Archives for Featured

September Middle Grade Pick of the Month

September Middle Grade Pick of the Month

Middle grade is a term that refers to books written for readers between the ages of eight and twelve. In this column, Erica will recommend great books for children in this age group! Definitely Dominguita: Knight of the Cape by Terry Catasús Jennings Library Catalog: Print Libby: Digital Audiobook Knight of the Cape is the first book in the Definitely Dominguita series about a young Cuban-American girl who goes on adventures in her neighborhood, inspired by the classic books she reads and rereads to feel close with her abuela, who has moved to Florida. In the first book, Knight of
Read More

September 25, 2022 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: middle grade, middle grade fiction, Middle Grade Pick of the Month, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Banned Books Quiz

Banned Books Quiz

Defend the first amendment and celebrate the freedom to read freely, or as Jay-Z famously said, “We change people through conversation, not through censorship.” In honor of Banned Books Week – September 18 – 24 — please join us at 7:00pm on Wednesday, September 21st via Zoom as author Christopher Finan talks about his book How Free Speech Saved Democracy: The Untold History of How the First Amendment Became an Essential Tool for Securing Liberty and Social Justice. Finan will be interviewed by Oren Teicher, former CEO of the American Bookseller's Association. This event and our banned books title quiz,
Read More

September 18, 2022 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: #WPFreedomtoRead, banned books, Banned Books Quiz, and Banned Books Week.

September LibraryReads

September LibraryReads

Here are the books published this month that librarians across the country love. The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell Library Collection: Print / Large Print Libby: eBook / Audiobook In 16th-century Italy, teen Lucrezia de Medici passes from her father's control to her husband's, with neither considering her a person with a right to her own life. O'Farrell's poetic writing pulls you into this tale based on the likely subject of Robert Browning's poem “My Last Duchess.” For fans of Geraldine Brooks, Isabel Allende, and Hillary Mantel.”—Diana Armstrong, Multnomah County Library, Portland, ORThe American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas Library
Read More

September 12, 2022 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations, librarian recommendations, Library Reads, LibraryReads, and staff picks.

September Programs for Younger Kids

September Programs for Younger Kids

Some great regularly occurring programs for younger children take place all month long, in-person, at the Library.  Check the online calendar or ask in the Trove for specific locations for each event. Check out our Autumn StoryWalk featuring Full of Fall by April Pulley Sayre on the Library Plaza from Thursday, September 1st – Wednesday, November 30th, 2022.  More information here. Storytime! Ages 2-6, Families Tuesdays, 11:00 a.m. – September 13, September 20, September 27 Thursdays, 11:00 a.m. – September 8, September 22 Saturday, 2:00 p.m. – September 10 Books, songs and fun with Trove librarians! Move & Groove with
Read More

September 7, 2022 3:04 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's events, dance, kids, live music, music, performances, programs, September 2022, storytime, The Trove, trove, and trove events.

Meet Karen Jackson

Meet Karen Jackson

Most library patrons will recognize Karen Jackson, who joined the Library 18 years ago. Besides many behind-the-scenes jobs, she was responsible for our periodicals collection and helped out at the Hub desk as well. We're very pleased that Karen is starting a new phase of her career with us as an adult services librarian. You mentioned that when you were getting your undergraduate degree, you had thought about becoming an accountant. What made you decide to become a librarian instead? I realized that what I really enjoyed was helping people, and that I could do more of that as a
Read More

September 6, 2022 2:27 pm | by | 2 Comments
Categories: Director's Corner, Featured, and Library News.
Tags: Karen Jackson, library staff, Meet the Staff, and staff interview.

Meet Erica Roberts

Meet Erica Roberts

Our newest librarian is Erica Roberts, a native of Maryland who recently graduated from the University of North Carolina’s School of Information and Library Science at Chapel Hill. What interested you in becoming a librarian? When I graduated college, I was sure I was going to end up working in the publishing industry. After a number of false starts, I ended up working at my local Barnes and Noble – and as much as I hated the sell-sell-sell focus of the job, I did really love interacting with customers and offering book recommendations. When a relative suggested I talk with
Read More

September 5, 2022 5:09 pm | by | 1 Comment
Categories: Director's Corner, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Erica Roberts, library staff, Meet the Staff, and staff interview.

New Books in the Edge: September 2022

New Books in the Edge: September 2022

Fall weather is reading weather! Whether you're searching for avant-garde science-fiction, true stories of perseverance, or spooky tales, here are a few of titles coming to the Edge shelves this month.–Alain Laforest Three Kisses, One Midnight by Roshani Chokshi, Sandhya Menon, Evelyn Skye Grades 7 and up Library Catalog “The book is set during the Halloween season in Moon Ridge, a town with a mysterious legend tied to the holiday. This legend tells of a young lady who, once a century, haunts the area on Halloween night, granting romantic wishes. Familiar with the local lore, teens Onny, Ash, and True
Read More

September 1, 2022 11:58 am | 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.

Talk Like a Pirate Day

Talk Like a Pirate Day

AVAST ME HEARTIES! September 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, celebrated annually since 1995. Stop by the Trove and grab a piratical read or check out our list of Swashbuckling Reads! Need some help with that scurvy pirate lingo or want some ideas for things to do to get into the scallywag spirit? Check out our blog post on Seafaring Activities!
Read More

September 1, 2022 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Observances and Celebrations, pirate books, staff picks, staff recommendations, and Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Beautiful Bilingual Books, Part 3

Beautiful Bilingual Books, Part 3

The Library has recently purchased a lovely collection of bilingual Spanish/English books. To celebrate reading in two languages, we will be featuring our beautiful new books in a 3-part blog series – so enjoy practicing your Spanish and English skills with these board books, picture books and nonfiction titles! La Biblioteca ha adquirido recientemente una colección de hermosos libros bilingües en inglés/español. Para celebrar leyendo en dos idiomas, estaremos presentando nuestros lindos libros en 3 partes. Así que disfrute practicando sus destrezas en ambos idiomas con estos libros en carpeta dura, ilustrados y no-ficción. Board Books / Carpeta Dura With
Read More

August 25, 2022 9:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Español, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Bilingual, Bilingual books, books for children, picture books, spanish books, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Autumn StoryWalk: Full of Fall

Autumn StoryWalk: Full of Fall

The Trove’s First 2022 Autumn Storywalk: Full of Fall by April Pulley Sayre Thursday, September 1st – Wednesday, November 30th, 2022 September will be here soon and we are starting our fall with an autumn StoryWalk. Take a stroll on the Library Plaza and along your way enjoy the book, Full of Fall written by April Pulley Sayre. Full of Fall is a visually stunning picture book that captures the essence of Fall. Readers will learn that when the September sun is low in the sky it is time to say goodbye to summer. In the next few pages, we
Read More

August 22, 2022 2:42 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Autumn StoryWalk, Fall StoryWalk, storywalk, The Trove, and Trove StoryWalk.

Lunchtime Meditation

Lunchtime Meditation

Our popular Lunchtime Meditation series returns to Zoom this September. This wellness program includes brief beginning instruction followed by meditation. No experience is needed. A variety of guest instructors will lead the program from 12:00–12:45 p.m. on the following Wednesdays: September 7th: Seth Segall September 14th: Sharon Lewis September 21st: Dan Cayer September 28th: Andrea Deierlein October 5th: Seth Segall October 12th: Sharon Lewis October 19th: Sharon Lewis October 26th: Andrea Deierlein November 2nd: Seth Segall November 9th: Sharon Lewis November 16th: Andrea Deierlein December 7th: Seth Segall This program is made possible with support from the White Plains Library
Read More

August 22, 2022 10:17 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: lunchtime meditation, lunchtime meditation at the library, Meditation, meditation classes in White Plains, mindfulness, Wellness, wellness classes in white plains, Wellness programs, and Wellness Wednesdays.

Women’s Equality Day

Women’s Equality Day

On August 26th, 1920, U.S. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby certified the 19th Amendment and that date became known as “Women’s Equality Day.” The National Constitution Center’s article, Why is August 26 Known As Women's Equality Day? writes, “In 1971, Representative Bella Abzug championed a bill in the U.S. Congress to designate August 26 as ‘Women’s Equality Day.’ The bill says that ‘the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation annually in commemoration of that day in 1920, on which the women of America were first given the right to vote.’” Unfortunately, women’s equality and voting rights are
Read More

August 16, 2022 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: 19th Amendment, children's books, Dive into Diversity, Observances and Celebrations, staff picks, staff recommendations, Women's Equality, and Women's Equality Day.

Common Ground 2022-2023

Common Ground 2022-2023

What is Common Ground? Five years ago, the White Plains League of Women Voters, the White Plains Public Library, and the YWCA collaborated to support a community conversation. Living in a community is different from supporting a community so Common Ground emerged as a place to discuss national and local issues from a local perspective. All members of the community are invited to participate as this is place to listen to each other and to learn about our community. Common Ground will meet in person this year on the third Thursday of the month from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Library.
Read More

August 14, 2022 9:39 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: Common Ground and community conversations.

August LibraryReads

August LibraryReads

Here are the books published this month that librarians across the country love. Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood Library Collection: Print “Bee’s worked hard to get her big break leading a NASA project. However, she learns that she’ll be working with Levi, an old acquaintance who detests her. Or does he? Hazelwood’s done it again with another fantastic romance filled with the real-world struggles of being a woman in STEM. For fans of Helen Hoang and Christina Lauren.”—Brenna Timm, High Plains Library District, Greeley, COBabel: Or the Necessity of Violence: an Arcane History of the Oxford Translators Revolution
Read More

August 9, 2022 4:02 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations, librarian recommendations, Library Reads, LibraryReads, and staff picks.

American Artist Appreciation Month

American Artist Appreciation Month

August is American Artist Appreciation Month. It is never too early to learn about art, creativity, and expression. Discover activities you can do with your family at home or visit a museum such as The Met. During the month of August you can also treat yourself to a biography of Mary Cassatt or Faith Ringold and learn about their passion, influences, and styles of expression. Readers can learn about the Harlem Renaissance which helped African American artists get recognition for their contributions in the art world.  An Artist’s America by Michael Albert Library Collection: Print (Grades 4-6th) Michael Albert combined
Read More

August 9, 2022 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: American Artist Month, art, artists, books for children, children's books, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

New in the Edge: August 2022

New in the Edge: August 2022

From great new books to favorite classic reads, the Edge is here to share the exciting world of young adult literature. It is with great pleasure that I get to shed light on some of the latest titles in the Edge. Come discover some of the latest and greatest YA fiction titles coming to our shelves this month.–Alain Laforest Baby Teeth by Meg Grehan Grades 10 and up Library Catalog “Immy has been in love before, but her relationships always end—because she's a vampire. She's had many lovers, and she remembers them all. Sometimes these memories are a curse: every
Read More

August 4, 2022 4:22 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.

Great Podcasts for Kids 7

Great Podcasts for Kids 7

Summer isn’t over yet, and vacation is a great time for podcasts! I have some more great recommendations for you below, but be sure to also check out the previous Great Podcasts posts. All of these podcasts should be available on any service you use to listen to podcasts, such as Apple Podcasts, Apple Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, etc. Some, however, may be available only through the link provided. If you have some additional great podcast recommendations, leave them in the comments below! Podcast Potpourri The Children’s Hour Kids Public Radio Broadcast first on stations across the country, then
Read More

August 4, 2022 11:24 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Great Podcasts, Great Podcasts for Kids, podcasts, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Beautiful Bilingual Books, Part 2

Beautiful Bilingual Books, Part 2

The Library has recently purchased a lovely collection of bilingual Spanish/English books. To celebrate reading in two languages, we will be featuring our beautiful new books in a 3-part blog series – so enjoy practicing your Spanish and English skills with these board books, picture books and nonfiction titles! La Biblioteca ha adquirido recientemente una colección de hermosos libros bilingües en inglés/español. Para celebrar leyendo en 2 idiomas, estaremos presentando nuestros lindos libros en 3 partes. Así que disfrute practicando sus destrezas en ambos idiomas con estos libros en carpeta dura, ilustrados y no-ficción. Board Books / Carpeta Dura Brrum,
Read More

July 27, 2022 2:08 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Español, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Bilingual, Bilingual books, books for children, picture books, spanish books, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

COVID-19 Testing Sites

COVID-19 Testing Sites

What's the most popular reference question lately? It's where to go for COVID-19 testing. Here's our list of local testing sites. Please note that schedules and availability of testing varies across these locations and are subject to change. Make sure to check a location's website or call before visiting. You can also call the White Plains Coronavirus Hotline with related questions at (914) 681-2900. Do you know of another White Plains testing site not listed here? Or a change with any of the listed sites? Leave us a comment below or email tbaird@whiteplainslibrary.org so we can verify and update our
Read More

July 27, 2022 10:00 am | by | 5 Comments
Categories: COVID-19, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: covid testing, covid-19, covid-19 testing, COVID19, and covid19 testing.

DeVillo’s New Battle of White Plains Book

DeVillo’s New Battle of White Plains Book

A new book about the Battle of White Plains has come out: The Battle of White Plains: Washington and Howe in Westchester by Stephen Paul DeVillo. He is a local historian who has written books on the Bowery and the Bronx River. “I thought the Battle of White Plains deserves a much closer look,” he said in a telephone interview. “So often it’s given short shrift. It was not just a pit stop between the Fall of New York City and the Battle of Trenton.” The conventional view is that the British won the battle since they drove General George
Read More

July 26, 2022 5:40 pm | by | 3 Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Library News, and Local History.
Tags: Revolutionary War, The Battle of White Plains, white plains, and white plains history.