Archives for Library News

Battle of White Plains, the Movie

Battle of White Plains, the Movie

In anticipation of our country’s 250th birthday in 2026, we have uploaded “The Battle of White Plains,” the movie, to our YouTube Channel. The 25-minute black and white film, which re-enacts the battle, was made over two weekends in the fall of 1977 near Silver Lake. It debuted at the White Plains Public Library on June 1, 1978. According to Joe Ryan, founder and president of the Living History Education Foundation, who played a Continental soldier in the movie, “The film was created on a limited budget with a lot of local volunteer help. It provided valuable experience for those
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March 8, 2021 3:04 pm | by | 2 Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage, Library News, and Local History.
Tags: film, local history, Observances and Celebrations, revolutionary history, The Battle of White Plains, U.S. History, white plains, and white plains history.

WandaVision & Marvel

WandaVision & Marvel

WandaVision is a current cultural phenomenon and a hit that proves longer-form stories and a move to the smaller screen can work for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Take a deep dive into the roots of the show’s funny, magical, dark, twisty, trauma-filled story with these: Vision (2015-2016) Hoopla / Library Catalog House of M Hoopla Vision and the Scarlet Witch: the Saga of Wanda and Vision Library Catalog Marvel-verse: Wanda & Vision Hoopla / Library Catalog Avengers: Vision and the Scarlet Witch (1982) Hoopla / Library Catalog Avengers: Vision and the Scarlet Witch (1985-1986) Hoopla Scarlet Witch (2015-2017) Hoopla /
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March 8, 2021 11:03 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: Marvel, Scarlet Witch, staff picks, staff recommendations, and WandaVision.

TOEFL Preparation Course

TOEFL Preparation Course

Registration for this class is now full. Prepare for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), a standardized test to measure the English language ability of non-native speakers wishing to enroll in English-speaking universities. In this 13 week class you will learn the information you'll need to know for the exam. You will need the following book for this class: Longman Preparation Course for the TOEFL iBT Test with Answer Key 3rd Edition by Deborah Phillips (Author). It is available in our catalog. Instructor Eric Arbogast has been involved with the TOEFL exam for 35 years, both preparing
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March 5, 2021 3:30 pm | by | 4 Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: courses, English, TOEFL, and Westchester Community College.

Activist Academy: Disability Rights, Advocacy, and Education

Activist Academy: Disability Rights, Advocacy, and Education

Teens, looking for a community service opportunity? Join us for a lively presentation and Q&A with internationally acclaimed YouTuber Jessica Kellgren-Fozard on the topic of Disability rights, advocacy, and education! Jessica Kellgren-Fozard is a vintage icon and leading advocate for LGBTQ+ and disability rights. Her unique sense of personal style, coupled with her blend of creativity and intellect, has amassed her a legion of fans. Jessica’s unique and humorous take on life and forging on ‘when the going gets tough’ has seen her lauded by DIVA Magazine as a ‘Rising Star’ of the LGBTQ+ community, has won her awards including
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March 5, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: activism, community service, and teens.

Turtle Dance Music Recorded Show

Turtle Dance Music Recorded Show

Turtle Dance Music provided a fantastic virtual show for the Library on February 16th. The “Space: the Cosmos for Kids Dance Party” was a wild and fun musical time. If you missed the show, Mr. Matt has graciously provided a recorded version of the program you can watch whenever you want! Like the show? There are more Turtle Dance Music performances to come, monthly, starting April 22. About Turtle Dance Music Turtle Dance Music is a children's music company dedicated to furthering child development through arts-integration, music, and educational entertainment. Turtle Dance Music sparks children's curiosity and imaginations through interactive,
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February 24, 2021 2:10 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's events, performance, streaming, trove events, Turtle Dance Music, and video.

Vacant Lot Challenge with Arch For Kids

Vacant Lot Challenge with Arch For Kids

Registration for this event is now full. Arch For Kids, a local educational group that provides young people with dynamic hands-on, minds-on learning experiences – grounded in architecture, design, engineering and urban planning, is joining the Library to run their Vacant Lot Challenge for students in Grades 5-8. There is a vacant lot in your neighborhood. Local officials are seeking proposals for its development. Students will receive supplies from the Library, some things they may need to find around home, to design and build a model structure for this vacant lot. The program will be held on Monday, March 15,
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February 24, 2021 12:05 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: Arch for Kids, architecture, design, engineering, events, kids events, STEAM, STEAM learning, teen events, urban planning, and vacant lot challenge.

Learn about Owls

Learn about Owls

The Library is excited to host two STEAM-azing programs in March about the fascinating nocturnal birds called owls. STEAM at Home: Owls & Owl Pellet Dissection Grades K-3. Registration required. Space is limited. Tuesday, March 23, 4:00 p.m. During the program, participants will hear some owl stories and Greenwich Audubon Center will provide information about owls and lead an owl pellet dissection to learn more about what owls eat. Registered participants will pick up an Owl Pellet Dissection Kit prior to the program from the Library. An email address must be provided during registration to receive your Kit. Click here
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February 24, 2021 11:41 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's events, owls, STEAM, STEAM at home, STEAM learning, and trove 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. Like so many folk and fairy tales, such as The Three Little Pigs, there are many versions of the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. For a traditional telling, check out this bilingual version on Hoopla by Candice Ransom or this version by James Marshall on Kanopy. However, since this is Peculiar Picks, here are three of my
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February 24, 2021 11:40 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's books, children's literature, goldilocks, Peculiar Picks, picture books, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Perfect Picture Book Biographies for Women’s History Month!

Perfect Picture Book Biographies for Women’s History Month!

Congress first designated March as Women’s History Month in 1987 to honor and celebrate women’s achievements and contributions to American history. The beginnings of the March celebration of women and their important accomplishments started much earlier, however. Kate Hannigan writes in her blog, “Like any great creation, Women’s History Month traces its roots to the tiniest seed of an idea—or in this case, a single date on the calendar: National Woman’s Day. First observed on February 28, 1909, it was organized by the Socialist Party of America to call for equal rights for women on the job and at the
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February 24, 2021 10:00 am | by | 4 Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's books, children's literature, Observances and Celebrations, picture book biographies, picture books, staff picks, staff recommendations, and womens history month.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide

The White Plains AARP Tax-Aide program will not be able to offer the kind of in-person service taxpayers have become used to for so many years. The primary concerns remain the health and safety of taxpayers and preparers, and the protection of confidential taxpayer information. White Plains will operate a no-contact, electronic service, which involves the transmittal of instructions, forms, permissions, and scans of tax documents using email. After the initial contact, taxpayers will receive an email with instructions and documents to print, fill out and return for tax preparation. Documents will need to be scanned and attached to the
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February 23, 2021 11:52 am | by | 5 Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: AARP Foundation Tax Aide, tax assistance, tax filing, and taxes.

Grab & Go Suspended

Grab & Go Suspended

On February 23rd, we learned that a library staff member has tested positive for COVID-19. We are being as cautious as possible, and because of this, we are suspending our Grab & Go service until March 8th. The Library is still available for telephone reference services, and all of our online programs will continue as scheduled. Our book drop will not be available until March 8th. There are no fines for late materials at this time.
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February 23, 2021 10:41 am | by | 8 Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: COVID-19 update, director update, library update, and update.

Dive into Diversity: YA Romance

Dive into Diversity: YA Romance

In 2021, my Dive into Diversity posts about young adult books will focus on a different genre each month. I’ll highlight books with characters that represent a range of experiences and identities. I’ll also feature #ownvoices authors, or authors who share an aspect of their characters’ identity, as much as possible. Predictably, the February edition highlights books that feature romance as a central plot element. Super Fake Love Song by David Yoon Grades 9 and up OverDrive; Library Catalog I was excited to read David Yoon's next book after loving Frankly in Love when I read it in 2019, and
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February 23, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: Dive into Diversity, romance, staff picks, staff recommendations, teen books, YA books, and YA Fiction.

Dive into Diversity: Comics Edition

Dive into Diversity: Comics Edition

White Plains is a wonderfully diverse community! Parents, children and teens have expressed an interest in titles that reflect the diversity in the community, and Ashley, Kathlyn, and Raquel's “Dive Into Diversity” column will spotlight noteworthy children's and teen titles that are inclusive, diverse and multicultural to fulfill that interest. Ashley's portion is aimed at readers in grades 4-6. The graphic novel section in the Trove is one of our most loved collections. Read on for some recommendations of great diverse graphic novels and be on the lookout for a new kids comic book discussion club that we’ll be starting
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February 23, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: comics, Dive into Diversity, graphic novels, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Dive into Diversity: Girl Power

Dive into Diversity: Girl Power

To celebrate Women’s History Month, I have gathered together ten diverse titles with feisty and loving girl protagonists. Most are recently published titles and all are available as eBooks on OverDrive, or can be obtained by placing holds on the titles through the library catalog and picked up at the Library. For further reading, I also recommend: “55 Multicultural Picture Books About Strong Female Role Models”, a “Girl Power” booklist from Colours of Us (a website dedicated to multicultural children’s books) as a good resource for both nonfiction and fictional picture books to celebrate Women’s History Month. With all these
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February 23, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's books, children's literature, Dive into Diversity, Observances and Celebrations, staff picks, staff recommendations, and womens history month.

Women’s History Month StoryWalk

Women’s History Month StoryWalk

Mae Among the Stars By Roda Ahmed, Illustrated by Stasia Burrington Starting February 26th, 2021 Get ready to journey into outer space as you take a walk along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and the Library Plaza. Follow the panels and read, Mae Among the Stars, by Roda Ahmed and Illustrated by Stasia Burrington.  The StoryWalk will be available to view from February 26 – March 29. Mae Among the Stars is inspired by the life story of Dr. Mae Carol Jemison, the first African American woman to travel in space. As a child, Mae’s family encouraged her to
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February 22, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's books, Observances and Celebrations, STEAM, storywalk, The Trove, Trove StoryWalk, and womens history month.

My Mother the Astronaut

My Mother the Astronaut

Traveling Lantern Theater Company presents “My Mother the Astronaut,” a video performance celebrating women STEM fields. The show will be available for unlimited viewing from March 7 – March 14. To receive access to the performance, visit the Library’s online calendar and register for the event on any of the days it is available for viewing. Be sure to provide an email address during your registration, as the access link will be sent via email! About the Show Aquarius' mom is an astronaut and today is “Take your child to work day.” Aquarius can't wait to go to NASA and
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February 22, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: astronaut, events, NASA, Observances and Celebrations, outer space, performance, performing arts, STEAM, STEAM learning, Traveling Lantern Theater Company, and womens history month.

Irish Lore and Enchantment

Irish Lore and Enchantment

Saint Patrick’s Day, a day honoring Ireland’s patron saint, is March 17th. This March, we’ll celebrate Ireland, its culture, and its people, with some traditional Irish tales. Ireland is a land of green beautiful landscapes and rich folklore: fairies, pookas, leprechauns, banshees, and storytellers. This island nation has a lot to offer. Join us in celebrating Ireland by enjoying these wonderful stories. Have you ever heard of a goat being crowned king? Come listen to the tale of King Puck, from the town of Killorglin, County Kerry, Ireland to find out more about this “King” and sing about leprechauns with
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February 22, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's books, folk tales, folklore, Irish folklore, Observances and Celebrations, St. Patrick's Day, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Book ‘Em 2020-2021

Book ‘Em 2020-2021

Join us as we discuss the best-reviewed crime fiction of 2019. Did the critics get it right? Book ‘Em meets from 2:30-3:30 p.m. over Zoom. Click the date(s) you're interested in to find out how to attend. To request or check out a title, click on your preferred format. September 16 Attica Locke: Heaven, My Home Library Collection: Print, Large Print, and CD Audiobook OverDrive & Libby: eBook and Audiobook Texas Ranger Darren Mathews is on the hunt for a missing child. October 7 Ann Cleeves: The Long Call Library Collection: Print, Large Print, and CD Audiobook OverDrive & Libby:
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February 20, 2021 3:52 pm | by | 2 Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Director's Corner, and Library News.
Tags: Book 'Em, book discussion, book group, and mystery.

Satchel Paige Magic Show

Satchel Paige Magic Show

Satchel Paige and Negro League Baseball Historical Magic Show Saturday, February 13 – Saturday, February 20 Children, families, ages 3-12 Join Tommy Terrific all week long for a pre-recorded historical magic show about Satchel Paige and Negro League baseball. The show will be filled with baseball-themed magic tricks, and it will explore the life and accomplishments of baseball pitcher Satchel Paige. From his all-star touring shows, to his amazing records with the Negro Leagues, to his Hall of Fame induction as baseball's oldest rookie and oldest player, Satchel Paige is a true American original. Fun and informative for families and
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February 20, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: baseball, black history month, children's books, negro leagues, and Observances and Celebrations.

March Book Clubs for Children and Teens

March Book Clubs for Children and Teens

Calling all readers! Join our Youth Services librarians in reading and discussing some truly awesome books. In March, we’re hosting two Project LIT book discussions: one for kids in grades 4-6, and one for teens in grades 7-12. Note: you must have a Zoom account to attend these programs; sign up for a free account here. Project LIT Book Club for Kids and Tweens In March, our virtual Project LIT Kids Book Discussion will be on Wednesday, March 10 at 4:30 p.m. Children in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade are invited to join us for a discussion as well as
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February 19, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: book club, book discussion, kids book club, Project Lit, and teen book club.