Posts by Kathleen Degyansky, Assistant Director

Digital Photography Workshop for Seniors

Professional photographer and arts educator Lori Adams will present an 8-week digital photography workshop for seniors. The first session is Tuesday, January 5, 2016, 2:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m. Using their own cameras, participants will learn the fundamentals of composition, and use of light and color to create portraits and still life images. A basic understanding of camera settings and photo editing will also be covered. The workshop will culminate in an exhibit of participants' work. Participation is limited to fifteen students aged 55 and better.  Participants should plan to attend all sessions. Pre-registration is required and can be submitted
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Categories: Classes and Uncategorized.

CITY OF WHITE PLAINS 3RD ANNUAL WELLNESS WEEK

The White Plains Youth Bureau, in cooperation with the White Plains Cares Coalition and the Coalition for Living Wellness, will host the City’s 3rd Annual Wellness Week Celebration September 19 through September 28. Wellness Week will begin with a free outdoor Kick-Off Festival on Saturday, September 19, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m., on Court Street between Martine Avenue and Main Street. The kick-off event will feature musical performances, health and wellness vendors that attendees will be able to interact with games, food and more! The kick-off celebration will be followed by a week of wellness events, to be held at locations
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Categories: Events.

On the Homefront — Families of Veterans Writing Workshop

White Plains Public Library and Veterans Writing Workshop are pleased to offer a free creative writing workshop for family members or caretakers of a veteran or active duty service members. The free workshop is open to all writing experience levels. The workshop will take place ten Wednesdays beginning September 16 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Learn the skills that will help you write your stories. Get valuable feedback and guidance from a published writer. Become part of a supportive community of writers. Publish your writing in the Families of Veterans anthology. Class size is limited and registration is required.
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Categories: Classes.

One-on-One Resume Help

Need a resume? Have no idea where to start? The White Plains Public Library now offers, by appointment, personal one-on-one resume help. Help is provided by an experienced business educator. Trainees work at a computer with the instructor and leave with a completed resume. This service is free, confidential and open to anyone regardless of library membership. Stop by the information desk to schedule an appointment or go to our one-on-one training list. One-on-one training is also available for 3D printing, use of the library catalog, mouse and windows skills, basics of web browsing, basic research, use of our databases,
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Categories: Homepage and Library News.

Storywalk in the Park

The City of White Plains Recreation and Parks Department, in partnership with the White Plains Public Library, is pleased to introduce StoryWalk at Bryant-Mamaroneck Park. The StoryWalk combines a children's story with a popular walking route. Children's books are selected, the pages separated, laminated, and placed along a walking path at regular intervals so readers can follow the story as they walk the route. The StoryWalk is a great opportunity for parents, teachers, and caregivers to provide a fun and healthy activity for young children. Mayor Roach said, “We hope that families will return to the park regularly to enjoy
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Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.

Heart Gallery Showcase

The Westchester County Department of Social Services is sponsoring an exhibit of photos of children needing loving adoptive homes in their annual Heart Gallery Showcase. The exhibit will be on view through April but the need for homes continues year round. For more information, contact Paul Tavolacci at 914-995-5303.
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Categories: Events, Homepage, and Library News.

ReferenceUSA Business Networking Breakfast at the White Plains Public Library

LEARN HOW TO GAIN COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE TO DOMINATE YOUR MARKET. The Library cordially invites local businesses, community organizations and government agencies from around the area to the Library Wednesday, March 25th, 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM. A light breakfast will be served! Special guest speaker Bill Loges of ReferenceUSA will demonstrate how you can easily develop a client list with the help of your public library. Always free with a library card. Come and learn how you can access this powerful business database to target new customers, research competitors, and gain competitive advantage by leveraging targeted information to cultivate your
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Categories: Events, Homepage, Library News, and Research.

Fourth Annual Harlem Fine Arts Show Comes to White Plains

The premier showcase for modern and contemporary art from the African Diaspora will be held on Tuesday, March 3rd at 6:00 p.m. at the White Plains Public Library. This year’s show will honor Mary Frances Perkins and Max Rodriguez. “The City of White Plains is once again thrilled to be a host location for this important fine arts show as it branches out from its home location in Harlem,” said White Plains Mayor Tom Roach. This year's theme is “Artists and Authors” and attendees will have an opportunity to view and purchase works by emerging and professional artists and renowned
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Categories: Events, Homepage, and Library News.

What’s the buzz? Library Foundation hosts Adult and Teen Spelling Bee fundraiser to benefit The Trove!

Join us Friday, February 27, 7 p.m. at the HIGHLANDS MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM for our first-ever Adult & Teen Spelling Bee. Have some fun watching teams of adults from community organizations and book groups and teens from White Plains High School test their spelling skills! Doors open at 7 p.m., Bee starts at 7:30 p.m. Snow date Friday March 6. Admission $5 payable at door. Kids under 6 free. Raffle drawing and refreshments available for purchase. Proceeds will support new technology for The Trove, our amazing children's library, celebrating its 10th birthday this year. Our celebrity emcee is Lawrence Otis
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Categories: Events, Homepage, and Library News.

Meet the Author — Dr. Ari DeLevie

This Thursday, January 29, Dr. DeLevie will read from his debut novel, Coping with Demons of War, which Kirkus Reviews calls “an intelligent, cumulatively powerful” work which involves eight men in a room, all veterans of the Israeli armed forces, all suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Dr. DeLevie draws on his forty-plus years of experience with veterans both in the United States and Israel who struggle years and even decades later from the debilitating effects of post traumatic stress disorder. The author will sign and sell his book following the presentation. It all starts at 2:00 p.m. in our
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Categories: Events, Homepage, and Library News.

FAFSA Boot Camp at the Library, January 18

The FAFSA is the first step needed to apply for financial aid. Federal aid, university aid and some scholarships require that you submit a FAFSA application to qualify. Completing it early is key to receiving financial assistance for college! Sunday, January 18 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. we're hosting a FAFSA Boot Camp, presented by Latino U. BRING WITH YOU We will provide you with free help and individual assistance to complete your FAFSA application. Please bring the following information with you that is needed for the application: • Social Security Number • Student driver’s license (if you have one) • 2013
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Categories: Events, Homepage, and Library News.

Hoopla Launch Event planned for this Saturday

We are excited to announce the public availability of thousands of movies, television shows, music albums and audiobooks, all available for mobile and online access through a new partnership with hoopla digital. White Plains Library card holders can download the free hoopla digital mobile app on their Android or iOS device or visit hoopladigital.com to begin enjoying thousands of titles – from major Hollywood studios, record companies and publishers – available to borrow for instant streaming or temporary downloading to their smartphones, tablets and computers. hoopla digital has a simple sign-up and attractive, easy-to-use interface, so it’s easy to get to your listening and viewing experience.
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Categories: Authors & Books, Homepage, Library News, and Technology.

Free Career Counseling Seminar at the Library

Need to reassess and get your career back on track? In today's changing workplace where one's career can take some unexpected twists and turns, people have been turning to WEBS Career Camp; Educational Counseling Service, a program of the Westchester Library System, for free career counseling assistance. This winter WEBS will be offering a dynamic eight-week career seminar for adults at the White Plains Public Library. Managing Your Career in Changing Times is a comprehensive seminar that offers interest and personality assessment, group discussion and exercises, exposure to a wide variety of informational resources and guidance from a professional career
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Categories: Events, Homepage, and Library News.

Be Prepared — Workshops at the Library

The Library is hosting two workshops in December to help citizens prepare for the unexpected. On December 4 at 7:00 p.m., the American Red Cross will offer “Prepare, Respond and Recover: What to do When a Disaster Strikes.” On December 6 from 2:00-4:00 p.m., the Child Care Council of Westchester will present “What do do in an Emergency” in Spanish. Governor Cuomo initiated the Red Cross training so that New York citizens are prepared for natural and man made disasters. The Child Care Council of Westchester's session will help Spanish-speaking parents know what to do when a child becomes ill
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Categories: Events, Homepage, and Library News.

On the Homefront with Veteran's Writing Project

Veterans' family members will read selections from stories collected in a new work, On the Homefront. Come on Saturday, November 22 at 2:00 p.m. to be inspired by their stories and learn how you can get involved in telling your own. The Veteran's Writing Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Washington, DC, founded by veterans and family members which provides no-cost writing seminars and workshops for veterans, service members, and their adult family members, building an archive of writing by members of the military community. For more information about the Veteran's Writing Project visit their website at www.veteranswritingworkshop.org or
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Categories: Events, Homepage, and Library News.

Library Foundation Fall Gala November 8 Honors Three for their Inspiring Service

Please join us for the Foundation's Ninth Annual Fall Gala, “Stories to Inspire Us,” on Saturday, November 8, 7:00-10:00 p.m., as we honor Philip I. Kent, White Plains native, outstanding media executive, and generous Library supporter; the Friends of the WPPL, the all-volunteer group that has served the Library for 67 years; and Latino U College Access, a non-profit organization that provides college readiness services to first-generation high school students in Westchester. At the Gala, we will also kick off a year-long 10th Birthday celebration of The Trove, our amazing children's library. Tickets to this fundraising event are $125, and
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Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.

Heart Gallery Showcase

The Westchester County Department of Social Services is sponsoring an exhibit of photos of children needing loving adoptive homes in their annual Heart Gallery Showcase. The exhibit will be on view through October 10 but the need for homes continues year round. An opening reception will be held in the Library Auditorium on Wednesday, October 9 at 2:00 p.m. Keynote speaker for the event is Darryl McDaniel, a pioneer of hip hop culture and one of the founding members of the hip hop group Run–D.M.C. For more information, contact Paul Tavolacci at 914-995-5303. The reception and exhibit are free and
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Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.

Peter Wood: A retrospective

On view in the Library Museum Gallery from September 28, 2014 through November 28, 2014, this exhibit features the work of Peter Wood, an English teacher at White Plains High School. His art has been shown in Manhattan, Easthampton, NY and the mid-west. One of his paintings was featured in an exhibit at the Katonah Museum of Art. All of the books used in his work were re-purposed from discarded items from libraries, schools or private collections. They were reclaimed from garbage and remainder bins and the artist “attempted to breathe new life into them. Essentially, these books have been
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Categories: Featured, Gallery, Homepage, and Library News.

Free Career and Educational Counseling at the Library

WEBS Career and Educational Counseling Service is once again offering a free eight-week career counseling seminar for adults this fall called “Managing Your Career in Changing Times”. Call 914-674-3612 for program dates and to register. Places will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. WEBS helps participants assess themselves, explore career options, obtain career and educational information, find out about the latest trends in resumes and job search, and develop a career plan. The program is geared to those who are unemployed, changing careers, reentering the workforce or returning to school. The nineteen-hour workshop consists of an orientation session, eight
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Categories: Classes, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.

Free Citizenship Classes

The Library is hosting free citizenship classes this summer. Classes will cover information needed to pass the test, basic test-taking skills and preparation for the English language section of the test. The class is free but space is limited and registration is required. Register on Tuesday, July 1, 10am – 1pm, 6pm – 9pm or on Thursday, July 3 from 10am – 1pm. Students must be at least 18 years old. Classes meet on: Tuesdays, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Tuesday, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. OR Thursdays, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. This class is offered in partnership with
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Categories: Classes, Homepage, and Library News.