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.
At the end of each year we are all besieged by lists singling out the best in every genre - best movies, best books, best TV series, etc. While these suggestions are certainly valid sources for recommendations, in our community of avid readers you can also find inspiration in the titles your neighbors have selected over the past year. Listed below are some of the books that have flown off our library shelves most frequently in 2023. Click on the book jacket to be taken to the link. Happy New Year and happy reading!
Nobel Peace Prize winner and visionary civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., died on April 4, 1968, but it took 32 years for a government holiday in his honor to be recognized by all fifty states. Dr. King’s birthday was signed into law as a federal holiday in 1983 and took effect three years later on January 20, 1986. However, it was not until 2000 that all fifty states officially observed the holiday.
January is synonymous with resolutions. In the spirit of the new year, who has not, with the best intentions, committed to a better life, a better self, a better world? Change can be daunting but you don’t have to go it alone - there are countless books to both inspire and guide you. Is the proliferation of self-help books a response to the complexity and anxiety of our current times? Possibly; but, believe it or not, the very first self-help book, conveniently and obviously titled Self-Help, was written in 1859 by Scottish author Samuel Smiles.
December can be daunting - holidays, family gatherings, cooking and decorating are exhilarating but they can also result in exhaustion and sensory overload. Add on the psychological impact of early sunsets and you have a perfect storm for stress. How to decompress? Escape into a good book, the ideal way to reboot your psyche and re-center your soul. What to read?
