Monthly Archives December 2024

January Kid Librarian of the Month

January Kid Librarian of the Month

Each month a kid is chosen to curate a display in The Trove with some of their favorite books. Are you interested in being next month’s kid librarian? Fill out a submission form available at The Trove Desk! Name: Liam Age: 5 Favorite type of books: Star Wars, Super Heroes, Chapter Series Why do you like to read? I like to hear about new characters Check out Liam’s recommended reads! Mercy Watson Series by Kate DiCamillo All Available Formats Here This series introduces us to an irresistible new hero for early chapter book readers- Mercy Watson, not just a pig,
Read More

December 31, 2024 1:41 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured and Homepage Kids.
Tags: book recommendations, children's literature, kid books, and kid librarian.

Exciting Software Updates

Exciting Software Updates

White Plains Public Library is rolling out some exciting software updates to make your library experience even better! Streamlined Museum Pass, Wi-Fi Hotspot, and Room Reservations We’ve updated our system for reserving museum passes, Wi-Fi hotspots, and meeting rooms, making it easier for you to book these services online. Check out our fantastic selection of museums, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Guggenheim Museum, Westchester Children's Museum and more, all available with your library card! Reserve now here! New Westchester Library System Mobile App In January, the Westchester Library System mobile app will be replaced with a new
Read More

December 31, 2024 11:19 am | by | 2 Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: museum passes, new software, technology, and WLS app.

January K-6 Programs

January K-6 Programs

For our elementary schoolers, please join us for our programs at The Trove! We have an array of activities for different age groups throughout the month. Magical Mondays – Grades 3-6 The Igloo January 6th 4:30-7:00PM Join us in creating magical Little Wizards characters through words or pictures (or both!) and playing those characters in class at Epic Academy! What adventures will your Little Wizard have today? Trove Trivia Book Club- Grades 4-6 Galaxy Hall January 7th 4:30-5:30PM Do you love reading, trivia, and a bit of competition? Join the Trove Trivia Book Club. First 6 registered get their own
Read More

December 26, 2024 10:16 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, and Kids.
Tags: children's events, The Trove, and trove events.

College and Career Edge Programs: January and February 2025

College and Career Edge Programs: January and February 2025

College and Career Edge Programs in January-February The Edge at the White Plains Public Library is happy to announce our new College and Career Edge series this Winter. We'll be using our new Igloo room to host a variety of virtual and in-person programs. In the Igloo, students can experience Virtual Reality (VR) without a headset in the library's newly installed panoramic content room. Views from 360° content and more will be provided in this fun series of programs. Technology installed by Igloo Vision and funded by the Library Foundation/Optimum. FAFSA Bootcamp Need help filling out for 2024-25 FAFSA (Financial
Read More

December 26, 2024 10:16 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Classes, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, and Homepage Teens.

Board Meeting Documents for January 8, 2025

Board Meeting Documents for January 8, 2025

Combined Agenda – 01-08-2025 01-08-25 Library Board Agenda Agenda Item #1 – December 11 2024 Library Board Minutes – DRAFT Agenda Item #2 – Budget Report – December 2024 Agenda Item #3 – Claim List 5 Agenda Item #4 – Adult Services Report – December 2024 Agenda Item #4 – Assistant Directors Report – December 2024 Agenda Item #4 – Collection Management Report – December 2024 Agenda Item #4 – Community Outreach Report – December 2024 Agenda Item #4 – Digital Media Specialist Report – December 2024 Agenda Item #4 – Directors Report – January 2025 Agenda Item #4 –
Read More

December 24, 2024 12:06 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Trustee Documents.

January is…

January is…

Each month a variety of observances and celebrations take place, from well-known holidays to much lesser known fun (and downright funny or strange!) observances. January 16th: Appreciate a Dragon Day! The Dragon Ark by Curatoria Draconis All available formats Join the Dragon Protector on her quest to find the rarest dragon in the world in The Dragon Ark–featuring illustrations by Tomislav Tomic. With dragon numbers in rapid decline, time is running out to ensure the survival of the species. Curatoria Draconis, also known as the Dragon Protector, is on a mission to find the rarest dragon on Earth: the Chinese
Read More

December 24, 2024 10:10 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Book Discussion, and Homepage Kids.
Tags: and Library News. Tags: books for children, and Observances and Celebrations, Authors & Books, books for kids, children's books, children's literature, events, Featured, Homepage Kids, January 2025, January Festivities, kids, Observances and Celebrations, and staff picks.

New Books in the Edge: December 2024

New Books in the Edge: December 2024

One of the best parts of my job is ordering new books for the Edge–reading the reviews, seeing what popular authors come up with next, or finding out about an upcoming sequel to an old favorite. Read on to find out about some of the new YA fiction titles coming to our shelves this month. -Kat Carroll, Teen Services Librarian When the Mapou Sings by Nadine Pinede Grades 8 and up Library Catalog “Sixteen-year-old Lucille comes of age in 1930s Haiti. Following the death of her mother during childbirth, Lucille has been cared for by her woodworker father and maternal
Read More

December 20, 2024 1:16 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: new books, new in the Edge, staff picks, staff recommendations, YA Fiction, and YA literature.

New Books in the Trove: January 2025

New Books in the Trove: January 2025

We have new books coming in all the time with them on display right as you enter the Trove.  Here’s some of our recent favorite new titles! For Wee Ones Well Done, Mommy Penguin by Chris Haughton (Birth to 3 Years-Old) Library Catalog “Where is Mommy Penguin off to? ‘I think she’s going to get dinner,’ Daddy Penguin explains to his wide-eyed, curious chick. They both stand atop an icy peak to watch Mommy—along with a group of other penguins—as she hunts. First she must swim quickly to catch the darting fish (‘swoosh / swish / swoosh’). Then she leaps
Read More

December 17, 2024 10:10 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books.
Tags: children's book, children's literature, new books, and staff picks.

Calendar of Events for Children and Teens

Calendar of Events for Children and Teens

Below please find our monthly Youth Services calendars of events – one for Up to Grade 6 and one for Grades 7-12.   Of course, be sure to check our online calendar for the most up-to-date information on programs, including any changes or cancellations.
Read More

December 16, 2024 10:11 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: children's events in White Plains, events, and Teen events in White Plains.

What’s Next in the Edge: January 2025

What’s Next in the Edge: January 2025

Read on to find out about the activities we've planned for grades 7-12 this winter. As usual, we have a lot going on. Stop by anytime during Edge hours to say hello and find out more about the Edge. Edge Hours Monday – Thursday: 3:00-8:00 p.m. Friday: 3:00-6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: 1:00-5:00 p.m. Drop-in Activities No registration is required for these ongoing programs for grades 7-12. Video Game Time Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during Edge hours. Tech Tuesday Youth in grades 4-12 will learn about new technology topics on select Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m. Thoughtful Thursday Take time for
Read More

December 16, 2024 9:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: events for teens in Westchester, events for teens in White Plains, The Edge, and what's new in the Edge.

Kids in the Kitchen 4

Kids in the Kitchen 4

Welcome to Kids in the Kitchen.  This blog series highlights great cookbooks for kids. In this entry, the spotlight is on some fun pop culture inspired cookbooks. Barbie Cooks! a Healthy Cookbook Library Catalog “In this colorful cookbook of over 50 recipes, Barbie encourages kids to make healthy choices by developing their culinary skills and kitchen creativity. Breakfast bites like Loaded Avocado Toast and Mini Frittatas; filling lunch and dinner fare such as Summery Minestrone, Rainbow Carrot Ribbon Salad, and Spaghetti Squash Pizza bowls; and sweet and savory shareables like Sweet Potato Oven Fries and No-Bake Cheesecake Jars, provide kids
Read More

December 13, 2024 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: books for kids, cookbooks, Kids in the Kitchen, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Paws to Read

Paws to Read

Paws to Read is our popular “read to a dog” program during which children in grades K-6 can read with therapy dog Rufus. Paws for Reading takes place on Fridays – January 10 & 24 and February 7 & 28  – from 4:00-5:00 p.m. Spots are very limited.  Sign up at the Compass Desk in the Trove starting 30 minutes prior.  Reading with a therapy dog has numerous benefits for children. Reading to a dog is therapeutic, calming and very rewarding. According to American Libraries Magazines.org, “…children read aloud to animals–usually dogs–instead of their peers, and the fear of making
Read More

December 12, 2024 12:29 pm | by | 3 Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: early literacy, Paws for Reading, Paws to Read, therapy dog, and therapy reading dog.

The Library’s TTRPG Collection – NOW HOLDABLE

The Library’s TTRPG Collection – NOW HOLDABLE

Did you know the Library has a collection of tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) books you can borrow?  They are located just outside the Edge, our teen library (though anyone can check them out!). NEW!  Holds can now be placed on TTRPG titles so you can have them delivered direct to your local library! Titles in the growing collection include (by game system – Will be updated as new titles are added. Links for unlinked items will be added as they become available.) What’s a TTRPG? A tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) is a system of rules so that a group of
Read More

December 11, 2024 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: Dungeons & Dragons, Dungeons and Dragons, games, gaming, library collections, Roleplaying game, roleplaying games, RPGs, staff picks, staff recommendations, table top games, tabletop games, tabletop gaming, tabletop roleplaying games, and TTRPGS.

2024 Staff Favorites: Music and Movies

2024 Staff Favorites: Music and Movies

The White Plains Library Staff have assembled their favorite movies, music and television. It's a wonderfully wide-ranging list and should help with your holiday shopping or just some entertainment for yourself. Enjoy! Below you'll find a list with links to the catalog or resource where they're available as well as a blurb on why staff enjoyed it. On the Screen: The Booksellers  This documentary presents a lively view of New York’s antiquarian, rare-book scene and the fascinating, passionate collectors and dealers who inhabit it. The film is directed by D.W. Young and narrated by actress Parker Posey, with insightful comments
Read More

December 10, 2024 3:08 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: 2024 staff picks, movies, music, and staff favorites.

2024 Staff Favorites for Adults

2024 Staff Favorites for Adults

The White Plains Library Staff have assembled their picks for the year, featuring literary fiction, audiobooks, fantasy, music, and more. It's a wonderfully wide-ranging list, full of lots of surprises, and should help with your holiday shopping or just some entertainment for yourself. Enjoy! Below you'll find a list with links to the catalog as well as a blurb on why staff enjoyed it. Adults AI Prompt Writing by Emma Grimberg Whether you’re creating stories, art, or music, this guide shows you how to harness the power of AI prompts to bring your ideas to life in a whole new
Read More

December 10, 2024 3:07 pm | by | 2 Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations, books for adults, staff favorites, and staff picks.

2024 Staff Favorites for Kids and Teens

2024 Staff Favorites for Kids and Teens

The White Plains Library Staff have assembled their picks for the year for kids and teens! It's a wonderfully wide-ranging list and should help with your holiday shopping or just some entertainment for yourself. Enjoy! Below you'll find a list with links to the catalog or resource where they're available as well as a blurb on why staff enjoyed it. Kids: Elephant and Piggie Series and more by Mo Willems My first-grade son, who recently switched from a frustrated reader to an excited reader, devours Mo Willems' books – especially the Elephant and Piggie Series. He insists nightly that he reads one Elephant and
Read More

December 10, 2024 3:07 pm | by | 1 Comment
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage, and Homepage Kids.

New Books in the Trove: December 2024

New Books in the Trove: December 2024

We have new books coming in all the time with them on display right as you enter the Trove.  Here’s some of our recent favorite new titles! For Wee Ones Play Games With Me by Kat Chen and Lorraine Nam (Birth to 3 Years-Old) Library Catalog “Let's play! This lively board book follows Alex, a small Black child, who engages readers by asking questions like, ‘What's your name? What a great name! Would you like to play some games with us?’ This title can help children who are anxious in social situations, allowing them to practice responding to questions alongside
Read More

December 10, 2024 9:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, and Kids.

‘Wicked’ at Your Fingertips

‘Wicked’ at Your Fingertips

Are you off to see the Wizard?  Or have you already seen Wicked, and now you can't stop humming Defying Gravity? Never fear, you can fully immerse yourself in all things Wicked for free with your library card on hoopla!  Listen to the film's soundtrack starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, or reminisce with the original Broadway cast recording featuring Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel. Read or listen to the book by Gregory Maguire that the movie is based on, and get ready for the forthcoming sequel by reading Maguire's Son of a Witch.  They even have a documentary about the stage production,
Read More

December 5, 2024 11:53 am | by | 1 Comment
Categories: Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: hoopla, movie soundtrack, and wicked.

December Kid Librarian of the Month

December Kid Librarian of the Month

Each month a kid is chosen to curate a display in The Trove with some of their favorite books. Are you interested in being next month’s kid librarian? Fill out a submission form available at The Trove Desk!  Name: Josie Age: 11 Favorite type of books: Dystopian, Realistic Fiction, & Mysteries Why do you like to read? Because books are really fun! Check out Josie’s recommended reads! To Stay Alive by Skila Brown All Available Formats The journey west by wagon train promises to be long and arduous for nineteen-year-old Mary Ann Graves and her parents and eight siblings. Yet
Read More

December 2, 2024 2:07 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, and Kids.
Tags: children's literature, Kid Librarian of the Month, staff picks, and staff recommendations.