For teens of all ages, rising Grades 6 through 12: It’s almost that time of year all students are waiting for: summer! With that comes the annual Summer Reading Challenge–this year’s theme is “Adventure Begins at Your Library.” Scarsdale teens in rising grades 6-12 can register by downloading the free app, Beanstack, on their phone or tablet.
For teens going into Scarsdale Middle School in Grades 6 through 8: To support Scarsdale Middle School’s summer reading requirements, Scarsdale Public Library’s Teen Services Department teams up with other library departments as well as with Scarsdale Middle School’s teacher librarian, Shana Frazin, to establish and maintain a summer reading section of all readily available materials meeting the prepared-for-back-to-school curricular requirements set by the teachers in:
In August of 1790, President George Washington wrote to the Jewish Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island: “The Government of the United States gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.” Washington reached out to the Jewish community to assure them that they were integral and valued members of the fledgling democracy.
May is rich in reasons to celebrate, including Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, an annual tribute to the cultural and historical contributions of Asians and Pacific Islanders to the diverse tapestry of the United States. In common with the other commemorative months, the yearly celebration originated in Congress. In 1992, Congress passed Public Law 102-450, which designated May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Many people (especially Moms!) feel Mother’s Day should be celebrated every day, but the official holiday always falls on the second Sunday in May; this year, May 12 is Mother’s Day. How did the holiday come into being? The celebration owes its existence to the tireless efforts of Philadelphia resident, Anna Jarvis.
Who doesn’t love May? In May, we finally convince ourselves that we are looking at winter in the rear view mirror. Longer days, warm sunny weather and blooming buds are energizing, inspiring us to attempt new things and take on new challenges. In the spirit of this month of rebirth and renewal, why not read a recently released book or explore the works of a first time author? The Scarsdale Library’s shelves are packed with brand new titles, as fresh as spring itself. Exciting new worlds await you. Click on the book jackets below to be taken to catalog links.
Over sixty years ago, Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring sounded an alarm about the devastating impact of pesticides on the natural world. Her book was the wake up call we all needed, the spark that ignited the modern environmental movement. Silent Spring not only led to the 1972 banning of DDT but resulted in new government policies to safeguard our air and water and, ultimately, our health. Eight years after the publication of Silent Spring, Earth Day was celebrated for the first time on April 22, 1970, by more than 20 million Americans p
Amanda Gorman, the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate, wrote: “Poetry is the lens we use to interrogate the history we stand on and the future we stand for. It is no coincidence that at the base of the Statue of Liberty, there is a poem.” Her message that poetry transcends the boundaries of time and place is one of the reasons this literary form will always be an integral part of our lives and culture.
On March 12, 1987, Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March as National Women’s History Month. Each year, the President issues a special proclamation to acknowledge the enormous contributions of women to American life, history and culture.
February is Black History Month, an annual tribute to generations of African Americans whose invaluable contributions to this country were often achieved in the face of tremendous adversity. Originally a week-long observance created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, the event is celebrated in February to acknowledge the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. In 1976, the celebration was expanded to a month by President Gerald R.