Library News
- NOW OPEN FOR BRIEF IN-PERSON BROWSING – One person or family at a time will be scheduled in 30 minute increments beginning ½ hour after opening and ending 1 hour before closing times to allow for one-at-a-time service. There will be a fifteen minute interim period between appointments for surface cleaning. Call the Circulation Desk at (914) 693-6614 to schedule an appointment, please arrive on time and ring the doorbell located on the right side of the main entrance to enter. Our restrooms, seating and Children’s toys are unavailable at this time.
- CONTACTLESS PICKUP CONTINUES – You may still reserve your books & DVDs 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.
- When you get the notification that your holds are in, use the app to schedule your pickup at this link: Curbside Pickup. You may also call us to schedule an appointment for pickup. Please pick up your items at your scheduled time, or you will have to reschedule if you miss your appointment. 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. Masks are required for patrons and staff at all times.
- 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? 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.
SUMMER READING 2020
Welcome to our Summer Reading Game! Our game is a free, flexible, 6-week program that encourages children in elementary school to keep reading over the summer. Anyone entering grades K-6 is welcome to register! The program runs July 13 – August 20.
This year families will use the online reporting system READsquared to log reading at home. Here’s how to do it:
1. Register Online – Parents, you can create an account first to easily monitor your children’s activity. Download the READsquared app and select “Dobbs Ferry Public Library” as your library, or register online. Click on the button that says you’d like to register “Myself and Children,” indicate that you’re an adult when asked for an age range, and select the Children’s 2020 Summer Reading Program. You will then fill in your own name and information before entering that of your children. If you would like your children to establish their own accounts, you do not need to open an account of your own.
2. Track Your Reading – Log in to track your reading and earn points. Log your reading each week to earn virtual badges and automatically be entered to win prizes. Complete special missions to earn bonus points!
3. Participate! – We may not be able to gather at the library just yet, but we hope you’ll take advantage of our virtual programming and grab-and-go crafts. And please be in touch if we can help you with curbside pickup! We’d love to find you our latest and greatest summer reads!
Have questions? Check out our FAQ here!
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!
In the Gallery
DFPL strives to provide the community with exhibition space for local artists, historical displays and special exhibits.
Upcoming Programs
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)
Take & Make Adult / Teen Craft Kit – Macrame Leaf Earrings (REGISTRATION REQUIRED)
Saturday, August 8
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Have a creative Stay-cation this August with easy, take-home craft kits for adults or teens.
Kits are first-come, first-served while they last. Kits are all-inclusive except for standard household items.
Call the library at (914) 693-6614 to reserve your kit for pick up.
Manhattanville MFA Program Creative Writing Workshop via ZOOM (Registration Required)
Monday, August 10
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
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
Take & Make Adult / Teen Craft Kit – Papercraft Bird Collage (REGISTRATION REQUIRED)
Saturday, August 15
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Have a creative Stay-cation this August with easy, take-home craft kits for adults or teens.
Kits are first-come, first-served while they last. Kits are all-inclusive except for standard household items.
Call the library at (914) 693-6614 to reserve your kit for pick up.
Manhattanville MFA Program Creative Writing Workshop via ZOOM (Registration Required)
Monday, August 17
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
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
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)
Take & Make Adult / Teen Craft Kit – Macrame Leaf Earrings (REGISTRATION REQUIRED)
Saturday, August 8
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Have a creative Stay-cation this August with easy, take-home craft kits for adults or teens.
Kits are first-come, first-served while they last. Kits are all-inclusive except for standard household items.
Call the library at (914) 693-6614 to reserve your kit for pick up.
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 4-8
Take & Make Adult / Teen Craft Kit – Papercraft Bird Collage (REGISTRATION REQUIRED)
Saturday, August 15
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Have a creative Stay-cation this August with easy, take-home craft kits for adults or teens.
Kits are first-come, first-served while they last. Kits are all-inclusive except for standard household items.
Call the library at (914) 693-6614 to reserve your kit for pick up.
Take & Make Adult / Teen Craft Kit – Cheerful Garden Art (REGISTRATION REQUIRED)
Saturday, August 22
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Have a creative Stay-cation this August with easy, take-home craft kits for adults or teens.
Kits are first-come, first-served while they last. Kits are all-inclusive except for standard household items.
Call the library at (914) 693-6614 to reserve your kit for pick up.
PreSchool StoryTime on ZOOM (Registration Required)
Thursday, August 6
10:00 am - 10:45 am
Listen to a story read by Children’s Librarian Kate Foster, live via ZOOM!
Registration Required – call the Library at (914) 693-6614 or e-mail kfoster@wlsmail.org to register.
Fire Breathing Dragon Grab-and-Go Craft (REGISTRATION REQUIRED)
Saturday, August 8
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Pick up your craft kit at the library!
Registration is required: call (914) 693-6614 to register.
Grades Pre-K to 2
StoryWalk®: ‘Bear Came Along’ / Self-Guided Storybook Adventure July 22 to August 20
Sunday, August 9
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!
Summer Reading Program – “Imagine Your Story” July 13 to August 20
Sunday, August 9
All Day
Our Summer Reading Program is a free, flexible, 6-week program that encourages children in elementary school to keep reading over the summer. Anyone entering grades K-6 is welcome to register! The program runs July 13 – August 20.
This year families will use the online reporting system READsquared to log reading at home. Here’s how to do it:
1. Register Online – Download the READsquared app and select “Dobbs Ferry Public Library” as your library, or use this link to register online. Parents will need to click the button that says they are registering for “MYSELF” and then enter registration information for their child. If you have multiple children, you will need to repeat this process for each child.
2. Track Your Reading – Log in to track your reading and earn points. Log your reading each week to earn virtual badges and automatically be entered to win prizes. Complete special missions to earn bonus points!
3. Participate! – We may not be able to gather at the library just yet, but we hope you’ll take advantage of our virtual programming and grab-and-go crafts. And please be in touch if we can help you with curbside pickup! We’d love to find you our latest and greatest summer reads!
Toddler StoryTime on ZOOM (Registration Required)
Tuesday, August 11
10:00 am - 10:45 am
Listen to a story read by Children’s Librarian Kate Foster, live via ZOOM!
Registration required – call the Library at (914) 693-6614 or e-mail kfoster@wlsmail.org to register.
Online Resources
