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October Middle Grade Pick of the Month

October 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! Valentina Salazar is NOT a Monster Hunter by Zoraida Córdova Library Catalog: Print Libby: eBook As the title makes clear, the main character of this novel is not a monster hunter – she’s a monster protector! …Or at least she used to be. For all of Valentina’s life, the Salazar family has protected the “monsters” who show up in our world and sent them back where they
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October 1, 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.

Spooky (But Not Too) Scary Stories

Spooky (But Not Too) Scary Stories

Saturday, 10/15: 11:00 a.m. Children, families Library Auditorium Master Storyteller Jonathan Kruk brings children tales for Halloween! They'll meet the witch who puts happiness into Halloween, see “Rolly-Head” and go on a spooky interactive walk with the “Old Lady Who is Not Afraid of Anything. They will listen, laugh and leap! There's no violence nor gore, just fun, spooky tales! About Jonathan Kruk Master storyteller Jonathan Kruk earned a B.A. in English from Holy Cross College and an M.A. in Education from New York University. He studied creative drama in England, got coaching at H.B.Studios by Bill Hickey, and performed
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October 1, 2022 9:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: halloween, Halloween events in Westchester, Halloween events in White Plains, Jonathan Kruk, and October.

Jump Into Halloween! with Jumpin’ Jamie

Jump Into Halloween! with Jumpin’ Jamie

Saturday, 10/29: 2:00 p.m. Children, Families. Library Auditorium. Kindie rock musician Jumpin' Jamie returns with his puppet friends to celebrate “Spooky Season” with a high-energy show filled with music and magic including the hit song “Ghost In My House” which has been ranked by Yahoo, Time Out NY, and Good Housekeeping as a “Top Halloween Song”. Jumpin' Jamie has performed thousands of shows for audiences as varied as birthday parties for 12 people to stadiums for 12,000. Jumpin' Jamie's debut album “Kookie” was released in 2018 and features appearances from members of They Might Be Giants, the late Peter Tork,
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October 1, 2022 8:30 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: events for children, events for kids, halloween, Halloween events in Westchester, Halloween events in White Plains, Jumpin' Jamie, music, Observances and Celebrations, October, puppets, and trove events.

Jonathan Kruk’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”

Jonathan Kruk’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”

Saturday, 10/15: 1:00 p.m. Ages 10+, teens, adults Library Auditorium “His spirited, candlelit one-man show has become a fixture of Halloween” – The New York Times Washington Irving's classic as a dramatic solo show with live music! A ghost of a Hessian soldier, decapitated at White Plains during the American Revolution, gallops after a Connecticut Yankee schoolmaster. Written in 1819 by Washington Irving this gothic romance went “viral,” bringing the author wealth and fame. “The Legend’s” iconic Headless Horseman continues to haunt us today. Master Storyteller Jonathan Kruk’s solo show offers a dramatic retelling of this American classic. True to the
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October 1, 2022 8:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: halloween, Halloween events in Westchester, Halloween events in White Plains, Jonathan Kruk, October, Sleepy Hollow, and the legend of sleepy hollow.

Have a Spooktacular October 2022

Have a Spooktacular October 2022

I love October: the weather, the foliage, the crunch of leaves underfoot, and, of course, Halloween and all it entails. From the spooky to the macabre; the decorations and the costumes; the tricks and treats – it’s my favorite time of the year. Here’s some great programs, reading lists and resources to help you have a spooktacular October filled with skele-tons of fun. On October 15th, at 11:00 a.m., Master Storyteller Jonathan Kruk brings Spooky (But Not Too) Scary Stories to children and their families! Afterward, children 10+, teens, and adults can join Kruk for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
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October 1, 2022 5:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Homepage Kids, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: Day of the Dead, day of the dead celebration in white plains, Dia de los Muertos, halloween, Halloween Books, Halloween events in Westchester, Halloween events in White Plains, Halloween Movies, Observances and Celebrations, October, Spooktober, and westchester day of the dead celebration.

Native American Skills Demonstration

Native American Skills Demonstration

Wednesday, October 5th, 7:00 p.m. Grades 1+, Teens, Families, Adults Library Auditorium Please join us in celebrating Indigenous People’s Day (10/10) with Barry Keegan. Mr. Keegan will be demonstrating real Native American skills such as how to use and make stone tools, how to catch wood shavings, and how to create cord from local plants. This program is open to all and will be held in the auditorium. Families are encouraged to participate and no registration is required. About Barry Keegan Barry Keegan, who will be demonstrating Lenape technologies, has been creating historical replicas and teaching the skills of material
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September 29, 2022 9:45 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: Barry Keegan, Indigenous People's Day, Native American Skills Demonstration, and Observances and Celebrations.

Dementia Conversation

Dementia Conversation

Wednesday October 5th 7:00–8:00 p.m. Zoom Please Email jmflores@alz.org or call (845) 610-6916 to register for this virtual program. This program offers helpful tips to assist families with difficult conversations related to dementia, including going to the doctor, deciding when to stop driving, and making legal and financial plans. This program is primarily for those with a family member or close friend starting to experience Alzheimer's or another dementia.
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September 29, 2022 9:45 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: alzheimers, dementia, programs for seniors, and seniors.

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. My last Peculiar Picks featured the title Yeti, Turn Out the Light! Here’s a big list featuring bigfoots (bigfeet?), sasquatch(es?), and yeti(s?). The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot by Scott Magoon Library Catalog / hoopla In this variation on the classic “Boy Who Cried Wolf” tale, young Ben regularly tells tall tales of seeing bigfoot, and when no one believes
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September 26, 2022 9:27 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Bigfoot, children's books, children's literature, Peculiar Picks, picture books, Sasquatch, staff picks, staff recommendations, and Yeti.

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
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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.

Used Car Buying Tips

Used Car Buying Tips

How the Heck Do I Buy a Used Car? Thursday, September 29th 6:30–8:00 p.m. Click here to register. Maybe you have a car and it’s on its last leg, or maybe you took a break from driving and now you want to buy a car? Or you are a first-time car buyer altogether! You’re searching the web and are overwhelmed with the options, price tags, and just the whole process. Join Chaya of Mechanic Shop Femme to learn about the process from budgeting to negotiating so you end up with the car you want for a fair price and avoid
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September 20, 2022 11:28 am | by | 1 Comment
Categories: Library News.
Tags: car maintenance, Mechanic Shop Femme, mechanics, TikTok, TikTok creators, used car buying, and used cars.

Chamber Music of the American Revolution

Chamber Music of the American Revolution

Ministers of Apollo present: Chamber Music of the American Revolution Wednesday, September 28th, 6:30 p.m. All Ages Library Auditorium The 250th anniversary of the American Revolution is coming up and we are starting to celebrate the birth of our country early! Come listen to Ministers of Apollo perform authentic instrumental and vocal music that was popular during the period 1775-83 and learn more about how the music illustrates the lives of people during the conflict. Making use of period clothing, cosmetics and instrumentation, you will be educated, entertained and transported back to the American Revolution. About Ministers of Apollo The
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September 19, 2022 11:30 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: all ages event, Chamber Music, children's event, Ministers of Apollo, music, music event in White Plains, music in White Plains, and The Trove.

Grab & Go Kits for Grades 7-12: Rock Painting

Grab & Go Kits for Grades 7-12: Rock Painting

Teens in grades 7-12 can pick up a kit with project supplies at the Library, then follow along with the instructions below to make the project. Or, you can find the materials around your home and follow the instructions to make the project. Kits are first come, first served, and will become available on Monday, September 19th in the Library lobby. This month's craft is rock painting. The kit includes some flat rocks, acrylic paint, and a paint brush. Use your creativity to paint your rocks however you like. If you'd like some inspiration, check out a blog post or
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September 19, 2022 9:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: arts and crafts, arts and crafts for teens, Grab & Go, and Grab & Go kits.

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,
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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
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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.

Author Visit with Chris Finan

Author Visit with Chris Finan

Register HERE for a virtual author visit with Chris Finan on September 21st from 7:00- 8:00 p.m. He’ll be talking about his new 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 White Plains resident Oren Teicher, former CEO of the American Booksellers Association. This is the first of many upcoming events in our yearlong celebration of #WPFreedomtoRead. Here’s what author Judy Blume said about the book: “I can't believe we're in the midst of another struggle over what students
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September 10, 2022 12:41 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: #WPFreedomtoRead, banned books, censorship, Chris Finan, free speech, meet the author, virtual author events, and virtual events.

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
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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.

“Boots on the Ground” Genealogy

“Boots on the Ground” Genealogy

Wednesday, September 21st 7:00–8:00 p.m. on Zoom Click here to register. So often people think they hit a brick wall if they can’t find what they're looking for on Ancestry or Family Search. But genealogist Sarah Gutmann will show you there is a world of records waiting to be discovered offline. Learn what is available, where to search, and who and how to ask.
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September 6, 2022 8:06 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: genealogical research, genealogy, genealogy workshop, genealogy workshops in westchester, and genealogy workshops in White Plains.

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
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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.

My Body as a Memory Exhibit

My Body as a Memory Exhibit

Caribbean Archive’s debut exhibit, My Body as a Memory, will be on display in the Library’s Gallery from September 8th through October 9th, with an opening reception and performance on September 8th from 6:00–8:45 p.m. My Body as a Memory features five artists of Caribbean/Latin Caribbean and African descent and surveys paintings, performance art, and video/film. My Body as a Memory will explore the theme of the traveling body across the Caribbean and the African diaspora. Our past, the present, as well as the future, cannot be avoided. Consequently, the body becomes an archival gift. Catching sight of this transition,
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September 6, 2022 1:10 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Gallery and Library News.
Tags: art gallery, Caribbean Archive, exhibit, museum gallery, and Zainab Floyd.

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
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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.