Archives for Library News

New Movies Streaming in June

New Movies Streaming in June

Maybe you're already familiar with our streaming services hoopla and Kanopy, but did you know that they add new content each month? Find a list below of some exciting new titles available on each platform this month. hoopla The Door (2012 Drama) Directed by István Szabó. Starring Helen Mirren, Martina Gedeck, Erika Maroszán. Emerence, an elderly and private woman, is hired to be the housekeeper of a struggling writer. An event in the writer's life prompts Emerence to disclose details of her traumatising past, which will bond the two women forever. Lioness: The Nicola Adams Story (2022 Sports Documentary) Directed
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June 7, 2022 11:52 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: free library movies, hoopla, Kanopy, library staff movie recommendations, library staff picks, movies streaming at westchester libraries, staff picks, and streaming movies.

June LibraryReads

June LibraryReads

Here are the books published this month that librarians across the country love. The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill Library Collection: Print Libby: eBook hoopla: eBook / Audiobook “Freddie is at the Boston Public Library when a murder occurs. While waiting for the police, she strikes up a conversation with others at her table. The four become friends, but could one of them be the murderer? Much misdirection and an unreliable narrator make for a tight little thriller that will have you sure you know whodunnit until you don't. For fans of The Body in the Library, Magpie
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June 7, 2022 10:53 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations, librarian recommendations, Library Reads, LibraryReads, and staff picks.

Celebrate Pride in June

Celebrate Pride in June

Now more than ever it is important to celebrate Pride and show support for LGBTQ+ families! The attack on LGBTQ+ rights this year and the psychological toll it has had on LGBTQ+ kids, teens and their families has been enormous. This wave of hate is being perpetrated by only a small (though powerful) minority of Americans. This hateful legislative push runs completely counter to the beliefs and values of most Americans. Matt Lavietes and Elliott Ramos write in their NBC article, “As the number of anti-LGBTQ bills hits record highs, research shows that so, too, has support for LGBTQ rights
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June 7, 2022 10:47 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Dive into Diversity, LGBTQIA+, Observances and Celebrations, Observances and Holidays, and Pride Month.

Great Outdoors Month

Great Outdoors Month

On June 5th, 2019, the US Senate designated June as Great Outdoors Month. Great Outdoors Month is a wonderful opportunity to spend time exploring nature. Spending time outdoors is refreshing, fun, and has great health benefits. According to The American Hiking Society, being in nature is great for both mental and physical health. You can spend time outdoors in a park, garden, at the beach, or hiking. There are many fun activities that you can do with your family and friends. Try using one of the suggested activities such as creating a nature bracelet, identifying different trees, camping, and stargazing.
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June 7, 2022 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: books for children, children's books, Great Outdoors Month, Hiking, nature, Observances and Celebrations, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Tiny Tales: I Love All of Me

Tiny Tales: I Love All of Me

Tiny Tales are short “bite-sized” song and story videos. Watch one for a short early literacy break, or a few for a whole storytime! You can find our entire collection of Tiny Tales videos right here! Today’s video features Trove librarian Caroline presenting I Love All of Me by Lorie Ann Grover, illustrated by Carolina Búzio. Tiny Tales are made possible with support from the White Plains Library Foundation.
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June 7, 2022 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: library storytime recording, library storytime video, online library storytime, storytime, The Trove, Tiny Tales, video, videos, virtual library storytime, westchester libraries, westchester library storytime, white plains library, and white plains new york.

Future is Female Book Discussion

Future is Female Book Discussion

Winter/Spring 2022 Schedule 2:00-3:00 p.m. the first Monday of each month Led by Ellen O’Connell, White Plains resident and retired English teacher, this book group focuses on compelling works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry by and about women. Join in for thoughtful and lively discussions of the following texts. June 6th: All In: An Autobiography (2021), by Billie Jean King. This path-breaking feminist and world-class athlete of indomitable spirit has been described by Serena Williams as “a constant role model in my life…a leading example of integrity in the face of adversity.” The memoir is available in the Library’s physical
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June 6, 2022 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: book club, book clubs in Westchester, book clubs in White Plains, book discussion, books by women, feminist book club, the future is female, and women authors.

P is for PLANET

P is for PLANET

Climate change is a direct threat to a child’s ability to survive, grow, and thrive. As extreme weather events such as cyclones and heat waves increase in frequency and ferocity, they threaten children’s lives and destroy infrastructure critical to their well-being. Floods compromise water and sanitation facilities, leading to diseases such as cholera, to which children are particularly vulnerable. This is the first time a global generation of children will grow up in a world made far more dangerous and uncertain as a result of a changing climate and degraded environment. Addressing climate change and mitigating its impact is imperative
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June 3, 2022 1:46 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's books, climate change, picture books, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Underground Railroad Storytime

Underground Railroad Storytime

Thursday, June 9th at 4:00 p.m. (Grades K–3) Come to the Library Plaza to hear the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winning book, Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom, by Shane W. Evans, along with other stories and poetry related to the Underground Railroad. Then work on a Harriet Tubman craft project! The Underground Railroad: In 1619, the first enslaved Africans arrived in Virginia, one of the newly formed 13 American Colonies. They had been kidnapped from their homes and were forced to work on tobacco, rice, and indigo plantations from Maryland and Virginia all the way to Georgia. According
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June 3, 2022 10:43 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: Harriet Tubman, Harriet Tubman sculpture, Harriet Tubman StoryWalk, library events, Observances and Celebrations, outdoor events white plains, storywalk, Trove StoryWalk, White Plains Harriet Tubman, and White Plains Harriet Tubman Events.

June Harriet Tubman StoryWalk

June Harriet Tubman StoryWalk

Opal Lee and What it Means to be Free By Alice Faye Duncan & Keturah A. Bobo Wednesday, June 1st to Thursday, June 30th, 2022 Sculptor Wesley Woffard’s 9-foot monument honoring Harriet Tubman (entitled “The Journey to Freedom”) is in White Plains. The sculpture is on display at the Renaissance Plaza until June 30th, and the City and the White Plains Public Library will be honoring Harriet Tubman with a wide variety of programs throughout its stay. A full listing of the Library’s events can be found here. To celebrate, from June 1st-30th the Library will have on display the
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May 26, 2022 9:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Harriet Tubman, Harriet Tubman sculpture, Harriet Tubman StoryWalk, library events, Observances and Celebrations, outdoor events white plains, storywalk, Trove StoryWalk, White Plains Harriet Tubman, and White Plains Harriet Tubman Events.

The Castle: A Space for Tweens in Grades 4-6

The Castle: A Space for Tweens in Grades 4-6

Starting on May 16th, The Castle in the Trove will open as a new, refreshed space for students in grades 4-6. This will be a space just for youth in Grades 4-6 to hang out, talk to friends, do homework, and work on school projects together. In addition, the Castle will have a variety of activities available: tabletop games, puzzles, LEGOS, arts & craft projects, and STEAM activities, and more! Librarians will also be available right outside to help with their homework and will sometimes run programs in the Castle to engage their interests.  **Note: for Homework Help, also be
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May 20, 2022 11:41 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Evergreen, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: library updates, programs for tweens, The Castle, The Trove, and tween programming.

Middle Grade Pick of the Month

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, Ashley will recommend great books for children in this age group! Making Friends by Kristen Gudsnuk Libby Library Catalog I can’t remember exactly when I discovered the first book in Kristen Gudsnuk’s Making Friends series. What I can recall is being immediately drawn to its bright cover as well as how loud I cackled while reading it. A few of the other youth services librarians at the White Plains Public Library can attest to this as many of
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May 19, 2022 10:32 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.

New in the Edge: May 2022

New in the Edge: May 2022

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. Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer Grades 9 and up Library Catalog “After a year away, Ellis returns home to confront her past. Graduating from high school far from everything familiar was not part of Ellis Truman’s original plans, but she nevertheless ended up
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May 19, 2022 10:00 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.

Upwardly Global Job Coaching

Upwardly Global Job Coaching

Thursday, May 19th, at 7:00 p.m. Click here for the Zoom link. Please join us to learn about Upwardly Global's Free Job Coaching Program, which provides tools for finding professional-level jobs in the US! For the last 20 years, Upwardly Global has worked with newcomers to the U.S. who have college degrees or professional training and are looking to get back into their professional career fields. Upwardly Global offers a unique blend of online job search training, one-on-one job coaching with industry focused advisors, skill building opportunities, and professional networking. We help jobseekers find positions in their professional fields such
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May 18, 2022 9:18 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: job coaching, job help, job services, and Upwardly.

Navigating by the Stars

Navigating by the Stars

From April 1st through June 30th, the Harriet Tubman – Journey to Freedom sculpture by Wesley Wofford will be on display in Renaissance Plaza in downtown White Plains. In conjunction with this historic visit by the sculpture, the Library and many other community partners organized events related to Harriet Tubman, the Underground Railroad, and more. Find the full listing of the community-wide programs and events here. Navigating by the Stars Tuesday, May 17th, 6:00 p.m. (virtual) Grades 4+, Teens, Adults Have you ever wondered how ancient people told time? Or traveled from point A to point B without a smartphone
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May 17, 2022 9:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events and Library News.
Tags: adults, all ages, Black History, children's events, edge events, events, events for families in White Plains, events for kids in White Plains, families, Harriet Tubman, Harriet Tubman sculpture, library events, live music, Observances and Celebrations, STEAM, STEAM activities, STEM, teens, trove events, White Plains events, and White Plains Harriet Tubman Events.

Grab & Go Kits for Grades 7-12: Hair Scrunchies

Grab & Go Kits for Grades 7-12: Hair Scrunchies

Teens in grades 7-12 can pick up a kit with project supplies at the Library, then follow along with the instructional video below to make the project. Or, you can find the materials around your home and follow the video to make the project. Kits are first come, first served, and will become available on Monday, May 16th in the Library lobby. This month we're making hair scrunchies. The kit includes fabric, elastic, blue thread, a sewing needle, sewing pins, safety pins, and a loop turner. We'll follow a video tutorial from creativebug, a database with thousands of arts and
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May 16, 2022 9:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: arts and crafts, arts and crafts for teens, creativebug, Grab & Go, and Grab & Go kits.

Roots of Black Music in America

Roots of Black Music in America

Wednesday, June 1st, 7:00 p.m. (virtual) Children, Teens, Families, Adults Note: All of our youth-focused virtual programs require a registered Zoom account to attend. Sign up for a free Zoom account here: http://zoom.us/signup. Music is a language that students of any age can understand and appreciate. It connects us, elevates our awareness, and deepens our learning beyond reading the words of a textbook. Audiences will sing, dance, use percussion, and practice call and response as they journey back in time to learn about and experience the music of the most influential Black musicians in American history. Join musician, producer, arts
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May 15, 2022 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: adults, all ages, Black History, children's events, edge events, events, events for families in White Plains, events for kids in White Plains, families, Harriet Tubman, Harriet Tubman sculpture, library events, live music, Observances and Celebrations, performances, teens, theater, trove events, White Plains events, and White Plains Harriet Tubman Events.

Peculiar Picks

Peculiar Picks

Peculiar Picks are a selection of odd, funny, interesting, curious, moving, irreverent, and otherwise wonderfully awesome, but perhaps not well known, reads. Peculiar Picks are books for younger readers and their grown-ups, handpicked by the Library's Youth Services Manager, Joshua Carlson. I loved The Addams Family as a kid, the original TV show and the 90s movies (ok, I admit, I still love them now). Just the mention of The Addams Family also immediately brings to mind the original show’s infectious theme song: “dada duh dum snap snap dada duh dum snap snap they’re creepy and they’re kooky, The Addams
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May 12, 2022 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Addams family, children's books, children's literature, Peculiar Picks, picture books, staff picks, staff recommendations, and the addams family.

Harriet Tubman: Union Scout, Spy and Freedom Fighter

Harriet Tubman: Union Scout, Spy and Freedom Fighter

Tuesday, May 10th, 7:00 p.m. (virtual) Click here to register. Well known for her Underground Railroad activities leading enslaved people to Freedom, Tubman also served as a valuable scout, spy and fighter for the Union Army. Cultural historian John Vorperian will discuss the rarely shared stories of Tubman's successful military exploits in disrupting Confederate outposts and supply lines during the Civil War. This program is supported by the White Plains Library Foundation.
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May 10, 2022 9:00 am | by | 3 Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: adults, Black History, events, Harriet Tubman, Harriet Tubman sculpture, history, library events, Observances and Celebrations, White Plains events, and White Plains Harriet Tubman Events.

TONIGHT: Small Houses with Author Sheri Koones

TONIGHT: Small Houses with Author Sheri Koones

Small Houses: Bigger Than Tiny, Smaller Than Average Wednesday, May 11th, 7:00–8:00 p.m. Click here to register. The mass shift away from expensive urban living has resulted in people searching for smaller, more affordable homes. In this presentation, Sheri will provide examples of small-house options around the country, including ADUs (accessory dwelling units). She'll discuss a range of topics from heating and ventilation systems, to flexible spaces, wet rooms, and prefabrication. SHERI KOONES is an expert on the subject of small houses and sustainable building, having written nine previous books on the topic. She has written numerous articles about home
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May 9, 2022 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: author events, author visits, housing, small houses, and tiny houses.

AAPI Heritage Month

AAPI Heritage Month

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month) is an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States. The AAPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent—including East, Southeast and South Asia—and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. AAPI Heritage Month 2022 will take place from Sunday, May 1 to Tuesday, May 31. Here are some titles to help us get to better know and understand our AAPI neighbors. Enjoy! Tiny feet between the mountains, by Hanna Cha. (Library Catalog) The
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May 5, 2022 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: AAPI, AAPI Heritage Month, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.