What do you think was the first example of artificial intelligence? Was it the chatbot ELIZA in the 1960s? When IBM’s supercomputer Deep Blue defeated a chess grandmaster in the 1990s? Perhaps it was when the program Watson competitively played Jeopardy! in 2011 or when Boston Dynamics unveiled its dexterous dog-like robot Spot in 2016. Just this year, you might have engaged with the strikingly lucid writings of ChatGPT or the elaborate artistic creations of Midjourney.
August is an auspicious month for our canine companions. The “Dog Days,” of summer, which officially begin on July 3 and end on August 11, coincide with Sirius, the Dog Star, rising and setting with the sun. Known as the Dog Star because it is part of the constellation Canis Major, Latin for “Greater Dog,” Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky at this time.
There’s no better vacation - or staycation - companion than a good book, a real page turner that you absolutely cannot put down. The books pictured below encompass a wide variety of styles and themes; the one thing they have in common is their ability to transport. Click on a book jacket to be taken to a link in our catalog.
“One benefit of Summer was that each day we had more light to read by.” Jeannette Walls
The Fourth of July, aka Independence Day, is America’s most iconic holiday and undoubtedly its favorite as well. Who doesn’t love a day featuring parades, fireworks, barbecues, baseball and family reunions? A bit of background: on July 2nd, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted in favor of the independence of the colonies from Great Britain. Two days later, delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, which was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and edited by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams.
Welcome to Scarsdale's Summer Reading Program! Not just for kids, summer reading is a wonderful opportunity for self-discovery and delight. Come join us in reading a book (or ten) and sharing some of your favorite moments along the way. Keep cool, uncover something new, and get the chance to win some prizes along the way!
July is French-American Heritage Month, a celebration spearheaded by the Alliance Française to acknowledge the many contributions of French immigrants to the history and culture of the United States. While the French did not immigrate to these shores in great waves, as did other groups, the Huguenots did arrive here as far back as 1538, seeking the freedom to practice their Protestant faith.
June is National Audiobook Month, a celebration created by the Audio Publishers Association (APA) to promote the flexibility, excitement and value of audiobooks. Why choose an audiobook over a print edition? Reading a print book is an immersive but ultimately stationary experience while listening to an audiobook frees you to multitask, exercise or even give your tired eyes a break.
Juneteenth - a term combining June and nineteenth - is our newest national holiday, following the creation of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day in 1983. President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law on June 17, 2021, officially making June 19 a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Also known as the “second Independence Day,” or “Emancipation Day,” Juneteenth is a holiday of freedom, hope and commitment to equality.
May is rich in reasons to rejoice, including Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month – an annual tribute to the many 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.
There’s a lot to celebrate in May - spring flowers, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and, since 2006,Jewish American Heritage Month. Following a concerted effort by Jewish leaders to establish a national month of commemoration, Jewish American Heritage Month was inaugurated in 2006 by a Congressional Resolution and a Presidential Proclamation by George W.
Carol Ann Duffy, the United Kingdom’s Poet Laureate from 2009-2019, wrote: “You can find poetry in your everyday life, your memory, in what people say on the bus, in the news, or just what’s in your heart.” Her message that poetry is everywhere and that it is accessible to everyone 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 in recognition of the enormous contributions made by women to every aspect of American life, history and culture. Why was March chosen for the celebration?
Presidents’ Day, a Federal holiday which is celebrated this year on February 20, was originally established in 1885 to honor the February 22 birthday of our first president, George Washington. Over time it also became associated with the February 12 birthday of 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. Thanks to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which created additional three day weekends for the country’s workers, the holiday will always fall on the third Monday of February but, ironically, never on th
February is Black History Month, an annual tribute to generations of African Americans whose invaluable contributions to this country were achieved in the face of tremendous adversity. Originally a week-long observance created in 1926 by prominent scholar and historian Carter G. Woodson, the celebration was expanded to a month in 1976 by President Gerald R.
