Monthly Archives January 2025

January Nonfiction Pick of the Month

Nonfiction books are written to present the facts on a wide range of topics, for a wide range of ages. In this column, Erica will recommend new and/or notable nonfiction from the Trove collection! All About U.S.: A Look at the Lives of 50 Real Kids from Across the United States by Matt Lamothe with Jenny Volvovski All available formats here Lamothe and Volvovski have put together a stunning and compelling snapshot of daily life in each U.S. state through this beautiful book. The short biography of each child is full of personality, as are the gorgeous illustrations that accompany
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, and Homepage Kids.

Black History Month Events

February is Black History Month and we've got a great lineup of events in celebration!  Be sure to also check out or great list of new and noteworthy reads for Black History Month! R&B / Soul Line Dancing  Every Saturday in February, 10:30-11:30am Line dancing has important cultural ties to the Black community in America. This program will break down easy line dances that allow everyone to learn at a comfortable pace while improving their memory and balance. Trove Trivia Book Club Tuesday, February 4, 4:30pm Grades 3-6.  Registration required. Discussion of the book The Parker Inheritance, which draws upon
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Categories: Events, Homepage, Library News, and Uncategorized.

New Books in the Edge: January 2025

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, Teen Librarian A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson Grades 8 and up Library Catalog “As war looms between dragons and humans in an alternate 1923, one girl is forced to work as a codebreaker to save her family. Vivien Featherswallow loves languages: She’s
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

What’s New in the Edge: February 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 4:00 p.m. Thoughtful Thursday Take time for
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Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

Canned Food Drive

You may notice that calendars mark February as National Canned Food Month. Why is this the case? The answer dates back to the inspiration for its invention. In February, 1795, the French government required a way to feed its troops in enemy territory and offered a cash prize for an invention that would ensure both food preservation and transportability. After fourteen years of experimentation, confectioner Nicholas Appert claimed the prize with a method that involved putting food in jars, sealing, and then boiling them. (Shortly thereafter, an innovation of using tin cans – more durable and less likely to explode
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Categories: Featured and Homepage.

February 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 February 3rd 4:30-6:30PM 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 February 4th 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
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Categories: Homepage Kids.

New Books in the Trove: February 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 Trains by Johnny Dyrander (Birth to 3 Years-Old) Library Catalog “Okay, I’m getting nitpicky now. Why include this year’s “Make Tracks” title by Johnny Dyrander Trains and not Trucks? I can’t believe I have to say this out loud since it’s so obvious, but come on people! The choo choo sound! Look, I know the truck makes a very nice “Rrrr Rrrr” sound, and I don’t want to disparage that.
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Categories: Authors & Books and Homepage Kids.

February is…

February is…Fabulous February! 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. Celebrated in February ____ is… February 3: Elmo’s Birthday! My Fuzzy Valentine by Naomi Kleinberg All available formats Elmo wants to know which of his Sesame Street friends sent him a beautiful Valentine's Day card. Children ages 1 to 4 will love touching the fuzzy valentine on every spread! The sturdy board pages will hold up to hours of play as little ones leaf through them, visiting with Elmo, Grover, Cookie Monster, Baby
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Categories: Authors & Books and Featured.

Sat. 2/1! Traditions of Chinese Acrobatics

Come to the Library and celebrate the Lunar New Year with a phenomenal demonstration of traditional Chinese acrobatics!  Attendees raved about the performance by acrobat Li Liu last year, and we are so excited for her return.  Don’t miss this gravity defying show! Traditions of Chinese Acrobatics Saturday, February 1 at 2:00 p.m. All ages Library Auditorium, Second Floor Come watch acrobat Li Liu perform hand balancing, plate spinning, ribbon dancing, diabolos, and foot juggling; in addition to explaining some of the traditions of the Lunar New Year, teaching some basic Chinese phrases, and encouraging the audience to imagine how
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Categories: Uncategorized.

The Dia:Beacon: Museum Pass Available Now!

What effect do environments we walk through have on us? And if they affect us, are they in a sense art? You may find yourself asking these or similar questions when you visit the Dia:Beacon museum, which as a White Plains Public Library cardholder you can now do with our new Dia:Beacon Museum Pass. The Greek word “dia” means “through,” and this museum celebrates conceptual art about space and environment. Operated by the Dia Art Foundation, the Dia:Beacon offers works from the ‘60s to the present. Its collection features many long-term exhibits including Andy Warhol’s “Shadows” (1979), a series of
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Categories: Featured, Homepage, and Library News.

Ready for Onyx Storm?

Ready for Onyx Storm? Onyx Storm is book three of The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros and comes out January 21, 2025! Catch up on the series:  “After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there's no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty. Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it's impossible to know who to trust. Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, and Library News.

Catalog Spotlight: Reading History Option Now Available to You

Do you keep a reading log? Maybe you jot down titles of novels you’ve enjoyed so you can recommend them to friends. Or maybe you refer to a list of cookbooks you've perused so you can re-find an interesting recipe. Or maybe it gives you a sense of accomplishment to see all the books you've read and revisit the thoughts that led you to them. It may interest you to know that our catalog now gives you the option to record your reading history! This is an optional service that you will need to opt into, as the default setting
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Categories: Homepage and Library News.

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.
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Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.

Friends of the Library Book Sale

The Friends of the Library are hosting a special book sale on Saturday, February 8th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Along with the already extensive selection that is always available in the Bookstore, the Friends will be featuring our wonderful collection of cookbooks and children's books. The sale will take place in the Friends Bookstore located in the Cafe on the first floor. Books will be priced at $1.00 for hardcovers and $.50 for paperbacks. Cash only, please.  Proceeds from the Friends Bookstore go directly to supporting the Library. The Friends’ core mission is funding programs for children and
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Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.

AARP Tax Assistance 2025

The AARP Tax-Aide program will once again offer free tax preparation services at the White Plains Public Library from February 3, 2025, to April 14, 2025 (excluding February 17, 2025). We will also be scheduling appointments for Tuesday, February 20, 2025. PLEASE NOTE: THIS SERVICE IS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Appointments will be available on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with the last appointment scheduled at 2:00 PM. To schedule an appointment online, please visit the Tax-Aide Appointment Scheduler. Be sure to enter your email address to receive confirmation and reminders. Alternatively, you can call 914-348-3467 to
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Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.

Kids in the Kitchen 5

Welcome to Kids in the Kitchen.  This blog series highlights great cookbooks for kids.  This entry showcases some titles in the excellent “Young Chefs” series by America’s Test Kitchen. The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs: 100+ Sweet and Savory Recipes That You'll Love to Bake, Share and Eat! by America’s Test Kitchen Library Catalog “These 100-plus kid-tested recipes feature baking standards, like corn muffins and peanut butter cookies, as well as trendier fare, such as za'atar bread, buffalo chicken lavash flatbread, and Tahini-banana snack cake. Short testimonials from some of the more than 4,000 kids who were part of
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Museum Passes, Mobile Hotspots & Study Room Reservations

  Select by Date Museum Passes Click the button above labeled Museum Passes and select the museum you wish to visit for the Lending Program Rules & Regulations. WiFi Mobile HotSpots Click the button above labeled HotSpots for the Lending Program Rules & Regulations. Study Room Pass The Library has several study rooms available that individuals or a group of up to four can use to work. Here's what you need to know: To book an appointment online, you can use your White Plains library card. If you have a library card from another Westchester library, please call 422-1400 and
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Categories: Uncategorized.

Short-Story Book & Film Series – Winter/Spring 2025

Join White Plains Librarian Barbara Wenglin to explore compelling selections from the rich anthology Stories of Books and Libraries, (ed. Jane Holloway, Everyman’s Pocket Classics, 2023). These vibrant and varied readings by diverse authors pay tribute to the written word in works published throughout history, to their readers, and to the intriguing spaces that house them. This group meets on Zoom — all are welcome! Click here to sign up and receive the zoom link. Schedule: Thursdays, 2pm-4pm February 27: “Forewarned” by H.H. Munro writing as “Saki” (p.341) & “Three Kinds of Association” by Michel de Montaigne (p.275) March 13:
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Categories: Book Discussion, Events, Featured, and Homepage.