Archives for Library News

2019 Resolutions: Books & Tips

2019 Resolutions: Books & Tips

This is the time of year when we focus on improving the quality of our lives. We know the benefits of healthy eating and exercise, but why beat yourself up at the start of a new year with another diet you won't commit to? This year, start off with some self care, mindful approaches to a healthy routine, and take some time to appreciate a good book or a local museum. Keep reading for a few book recommendations and tips to begin a new journey to a better year and a better you. Slow: Simple Living for a Frantic World
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January 2, 2019 9:25 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, and Library News.
Tags: dieting, new year's resolutions, and self help.

STEM Buddies

STEM Buddies

Join us every other Thursday at 4:30 p.m. beginning January 10th for STEM Buddies. During this program children in grades 1-4 can sign up at the Compass Desk in the Trove to work on STEM activities in small groups for 30 minutes with teen volunteers or college students. Sign-up will start at 4:00 p.m. STEM = Science Technology Engineering Math Read more about STEM and STEAM here.
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January 2, 2019 9:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: eNewsletter, Events, Evergreen, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: STEM and STEM Buddies.

The Jewish Museum Pass Now Available

The Jewish Museum Pass Now Available

The White Plains Public Library is pleased to announce the addition of The Jewish Museum 1109 Fifth Avenue NYC to the Museum Pass Program.  The Library pass provides free admission for two adults of and all children 18 and under. Located on New York City’s Museum Mile, the Jewish Museum is a museum at the intersection of art and Jewish culture for people of all backgrounds. Founded in 1904, the Museum was the first institution of its kind in the United States and one of the oldest Jewish museums in the world. The Museum maintains a unique collection of nearly
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December 22, 2018 4:13 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: eNewsletter, Evergreen, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: Jewish Museum and museum passes.

EDGE-Versary 2018

EDGE-Versary 2018

On December 14, the Edge invited teens to attend an after-hours party celebrating the 5th anniversary of our teen library. Activities included six modern and retro video game tournaments with prizes, a Harry Potter mystery to solve, table-top games, a craft table with button making and Perler beads, a technology playground full of electronics to tinker with, robot races with prizes for the winners, and a Virtual Reality cooperative puzzle challenge. Feedback from those who attended was overwhelmingly positive, with one teen remarking, “I thought the event was incredible. Seeing all the family from the Edge united made me really
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December 18, 2018 2:43 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: Edgeversary and The Edge.

Five Years of Teen Services: A R-Edge-rospective

Five Years of Teen Services: A R-Edge-rospective

This month marks the fifth anniversary of the Edge, the Library’s teen space. Before the Edge opened, there was only a small collection of materials for teens in the Library, and with a staff of only one teen librarian we held just one program each week. Not surprisingly,  few teenagers used the Library. Since opening the Edge in December 2013,  the number of teens who come to the Library has grown immensely. Our Young Adult collection has expanded in print and electronic formats to meet the needs and interests of teenagers.  We offer innovative and creative programs for teens throughout
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December 12, 2018 4:28 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Director's Corner, eNewsletter, Evergreen, Featured, Library News, and Teens.

Thanksgiving Cookbooks

Thanksgiving Cookbooks

Looking for a pie recipe to impress your in-laws? Or tasty options for your vegetarian and gluten-free guests? Then look no further. We've got five great picks just in time for you to plan your menu. Ottolenghi Simple by Yotam Ottolenghi “There's more than one way to get a meal on the table,” writes chef Yotam Ottolenghi in the foreward of his latest cookbook. He delivers 130 flavorful dishes that can be served in 30 minutes or less. Best of Thanksgiving: Recipes and Inspiration for a Festive Holiday Meal by Williams-Sonoma Both traditional and non-traditional recipes for everyone at your
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November 2, 2018 2:47 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Evergreen, and Library News.

Art Exhibit: Akimie Worrell

Art Exhibit: Akimie Worrell

Join us on Saturday, November 17 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. for the opening reception of Akimie Worrell's art exhibit “No Longer Hidden: Being—without—Being Sick Cell.” “No Longer Hidden: Being-without-Being Sickle Cell“, is an exhibit comprised of mixed media art portraying to the perils, small comforts, and life, one faces when: navigating the world with the horrific pain of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). Akimie Worrell grew up in Barbados, and graduated with a M.S. from The College of New Rochelle. She was born with the inherited, debilitating blood disorder SCD. Worrell navigates life between worlds of fashion, art and illness. She states
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November 2, 2018 1:58 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: eNewsletter, Events, Featured, Gallery, and Library News.
Tags: art reception and museum gallery.

Fall Gala 2018 with Ron Chernow

Fall Gala 2018 with Ron Chernow

On October 20, over 200 guests enjoyed the Foundation’s 2018 Fall Gala, An Evening with with Ron Chernow. Thank you to everyone who supported the event and help raise funds for the Library! A special thank you to Vino 100 of White Plains and the fabulous venues, restaurants and businesses that donated raffle prizes for the Gala: Bowlmor of White Plains, California Pizza Kitchen, Capers Restaurant, Captain Lawrence, Chef Jonathan Kava, Copper House Restaurant, Edible Arrangements, Philip Johnson Glass House, Kee Oyster House, The Library Hotel, Moleskine, Out of Print Clothing, The Puzzle Parlour, Penguin Random House, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater,
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October 24, 2018 3:43 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: eNewsletter, Events, Featured, and Library News.
Tags: Fall Gala, photos, ron chernow, and White Plains Library Foundation.

Automatic Renewal

Automatic Renewal

Here’s some good news: from now on, we will automatically renew your material before it becomes due. Why are we doing this? Because the number one reason most people don’t use the Library is that the loan periods are too short (and difficult to keep track of). And because when life gets hectic—and when isn’t it?—the first thing we forget to do is to renew our library books, movies, and music. Here’s how automatic renewal works: The day an item becomes due, you will receive an email stating: “The following items have been renewed for you (title, new due date).
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August 1, 2018 3:54 pm | by | 6 Comments
Categories: Director's Corner, Evergreen, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.

We’re Fine Free!

We’re Fine Free!

We want kids to read. So we are eliminating one of the biggest impediments kids face: late fees on children’s and young adult materials. A public library’s most important responsibility is to develop readers. And research has shown that having books in the home is a critical factor in becoming a reader. But the sad fact is, too many young people can’t borrow books because of outstanding fines. But even though we are removing fines, kids and their caregivers will still be responsible for returning all library material—or else risk having their account suspended. How this works: We expect all
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June 15, 2018 11:56 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Evergreen, Featured, Homepage, Kids, Library News, and Teens.

Café Opening

Café Opening

We're excited to announce that the Everyday Healthy Café will officially open on Wednesday, May 9th. (although if you are around next week take a look—they may open early.) In addition, this also brings us the new home of the Friends Bookstore as well as the completion of The Hub for adults, with the new Community Room. “When’s the café opening?” has probably been the number one reference question this spring. Some of you may be familiar with the Everyday Healthy Café since there are two located in White Plains Hospital. Part of Peter Herrero’s NY Hospitality Group (which includes
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April 27, 2018 1:49 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Evergreen, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.

Stamford Museum & Nature Center Pass Now Available

Stamford Museum & Nature Center Pass Now Available

We're pleased to announce the addition of Stamford Museum & Nature Center in Stamford, CT to our Museum Pass Program.  The Library pass provides free admission for two adults of the same household and all children under 18 to the Museum and its grounds.  The pass also covers free parking and a 10% discount at the Museum Gift Shop. This 118 acre facility has much to offer: Heckscher Farm, a wonderful New England working farm; Heckscher WILD!, a live-animal exhibit; the Museum galleries; the Observatory; and over 80 acres of hardwood forest with miles of nature trails. To reserve a
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March 23, 2018 4:23 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Evergreen, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.

Writing Workshop for Families of Veterans

Writing Workshop for Families of Veterans

The adjustment for American veterans returning from war (depicted brilliantly by The Best Years of Our Lives after World War II and Coming Home and Born on the Fourth of July after the Vietnam War) extends to their families. “My late father, David Rust, was a member of the ‘Flying Tigers’ that flew dangerous missions over China and Myanmar [Burma] during World War II,” says Irvington-based telecommunications consultant Julia Rust. “I was born after he was discharged from the Air Force, but everything about him until his death in 2014 was influenced by the war—the way he moved, the way
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January 19, 2018 2:53 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Classes, Events, and Library News.

Boscobel House and Gardens Pass Now Available

Boscobel House and Gardens Pass Now Available

The White Plains Public Library is pleased to announce the addition of Boscobel House and Gardens in Garrison NY to the Museum Pass Program. The Library pass provides free admission for one adult and three guests of any age, plus a 10% discount in Boscobel’s gift shop. Boscobel House and Gardens is considered one of the leading historic house museums in the United States. Its Neoclassical mansion holds an exceptional collection of New York furniture from the Federal period. Situated in the Hudson Valley, fifty miles north of Manhattan, Boscobel directly overlooks the Hudson River, Constitution Marsh and West Point.
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November 29, 2017 12:39 pm | by | 2 Comments
Categories: Featured and Library News.

Library Volunteer Orientation on November 28

Library Volunteer Orientation on November 28

Want to lend a helping hand to a very bustling White Plains Public Library?  Come to the volunteer orientation on Tuesday, November 28 at 7 p.m. in Room A on the second floor. Library Assistant Director Kathy Degyansky will give an overview of the programs, and the attendees will list their skills, hobbies and passions on the application forms. Then, in the coming weeks, each attendee will individually meet with Degyansky for placement. One project is the digitization of local newspapers. “It's converting microfilm–the way back copies of newspapers had long been preserved–to the Internet,” says librarian and historian Ben Himmelfarb. “Current newspapers like the Journal News
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November 17, 2017 11:30 am | by | 2 Comments
Categories: Library News.

‘Social Media 101’ Will Help Bridge the Digital Divide

‘Social Media 101’ Will Help Bridge the Digital Divide

Social Media–Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Twitter, etc.–is as revolutionary to communications in the 21st century as the telegraph, telephone, radio, television and, yes, the computer were to the 19th and 20th. But innovation comes with the challenge of acclimation, and to meet it, White Plains Public Library digital media specialist Austin Olney will host two Social Media 101 programs in the main floor's Edge Media Lab on Tuesday, November 28, at 6 p.m. and on Wednesday, December 13, at 11 a.m. “We are targeting seniors and those who are not familiar with modern technology and software,” says Olney. “Social media is a popular resource, and it is
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November 6, 2017 9:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events and Library News.
Tags: events and social media.

Library Receives Grant to Develop Youth Coding Programs

Library Receives Grant to Develop Youth Coding Programs

White Plains, New York – October 31, 2017: White Plains Public Library announced today that they have received a $25,000 grant from the American Library Association (ALA) to design and implement coding programs for young people. White Plains Public Library is one of 28 libraries around the country to receive a grant from Libraries Ready to Code, an initiative of ALA sponsored by Google, which promotes computer science (CS) and computational thinking among youth. “At their essence, public libraries spark creativity, ignite the imagination, and encourage learning through play and experimentation,” said Library Director Brian Kenney. “This grant will give
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November 1, 2017 11:48 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News and Teens.

Storm King Art Center Passes Now Available

Storm King Art Center Passes Now Available

The White Plains Public Library is pleased to announce the addition of Storm King Art Center at 1 Museum Road, New Windsor NY to the Museum Pass Program. The Library pass provides free admission for two adults and all children under 18 living in the same household. Widely celebrated as one of the world’s leading sculpture parks, Storm King Art Center has welcomed visitors from across the globe for over fifty years. Located only one hour north of New York City, in the lower Hudson Valley, its 500 acres of rolling hills, woodlands, and fields of native grasses and wildflowers
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October 13, 2017 11:02 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: museum passes and Storm King Art Center.

College Readiness Workshop Series Begins Sept. 27

College Readiness Workshop Series Begins Sept. 27

Next week marks the start of the Edge's College Readiness Workshop Series, run in partnership with The City of White Plains, Westchester Library System, Tomorrow’s Genius, and the New York State Department of Financial Services. The series will cover five key topics for students and their families: SAT vs. ACT, College Applications, the College Essay, College Financing, and College Repayment: SAT vs. ACT (September 27) – These two entrance exams, while similar, have subtle differences that can help you best showcase your academic skills. Learn how to choose between the two, and how to think about the optional essay. College
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September 21, 2017 9:35 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: College Readiness.

Meet Bobby Calero

Meet Bobby Calero

We are excited to welcome librarian Bobby Calero as the newest addition to the Trove. Bobby comes here from the Children's Library Discovery Center of the Queens Library in Jamaica, Queens. Despite the fact that he’s only five feet and six inches—and weighs about a 140 pounds—he was once the bouncer at an all-night jazz club in the West Village. But today he says that he “loves singing ‘The itsy-bitsy spider’ to two-year-olds at 10:30 a.m.!” Bobby is a big fan of children’s book authors Yuyi Morales, Emily Hughes, and Neil Gaiman. He also loves Roald Dahl, particularly The Witches.
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August 30, 2017 9:21 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured and Library News.