Somers Library  
Newsletter 
June 2020
 
June 2020 at the Somers Library
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the NY PAUSE Executive Order, all in-person programs have been  cancelled for the 
month of June and July .   See below for upcoming virtual programming being offered by the library.  

Because of the uncertainty surrounding this situation, please check our website often for news updates about the library.

For further information on 'Helping Children and Families Cope with the COVID-19 Pandemic', check out this guide from The Chronicle of Evidence-Based Mentoring~  here.  The guide includes information and activities for children and adults to gauge stress and understand their own reaction to the pandemic. It contains pages specifically for adults and pages specifically for children. 
 2020 Census
The Somers Library is reminding everyone that the 2020 Census is taking place  and it is important for everyone to respond!   Spend a few minutes online today to impact the next 10 years  of funding on healthcare, infrastructure, and education. 

Please go to https://2020census.gov/ and respond today to
make America's tomorrow brighter.
 
Director's Corner

After a long closure due to COVID-19, The Somers Library is planning our reopening. With the region almost in compliance with Governor Coumo's metered checklist, we expect to be able to begin a phased reopening mid-June. The Somers Library will begin by offering curbside pickup of our materials, and will gradually reopen more of our services as the situation progresses. 

As the Library has been closed and our patrons have not been able to return their items, we want to alert you that we will not be charging overdue fines for anything due during this time. As materials will need to be quarantined when they are returned, you will notice that they will still show up on your account for several days, but we will postdate the check ins, and not charge any fees during this time period.

The Westchester Library System will not be resuming deliveries between Libraries at first, so we will not be able to fill any holds that would come from another Library. We apologize for this inconvenience, but our staff will help find you alternatives when possible.

We will work diligently to provide a safe experience for both our patrons and our staff, and will continue to offer our online materials and programs. We have missed our patrons, and we are looking forward to seeing everyone again soon.

Andrew Farber
Library Director
 
Adult Events & Information
Please click here to register for events.
 
Adult Summer Reading 2020 - BOOK BINGO -  Book Bingo for Adults is an adult summer reading challenge.  You can h ave fun reading and who knows...you might be a lucky winner!  Details and registration coming soon !

Important Note about the Senior Benefits Information Center (SBIC):  Our SBIC program coordinators are still providing Medicare counseling by phone and by email. Clients can leave a question and their preferred contact method and our counselors will get back to them within 2 business days or sooner. The SBIC hotline information: 914-231-3260 or SBICS@wlsmail.org.

Demystifying Medicare Presentation is now available on your own time with these audio recordings! This presentation of the library system's Westchester Seniors Out Speaking is perfect for anyone trying to navigate our complicated healthcare system for older adults. It will help those who already have Medicare, as well as people soon to be 65, planning their retirement, or assisting relatives and friends with their medical decisions.  The engaging, interactive program outlines the various parts of Medicare and lays out the costs associated with the medical and drug insurance provided by the government and private companies.  Technical questions can be directed towards outreach@wlsmail.org. Questions for the presenter can be left at 914-231-3236 or SBICmedia@gmail.com. Click here to access the website.

Virtual Presentation: Planning for Pandemics and Beyond - Tuesday, June 2, from 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 pm - Join us for an informative webinar for top lessons learned around proactive strategies to take, and key documents to have in place for life's expected - and unexpected events. Speakers: Lauren Enea (Elder Law & Estate Planning Attorney, Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP) & Judi McAnaw (Financial Advisor, Edward Jones). You must register to be invited to this Zoom meeting. Please register.

Virtual Poetry Workshop for Adults at the Somers Library. Thursdays, 6/4 - 6/25, 11:00 - 12:30 pm. Beginner and experienced poets "will hold these truths to be self-evident" that all poems can be created using trial and error, and serendipity along with learning the processes of craft in this poetry workshop. Discover your muse as Thea Schiller introduces an established poem, leads discussions and creates in-class writing exercises, leaving time to write and share each week. Participating members will be encouraged to expand their repertoire of poems. Please register.

Virtual Meeting of the Somers Library Book Group. Friday, June 5, from 2:30-3:30 p.m. We will virtually discuss via Zoom the landmark Isabel Wilkerson book, The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration. Please register.

Virtual Presentation: New York Skyscrapers 1870-1931. Saturday, June 6, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm. Using original photographs and historic images, Kevin Woyce tells the story of New York's greatest skyscrapers, from the 1890 New York World building to the Woolworth, Chrysler, and Empire State buildings. He will explain how and why they were built, and introduce the architects and businessmen whose visions shaped New York City's world-famous skyline. Please register.

Virtual Painting In A New Way: Acrylics /Watercolors: Presented virtually via Zoom, Mondays 6/8, 6/15, 6/22 & 6/29 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. This class will offer students a dual venue as an instructional class and/or a free studio. The participants will have the option to receive step-by-step instructions so that each week they will finish one complete painting! Or, if some students choose to create on their own, they will receive suggestions, support and critiques in a comfortable relaxing environment. Instructor - Judika Lieberman. Please register in order to receive a meeting invitation. Supplies: Paints (Acrylics or Watercolors), brushes, pencil, palette or paper plate, cup for water, canvas, canvas board or paper, ruler/ straight edge, & blue painters' tape. Please register.

Virtual Presentation: Race Amity of Northern Westchester & Putnam. Sunday, 6/14, 2:00 - 4:00 pm.   Race Amity of Northern Westchester & Putnam's monthly meeting will be held virtually. Please check the NWPRA facebook page for more details: https://www.facebook.com/RaceAmityofNorthernWestchesterandPutnam

Virtual Presentation: Top Planning Considerations for Home Buyers and Investors in Today's Uncertain Environment. Wednesday, June 17 from 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm. Join us for a Webinar discussion around current trends and opportunities in investing and listing/refinancing a home in today's unprecedented environment. Speakers:
Judi McAnaw, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
Carol Christiansen, Principal Broker/Owner, Café Realty
Don Rizzo, Mortgage Broker, Sun Mortgage Company
Please register. 

Virtual Presentation - WINK (WHAT I NEED KNOWN) - Join us on Saturday, June 20, 11:00 to 12:30 PM. What vital information about you do family and friends need to know?  The Friends of the Somers Library, in collaboration with Tracy Christen Reimann, Esq., have created a program featuring a document that each person should complete in case of emergency, called "WINK (What I Need Known) - Important Information About Me". As a registrant, you will receive a copy of this document by mail.  At the meeting, you will be instructed on this document's general use.  A  WINK document is a significant gift for your loved ones as well as a significant self-care document.  Categories include Personal Information, Financial Information, Health Information, Information about my Home, and Final Wishes.  Each person completes and keeps their own document, to be left easily accessible to others, and includes the details they want to share - from basics like the garage door code, to information about the care of your pet, to how you pay bills, or where your important legal papers are stored.  You get the idea.  Please register as early as possible to ensure your blank document copy.

Virtual Presentation: Decorating Your Home to Sell (or Dwell). Monday, June 22, 6:30 - 8:00 pm. If you want to learn the tricks of the staging trade to sell your home or listings faster and for more money, or you just want to revitalize your home's appearance, join home staging expert Susan Atwell as she teaches you:
  • The 3 keys to outshining the competition when selling your home.Our top 10 Do-It
  • Yourself home staging tips guaranteed to sell homes faster.
  • How to accentuate your home's most attractive features using what you already have.
  • Tips to ditch the stress, mess, and overwhelm and get it all done at lightning speed! 
  • Whether you are a home seller, real estate professional, or just someone who enjoys interior decorating, this workshop is for you! Please register.
Virtual Presentation: The Space Race 1957-1975. Saturday, June 27, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm. The Soviet Union stunned the world in 1957, by putting the first artificial satellite into Earth orbit. By 1961, the Russians had also launched the first manned spacecraft and sent the first robotic probes to the Moon. In May, 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced his daring plan for the American space program: landing a man on the Moon before the end of the decade. This presentation is packed with historic photographs and vintage concept art. Relive the dramatic "Space Race," from the pioneering Mercury and Gemini flights to the first Apollo Moon landings and the lesser-known scientific missions that followed. Along the way, you will learn about the visionaries and scientists who made space travel possible, and the American astronauts who boldly traveled "Where no one has gone before." Please register.

Teen Events
Teen Summer Reading Challenge 
For teens/tweens entering 6th grade & up!
June 19th - August 21st 

Registration begins 6/19 (Register on our website on the Teens Summer Reading Page).
  • Prizes to each of the top 3 readers with the most pages read.
  • Raffle Prizes: Many gift baskets for lucky winners!
How To Get Raffle Tickets:
  • For every 100 pages read, earn 1 raffle ticket.
  • For every 1 review submitted, earn 1 raffle ticket.
  • Register Early- earn 2 raffle tickets for being one of the first 30 participants to sign up for the Teen Summer Reading Program!
  • Bonus: you can earn 2 raffle tickets by completing the weekly Teen Summer Reading Task posted on the Teen Summer Reading Page!
More information to follow!
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Children's Events

FOR ALL Children's programs, click on the Online Calendar to register,  or call the library at 914-232-5717 to speak to Vicki or Beth or email SomersKids@wlsmail.org.

Vicki and Beth have been working hard to bring you interesting, informative and fun websites during this virus outbreak.

PLEASE NOTE:  Summer Reading~  we are working on this and will be sending out information late June when all details are finalized. 

ZOOM~ Yoga and Sound Meditation for Children Grades 3-6:
June 2, 9, 16, 23 from 3:45-4:45pm
Led by Vivian Lee~ see website for details.
Registration required~ register here.
Registration ends June 1.

ZOOM~ Pajama Story Time- for all children!
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 from 6:30-7:00pm
Led by Diana Cunningham
Registration required~ register here.
Registration ends June 1.

ZOOM~ Children's Art Workshop- Make a Card for Someone Special
 with Wendy Podell
June 18 from 3:30-4:15pm
Best for ages 3-11 years
Please see website here for materials to have ready for this program.
Registration required- register here.
Registration ends June 17.

ZOOM~ June Story Times via Zoom are coming in June.
Details to be emailed!

Visit the Children's page here to access:
-MidAmerica Books and Abdo Digital/Zoom are giving patrons of Somers Library
FREE and unrestricted access to online libraries and database* resources needed to continue learning through JUNE 2020

Also check out:
-ABC Mouse
-Tumblebook Library
-Tumble Math
-Big List of Children's Authors Doing Online Read-Alouds & Activities
-CIA/Spy Kids
-NASA for Kids
-Math Mavens Mysteries
-Child Mind Institute (parenting advice)
-Maths Case
-PBS Kids

Look for special emails on Mondays and Thursdays!  These are themed and timely websites, activities and links to e-books!

-Click Tutor.com to access this website using your Somers Library card # and pin:
Tutor.com offers live online chat and email support for learners of all ages. You can check a homework question, send in an essay for review, prepare for a test, and even have a cover letter or résumé checked. Hay tutores que hablan español.  Note: Due to coronavirus, Tutor.com has expanded its tutoring hours from 9:00 am - 10:00 pm, Monday through Friday, until June 15.

You'll need your Somers Library card and pin.  This is a downloadable audiobook and eBook service offered by the Westchester Library System.

News from the
Friends of the Somers Library
"What in the world would we do without our libraries?"
   -Katherine Hepburn
 

The Friends of the Somers Library will be hosting a special Zoom presentation of WINK (What I Need Known) on Saturday, June 20th. Please see registration information in this newsletter for important details about registration and course materials.  WINK has been a valuable program for many in our community and we are glad that Susan Berkow and Tracy Reinmann have been able to collaborate with the library staff to do this Zoom presentation.

As you know, all in-person programs library programs are cancelled for the foreseeable future. The Friends of the Somers Library will be ready to plan for future programming as soon as we are given the go-ahead.   Thank you for your understanding.

Be safe and we'll be here when things re-open!

The Friends of the Somers Library is a nonprofit organization chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York.

From the Somers Library Foundation

For the past several years, Somers High School student Sun Graham has served as the Somers Library Foundation's Student Representative and Facebook Manager. Her contributions to the Foundation and the Somers Library have been immeasurable. Unfortunately, for Sun and the other area seniors, the last few months have been an unexpected and disappointing conclusion to their high school and college careers.

We wish all the graduating seniors, and, in particular, hard-working, dedicated and talented Sun Graham, the best of luck in all their future endeavors.

The Somers Library Foundation thanks the Class of 2020 for their accomplishments and contributions to the Somers community and we hope that all the seniors will look to the future with optimism and good cheer. We will be rooting for Sun and her fellow graduating seniors in the years to come.

In the meantime, the Somers Library Foundation looks forward to resuming full operations. Tentative planning for the rescheduled Book Sale continues apace and we will update all as soon as we have details to share. Thanks again to the volunteers who assisted in the collecting, sorting and organizing of the donated books and to all those who donated books earlier this year. We'll be resuming and completing these activities in the (hopefully) near future and look forward to a Book Sale that will be better than ever.

With increasing hopefulness for a brighter tomorrow, we ask that God bless you and all your families during this crisis. We can't wait to see you all again at the Somers Library!

Somers Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
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