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National Poetry Month Continues

National Poetry Month Continues

“Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is now held every April, when schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets throughout the United States band together to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Thousands of organizations participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events.” – poets.org Next in our celebration of National Poetry Month, Professor Eleanor Ehrenkranz of Pace University will speak at the Library on Thursday, April 25, from 2-3:30 p.m. Dr. Ehrenkranz will read from and discuss her recently published anthology, “Explaining Life: The Wisdom of Modern Jewish Poetry
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April 18, 2013 7:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Classes, Events, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: adults, author event, and poetry.

Soles 4 Souls

Soles 4 Souls

You may have noticed the box for shoe donations in the Library lobby. The City of White Plains is participating in the Soles 4 Souls campaign through Monday, April 29. Your gift of footwear is important to children and adults around the world. Footwear can help eliminate the spread of disease through the foot as well as help children obtain an education as many schools have footwear requirements to attend. When you take time to recycle your footwear, you are in fact changing lives. Help us make a difference by donating new or used shoes of any kind. Learn more
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April 16, 2013 7:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: all ages.

Head Start Art Fair in The Trove — A Community Celebration

Head Start Art Fair in The Trove — A Community Celebration

Come to the Head Start Art Fair, a wonderful exhibit in The Trove! Over the next four weeks, art created by children and parents who participate in the White Plains Early Childhood Programs of Family Services of Westchester will be on display along The Trove's Tree Trail. There will be new art each week. Begun in 2006 at the Slater Center by Head Start teacher Pat Foendoe, (“Miss Pat,”)  the Fair has grown to include artwork from the other centers in White Plains – Bethel, Eastview, North Street, Rochambeau in addition to Slater. This year, 2013, is the first time
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April 15, 2013 7:00 am | by | 1 Comment
Categories: Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: all ages, art, children, and The Trove.

Pianist Brian Lam to Perform at the 14th Annual Clarice Wilson Memorial Concert

Pianist Brian Lam to Perform at the 14th Annual Clarice Wilson Memorial Concert

Even if you didn't know Clarice Wilson (music specialist at the Library from 1974-1999) the annual concerts held in her memory are worth attending. Mrs. Wilson supported gifted young artists at the beginning of their careers and this year's performance continues in that spirit by featuring a very talented young pianist, Brian Lam. A native of Hong Kong, Fung Yuen (Brian) Lam started playing the piano at age four. He is presently a scholarship piano performance major at Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music, City University of New York, where he studies with Adam Kent. In 2006, he became the youngest
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April 12, 2013 7:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: concert, Foundation, and music.

Allstate Readiness Series Personal Finance Workshop: Credit Cards, Credit Scores, and Debt Management

Allstate Readiness Series Personal Finance Workshop: Credit Cards, Credit Scores, and Debt Management

Gain control of your finances!  Join us Tuesday, April 16, at 7 p.m. for an interactive workshop on the different types of debt and credit cards being offered, and how they can help you manage your finances. You'll learn about credit bureaus, credit reports, and your credit score. We'll discuss strategies to pay down credit card debt and get out of debt. Presenter: Financial Educator Lew Tischler.. Part of the Allstate Readiness Series. Free admission. Refreshments available.
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April 10, 2013 7:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Classes, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: adults, Foundation, and workshops.

Still Here Thinking of You: A Second Chance with Our Mothers

Still Here Thinking of You: A Second Chance with Our Mothers

Join us on Sunday, April 14th from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. as four Westchester women do readings from their recent book, Still Here Thinking Of You:  A Second Chance with Our Mothers. Authors Vicki Addesso, Susan Hodara, Joan Potter, and Lori Toppel will do a group reading from the book. A discussion will follow, covering such topics as:  looking back at the mother-child relationship, the ins and outs of an enduring writing group, how writing about a significant experience can, alter one’s understanding of it and of oneself, and publishing with a small press. Tea and coffee will be served.
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April 8, 2013 7:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: adults, author event, and books.

Our new customer service policy. Why bother?

Our new customer service policy. Why bother?

You've seen them in banks, stores, and on consumer websites. But why would a library bother creating a customer service policy? For the same reason that any organization that works with the public has adopted one: to let its customers know how they can expect to be treated, in this case, by the White Plains Public Library. It also provides library staff and managers with clear benchmarks for how we should perform, from the state of the library building (a clean facility in good repair) to every single customer interaction—whether online, on the phone, or in-person. But most importantly, a
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April 5, 2013 7:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Director's Corner, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: all ages, policy, and services.

Creative Writing Program for Adults 55+

Creative Writing Program for Adults 55+

In partnership with The Bristal Assisted Living and the Westchester Library system, White Plains Public Library is pleased to present “Share, Shine, Celebrate!”, creative writing instruction for adults 55+. Explore your life stories with actor/playwright/educator Frank Ingrasciotta. No prior writing experience is necessary. Participants attend six sessions at The Bristal and two at the Library. Participants must register for all 8 sessions. You must provide your own transportation to The Bristal. Dates: April 9 (Bristal), 16 (Bristal), 23 (Library), 30 (Bristal), May 7 (Bristal), 14 (Bristal), 21 (Library), 28 (Bristal) Times: 2 – 4 p.m. Call the Reference Desk at
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April 4, 2013 7:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Classes, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: adults, classes, seniors, and workshops.

How To Approach A Foundation: From Initial Contact to Getting Funded

How To Approach A Foundation: From Initial Contact to Getting Funded

Looking for assistance on how to approach a foundation for support? Come to the FREE fundraising workshop on Wednesday, April 10th from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. to learn how to get the grants you want. Pre-registration is required. Simply visit npccny.org/workshop.htm to register online. Discover how to communicate effectively with (prospective) funders to build nonprofit-philanthropic partnerships. Susan Shiroma, Senior Librarian of the Foundation Center, will provide hands-on exercises to help you learn important skills critical to raising money from foundations, and the key stages surrounding the grant proposal process. Opening remarks by Lily Lopez of Citi Community Development and Michael
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April 3, 2013 7:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Classes, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: adults, classes, Foundation Center, fundraising, and nonprofit.

April is National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month

In celebration of National Poetry Month, Professors Lee Schlesinger of Purchase College and Eleanor Ehrenkranz of Pace University will present free programs at the Library. Dr. Schlesinger returns  on Sunday, April 7, from 2-4 PM, with a talk on ”The Power of Poetry and Literature in Troubled Times.” Dr. Schlesinger defends the value and meaning of poetry and literature in our stressful, technology-driven world, with examples of enduring works. Dr. Schlesinger is an Associate Professor of Literature in the School of Humanities at Purchase College where he received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. In addition to teaching,
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April 1, 2013 7:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Classes, Events, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: adults, books, and poetry.

The Sami Rohr Library of Recorded Yiddish Books

The Sami Rohr Library of Recorded Yiddish Books

Yiddish, a language without a country, has an estimated five million speakers throughout the world. Recently, the language has seen a resurgence of interest, particularly among younger generations looking to reconnect with their heritage. Also, the number of speakers is increasing with the growth of Yiddish language programs in universities and adult education settings. In his Nobel Prize for literature speech of 1990, Isaac Bashevis Singer said we haven't seen the end of Yiddish. He was correct. To help preserve Yiddish literature in its original tongue, Sami Rohr has commissioned a set of thirty “talking” books. Produced by the National
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March 29, 2013 7:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: adults, books, and collection.

Hear Slam Poet Marty McConnell on April 3

Hear Slam Poet Marty McConnell on April 3

Marty McConnell, one of the “greats” in the world of slam poetry, will be performing here on Wednesday, April 3, during our monthly poetry slam and open mic. McConnell has been a member of seven National Poetry Slam teams, and is the 2012 National Underground Poetry Individual Competition Champion. In 2011, she completed her first European tour and debuted her one-woman show, “vicebox.”  Her work has been published in numerous anthologies, and she is a two-time recipient of the Community Arts Assistance Program grant from the City of Chicago’s Office of Tourism and Culture. No stranger to Westchester, McConnell received
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March 26, 2013 7:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: adults and poetry slam.

Kids Get to "Act It Out" in The Trove

Kids Get to "Act It Out" in The Trove

Hi, Kids! Do you see yourself on the big stage – or the big screen – someday?  Get started here in The Trove in our “Act It Out” program.  This 3-session drama workshop for third through sixth graders will include improvisation, theater games, and script reading.  We'll perform a short reader's theater selection for family and friends at the end of our last session. We'll meet from 4:30pm to 5:30pm on Tuesdays, April 2nd, 9th and 16th. Registration is required.  Sign-up sheets will be at The Trove's Compass desk beginning Tuesday, March 26th.  You may sign up in person or
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March 25, 2013 7:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Classes, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: children, classes, The Trove, and workshops.

Fairy Houses – an Exhibit and a Play Workshop

Fairy Houses – an Exhibit and a Play Workshop

An exhibit showcasing the lovely fairy houses and fairy realia of Joan Monk and Bev McAllister from the Westchester Children’s Museum: Museum Without Walls can be currently seen at the Library’s second-floor lobby and in the Trove. The display promotes the upcoming crafts program, Fairy Houses – a Play Workshop, that will be presented at the Library by staff from the Westchester Children’s Museum on Sunday, March 24th at 2 pm. Children in grades 1-6 will be creating fairy houses which will then be arranged into a village for parents and younger siblings to view at 3:30 pm. To make
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March 22, 2013 7:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: art, children, families, The Trove, and workshops.

National Poetry Month Events

National Poetry Month Events

April is National Poetry Month! In celebration of poetry, we're offering two inspiring programs. We hope you'll join us for one or both. Professor Lee Schlesinger returns to the Library on Sunday afternoon, April 7, from 2:00-4:00 PM, with a timely talk on ”The Power of Poetry and Literature in Troubled Times.”  Dr. Schlesinger defends the value and meaning of poetry and literature in our stressful, technology-driven world, with examples of enduring works that lift the spirit and illuminate the soul. (Special thanks to the Friends of White Plains Public Library for making this lecture possible.) Dr. Schlesinger is an
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March 21, 2013 7:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: adults, author event, and poetry.

Financial Goals and Personal Budgeting Techniques – Allstate Readiness Series Personal Finance Workshop I

Financial Goals and Personal Budgeting Techniques – Allstate Readiness Series Personal Finance Workshop I

Join us Tuesday, March 19, at 7 pm for the first session of our spring Personal Finance Workshop series. Financial awareness is becoming increasingly more important in every person's life.  The first step to becoming financially aware is to understand what goes into making a personal budget.  This seminar presented by financial educator Lew Tischler gently walks you through the process of personal budgeting and financial goal setting. Sponsored by a grant from The Allstate Foundation. Future events in this series: Workshop II:  Credit Cards, Credit Scores, and Debt Management–Tuesday, April 16 Workshop III: Basics of Insurance, Savings, and Investing–Tuesday, May 14
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March 18, 2013 7:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Classes, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: adults, classes, Foundation, and workshops.

Mini Golf in the Library: "Tee Off for Education"

Mini Golf in the Library: "Tee Off for Education"

On Saturday, March 16, experience the Library in a “hole” new way, as the Library is transformed into a miniature golf course!  Kids and adults get to play in two separate events, a free family fun afternoon and an adults-only evening fundraiser “19th hole” party.  Families and kids ages 3-11 can drop by anytime from 1-4:30 p.m. to play mini golf, and see the Balloon Man create amazing balloon animals.   To ensure the comfort and safety of patrons, timed tickets will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning at 12:30 pm, in the Museum Gallery.  Refreshments will be
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March 8, 2013 7:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: adults, all ages, children, families, Foundation, and fundraising.

Historic Firefighting Equipment on Display in The Trove

Historic Firefighting Equipment on Display in The Trove

You don’t want to miss the collection of historic firefighting equipment on display in The Trove this month. Several items, on loan from the City of White Plains Local History Collection, have been incorporated into The Trove’s Black History StoryWalk®. Among the old firefighting hats on display is one worn by past White Plains Fire Chief Griffen. There’s also a wooden debris shovel which was used by Chief Griffen to clean up and scoop out after fires. If you look at the back of the shovel, you can even see the chief’s initials, H. A. G., carved into it. Be
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March 7, 2013 7:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: children and The Trove.

Campaign Finance Reform in New York State

Campaign Finance Reform in New York State

The public is invited to a presentation, “We Need It Now! Campaign Finance Reform in New York State,” on Wednesday, March 13, 7-9 p.m., in the Auditorium.  Discussion leaders Laura Ladd Bierman, Executive Director, and Barbara Bartoletti, Legislative Director, of the New York State League of Women Voters, will talk about why we lose the very core of democracy if only candidates with big money run for office.  Co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters Westchester County, White Plains, and New Rochelle, and the Library.  
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March 6, 2013 7:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: adults and presentation.