Archives for Featured

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, 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.

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.

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,
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Categories: Featured and Homepage Kids.

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
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Categories: Featured, Homepage, and Library News.

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
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Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, and Kids.

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
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Categories: Classes, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, and Homepage Teens.

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
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

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

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
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

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

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
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.

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
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.

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
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage, and Homepage Kids.

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
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, and Kids.

‘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,
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Categories: Featured, Homepage, and Library News.

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
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, and Kids.