby You've probably heard of the movie To All the Boys I've Loved Before, but little do most know it is based on the book by Jenny Han. In this page-turning book, the protagonist Lara Jean suffers the consequences when her younger sister sends off her most private possessions. Lara Jean wrote letters to every boy she'd ever loved describing intimate details and things she never wanted them to actually know. So, when one of the boys reaches
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September 27, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: book review, books, for teens by teens, Jenny Han, reading, teen book review, and teen volunteers.

Dive Into Diversity: Spooky Stories

Dive Into Diversity: Spooky Stories

White Plains is a wonderfully diverse community! Parents, children, and teens have expressed an interest in titles that reflect the diversity in the community, and Ashley, Kathlyn, and Raquel's “Dive Into Diversity” column will spotlight noteworthy children's and teen titles that are inclusive, diverse, and multicultural to fulfill that interest. Ashley's portion is aimed at readers in grades 4-6. School has begun again and the weather will turn chillier as we head into fall and the spooky season! When I was a kid, I was a big fan of watching Are You Afraid of the Dark? and reading the Goosebumps
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September 24, 2021 3:33 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: books for children, books for kids, children's literature, Dive into Diversity, halloween, Halloween Books, Observances and Celebrations, October, Spooktober, spooky stories for kids, and stories to read in october.

Dive into Diversity: Italian-American Heritage Month!

Dive into Diversity: Italian-American Heritage Month!

October is Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month. The month-long celebration recognizes the many contributions and achievements of Italian-Americans in the U.S. According to National Today, “Over 26 million Americans of Italian descent currently reside in the U.S. — making up America's seventh largest ethnic group.” New York Public Library’s, 5 Picture Books to Celebrate Italian-American Heritage Month lists some great books to share with young children, and below you will find several noteworthy and fun titles for kindergartners to sixth-graders to celebrate Italian heritage and culture – buon divertimento! Paolo, Emperor of Rome by Mac Barnett & Claire Keane (Grades
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September 24, 2021 1:26 pm | by | 1 Comment
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's books, Dive into Diversity, Italian-American History, picture books, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Dive into Diversity: Witches!

Dive into Diversity: Witches!

In 2021, my Dive into Diversity posts about young adult books will focus on a different genre each month. I’ll highlight books with characters that represent a range of experiences and identities. I’ll also feature authors who share an aspect of their characters’ identity as much as possible. In honor of Halloween, this month's post is a roundup of YA fiction starring… witches! This month I read a popular graphic novel, The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner. It's about 13-year-old Moth Hush, who lives in Founder's Bluff, Massachusetts, and loves all things witchy. While working on a school play about
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September 23, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: Dive into Diversity, halloween, Halloween Books, October, Spooktober, staff picks, staff recommendations, witches, YA Fiction, and YA literature.

Grow with Google / Aprenda con Google

Grow with Google / Aprenda con Google

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage month, Grow with Google will offer the following online workshops in Spanish: Digital skills for everyday tasks Wednesday, September 29th 6:30-7:30 p.m. Use YouTube to grow your Business Wednesday, October 6th 6:30-7:30 p.m. Make Your Website Useful Wednesday, October 13th 6:30-7:30 p.m. Register here for the series. Habilidades digitales para tareas cotidianas 29 de septiembre 6:30-7:30 p.m. Aprenda a administrar las tareas del trabajo y de la vida de manera más eficaz con las herramientas de Google. Use YouTube Para Hacer Crecer Su Negocio 6 de octubre 6:30-7:30 p.m. Obtenga las mejores prácticas para crear
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September 22, 2021 2:13 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: business events, Grow with google, spanish language events, and WEDC.

Future is Female Book Discussion

Future is Female Book Discussion

Another one of our popular book groups is the Future is Female, a mix of memoirs, short stories, novels, and poetry by and about interesting, talented, and inspiring women in history, the arts, sports, and everyday life. Led by Ellen O’Connell, a White Plains resident and retired English teacher. The group will meet on the first Monday of every month, from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Click on the date(s) you'd like to attend for the Zoom link. To place one of the readings on hold, simply click on your preferred format. November 1: The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles Library Collection:
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September 22, 2021 1:21 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books and Library News.
Tags: book discussion, book group in westchester, book group in white plains, books by women, and feminist books.

October Book Bunch & Author Visit

October Book Bunch & Author Visit

Does your child enjoy funny books? Do they geek out about mythology? Are they really into graphic novels? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then your kid would be totally interested in our upcoming virtual book discussion! On Wednesday, October 6th at 4:30 p.m., join librarians Ashley and Caroline to chat about the first book in the Nico Bravo series called Nico Bravo and the Hound of Hades by Mike Cavallaro. We’re thrilled to announce that author and illustrator Mike Cavallaro will be joining us for a Q&A session after the discussion! This program is open to
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September 20, 2021 10:02 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: book bunch, Book discussion for kids, book discussion for middle grade students, book discussion for teens, books for children, juvenile fiction, Mike Cavallaro, Nico Bravo, and Nico Bravo and the Hound of Hades.

Project LIT Book Clubs for Kids and Teens

Project LIT Book Clubs for Kids and Teens

Project LIT is a global initiative to help kids, tweens, and teens engage with the real events shaking our country and the world at large. As a chapter in the Project LIT Community, the Trove and Edge staff organizes discussions revolving around recommended titles, highlighting and celebrating books that affirm and value all students. Our Project LIT Book Club for Kids & Tweens is for grades 4-8 and our Project LIT Book Club for Teens is for grades 7-12. We’ve been taking a break over the summer from our Project LIT Book Clubs but we’re happy to announce that they
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September 20, 2021 10:01 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: book discussions, kids book club, Project Lit, Project Lit Community, and teen book club.

Great Podcasts for Teens 2

Great Podcasts for Teens 2

Continuing our new series on Great Podcasts, here are some recommendations of Great Podcasts for Teens from YS Librarian, Erik! Most of these should be available on any service you use to listen to podcasts, such as Apple Podcasts, Apple Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, etc. All of our Great Podcasts recommendations, including those for Kids, Teens, and Parents and Caregivers, can be found here. If you have some great podcast recommendations, leave them in the comments below! Science: RadioLab RadioLab makes science fun. The team of Jad Abumrad, Lulu Miller, and Latif Nasser take a light hearted approach to
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September 20, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: Great Podcasts, Great Podcasts for teens, podcasts, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Teen Book Review: The Martian Chronicles

Teen Book Review: The Martian Chronicles

Title: The Martian Chronicles Author: Ray Bradbury Publisher: Harper Collins Library Catalog / Hoopla / OverDrive & Libby The first book to interest me in the science fiction genre, and a compelling read, The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury is set in a fictional world where humans colonize Mars. The book is a collection of several short interconnected short stories, with time jumps between each. Starting with perspective of the first mission of humans to reach Mars, and ending with the last few people left on Mars, this story is full of masterful twists, leaving you question what is real,
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September 20, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: book review, books, for teens by teens, Ray Bradbury, reading, teen book review, and teen volunteers.

Grab & Go: Bubble Wands

Grab & Go: Bubble Wands

Teens in grades 7-12 can pick up a kit with project supplies at the Library, then follow along with the video below to make the project. Or, you can find the materials around your home and follow the video to make the project. Kits are first come, first served, and will become available on Monday, September 19th in the Library lobby. Let's take advantage of the continued nice weather to make some bubbles–and bubble wands. This month we'll make some basic of bubble wands. Your kit includes string, straws, wire, and pipe cleaners. You'll need some bubble solution, and your
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September 19, 2021 9:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News and Teens.
Tags: arts and crafts, Grab & Go, Grab & Go kits, and teens.

An Afternoon with Wilfredo Ortiz

An Afternoon with Wilfredo Ortiz

We invite you to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the music of Wilfredo Ortiz on Sunday, September 19th at 2:00 p.m. on the Library Plaza. Enjoy the music of Wilfredo Ortiz, a musician and composer from the Dominican Republic. Don’t miss it! Rain Date: September 26th
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September 18, 2021 12:05 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: celebrate hispanic heritage month, concert, concerts in White Plains, Hispanic Heritage Month, and wilfredo ortiz.

STEAMy Summer Programs: A Look Back

STEAMy Summer Programs: A Look Back

Another summer of STEAM programs has finished. This was a challenging and rewarding summer like no other. In addition to increasing the length by two weeks, we also hired several more people to run programs. Among those hired were several high school students: members of the Techno Chix; a robotics club from the Girl Scouts; Mustafa Ajmal, a high school student in Oak Ridge High School, CA; and Shakira Cherimond, a graduating Senior from Ossining High School who will be attending Purchase College in the fall. By hiring multiple presenters this summer we were able to offer a wide variety
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September 15, 2021 2:03 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: STEAM, STEAM Camps, STEAM learning, STEM, Summer of Making, The Edge, Verisk Analytics, and White Plains Library Foundation.