Every spring, we invite the sixth-graders from the Eastview Middle School—all 575 of them!—to spend the day at the Library. We divide the students into five groups that come on the following days: June 14, 15, 18, 19 and 20.

During the course of the day, there are opportunities for learning, playing, and learning through play. There’s a scavenger hunt that secretly teaches them about the Library, a digital media program where students practice skills from cartoon animation to video game design, exercises that teach empathy, and all kinds of maker activities (from creating a Lego boat to designing a bridge). Oh, and lunch too.

The visit also marks the students “graduation” from the Trove, our children’s library, to the Edge, our library for teens, and they receive their new Edge card at the end of the day. We want them to meet the Edge staff, feel comfortable using the Edge, and know that we are there to help them succeed as they move on to seventh grade and then high school.

But to make these days succeed, we need volunteers. Which is, we hope, where you come in. We need folks to help out with the Scavenger Hunt, distribute bag lunches, help show off technology in the media lab, stuff goody bags, assist with craft exercises, and more. You can volunteer for just one day—or all five.

Interested? Contact Assistant Director Kathy Degyansky at 422-6965 or kdegyansky@whiteplainslibrary.org.

Brian Kenney

We’ve got a brand-new source of educational and entertaining children’s programming–free to watch! White Plains Public Library and Kanopy have partnered to bring you Kanopy Kids, featuring hundreds of enriching videos available to stream whenever you want.  Kanopy has partnered with Common Sense Media™ to provide developmentally appropriate age ratings to help you decide what to watch with your child.

Log in to our Kanopy platform and select "Kids" on the top right to start streaming. For those looking to stream on their TVs, Kanopy Kids is also available for Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire. For more information, stop by our Hub Desk.

You may have noticed Donnie Simmons working on the Hub desk. Or maybe at the Trove’s Compass desk. Or then again, you may have met him in the Edge, surrounded by teens. Donnie, while working part-time, is the only librarian on staff who has served in all three departments, assisting patrons throughout the building while covering programs such as Chess Club in the Edge.

Donnie’s flexibility and approachability are just two of the reasons we are so pleased to now welcome him as a full-time Youth Services librarian, working with both children and teens. This week we met up so I could find out a little bit more about him.

Simmons' path to his library career was partially brought about by an injury. During his sophomore year at Syracuse University, he tore his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) playing football and had to find a part-time job to support himself. He found one at the MLK Library on Syracuse's campus. Simmons quickly realized how much he enjoyed the work and became interested in pursuing it further. Also, Simmons' father Don, an educator, convinced him that working in a library would put him in a position to be a "voice" to inspire kids in his community. Shortly thereafter, he decided to attend Syracuse's iSchool for his masters in library and information science.

Simmons was born and raised in White Plains, so the community isn't new to him, but he is excited to get to know our patrons better. Now that he's joined our Youth Services department, Simmons says what he's most looking forward to is "reaching out to White Plains youth, getting to know the community better," and forming healthy relationships with our younger patrons.

In his spare time, Simmons enjoys reading comics and graphic novels, and watching anime. He says his favorite superhero is Black Panther, particularly Ta-Nehisi Coates' run, but that Spider-man was the "OG" for him during his younger years, and that the character is a close tie with T'Challa. Simmons, who likes to live an active and healthy lifestyle, recommends patrons check out B.K.S. Iyengar's Light On Yoga to learn more on the topic from the world's greatest and best known teacher of yoga.

Please join us in welcoming Donnie to the Library.

YWCA White Plains & Central Westchester have partnered with us on "A Courageous Conversation" event for Haitian Heritage Month. We'll present a follow-up conversation to the original discussion of immigration led last year by Ibi Zoboi, author of American Street. Ms. Zoboi remarks about immigration, “Sometimes it’s not just a matter of leaving somewhere; it’s aiming for something more, something that you feel that you deserve.

”Your 'American Street': A discussion about DACA and Immigration" will be held next Thursday, May 24, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in our Community Room with complimentary admission and a buffet.

Register now to learn about the issues involved in immigration reform, and share perspectives from Haitian, Latinx, Muslim, and other communities in Westchester County.

For information contact: Julia Nesbitt, YWCA Director of Racial Justice 914-949-6227 x 106. To register, visit the event's eventbrite page.