Letter to the Community

were doing and took five minutes for deep breathing and group relaxation, followed by an hour-long meditation event. The Rock Painting afternoon was held on September 11th with emphasis on remembrance and reflection and creating art to add to the library garden. This program was conducted by Librarian Nancy Larabee, an artistic soul who loved crafting and painting and has since passed. We continue to have this event in her honor, adding those painted rocks to the tree planted on the property in dedication of her memory and to the Peace Garden.

This event is now in its 6th year, and the library will be hosting kindness events from Saturday, August 30 until Tuesday, September 30. From a special Watch Party of Nonnas to Rock Painting to DIY Earrings, we hope community members will join in all the planned activities and remember that kindness really does matter to those who are on the giving and receiving end, every day of the year.

Christina Ryan-Linder
Library Director

Library Advocacy

Supporting your local library is a powerful civic act, ensuring access for all and the preservation of information, education, and community resources. For years, libraries have been facing challenges, weathering censorship, and having funding issues. Recently those challenges have become much more difficult. It is important for community members to stand together and speak up in support of library services to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for all libraries. 

Advocate for the Greenburgh Public Library!

• Speak at Town Board meetings or School Board meetings letting our local officials know you support the library, especially during budget discussions or book challenges.

• Write letters to the Library Board and the Town Supervisor expressing your support for Library funding and intellectual freedom. Share your stories and positive experiences with others.

• Use social media platforms to help spread library news, events, and the importance of access to information.

Stand Against Censorship!

• Speak out against book bans and book collection censorship.

• Support librarians and educators under attack for upholding access to diverse materials.

• Educate others about the dangers of censorship and the importance of diverse perspectives.

Use the Library Actively!

Check out books, attend programs, and use digital services. By coming to the library in support of all the activities offered, you can help show your neighbors that the community depends on the library. This will also help bring those neighbors to the library to use our services too.

If you would like to be more actively involved in supporting the library through advocacy, contact me at director@greenburghlibrary.org. If you would like to support the library by volunteering or other supportive measures, contact the Friends of the Greenburgh Library at gplfriends@greenburghlibrary.org.

Keeping Up with GPL!

Greenburgh Public Library proved that summer fun isn't just for kids! Our Adult Summer Reading Program was a huge success, with over 200 community members joining in the excitement.

We kicked things off with a special treat—the first five registrants received swag bags filled with goodies! The program wrapped up on a high note with one lucky participant winning a free pass to the Metropolitan Museum of Art!!

Thank you to everyone who participated, picked up a Passport to Read bookmark, and helped make this summer unforgettable. We loved reading with you!

This summer, our teens took part in Color Your World: Teen Summer Reading Challenge, and they truly brought the challenge to life! The program encouraged participants to read for a cause: for every hour they read, they earned one hour of community service.

Teens logged their reading time, explored new stories, and expanded their minds with books that mattered to them, whether it was a fantasy adventure, a heartfelt memoir, or a thought-provoking nonfiction title. Every page turned helped them make a difference, not only for themselves but for our community.

By the end of the summer, participants had logged an impressive number of reading hours, earning valuable community service credit while immersing themselves in worlds both real and imagined. It was a summer filled with learning, creativity, and a celebration of the power of stories.

Thank you to all the teens who joined us for this challenge. You truly colored your world with reading!

Our Teen Bookmark Design Contest was a huge success this year! We were blown away by the creativity, talent, and imagination shown in every single entry. From bold, colorful illustrations to thoughtful, intricate designs, our teen artists truly showcased the many ways reading inspires them.

After much deliberation, our judges selected three winning designs:

1st Place – Received an Artist Gift Basket plus 50 copies of their printed bookmark design to share with friends and family.
2nd Place – Received 50 printed copies of their design.
3rd Place – Received 25 printed copies of their design.

All teens who participated in the contest received a free book coupon to our bookstore as a special thank you.

We’d like to thank every teen who participated. Your creativity made this contest a joy to host, and we hope to see your artwork again next year!

On Wednesday, July 30, librarian/photographer, Tim Spindler took a few hours out of his day as NYLA President and Long Island Library Resources Council Executive Director to photograph Greenburgh Public Library for The Library Photograph Project - a blog dedicated to celebrating the important work libraries do. We were thrilled to be a part of this project, not only because we wanted updated photos of our building but also to capture the energy and diversity of our space where people come to read, learn, and connect everyday!

Our library, chartered in 1962 and expanded in 2009, continues to grow with our community. Libraries matter—and this project is helping show the world why.

At Greenburgh Public Library, we begin creating a StoryWalk® by choosing a children’s picture book we think will be great to share with the community, especially ones focusing on nature. It’s hard to decide among so many wonderful books, but we do our best! Once we find a story that fits both our and the Nature Center’s needs, we get two copies of the book. We carefully disassemble and reassemble the book pages so they form complete page spreads, and we laminate them so they last longer outside. The lovely staff at the Greenburgh Nature Center take the laminated pages and set them in frames that are mounted along one of the trails leading to their butterfly garden. 

The StoryWalk® changes around four times a year, and has featured fantastic children’s book titles, including: Señorita Mariposa by Ben Gundersheimer, Amara’s Farm, by JaNay Brown-Wood, Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson, In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming, and our current story, Summer Song by Kevin Henkes. 

Look forward to our next StoryWalk®, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen. This classic, silly story follows a family on their search for a bear. Obstacles abound on their journey, but what will they do if they actually find a bear? Find out on the path to the meadow!

New at GPL!

of all abilities, the series features interactive workshops in drumming, singing, and songwriting—fostering creativity, self-expression, and meaningful social connection in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

The program will conclude with a celebratory concert on November 24th, showcasing the musical growth and strong sense of community built over the course of the series. Family members, caregivers, and the public are invited to attend this final performance, which will celebrate the unifying and expressive power of music across all backgrounds and experiences. 

This project is made possible with funds from Arts Alive, a regrant program of ArtsWestchester with support from the Office of the Governor, the New York State Legislature, and the New York State Council on the Arts.

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” –Plato 

Sharing our struggles has a way of lightening the load and reminding us that we are not alone, we are part of community and that support is available. If you're thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or are experiencing emotional distress, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a free national resource that you can call, text or chat 24/7 for confidential emotional support.

Hear from a local 988 crisis counselor on Tuesday, September 16 at 6 PM for Here for You: Real People, Local Support in Times of Distress and learn how the 988 resource has supported the Westchester community in the three years since its inception and what to expect when you contact 988.

This program is brought to the community by the Westchester County Suicide Prevention Coalition of which Greenburgh Public Library is an engaged member. Complimentary refreshments will be provided by the Rotary Club of Hartsdale/Greenburgh. 

Consider a visit to The Westchester Healing Garden in Ridge Road Park, Hartsdale to remember and reflect on those lives we’ve lost to suicide and the countless lives who have been forever impacted by the ripple effects of suicide loss. 

Founded in 1956 by Drs. Luce Klein and Arthur Klein, Ph.D, in New Rochelle, NY, Spoken Arts, Inc. was a pioneer in the audiobook industry. At a time when reading was the only way to engage with literature, the Kleins envisioned something more—bringing literature to life through voice.

Dr. Arthur Klein retained the audio portion of the company until his death in 1997. In 2001, the Klein family donated the original reel-to-reel masters to Yale University’s Historical Sound Recordings Library, which later digitized them to CD format. The Klein family has now donated 469 titles to the Greenburgh Public Library —making it the only public library in the world to own this unique CD collection.

Originally released on vinyl and cassette, these recordings have never before been available on CD. Many feature acclaimed British and Irish actors, a nod to Dr. Arthur Klein’s background in UK theatre and his tenure at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. One standout: Poetry of Dylan Thomas, read by Sir Richard Burton and Anthony Quayle.

This extraordinary collection is now part of our library system—ready to inspire a new generation of listeners. 

Staff Picks

Teens

Adults

Graphic Novels (Teens & Adults)

Audiobooks

Videos & Streaming

Music