Archives for Uncategorized

A Tribute to Musical Legend Johnny Mercer

Johnny Mercer began writing songs at the age of 15 and eventually became one of the foremost figures of 20th century American popular music. From the mid-1930s through the mid-1950s, many of the songs Mercer wrote and performed were among the most popular hits of the time. He wrote the lyrics to more than a thousand songs, including compositions for movies and Broadway shows. In their show on Sunday, October 28 at 2 p.m., Sonny & Perley will highlight favorites including “Skylark,” “Accentuate the Positive,” Blues in the Night,” and “Moon River.” The husband and wife team have spent the
Read More

Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, Library News, and Uncategorized.

Painting on Silk Demonstration

Berenice Pliskin has been a working silk painter for the past 20 years. Her paintings have been featured in news media and museums and exhibited widely. Some are being shown in our Museum Gallery right now (through November 16th) alongside her husband Bob's work. On Wednesday, October 24 from 7-8 p.m.Berenice will demonstrate her silk painting techniques and give a guided tour of her paintings on view in the Library Museum Gallery. Please join us to learn about this intriguing medium. (At left: Carlos is Learning English by Berenice Pliskin)
Read More

Categories: Classes, Featured, Gallery, Homepage, Library News, and Uncategorized.

Business Program for Hispanic Entrepreneurs

The New York State Small Business Development Center at Manhattanville College will host an event at the White Plains Public Library on Monday, October 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Directed towards the Hispanic community, in honor of Hispanic Heritage month, the goal of this program is to provide information and guidance to the community regarding starting a business. A number of high level Westchester government officials will also be in attendance. For more information, contact the New York State Small Business Development Center at 914-323-5362.
Read More

Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, Library News, and Uncategorized.

Westchester Multicultural Children's Book Festival

The 1st Annual Westchester Multicultural Children's Book Festival comes to the White Plains Public Library on Saturday, October 13th from 11:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. The free, all day festival will offer innovative, entertaining, and fun-filled programs for children, parents, teachers, and all advocates for children. The heart and soul of the festival are our magical and inspiring authors: Jerry & Gloria Pinkney Wade & Cheryl Hudson Eric Velasquez Mayma Raphael George O'Connor Jerry Craft Sudipta Bardhan Quallen Marie Roker-Jones Yona Zeldis McDonough Candi Sparks Ginger Pate Nick Bruel Hanna Erhlich Mark Weston Torrey Maldonado Danette Vigilante Mary O'Keefe Jason
Read More

Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, Library News, and Uncategorized.

Allstate Readiness Series: Financial Literacy Programs for Adults and Teens

Learn how to get your financial house in order at the Library this fall.  Join us at workshops for adults and teens on a variety of personal finance topics: creating a budget, managing your money, protecting your financial security, and planning for long term care.  These programs are part of the Allstate Readiness Series, funded by a generous grant from The Allstate Foundation, which supports programs on financial literacy and teen safe driving throughout the year.   For Adults Wednesday, October 17, 7:00-8:30 pm Planning for Long Term Care and Disability: Legal and Financial Issues Presenter:  Frances Pantaleo, Esq., elder
Read More

Categories: Classes, Featured, Homepage, Library News, and Uncategorized.

The Art of Bob and Berenice Pliskin

Artists Bob and Berenice Pliskin mount a retrospective exhibit of their work on view through November 16th in our Museum Gallery. Ms. Pliskin's work features paintings on silk. Mr. Pliskin displays his photography. Meet the artists at a reception on Sunday, October 14th, at 2 p.m. Ms. Pliskin will give a demonstration of the painting on silk technique on Wednesday, October 24 at 7 p.m. (Picture at left: Beach at Vernazza by Bob Pliskin)
Read More

Categories: Events, Featured, Gallery, Homepage, Library News, and Uncategorized.

Day of the Dead Craft Series: Make Your Own Altar

Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos is a holiday based on Ancient Aztec, Mayan and Catholic traditions, and is primarily celebrated in Mexico and Central America on the 1st and 2nd of November. Families gather together to celebrate and honor family members and friends who have died. Some of the holiday’s traditions include creating altars honoring the deceased and visiting the graves of loved ones. If you and your child (grades 2-6) would like to create an altar celebrating a beloved family member or friend, join us for our 3-session craft series which will be taking place
Read More

Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, Library News, and Uncategorized.

Meet the Author: Zane!

New York Times best-selling author Zane will appear at the Library this Saturday, September 29, at noon. We hope you'll join us for what is sure to be an entertaining Q&A. Bring your questions about her books, how she writes, or maybe how she got started. As part of this appearance, Sarah Bracey White, published author and Executive Director of Greenburgh Arts and Culture, will facilitate a conversation between Zane and the audience. Zane is the New York Times best-selling author of, among others, Afterburn, The Heat Seekers, the Flava series, and Dear G-Spot. Her television series, Zane’s Sex Chronicles,
Read More

Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage, Library News, and Uncategorized.

Tomorrow: J. K. Rowling’s New Book

Thursday, September 27 is undoubtedly the most anticipated day in publishing this year, as J.K. Rowling’s new book, The Casual Vacancy, hits stores and libraries. We’ve ordered twenty copies, which our distributor reports were shipped yesterday—so we should have them ready to circulate tomorrow. Ten copies are available to be reserved, while the other ten will be in our new book area, circulating on a “first come, first served” basis. Unfortunately, Rowling’s publisher, Hachette/Little, Brown, won’t license new ebooks to libraries. Is the book any good? We haven’t a clue, as the book has been heavily embargoed and there are
Read More

Categories: Featured, Homepage, Library News, and Uncategorized.

Tired of Facebook and YouTube? Try Fleshing Out Some Visions

If you visit our CyberSpot and use our public access computers, you may have noticed a couple of changes, the most obvious of which is the installation of 12 new systems with wide screen displays.  They've replaced the oldest computers in that area and are much faster than their predecessors. While faster and better looking computers are very welcome additions, they're only as good as the software that runs on them.  So while we were at it, we upgraded whatever software we could and also took the opportunity to install some new applications that we hope appeal to your creative
Read More

Categories: Featured, Homepage, Library News, and Uncategorized.

Non-Profits: Find Funding

Join us Friday, September 28 at 2:30 p.m. to learn searching strategies for the Foundation Center's foundation funding research tools. Jimmy Tom, director of the Foundation Center's New York Library, will conduct a training workshop on grant seeker research tools. Introduction to Finding Funders The first part of the workshop provides an introduction to the Foundation Center's comprehensive online database, Foundation Directory Online Professional. Learn how to create customized searches to develop targeted lists of foundations that will match your organization's funding needs. Guide to Philanthropy In/Sight® The second session explores Philanthropy In/Sight®, an interactive mapping tool that can quickly
Read More

Categories: Classes, Featured, Homepage, Library News, and Uncategorized.

Do you have a baby?

The Parent/Child Connection is a 3-part program designed for children from 13 months to 36 months old, with a parent or caregiver. It offers you an opportunity to meet other parents and play with your child in a warm and informal setting. At each session, there will be an expert on hand to answer your questions about your child’s development – speech and language, nutrition, developmental milestones, and more. Age appropriate toys, a craft, songs, and stories all add up to a fun and positive experience for you and your child. Space is limited, so pre-registration is required, and attendance
Read More

Categories: Featured, Homepage, Library News, and Uncategorized.

Learn Spanish

This post has expired. For the most up-to-date info on Spanish classes, subscribe to our eNewsletter here. ¿No hablas español? Would you like to learn? This fall, we are pleased to be offering beginning Spanish conversation classes. In this class participants will be introduced to simple everyday usage of vocabulary, grammar and conversation. Classes meet every Monday and Wednesday from 7:00-8:30 p.m., starting Monday, September 24. The instructor, Naicy Petrill, is a native of Peru and currently teaching Spanish at Westchester Community College. She holds a New York State teaching certificate for Spanish and is very excited to partner with
Read More

Categories: Classes, Featured, Homepage, and Uncategorized.

Everything You Wanted To Know About College Applications (But Were Afraid to Ask)

Parents and teens: Join us on Monday, September 24, at 7:00 PM for a workshop to help you get started on the college application process. Mollie Reznick, from the College Connection, will address both your questions and concerns while giving you concrete advice on beginning the college application process.   Register on our calendar or at the Reference Desk (422-1480).
Read More

Categories: Classes, Featured, Homepage, Library News, and Uncategorized.

Everything You Wanted To Know About College Applications (But Were Afraid to Ask)

Parents and teens:  Join us on Monday, September 24, at 7:00 PM for a workshop to help you get started on the college application process. Mollie Reznick, from the College Connection, will address both your questions and concerns while giving you concrete advice on beginning the college application process.   Register on our calendar or at the Reference Desk (422-1480).
Read More

Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, Library News, and Uncategorized.

Allstate Readiness Series: Financial Literacy Programs for Adults and Teens

Learn how to get your financial house in order at the Library this fall. Join us at workshops for adults and teens on a variety of personal finance topics: creating a budget, managing your money, protecting your financial security, and planning for long term care. These programs are part of the Allstate Readiness Series, funded by a generous grant from The Allstate Foundation, which supports programs on financial literacy and teen safe driving throughout the year. For Adults Saturday, September 22, 2-3:30 p.m. Learn Budgeting Basics and How to Manage Your Money Presenter: Personal finance expert and economist Luz Barrera
Read More

Categories: Classes, Featured, Homepage, Library News, and Uncategorized.

Friends of the Library Celebrate 65th Anniversary

The Friends of the White Plains Public Library are unsung library heroes. Founded in 1947, this group of volunteers has raised funds for programming, the Museum Gallery, equipment and furnishings. (Including our beautiful Steinway B piano in the auditorium. Many musicians have commented on how nice it is that we have such a good piano to play!) They deliver books to home-bound Library patrons around White Plains. They also provide volunteer manpower for various events, such as gallery openings. One of the ways they raise funds is by running the Friends Bookstore off our lobby, which is having its 15th
Read More

Categories: Featured, Homepage, Library News, and Uncategorized.

Our Team at the Olympics of Slam — Nina gets a 10!

The White Plains Library Slam team competed in two preliminary bouts at the 2012 National Poetry Slam in Charlotte NC on August 7 and 8. Seventy-two teams from North America are taking part in this five-day event. Although our team did not advance to the next round in the Nationals, which are truly the Olympics of slam poetry, first-time team member Nina Robins made a hit with her performance of her poem “Arrested.” Her score was 27.6 (out of a possible 30 points). One judge even gave her a perfect score of 10! Team member Bryan Roessel made it to
Read More

Categories: Featured, Homepage, Library News, and Uncategorized.

What is Freading?

Hint: it means eBooks from the Library without the wait! Freading is a new online service that allows White Plains Library cardholders to download eBooks to their favorite devices. (Except for the older Kindles. It does work with the Kindle Fire.) Freading offers over 11,000 titles in all genres and is particularly strong in Mystery, Romance, and Self-Help. You will find many Children’s titles there too. Freading does not have books from any of the “big six” publishers but does have a wide array of titles from some of the smaller presses like Algonquin, Kensington, and Poison Pen. Freading uses a
Read More

Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Library News, and Uncategorized.