Archives for The Edge

What You Need To Know About… Ragnarok

Netflix has a fairly new TV series called Ragnarok (seasons 1 & 2 are available to watch). Don’t be confused by the title, this has nothing to do with Thor: Ragnarok from the MCU. No, this is actually based on Norse mythology, not just the popularized versions of Thor, Loki, Odin, and Freya from the Marvel movies. The show was filmed in Norway with an all Norwegian cast. It is a modern telling of Ragnarok, the end of the world, which will happen in the small coastal town of Edda. The Giants (the enemies of the Aesir (Norse Gods)) are
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Library News, and Teens.

STEAMy Summer Programs: A Look Back

Another summer of STEAM programs has finished. This was a challenging and rewarding summer like no other. In addition to increasing the length by two weeks, we also hired several more people to run programs. Among those hired were several high school students: members of the Techno Chix; a robotics club from the Girl Scouts; Mustafa Ajmal, a high school student in Oak Ridge High School, CA; and Shakira Cherimond, a graduating Senior from Ossining High School who will be attending Purchase College in the fall. By hiring multiple presenters this summer we were able to offer a wide variety
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Categories: Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

Projects on the Plaza: For Teens

In September, the Library will hold two outdoor STEM programs for teens. The programs will be on the Library Plaza, underneath the tent, on Wednesday afternoons from 4:00-5:30 p.m. September 15: Ecosystem in a Bottle Participants will learn how to take an old soda bottle and transform it into a planter. September 29: Marshmallow Launchers Participants will create marshmallow launchers using household items like toilet paper rolls and rubberbands. All participants will be expected to follow social distancing guidelines and wear a mask regardless of vaccination status.
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Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

Summer Reading 2021

Summer Reading at the White Plains Public Library starts Monday, June 28 and will run through Friday, August 20! Due to the impact of COVID-19 on services, Summer Reading will be completely online this year via the READsquared platform, the READsquared website, or the READsquared app, available for iOS and Android. Find information on the great lineup of programs and events for kids, teens and families in July and August here. Get Started! Register and login to READsquared. Individual youth participants can register as themselves, or parents and caregivers can register all of their children at one time. This allows
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Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.

Summer Programs for Kids & Teens

Summer Reading at White Plains Public Library: 6/28 – 8/20 Summer Reading at the Library kicks off Monday, June 28 and runs through Friday, August 20. Reading activity will be logged online with READSquared. More information on Summer Reading at White Plains Public Library can be found here. Programs for Younger Kids Information on the Library’s storytimes, guest performers and special events for younger children and families can be found here. Programs for Kids in Grades K-6 Information on programs, activities and special events for kids in Grades K-6 can be found here. Programs for Teens in Grades 7-12 Information
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Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.

Financial Literacy for Middle Graders

Tuesdays: April 6, 13, 20, & 27, from 5:00-6:00 p.m. Local student, Varun Bansal, will teach a four-part workshop on financial literacy for students in grades 4-8. Financial literacy is a passion of Varun’s and he is happy to share everything he has learned with younger students to get them on the path to financial wellness. He will be covering basic concepts of earning, spending, and saving, how to develop better money habits, basics of investing, banking, credit, and debit cards – how to open bank accounts, the difference between checking and savings accounts, card options, interestrates, borrowing, etc., and
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Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.

Learn about Ancient Egypt!

Museums with Marisa will take you back in time to Ancient Egypt for a fun and fact-filled series of archaeological explorations! Note: a free registered Zoom account is required to access the Library’s youth programs. Get a Zoom account here. The Great Pyramids and the Giza Plateau Tuesday, February 16 at 3:30 p.m. Grades 1-6, Teens Access the program here Learn about the history and archaeology of one of Ancient Egypt’s most well-known sites, The Pyramids of Giza. What’s Up, King Tut? Wednesday, February 17 at 3:30 p.m. Grades 1-6, Teens Access the program here Learn about that most famous
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Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.

Grab & Go Grades 7-12: String Art Snowflakes

Which Craft? Wednesday has been phased into Grab & Go Craft Kits! Instead of finding materials around the house, teens in grades 7-12 can pick supplies up from the Library lobby, then follow along with the instructional video below to make the project. Or, you can find the materials around your home and follow the video to make the project. This month we're using string art to make a snowflake. The kit includes a cork square, white embroidery thread, pins, and a paper template. You’ll need to provide clear glue or clear nail polish, and you may also want to
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Categories: Library News.

New Books for Children and Teens

Ordering books for the children’s and teen collections is a rare part of our jobs that hasn’t changed too much over the past six months. While many other aspects of the workday look different now, it’s still a joy being able to select fantastic books and materials for patrons to enjoy. We’d like to take the opportunity to share some fresh new titles from our carts this month. The Trove My Rainbow by DeShanna Neal, Trinity Neal & Art Twink Preschool-Grade 2 Street Date: 10/20/20 OverDrive Library Catalog “In their #OwnVoices picture book debut, mother-daughter duo and transgender rights advocates
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.

College Admissions Workshops

This fall and winter, the Library will be hosting virtual college admissions counseling workshops for students, because it’s never too early to get started! Monday October 26, 6:00 p.m. – Pat Kronik will cover a variety of topics to get you started with the college admissions process. Register in advance here. Wednesday October 28, 6:00 p.m. – Learn about free tuition for college from Michael Turner, with the NYS Higher Education Services Corp. This program is being hosted by Yonkers Public Library. Check their calendar for more details. Wednesdays, November 4, December 2, & January 6, 6:00 p.m. – Join
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Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

Grab&Go Grades 7-12: Yarn Pumpkins

Which Craft? Wednesday has been phased into Grab ‘n Go Craft Kits! Instead of finding materials around the house, teens in grades 7-12 can pick supplies up from the Library lobby, then follow along with the instructional video below to make the project. Or, you can find the materials around your home and follow the video to make the project. This month we're making another gourd-themed fall decor item: yarn pumpkins. The kit includes orange yarn, two pipe cleaners (yellow and green), a balloon, Elmer's glue, and a plastic fork. We'll be following the instructions from this post from the
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Categories: Library News and Teens.

New Books for Children and Teens

Ordering books for the children’s and teen collections is a rare part of our jobs that hasn’t changed too much over the past six months. While many other aspects of the workday look different now, it’s still a joy being able to select fantastic books and materials for patrons to enjoy. We’d like to take the opportunity to share some fresh new titles from our carts this month. The Trove I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes & Gordon C. James Age 5-6 Street Date: 9/1/20 OverDrive “Barnes and James reunite, after the multi-award-winning success of Crown, for this
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.

Grab&Go Grades 7-12: Pumpkin Garland Kit

As Halloween approaches, I'm sad to miss the annual tradition of decorating mini pumpkins with the teens in the Edge. It's one of my favorite crafts, so I recreated the activity as a Grab&Go kit. We'll draw and color jack-o-lantern faces on construction paper pumpkins. Then we'll attach them to a string for a festive garland to hang on the wall. The kit contains 8 construction paper pumpkins and a string for the garland. You'll need to provide a pen (or markers) and tape. The kits will be available on Monday, October 19th, in the vestibule. Follow along with the
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Categories: Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

Virtual Teen Volunteering

Almost everything about the 2020-21 school year is different, and that includes earning community service hours. Usually around this time the fall sessions of the Do Gooders, the Library’s teen community service group, would be well underway. With library services restricted by safety concerns, we’re offering a different opportunity for teens to earn volunteer hours directly through us. We’re collecting book reviews written by teens, to be featured on our website. Teens can submit a book review by filling out this online form; each review is worth one hour, with a cap of 8 hours per person per month. I’d
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Categories: Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

Mindfulness Practices for Teens

It’s an understatement to say that 2020 has been an unusually stressful year so far. This is the perfect time to draw on Mindfulness Practices, a teen program we’ve previously done both on Zoom and in the library. But with school back in session, we thought another scheduled Zoom meeting might not be the best way to help teens relax. Instead, we’re offering a series of three recorded Mindfulness sessions with yoga and Mindfulness educator Cristina Ortiz. You might know Cristina from her previous work as a teacher in White Plains schools. In addition to her certifications as a yoga
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Categories: Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

Wellness from the Edge: Mindfulness Practices

It’s an understatement to say that 2020 has been an unusually stressful year so far. This is the perfect time to draw on Mindfulness Practices, including techniques to help teens manage stress and promote wellbeing. On this page, you'll find a series of three recorded Mindfulness sessions with yoga and Mindfulness educator Cristina Ortiz. Teens can watch at a time that’s most helpful to them, whether it’s a way to unwind in the evening, or a much-needed break during a stressful day. Cristina has thoughtfully paired each video with a printable page to help teens continue using what they’ve learned
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Categories: Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

Summer Reading Game Kick Off

The Library’s annual Summer Reading game starts today, Monday, July 6 and will run through Friday, August 14! Due to the impact of COVID-19 on services, the Summer Reading Game will be completely online this year via the READsquared platform, the READsquared website, or the READsquared app, available for iOS and Android. Get Started! Register and login to READsquared. Individual youth participants can register as themselves, or parents and caregivers can register all of their children at one time. This allows for the adult to also log reading and activities. Once registered, choose and join the appropriate Summer Reading Game
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Categories: eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.

Summer of Making

The Library will be holding our free summer camps virtually this year. Thanks to a generous grant from Verisk Analytics to the White Plains Library Foundation we will continue with another Summer of Making. Starting on June 29th and going through August 6th, there will be 6 1-week mini-camps held on Zoom for teens in grades 7-12. Registration is required, and you must be able to attend all programs in the week you register for. This year we have Carolina Melo and Michael Brand teaching our camps. Carolina Melo is an artist and interdisciplinary designer based in New York. She
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Categories: eNewsletter, Events, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

STEAM Programs for Middle Grades

STEAM Programs for Middle Grades: Tuesdays and Thursdays in July, we'll offer a wide variety of virtual STEAM mini-camps for grades 4-6. Participants must be able to attend both sessions. Registration is required. To register, click on the date(s) you're interested in attending. Supplies will be provided by the Library. When they are ready you will be contacted to pick them up via contactless curbside pickup. June 30 & July 2 – 4:30-5:30 p.m. – Conor McFinn – Storyboarding and Storytelling Learn about Storyboarding and Storytelling for film in this 2-day workshop. Conor McFinn will teach techniques and secrets of
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Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

ConEd STEAM Camps: Gr. 4-6

STEAM Camps for Grades 4-6 in August Thanks to the generous support of the White Plains Library Foundation and Con Edison, the Library is offering two free week-long virtual STEAM Camps in August. These camps will be taught by instructors from STEM Alliance Larchmont-Mamaroneck. Space is limited, and registration for the full week is required. Registration is on the first date of each camp in the Online Calendar starting July 6. To register, click the title of the camp(s) you're interested in. “STEM Superheroes” Camp – August 3-6, 1:00-2:30 p.m. Youth in grades 4-6 will learn about the historic inventors
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Categories: eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.