Posts by Kristen, Adult Librarian

April 2019 LibraryReads

April 2019 LibraryReads

Here are the top ten books published this month that librarians across the country love. Just click on a title or book cover to place it on hold. Lost Roses: A Novel by Martha Hall Kelly Published: 4/9/2019 by Ballantine Books “The Ferriday family (The Lilac Girls) returns in this story of love, loss, and triumph. The voices of four compelling female characters tell of the devastating effects of the Russian Revolution and World War I. Highly recommended for book clubs and fans of Anthony Doerr, Susan Meissner, and Lauren Belfer.”—Mamie Ney, Auburn Public Library, Auburn, ME The Girl He
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March 25, 2019 4:33 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations and Library Reads.

Catalog Update: Tips

Catalog Update: Tips

The Westchester libraries have completed migrating to new software, but there are still plenty of kinks to work out. Here are two pieces of advice. One, don't get frustrated, call us (914-422-1480). If something isn't working, or you are unsure of how to do something, let us help you. And two, give it a little time; this migration involved millions of books, patrons, and data, and it will take a bit longer to sort out everything. If you are having difficulties getting your PIN to work, first trying using all capitals if it is an alphabetical PIN. That should work.
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March 20, 2019 3:00 pm | by | 12 Comments
Categories: Director's Corner, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: catalog.

Families of Veterans Writing Workshop Returns

Families of Veterans Writing Workshop Returns

The adjustment for American veterans returning from war (depicted brilliantly by The Best Years of Our Lives after World War II and Coming Home and Born on the Fourth of July after the Vietnam War) extends to their families. Irvington-based telecommunications consultant Julia Rust watched how memories from World War II affected her late father David Rust in “the way he moved, the way he drove, and who he was,” and that led her and Veterans Writing Workshop (VWW) director David Surface to initiate writing workshops for family members in 2014. “I participated in the first one–the reading was held
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March 11, 2019 3:30 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Classes, eNewsletter, Events, and Library News.
Tags: veterans and writing workshop.

A New Catalog

A New Catalog

In March, the public libraries in Westchester County will be moving to a new catalog system. For you, this means an improved interface with better—and easier—search capabilities, greater control over your notifications, and better access to what’s available through the library. Library staff members are getting an open source system, which means the libraries have more control over how the system works. Going forward, we’ll be able to customize the catalog for what works best for Westchester. But migrating to a new catalog won’t happen overnight. To facilitate the process, the catalog will be offline from March 11 to March
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February 27, 2019 3:00 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Director's Corner, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: catalog.

March 2019 LibraryReads

March 2019 LibraryReads

Here are the top ten books published this month that librarians across the country love. Just click on a title or book cover to place it on hold. My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing Published: 3/26/2019 by Berkley “An incredible, dark, twisty psychological thriller with two of the most seemingly normal but disturbingly depraved people you will read about in fiction. This brilliant debut needs to be at the top of your must-read list. For readers who like taut suspense and works by Gillian Flynn, B.A. Paris, and Mary Kubica.”—Rachel Reeves, Weatherford Public Library, Weatherford, TX Beautiful Bad by Annie
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February 25, 2019 4:55 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations and Library Reads.

Best Audiobooks of 2018

Best Audiobooks of 2018

Every year, through the Listen List Council of the American Library Association, librarians create the Listen List, selected for both avid listeners of audiobooks and those new to the pleasures of the fastest-growing format in publishing. This juried list of twelve newly-released titles features extraordinary narrators and listening experiences. This past year jury members listened to 2,574 hours as they narrowed the field to 58 nominated audiobooks and selected winners that include fiction, nonfiction, memoir, and poetry, each an outstanding performance in terms of voice, accents, pitch, tone, inflection, rhythm and pace. Here’s the 12 that made the final cut:
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February 20, 2019 12:50 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, and Library News.
Tags: audiobooks.

Reserve Best Picture Nominees

Reserve Best Picture Nominees

Interested in watching some of the films nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award this year? Just click on the DVD covers or titles below to easily request Bohemian Rhapsody, BlacKkKlansman, Green Book, and more. And don't forget to tune in to the 91st Academy Awards this Sunday, February 24th.   Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) A chronicle of Freddie Mercury and the band Queen during the years leading up to their appearance at the 1985 Live Aid concert. The Favourite (2018) Early 18th century England is at war with the French. A frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and
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February 19, 2019 2:23 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: eNewsletter, Featured, and Library News.
Tags: Academy Awards and dvds.

Museum Passes: Family Edition

Museum Passes: Family Edition

We’ve having a break in the weather, so why not head off to a museum? Highlighted here are some of the Library’s museum passes that families will enjoy. The Children’s Museum of Manhattan, located on West 83 Street, has way too much going on to describe here (Dynamic H2O; Art, Artists & You; Let’s Dance). Best of all, the museum provides plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning and activities. Visit their website for the full lineup. Trains, buses and ferries are universally fascinating, and the New York City Transit Museum has plenty on display. Check out the exhibit Ticket to
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February 13, 2019 3:00 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Director's Corner, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Children's Museum of Manhattan, museum passes, New York City Transit Museum, Stamford Museum & Nature Center, and Stepping Stones Museum for Children.

February 2019 LibraryReads

February 2019 LibraryReads

Here are the top ten books published this month that librarians across the country love. Just click on a title or book cover to place it on hold. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides Published: 2/5/2019 by Celadon Books “Led on a dark path, readers will quickly guess that there’s more to Alicia’s story than what meets the eye. But the big surprises lie in the deep betrayals and the shock of an ending. Dark, twisted, perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Paula Hawkins, and Ruth Ware.”—Amy Fellows, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry
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February 5, 2019 4:42 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations and Library Reads.

Essential Cookbooks

Essential Cookbooks

This is the time of the year when librarians create lists of the best or recommended books of the year—from best picture book for children to best audiobook books for adults. And we’ll be highlighting many of these over the next few weeks. But here’s something completely new: a list of the essential cookbooks, suitable for both avid chefs as well as those just learning the rewards of making a meal. This was the first time the American Library Association ever created a list of recommended cookbooks, and I was happy to serve on the committee. And while it sounds
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January 31, 2019 9:36 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Evergreen, Featured, and Library News.
Tags: cookbooks.

2019 Children’s Book Awards

2019 Children’s Book Awards

Every January the American Library Association grants awards to a variety of talented authors and illustrators that highlight the year’s many excellent works created for children and youth with their Coretta Scott King Awards, (John) Newbery, and (Randolph) Caldecott Medals. Last week we highlighted past winners, this week we share this year's winners below. If you'd like to place a hold on one of the titles, simply click on the title or book cover. 2019 Caldecott Medal Winner Hello Lighthouse, illustrated and written by Sophie Blackall, published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. Masterful
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January 28, 2019 3:57 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, and Kids.
Tags: caldecott medal and Newbery medal.

Award-Winning Children’s Books

Award-Winning Children’s Books

Every January the American Library Association grants awards to a variety of talented authors and illustrators that highlight the year’s many excellent works created for children and youth with their Coretta Scott King Awards, and their (Pura) Belpre, (John) Newbery, and (Randolph) Caldecott Medals. This year announcements of the winners will take place on Monday, January 28th, 2019. In celebration of these honored books, the Trove has four displays showcasing a sampling of the superlative works created for children that have won these prestigious awards and medals in past years. 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Coretta Scott King
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January 23, 2019 10:40 am | by | 2 Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Belpre medal, caldecott medal, Coretta Scott King award, and Newbery medal.

January 2019 LibraryReads

January 2019 LibraryReads

Here are the top ten books published this month that librarians across the country love. Just click on a title or book cover to place it on hold. Once Upon a River: A Novel by Diane Setterfield Published: 12/4/2018 by Atria/Emily Bestler Books “A wonderfully dark and mysterious read. Something happens one stormy winter solstice evening that triggers a chain of events that changes the lives of all the main characters. Moody and mystical. For readers who love gothic fiction like The Death of Mrs. Westaway and The Clockmaker’s Daughter.”—Melanie Liechty, Logan Library, Logan, UT An Anonymous Girl by Greer
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January 9, 2019 2:52 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations and Library Reads.

Technology Sessions for Teens

Technology Sessions for Teens

Every Thursday at 4:00 p.m. in the Edge, teens can learn a variety of skills relating to digital technology, from music creation to 3D printing and design. Known as “T(h)ech Thursdays,” the goal is to learn computer science concepts, promote creative thinking, and allow teenagers to use technologically-advanced equipment. For computer science learning in T(h)ech Thursdays, a variety of tools and applications are available to the teens. To learn coding, for example, block-based educational apps such as Scratch and Alice 2 are used, as well as more advanced, design-based applications using professional programming techniques, such as Processing. There are a
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January 9, 2019 1:34 pm | by | 2 Comments
Categories: eNewsletter, Events, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: 3d printing, coding, digital technology, lan, and technology training.

2019 Resolutions: Books & Tips

2019 Resolutions: Books & Tips

This is the time of year when we focus on improving the quality of our lives. We know the benefits of healthy eating and exercise, but why beat yourself up at the start of a new year with another diet you won't commit to? This year, start off with some self care, mindful approaches to a healthy routine, and take some time to appreciate a good book or a local museum. Keep reading for a few book recommendations and tips to begin a new journey to a better year and a better you. Slow: Simple Living for a Frantic World
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January 2, 2019 9:25 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, and Library News.
Tags: dieting, new year's resolutions, and self help.

STEM Buddies

STEM Buddies

Join us every other Thursday at 4:30 p.m. beginning January 10th for STEM Buddies. During this program children in grades 1-4 can sign up at the Compass Desk in the Trove to work on STEM activities in small groups for 30 minutes with teen volunteers or college students. Sign-up will start at 4:00 p.m. STEM = Science Technology Engineering Math Read more about STEM and STEAM here.
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January 2, 2019 9:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: eNewsletter, Events, Evergreen, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: STEM and STEM Buddies.

The Jewish Museum Pass Now Available

The Jewish Museum Pass Now Available

The White Plains Public Library is pleased to announce the addition of The Jewish Museum 1109 Fifth Avenue NYC to the Museum Pass Program.  The Library pass provides free admission for two adults of and all children 18 and under. Located on New York City’s Museum Mile, the Jewish Museum is a museum at the intersection of art and Jewish culture for people of all backgrounds. Founded in 1904, the Museum was the first institution of its kind in the United States and one of the oldest Jewish museums in the world. The Museum maintains a unique collection of nearly
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December 22, 2018 4:13 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: eNewsletter, Evergreen, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: Jewish Museum and museum passes.

EDGE-Versary 2018

EDGE-Versary 2018

On December 14, the Edge invited teens to attend an after-hours party celebrating the 5th anniversary of our teen library. Activities included six modern and retro video game tournaments with prizes, a Harry Potter mystery to solve, table-top games, a craft table with button making and Perler beads, a technology playground full of electronics to tinker with, robot races with prizes for the winners, and a Virtual Reality cooperative puzzle challenge. Feedback from those who attended was overwhelmingly positive, with one teen remarking, “I thought the event was incredible. Seeing all the family from the Edge united made me really
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December 18, 2018 2:43 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: Edgeversary and The Edge.

Five Years of Teen Services: A R-Edge-rospective

Five Years of Teen Services: A R-Edge-rospective

This month marks the fifth anniversary of the Edge, the Library’s teen space. Before the Edge opened, there was only a small collection of materials for teens in the Library, and with a staff of only one teen librarian we held just one program each week. Not surprisingly,  few teenagers used the Library. Since opening the Edge in December 2013,  the number of teens who come to the Library has grown immensely. Our Young Adult collection has expanded in print and electronic formats to meet the needs and interests of teenagers.  We offer innovative and creative programs for teens throughout
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December 12, 2018 4:28 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Director's Corner, eNewsletter, Evergreen, Featured, Library News, and Teens.

Best Books of 2018 Poll

Best Books of 2018 Poll

Here are the top ten books published this year that librarians across the country love. Just click on a title or book cover to place it on hold. When you're done reading the list, make sure to vote for your favorite! We'll be sharing the results in one of our upcoming newsletters. Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover Published: 2/20/2018 by Random House “In her memoir, Westover recounts her childhood growing up in a strict Mormon family, ruled by an erratic father, and living off the grid in Idaho. Westover compellingly sketches her years growing up, her relationships with siblings,
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November 28, 2018 1:20 pm | by | 1 Comment
Categories: Authors & Books, Director's Corner, eNewsletter, and Featured.
Tags: books, Library Reads, and poll.