Library News
- Reserve your DFPL books & DVDs only (for now) either online via the catalog or over the phone with us at (914) 693-6614, during our regular business hours.
- Staff will retrieve materials, check them out to you, and bundle your items together (please limit your holds to 10 items per pickup). Bundles will be labeled with your last name, and placed on a table inside the Main Entrance vestibule.
- You will be called to schedule a pick-up time. One person or family at a time will be scheduled in 15 minute increments to allow for one-at-a-time service. Once your appointment is made, please pick up your items promptly. Please let us know if you have any special requirements for pick-up at this time.
- When you have received your pick-up time, come to the Library and park in the designated 15 minute parking space in front of the building. For your safety, the outer doors of the vestibule will be open (good airflow) and the inner doors will remain closed at all times. Patrons are asked to leave returning materials in the Book Drop for quarantining, NOT in the vestibule.
- Staff wear gloves and masks at all times when working with library materials entering or leaving the building.
- Printing – if you have items to be printed, they may be emailed to the Reference Desk account dobref@wlsmail.org and will be available for curbside pickup, by the same process as other materials. Regular printing prices apply – $0.15/page for black & white, $0.35/page for color. Please leave your payment, exact change only, in a sealed envelope when you pick up your print-outs.
- NEED HELP FINDING BOOKS AND OTHER MATERIALS WHILE THE BUILDING IS STILL CLOSED TO FOOT TRAFFIC? Give us a topic, genre, or author you love and we will find items similar to those, but new to you. Call or email us at the numbers above and we will select five titles for you to try.
Important Update on AARP Tax-Aide
The Westchester County AARP Tax-Aide sites have determined that they will not re-open for this tax season. The health and safety of our volunteers, staff and taxpayers is our top priority, and the decision not to re-open was made with their protection in mind.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offering online options to assist taxpayers affected by the suspension of in-person services:
- A self-prep option, providing taxpayers with free access to software so they can prepare taxes on they own, is available here.
- If taxpayers would like help completing their own taxes, they can request the assistance of a volunteer to coach them through the process via phone or computer screen-sharing. Go here for information and updates.
Have questions? Call the AARP at 888-OUR-AARP (888-687-2277)!
From the Director
Welcome to the DFPL’s new website. I am so glad you have landed here, and hope you will take some time to explore everything available to you through your local library. Some pages are still under construction, but we just couldn’t wait to share all the new functionality with you.
Along with unveiling the updated website and getting to see our patrons once again, I am delighted to announce we have hired Dobbs Ferry Public Library’s new Children’s Librarian! Kate Foster joins us from Palisades Library across the river, and she is a Dobbs Ferry resident who is happy to join her home team. Read more about Kate below.
If we have missed something or you have a suggestion for improvement, please let us know via this link: Suggestion Box
I look forward to waving at you as you pick up your holds next week.
Elizabeth Hobson
Re-Opening Schedule and Process
Beginning June 15th, our Book Drops will re-open and you may begin returning any items you have had out since March. Amnesty will remain in effect through July 6th, so you do not have to worry about late fees on these items.
We plan to open our Main Entrance vestibule for contactless pick-up of materials on Monday, June 22. At that time holds may be placed on Dobbs Ferry items only. As soon as 75% of all WLS libraries are at this same stage, holds for materials from other libraries will begin again, hopefully by the end of June. Reference staff will be available to help you find items in our collections.
While we are adjusting to our new normal, we ask that you limit your holds to 10 items at a time.
Meet Our New Children’s Librarian!
Kate Foster is delighted to join the team at the Dobbs Ferry Public Library as the new Children’s Librarian! Originally from Canada, Kate earned an MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University. She then spent many years in the publishing world, most recently in children’s educational publishing, before becoming a children’s librarian. Kate has found that children’s librarianship is a vocation that brings together her many passions, including early childhood education, community work, and storytelling.
Kate lives in Dobbs Ferry with her wife and two young children, and she’s looking forward to collaborating with the wonderful teachers and staff at Springhurst Elementary in September. She’s excited to bring a diverse selection of materials, as well as meaningful programming, to the families of Dobbs Ferry!
Upcoming Programs
Manhattanville MFA Program Creative Writing Workshop via ZOOM
Monday, July 13
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
In this session, we will be reviewing the writing assignment from the July 6 session.
This online event is free and open to the public.
Please register and request a Zoom invitation at dobref@wlsmail.org
Please contact the library at (914)693-6614 for more information or to register for a program.
Reader’s Circle – Online Discussion via ZOOM
Thursday, July 16
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Let’s get together online! Come to an online readers circle on Zoom.
This week we will be reading Chasing Montana by Lori Soderlind – available on Google Books here:
Chasing Montana on Google Books
For a link to the meeting, please send a message to dobref@wlsmail.org.
Please contact the library at (914) 693-6614 for more information or to register for a program.
Film Noir Discussion Series – Online Discussion via ZOOM
Thursday, July 16
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Join us as we weave through the dangerous back alleys and hairpin turns of Hollywood and into the world of Film Noir. Let’s talk about the characteristics of the genre, such as cynical heroes, femmes fatale; no-nonsense dialogue, a sense of menace other characteristics that makes these films so compelling so riveting.
Watch the films beforehand on Kanopy, anytime, at your convenience, then join us for an afternoon conversation on Zoom about the film – if you would like to attend, please send a request to receive a Zoom invitation and link to dobref@wlsmail.org.
Sign up for a free account on Kanopy using your library card here:
This week’s film to be discussed – Sudden Fear (click title for Kanopy link)
“In this rediscovered masterpiece of film noir, Joan Crawford plays a successful playwright who marries a mediocre actor (Jack Palance). She soon discovers that he not only married her for money but that he plans to murder her with the help of his lover (Gloria Grahame).” – Kanopy
“Jump In” – online workshop on adapting to a post-pandemic world via ZOOM
Friday, July 17
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Are you wondering how you will adapt to life in a post-pandemic world? If you would like to reimagine your future and JUMP IN to a new world together, come to this free interactive flash workshop on Zoom sponsored by the Dobbs Ferry Public Library and Renee Kashuba.
If you are an entrepreneur, freelancer, or creative person, or if you are starting a new project, heading in a new direction, or adjusting business to in the “new normal,” this workshop will allow you to explore new ideas and connect with others.
Renée Kashuba is a local entrepreneur and self-remaker. After 20 years as an award-winning promotional medical writer, she realized her lifelong dream to work in the culinary arts. Shortly after founding MadeByRK Catering & Events in Dobbs Ferry, she was awarded Best Caterer by Westchester Magazine (2018). She currently offers Dreamscaping for Entrepreneurs to help others reimagine their futures into the life they love
Seating is limited.This event is free and open to the public.
Registration is required on Eventbrite – click here to register:
Once you register, a Zoom link will be sent to you.
Manhattanville MFA Program Creative Writing Workshop via ZOOM
Monday, July 20
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
For this session, please bring your own writings to share with the group.
This online event is free and open to the public.
Please register and request a Zoom invitation at dobref@wlsmail.org
Please contact the library at (914)693-6614 for more information or to register for a program.
Online Gaming with the Library – Play ‘Fortnite’
Wednesday, July 22
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Join us for some friendly Battle Royale fun! Will you be the last one standing?
Fortnite is free-to-play and available for cross-platform play on the following systems: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC / Mac, and Mobile devices. An Epic game account is required.
https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/home
Please contact the library at (914) 693-6614 for more information or to register for a program.
Cult Classic Movie Night Online via KANOPY and ZOOM – The Endless Summer / The Search for the Perfect Wave (Not Rated)
Thursday, August 6
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Movie starts at 8 PM via Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/
Patrons may set up an account via their Westchester System Library card.
A group film discussion / trivia / Q&A to follow at 9:45 PM via ZOOM: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Zoom meeting id: 810 9259 7906 (no password)
Both the film and discussion require Internet access / the ZOOM discussion requires a webcam and microphone.
Questions? Email Tim Deery at tdeery@wlsmail.org
The Endless Summer – The Search for the Perfect Wave (1966/NR/Documentary, Sport)
Virtual Book Discussion via ZOOM with Jasmine Warga – Author of ‘Other Words for Home’ (Registration Required)
Tuesday, August 11
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Jasmine Warga, author of Other Words for Home, will be joining us for a virtual book discussion. Read the terrific book on the fifth grade suggested reading list from Springhurst, and come with questions! The author will describe her writing process, read a few pages from her book, and answer any questions you have.
Registration is required – to register, please contact the Children’s Librarian at kfoster@wlsmail.org or call (914) 693-6615. A link to the Zoom meeting will be emailed to you the day prior to the event.
Grades 5 and up
Cult Classic Movie Night Online via HOOPLA and ZOOM – Rock ‘n’ Roll High School (Rated PG)
Thursday, September 10
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Movie starts at 8 PM via Hoopla: https://www.hoopladigital.com/
Patrons may set up an account via their Westchester System Library card.
A group film discussion / trivia / Q&A to follow at 9:45 PM via ZOOM: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Zoom meeting id: 847 0589 1428 (no password)
Both the film and discussion require Internet access / the ZOOM discussion requires a webcam and microphone.
Questions? Email Tim Deery at tdeery@wlsmail.org
Rock ‘n’ Roll High School (1979/PG/Musical, Comedy)
Vince Lombardi High School is the wildest, most rockin’ high school around! That is, until principal Togar comes along and tries to make the school a totalitarian state. With the help of The Ramones, teen Riff Randell and her friends look to get even.
Welcome to the Summer Reading Program!
Monday, July 13
1:00 pm
Come meet our new Children’s Librarian Kate Foster and get a summer reading information packet!
There will be signup prizes of magical glow-in-the-dark slime or wooden glider plane kits.
Toddler StoryTime on Facebook Live
Tuesday, July 14
10:00 am - 10:45 am
Listen to a story read by Children’s Librarian Kate Foster, live on the Library’s Facebook page here:
PreSchool StoryTime on Facebook Live
Thursday, July 16
10:00 am - 10:45 am
Listen to a story read by Children’s Librarian Kate Foster, live on the Library’s Facebook page here:
Unicorn Puppet Grab-and-Go Craft (REGISTRATION REQUIRED)
Saturday, July 18
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Pick up your craft kit at the library!
Registration is required: call (914) 693-6614 to register.
Grades K – 4
StoryWalk®: ‘Bear Came Along’ / Self-Guided Storybook Adventure July 20 to August 20
Sunday, July 19
All Day
Take a walk through Dobbs Ferry and read a children’s book at the same time! Our StoryWalk® features Bear Came Along, a fun story about the importance of community by Richard T. Morris and LeUyen Pham. As you take a short walk along Main Street, you’ll follow numbered pages from the book that will be displayed in the storefronts of generous business owners in town. Everyone who finishes the StoryWalk® will have a chance to win a copy of Bear Came Along!
Online Resources
