Archives for Observances and Celebrations

Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month

On April 20th, 2006, President Bush issued the first proclamation designating May 2006 as Jewish American Heritage Month. Since then, the month of May is dedicated to celebrating the many contributions of Jewish Americans in the last 369 years and encourages everyone to learn more about the history, culture, accomplishments, and diversity of the American Jewish community. A great wealth of resources for families to celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month are the programs and exhibits of the Jewish Museum on 5th Avenue at 92nd Street in NYC. Check out their family events here. To celebrate the month, I have gathered
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

May is Latino Books Month

Latino Books Month was launched by Rhode Island Latino Arts (founded in 1988 & today is Rhode Island’s leading nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to the promotion, advancement, development and cultivation of Latino arts) and has been sponsored by the Association of American Publishers (AAP).  Latino Books Month began in 2004 and has been celebrated ever since. It is dedicated to all Latino authors, illustrators and books, including fiction, poetry, drama, autobiography and art. It is meant to inspire literacy amongst the Latino community, promoting English and Spanish reading and highlighting Latino countries and cultures. Latino Books Month encourages librarians, teachers,
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Celebrate Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Month

Celebrate Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Month With Great Picture Books! Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month began in 1977 as a ten-day celebration of Asian Pacific American contributions to the United States. In 1992, President George H.W. Bush signed a law expanding the celebration to the entire month of May. The observance started by commemorating two events: The arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843 and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, largely built by Chinese immigrants, on May 10, 1869. The month-long celebration of Asians and Pacific
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Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Happy Earth Day

“I have learned you are never too small to make a difference.” — Greta Thunberg Earth Day Reads 2023: Be Water-Wise, Super Grover! Library Catalog Fight Pollution, Big Bird! Library Catalog It’s Earth Day, Cookie Monster! Library Catalog, ebook Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, Oscar! Library Catalog My friend Earth by Patricia MacLachlan Library Catalog Tall, tall tree by Anthony D. Fredericks Library Catalog Thank you, Earth: a love letter to our planet by April Pulley Sayre Library Catalog We are water protectors by Carole Lindstrom Library Catalog ebook 101 ways to be an eco hero by Kait Eaton Library Catalog
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month

National Arab American Heritage Month takes place in April; and it celebrates Arab American heritage & culture and pays tribute to the contributions of Arab Americans and Arabic-speaking Americans. In April 2021, President Biden and the U.S.Department of State recognized April as National Arab American Heritage Month. The President wrote in his letter commemorating the event, “The Arab American community exemplifies so much of what our country stands for: hard work, resilience, compassion, and generosity… Diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and it is essential that we continue celebrating, promoting, and educating others about the myriad ways that the
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.

April is National Poetry Month

The Library will be celebrating National Poetry Month with a few programs that are educational and fun for the whole family. Events: Magnetic Poetry Daily during library hours in April The Trove All Ages One of the ways the Library will engage children with poetry is to give them the opportunity to write their own poetry with poetry magnets throughout the entire month in the Trove. There will be a magnet board on display so that children will be able to play and arrange words to make a magnetic poem. Poetry Month Grab & Go Kits Available beginning April 3
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Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

“The Gratitude Project” Exhibit

Artist: Hilda Green Demsky “The Gratitude Project” Painting and Poetry Exhibit Interpretive oil paintings inspired by responses of 36 United States Poets Laureate to The New York Times inquiry “What people in their State would be thankful for” during the Covid pandemic. Demsky's exhibit will be on display in the Library's Gallery from April 3rd through May 25th, with an opening reception on Saturday, April 15th, from 2:00–4:00 p.m. Demsky will also give an Artist's Talk on Sunday, April 23rd at 3:00 p.m. This exhibit is part of the Library's celebration of National Poetry month. When thirty-six United States poets
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Categories: Gallery and Library News.

National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day

On March 29th, please visit your local Mom and Pop Shops and give them your continued support. At the library, we are proud to support our local business community. One way we do that is by subscribing to Reference Solutions, the premier source of information for reference and research. If you are looking for sales leads, sizing up your competition, or looking at historical data for your industry, Reference Solutions can do that and much more! Access with your library card and sign on today through our library website!
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Categories: Library News.

Celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility

International Transgender Day of Visibility is an annual event that occurs on March 31st. The day is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of transgender and gender nonconforming people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people in the United States and worldwide. Attacks on the rights of transgender individuals have risen alarmingly in 2023. According to Tim Walker in his article, “Bill aims to establish Minnesota as a ‘Trans Refuge’ state” for the Minnesota Legislature, “Nearly 250 bills in 32 states are under consideration that would single out trans people for discriminatory treatment of their privacy, their
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Women’s History Month Books & Films

Celebrate Women's History Month with one of our staff selected books and films. See our staff curated Libby list here. Books She Came to to Slay: The Life and Times of Harriet Tubman by Erica Armstrong Dunbar Library Catalog: Print / CD Audiobook Libby: eBook / Audiobook National Book Award nominee Erica Armstrong Dunbar presents a fresh take on this American icon blending traditional biography, illustrations, photos, and engaging sidebars that illuminate the life of Tubman as never before. Not only did Tubman help liberate hundreds of slaves, she was the first woman to lead an armed expedition during the
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Categories: Authors & Books and Library News.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

On St. Patrick’s Day…we all have a little Irish in us! Go raibh míle maith agat! An Irish blessing is used in its original Gaelic often in Ireland – one of the few expressions that almost everybody knows. The meaning is – ‘Many thanks' – literally ‘That you may have a thousand good things' and is pronounced  Guh rev mee-lah maw og-ut. St. Patrick’s Day Grab & Go Kit Available in the Library Lobby starting Friday, March 10th at 10:00 a.m. while supplies last. St. Patrick’s Day-themed Grab & Go kits for children in Kindergarten through 3rd grade. Stories &
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Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Celebrate Pi Day with Us!

Pi Day Family Storytime Wednesday, March 15th at 7 pm For: Children & Families Location: Galaxy Hall Don’t miss our Pi Day Family Storytime on March 15th at 7pm! Play some games, listen to a story and make a craft. It will be fun for the entire family! March 14 is Pi Day. It is a day to celebrate the mathematical constant pi (π), and to eat lots of pie! It is celebrated in countries that follow the month/day (m/dd) date format, because the digits in the date, March 14th or 3/14, are the first three digits of π (3.14).
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Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Author Storytime: Purim Goodies

Author Visit Storytime: Purim Goodies Ages 2-6, Families Thursday, 11:00 a.m. – March 2 Award-winning local author and illustrator Amalia Hoffman performs her delicious tale, seasoned with funny Yiddish words. Make music with an egg beater and pots and dance to Klezmer tunes and sing-along. A unique and fun-filled event for children and families that will whet your appetite!
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Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Celebrate Black History Month

From novels to genealogy workshops, dance performances to films, and storytimes to memoirs, we've got scores of ways to help you celebrate Black History Month. For a list of recommended reads for children, see Raquel's dazzling list of nonfiction picks here. Events Black History Month StoryWalk February is Black History Month. Come view the Library’s StoryWalk featuring Molly, By Golly!: The Legend of Molly Williams, America’s First Female Firefighter by Dianne Ochiltree, illustrated by Kathleen Kemly. In addition to the StoryWalk, there will be some photos related to the history of firefighting in White Plains on display. The StoryWalk will
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Categories: Authors & Books and Library News.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day can be a wonderful opportunity to teach kids about interpersonal relationships. Whether it is their relationship with their siblings & parents, classmates & teachers, or the children's librarian at your local public library! This can be a great learning experience for kids to understand and appreciate these different relationships. Please check out the books and videos listed below for suggestions. Valentine’s Day Grab & Go Kit Available in the Library Lobby starting Monday, February 6th at 10:00 a.m. while supplies last. Valentine’s Day-themed Grab & Go kits for children in Kindergarten through 3rd grade. Valentine’s Day Stories &
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Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Black History StoryWalk

Black History StoryWalk Molly, By Golly!: The Legend of Molly Williams, America’s First Female Firefighter Written by Dianne Ochiltree & Illustrated by Kathleen Kemly Begins Monday, January 23, 2023 and runs through Tuesday, February 28, 2023 For Families & Children Location: The Gallery Stroll through the Gallery on the second floor of the Library, and follow the story of Molly Williams, the slave who became America’s first female firefighter! The Black History StoryWalk is based on the book, Molly, By Golly!: The Legend of Molly Williams, America’s First Female Firefighter by Dianne Ochiltree and Kathleen Kemly. In the book, New
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Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Three Kings Day/El Día de Reyes Storytime

Three Kings Day/El Día de Reyes Storytime Saturday, January 7th, 2023 at 2:00 pm Age Group(s):  For Families & Children Location: Rotary Room Come join us for a bilingual storytime celebrating Three Kings Day/Día de Reyes and also create a craft – a kid-sized crown! There will be a visit from the Three Kings too! This program is presented in conjunction with the Puerto Rican Artist Poster Exhibit on view in the Library Gallery from November 7th, 2022 through January 7th, 2023 that is curated by the White Plains Puerto Rican Cultural Committee, Comite Noviembre and PRIDA. Some Fun Suggested
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Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Native American Heritage Month

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month this November by reading one of these selected titles written by Indigenous authors and about Indigenous people and history. Find our Libby list here. As Long as Grass Grows by Dina Gilio-Whitaker Library Collection: Print Libby: eBook The story of Native peoples resistance to environmental injustice and land incursions, and a call for environmentalists to learn from the Indigenous community's rich history of activism Through the unique lens of Indigenized environmental justice, Indigenous researcher and activist Dina Gilio-Whitaker explores the fraught history of treaty violations, struggles for food and water security, and protection of sacred
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Categories: Authors & Books.

Native American Heritage Month

In November we honor the peoples who lived here before European colonization. Their presence continues to be felt and seen everywhere. From teaching the pilgrims how to survive those first bitter Northeastern winters, to the underappreciated part they played on the Underground Railroad, to the Code Talkers who helped us win World War II. There is much about them we still do not know. As we continue to learn their stories, to share their wisdom, and learn from each other, we can take a moment to enjoy the titles below. You can also visit the Smithsonian National Museum of the
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

November Book Bunch

Tuesday, November 15th at 4:30 p.m. Click here to register for our Book Bunch. Join Caroline and Donna for a book discussion and trivia game for 4th through 8th graders! We will be reading Sisters of the Neversea by Cynthia Leitich Smith. This is a perfect read to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. Sisters of the Neversea is a retelling of Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. Lily and Wendy were friends long before they became step-sisters. As summer approaches, Wendy, who is English, is going to stay with her father in New York City. Lily, who’s Muscogee Creek, is staying
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Categories: Library News.