A photo, submitted by Yuki Haynes. Submit your own experience.
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Documenting COVID-19: 2020 Grads
Archives for Homepage
eBooks to Help with the Job Hunt
Looking for a new job or interested in job training assistance? We're regularly adding new eBooks to our OverDrive and Libby collections on job hunting, careers, entrepreneurship, programming languages most often required by employers, Word, Excel, and more. When we're open, some of the most frequently requested titles are Passbooks Study Guides, but did you know many are available as eBooks? Below are just some examples of the titles we've recently added to our collection. Modernize Your Resume Modernize Your Job Search Letters by Wendy Enelow Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC), Mathematics Passbooks Study Guide Admission Test by National Learning
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Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
book recommendations, CSEA, eBooks, job help, job training, passbooks, and staff picks.
book recommendations, CSEA, eBooks, job help, job training, passbooks, and staff picks.
WLS on Systemic Injustice
WLS Stands with NYBLC and BCALA in condemning violence and racism towards Black people and all People of Color. The Westchester Library System condemns both the recent violence and the systemic injustice against Black people and people of color in the United States. We are committed to anti-racist practice and will use our skills and resources to advance the production of knowledge for social justice. We stand in solidarity with the New York Black Librarians Caucus (NYBLC) and the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA). Read the NYBLC statement and BCALA statement to learn more.
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Director's Corner, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
statements, systemic injustice, and WLS.
statements, systemic injustice, and WLS.
AARP Tax-Aide Update
The Westchester County AARP Foundation Tax-Aide sites have determined that they will not reopen for this tax season. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offering online options to assist taxpayers affected by the suspension of in-person services: A self-prep option, providing taxpayers with free access to software so they can prepare taxes on their own, is available at signup.aarpfoundation.org/preparing-your-taxes-online/ . If taxpayers would like help completing their own taxes, they can request the assistance of a volunteer to coach them through the process via phone or computer screen-sharing. Visit aarpfoundation.org/taxaide for information and updates.
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Antiracism Resources for Teens & Adults
This may seem irrelevant to the topic of antiracism, but I want to start by saying that I’m a knitter. In January 2019, the knitting community began a moment of reckoning with racism in the fiber arts industry. If you’re interested, you can read more about those conversations here, but suffice it to say that this event brought me to a new awareness of racism. After that, I thought a lot more consciously about my privilege, my place as a white librarian working with primarily teens of color, and my responsibility to teach my young children about antiracism. By no
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National Trails Day
One fun activity that has kept us grounded is hiking. Hiking is free, fun, and adventurous, so why not plan a trip for National Trails Day (June 6)? According to the American Hiking Society, spending some time outdoors is great for mental and physical health. Also, if you have children, you can make a day trip by putting together a wonderful picnic to take on your journey. I also love taking photos, so I decided to create a scrapbook of our hiking adventures since it has brought us so much joy during COVID-19. To create a scrapbook you need a
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National Road Trip Day
As spring and summer approach, it is becoming harder to stay at home. Even though the world is slowly opening up, a lot of zoos, museums, and national parks remain closed. Experiencing life to its fullest is the preferable way to live; however, we still have to be cautious about what we do. Why not celebrate National Road Trip Day (June 3rd) and try to do a virtual road trip with your family and friends? Museums, zoos, landmarks, aquariums, and national parks are all offering videos and tours that you can access from your home. This is a new reality
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Documenting COVID-19:
Corona Crisis Franken-Poem
Below is a “Dr. Covid Franken-poem” assembled by White Plains Library's Poetry Slammaster Eric “Zork” Alan. Assembled from pieces of far more fantastic source poems in our monthly poetry prompt [Poets: Romina [Age 46], Nicholas Kalaj [Age 28], Nava D. Pollak [Age 11], and anonymous. Dr. Covid Franken-poem Like a Frankenstein future made properly present Piece by piece Our scars will be seen for our next generations of usersLike wondrous wheels Socially spaced we carry heavy weight Together It’s a beautiful bicycle We ride in a worrisome winter Down empty streets Across sidewalks we are separated But somehow social Dirty
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COVID-19, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
community poem, covid-19, COVID19, Documenting COVID-19, poem, poetry, and white plains.
community poem, covid-19, COVID19, Documenting COVID-19, poem, poetry, and white plains.
Documenting COVID-19:
“The Dirty Glove”
“The Dirty Glove” is a poem submitted by Nicholas Kalaj, age 28. The Dirty Glove I do my job to keep these hand clean, I protect these hand from bacterias and germs that can’t be seen. I sacrifice my cleanliness for it is my job to do so, Into the green container is where the trash will go. Keeping these hands clean is my sole purpose, To clean this building is indeed a good service. Being busy is a blessing than a curse, Optimism is good because things could be far worse. Submit your own experience.
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COVID-19, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
covid-19, COVID19, Documenting COVID-19, poem, poetry, and white plains.
covid-19, COVID19, Documenting COVID-19, poem, poetry, and white plains.
Documenting COVID-19:
A Bicycle on the Move
A poem, “a bicycle on the move,” submitted by Romina, age 46. A bicycle on the move A bicycle on the move Maintenance, did you say? Tires are getting low Too many holes in the road Bumps have affected my shape And I am carrying a heavy weight The breeze feels refreshing but cold Cold gets into my inner emptiness Emptiness. Is that how it feels? What’s wrong? Other bikes are riding along… I have no clear path or freedom There is fog menacing my wisdom Sounds of nature are suddenly close I feel the soft soil embracing my rubbery
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COVID-19, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
community poem, covid-19, COVID19, Documenting COVID-19, poem, poetry, and white plains.
community poem, covid-19, COVID19, Documenting COVID-19, poem, poetry, and white plains.
Documenting COVID-19:
“A Pen” Poem
Poem submitted by Nava D. Pollak, age 11. A pen That never stops using words A unique fountain pen Who’s nib points flat down, Yet up To let ink out just right Fill it up in the color you want Make it yours Right now this pen feels alive So much extra time to write But this pen is so sad For in the wrong hands this pen Writes things learns things A poor pen shouldn’t have to know But this pen can be used by a child A child who finds the obvious topic EXTREMELY BORING In those hands
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COVID-19, Featured, Homepage, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
community poem, covid-19, COVID19, Documenting COVID-19, poem, poetry, and white plains.
community poem, covid-19, COVID19, Documenting COVID-19, poem, poetry, and white plains.
Documenting COVID-19:
Garbage Truck Story
Story and photo submitted by Robin Cohen. During the 2020 pandemic my daughter, her husband, and two young sons moved out of the city to live with me. Every morning the seven year old has school at nine. I take the under two grandson for long walks. On our walks one of his favorite things to see is garbage trucks. Every time we pass one, the driver honks and the sanitation workers wave. It really feels like a connection. The attached picture is of a sweater I knit for him to always remember this. Submit your own experience.
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COVID-19, Homepage, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
covid-19, COVID19, Documenting COVID-19, photo, and white plains.
covid-19, COVID19, Documenting COVID-19, photo, and white plains.
Pause…and Reflect Writing Workshop
Pause…and Reflect: Stories from Your Side of the Window. Join us for this 8-session online creative writing workshop beginning June 2nd. Through exercises and supportive evaluations, you’ll learn techniques that will help you get at the heart of your stories from the pandemic. At the conclusion of the workshop, you are invited to have your story recorded and preserved on film to show us how, for all the distance, the walls and windows, the lack of touch, we are still intimately connected. Ultimately, these stories will become part of the new collection, Documenting COVID-19: White Plains Experiences, created by Library
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Bullet Journaling
A few years ago when I returned to work after maternity leave, I found myself struggling to balance my new full-time jobs: mom and librarian. I’ve kept a bullet journal ever since, allowing me to keep my calendar, to-do list, a running list of questions for my pediatrician, and meeting notes all in the same place. My bullet journal has helped me prioritize work tasks, remember funny things my kids say, and train for a half marathon. While my bullet journal is plain and practical, for many it’s an opportunity to incorporate artistic expression and even mindfulness into daily life.
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eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage, Homepage Teens, and Teens.
Bujo, Bullet journal, bullet journaling, how-to, journaling, and planners.
Bujo, Bullet journal, bullet journaling, how-to, journaling, and planners.
For the Class of 2020
There might not be ceremonies, big parties, caps, or gowns this year, but the Class of 2020 should still be celebrated, and we've got a few things to add to your Make Your Own Graduation toolkit. You'll find commencement speeches by National Book Award-winning author Jesmyn Ward, Admiral William H. McRaven, Abby Wambach, Barack Obama, and other notables in our Libby booklist, To the Class of 2020: We Salute You! Borrow Elgar's graduation classic Pomp and Circumstance, Drew's Famous Graduation Party Music, or some newer favorites at Hoopla, such as Lizzo's Cuz I Love You, 2020 Grammy Nominees, or Drake's
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May Virtual Open Mic
On Saturday, May 30th, the Library will host another Virtual Open Mic. This event will take place from 5:00 to 5:50 p.m. To attend, access Zoom with this link on 5/30. If you submitted anything for our comic or poetry prompts, or for our Documenting COVID-19 collection and would like to share your pieces at the event, please join us. Writing is a solitary activity, and as we are socially distancing it can become even more solitary if we don’t have a place to share our work collectively. In the past I have done readings in Westchester and New York
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eNewsletter, Events, Featured, Homepage, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, and Library News.
events and virtual open mic.
events and virtual open mic.
Documenting COVID-19:
County Center Photos
Photos of the “Westchester County Center and the temporary hospital across the street,” submitted by Anonymous. “We are ready. The temporary hospital will be operated by the New York State Health Department through nearby White Plains Hospital.” Submit your own experience.
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COVID-19, Homepage, and Library News.
coronavirus, covid-19, COVID19, photos, Westchester County Center, and white plains.
coronavirus, covid-19, COVID19, photos, Westchester County Center, and white plains.
Explore NYC from Home
One of the things I’ve been looking forward to, now that my daughter is older and doesn’t have a daytime nap, is exploring New York City with her. We were planning on starting this spring doing just that – taking the Metro North and having Big Apple Adventures. However, those plans are a bit on hold. Luckily, we live in a time where technology makes many things possible, and while it does not replace actually being somewhere, virtual tours and experiences are aplenty. NYC is filled with museums, art galleries and wonderful sites. Just because you’re safe at home, doesn’t
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eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
NYC, staff recommendations, and virtual tour.
NYC, staff recommendations, and virtual tour.
Documenting COVID-19:
Sunshine Days Poem
“sunshine days,” by Stuart, Age 9, March 27, 2020. sunshine days the sun is shining bright the moon shines through the night in this time of woe we can always find a glow we are all staying apart but we’re always together in our hearts Submit your own experience.
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Documenting COVID-19:
Never A Miss Poem
“Never A Miss,” a poem submitted by Gina. “I lost my father to COVID-19. I began to write down what it felt like from the moment we had to leave him at the hospital to 16 days later when he lost his life.” Never A Miss You were never a miss They didn’t know Rushed inside while they waited for more rows Failing miserably on the account of all others Your dignity and pride now tossed aside Unable to speak as voices disappear Pleading for breath but life was so unclear You were never a miss Mind like no other
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