Some people like to know what celebrities are wearing; I like to know what they’re reading. President Barack Obama was regularly sighted with a book—to the delight of publishers who would suddenly see that book’s sales skyrocket. Recently, he posted on Facebook a list of what he’s reading—a slightly heavier list, by his own admission, than what he’ll be reading over the summer. Here are a few of his titles; all quotations come from Obama’s post.
 Futureface: A Family Mystery, an Epic Quest, and the Secret to Belonging by Alex Wagner
“I once wrote a book on my own search for identity, so I was curious to see what Alex, daughter of a Burmese mother and Iowan Irish-Catholic father – and a friend of mine – discovered during her own…a thoughtful, beautiful meditation on what makes us who we are…”
The New Geography of Jobs by Enrico Moretti
“… a timely and smart discussion of how different cities and regions have made a changing economy work for them – and how policymakers can learn from that to lift the circumstances of working Americans everywhere.”
 Why Liberalism Failed by Patrick Deneen
“In a time of growing inequality, accelerating change, and increasing disillusionment with the liberal democratic order we’ve known for the past few centuries, I found this book thought-provoking. I don’t agree with most of the author’s conclusions, but the book offers cogent insights into…issues that liberal democracies ignore at their own peril.”
 In the Shadow of Statues: A White Southerner Confronts History by Mitch Landrieu
“A few years ago, I eulogized the Reverend Clementa Pinckney, who was slain by a white supremacist in his church in Charleston, South Carolina. And I’ll never forget something Clem said while he was alive: ‘Across the South, we have a deep appreciation of history. We haven’t always had a deep appreciation of each other’s history…' an ultimately optimistic take from someone who believes the South will rise again not by reasserting the past, but by transcending it."
Brian Kenney
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The Library Hotel
Thanks to the generosity of the Library Hotel, a dedicated supporter of the White Plains Library Foundation, guests at our fall Gala can enter to win a one night stay at this unique luxury hotel. Details to follow in August.
A short walk from Grand Central Station, the Library Hotel is the ultimate book lover’s paradise. Each of the hotel’s 60 guestrooms are elegantly decorated with a collection of art and books based on a topic inspired by the Dewey Decimal System. Floors are dedicated to the ten major classifications of knowledge including the Arts, Literature, Philosophy and Language. The Reading Room, the Writer’s Den, the Poetry Garden with an outdoor terrace, and lobby are common spaces where guests can enjoy the quiet exploration of over 6,000 books. Best of all, in the evenings, the 14th floor is transformed into a cozy bar, Bookmarks, featuring literary inspired cocktails and city views. If you’re traveling, look for other properties in the Library Hotel Collection in Prague, Toronto and Budapest.
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This Week in White Plains
 Five years ago, during the summer of 2013, the City of White Plains Mayor installed a well-known public art project in downtown White Plains known as “Before I Die…”
Before I Die is a global public art project that invites people to reflect on their lives and share their personal aspirations in public space. The original wall was created by artist Candy Chang on an abandoned house in her neighborhood in New Orleans after she lost someone she loved. Since then, over 2,000 walls have been created in over 35 languages and in over 76 countries all over the world and in numerous cities throughout the United States.
Mayor Roach said, “The project received an enthusiastic response when we first brought it here in 2013. We felt it was time to bring the project back and once again create a space where everyone could come together in a positive way, as well as showcase the vibrancy of our city and the strength of our community.”
The City Department of Public Works created the temporary “wall” on which the phrase, “Before I Die I Want To…” is stenciled numerous times. The public is invited to take up a piece of chalk and complete the sentence in their own way, expressing their dreams, their goals and their positive thoughts. Participation is open to all. People throughout the world have actively and enthusiastically participated, helping to create numerous walls that are inspiring and heartfelt to read.
So, as you stroll through the Plaza during your lunch hour, or after you get your latte, don’t forget to stop at the Before I Die wall, add your own thoughts, and read those of others in our community.
For more information on the Before I Die…project, please visit: http://ritualfields.com/project/before-i-die/
Photo by Fuzzy Gerdes
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Summer of Making
with The EDGE-ucators
The Edge's series of maker camps for teens entering grades 7-12 in the Fall of 2018 are back beginning next week with a LEGO Stop Motion Animation Camp. Space is limited and sessions are filling up fast, so make sure to register ASAP! Sessions are held Monday-Thursday (except where noted), 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Week 1, June 25–28: LEGO Stop Motion Animation
For beginners and intermediate learners, learn the tools of Adobe Premiere and foundations of video production. Create a stop motion video using LEGO figures and gain proficiency in video editing.
Week 2, July 2–6: Podcast Project
For anyone interested in creating a podcast, collaborate with your fellow learners to complete at least one episode of a podcast series. Brainstorm a series concept, write scripts, and, using the free audio editing software, Audacity, record, edit, and mix a podcast together. Please note that there is no class on July 4, thee final class will be held on Friday.
Week 3, July 23–26: Zines
Teens will put together their own miniature magazine about anything they want! They can bring in their own materials (magazines, newspapers, etc.) or use the ones provided.
Week 4, July 30–August 2: Screen Printing
Participants will learn how to screen print their own design onto a t-shirt. Each person will be able to design two different shirts.
Week 5, August 6–9: After Effects Animation
For beginners and intermediate learners, learn the tools and foundations of Adobe After Effects. Create animated titles that can be imported into Adobe Premiere and learn basic animation principles such as animating a walking cycle.
Week 6, August 13–16: Cardboard VR
Create a cardboard VR headset and turn your smartphone into a Virtual Reality viewer. Then decorate it using multimedia materials.
Each session has limited space; registration is required. There is a $5 registration fee due on the first day to cover materials and snacks. Register through our online Teen Calendar or by calling the Edge at (914) 422-1481.
These programs were all made possible by a generous donation from Argus, a Verisk Business, to the White Plains Library Foundation.
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2018 World Cup Screening
 Not sure where to watch this year’s FIFA World Cup matches? Stop by our Community Room beginning Friday, June 22 to view the Group Phase and Quarter Final matches. Visit our website for the full schedule.
¿No sabe dónde ver los juegos de la Copa Mundial este año? Visite el Community Room (Salón de la Comunidad) de la biblioteca comenzando el viernes 22 de junio. Podrá ver los juegos de la Fase Grupal y los Quartos de Finales. Visita nuestro sitio web para ver el itinerario completo.
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My Brother's Keeper
Summer Reading List
 Mayor Thomas Roach and the White Plains School District accepted the My Brother’s Keeper initiative August 10, 2016 to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and to ensure that all young people can reach their full potential. The MBK program was launched by President Barack Obama February 2014 to improve the lifelong outcomes of boys and young men of color. Since then, 250 communities across the nation have accepted this challenge.
This is the second year we've created a MBK reading list at the request of the Youth Bureau. We look at award winning titles and sources that review and discuss diversity and inclusion in children's literature. The list focuses on materials for Hispanic and African American boys and young men with stories and themes relevant to their lives and the mission of the My Brother's Keeper initiative. In addition to sharing the list through our normal channels and in-house, the Youth Bureau selects several titles from the list which they circulate throughout the MBK community in White Plains, including schools, houses of worship and faith programs, Head Start programs, summer camps, and other youth programs. At the end of the summer, the Youth Bureau gives youth who participated in reading the titles a Certificate of Achievement for reading.
Visit our website for this summer's list of titles for Pre-K to Grade 12.
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Finding and Funding The Right College
Do you or your child need help in the college search? Not to worry, Mr. Louis of Louis Educational Consulting will be here this Thursday, June 21, to help parents and students navigate the college search by covering topics such as: academics, location, admission, affordability, life on campus, career preparation and funding. You won't want to miss this educational and informative session held from 7:00-8:45 p.m. in the Edge.
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Oprah's Book Club
"No one can understand what freedom means until they don't have it" writes Anthony Ray Hinton in his memoir, The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row. Hinton spent thirty years on death row in Alabama for a crime he did not commit. Hinton has written a shattering and compelling account of how he endured injustice and the horrors of prison while somehow finding a way to retain hope.
 In the book's introduction, civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson writes “He learned to engage those around him and create an identity on death row like nothing I’ve ever seen. Not only did he shape the lives of other death row prisoners but also those correctional officers who sought Mr. Hinton’s advice on everything from marriage and faith to the struggles of day-to-day life.” Hinton was exonerated in 2015 with the help of Stevenson and his Equal Justice Initiative. "He was a poor person who was convicted because he didn’t have the money to prove his innocence at trial. He was unable to get the legal help he needed for years. He was convicted based on bad science,” Stevenson said when Hinton was finally released from prison.
The Sun Does Shine is Oprah's Book Club selection for Summer 2018 and may be found in our New Books, eBook, digital Audiobook, and CD Audiobook collections.
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Photo of The Week
 Left: It takes a lot of planning and creativity on the part of our youth services librarians, but all the hard work is worth it when we see how much fun the Eastview 6th graders have during their visits! Photo by Staff.
We want your photos! In each issue of This Week on Martine we will feature one patron submitted photo that was taken in White Plains. To submit your photography for a chance to be featured, visit our photo submission page, upload one of your photos and fill out our form with a short description of the photo and your name.
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