Blog Entries

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.  See the quotes below for the thoughts of famous authors on the joys of summer reading.  And, finally, click on a book jacket to be taken to a catalog link.  

“One benefit of Summer was that each day we had more light to read by.” Jeannette Walls

Father’s Day, which always falls on the third Sunday in June, will be commemorated this year on June 16. While many of us think of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day as twin holidays, the two celebrations had very different historical trajectories. Mother’s Day became a national holiday only seven years after it was first celebrated on May 10, 1907, in Grafton, West Virginia.

Juneteenth, also known as the second Independence Day or Emancipation Day, is our eleventh and newest  federal  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.  On June 19, 1865, 2,000 federal troops marched into Texas, the westernmost state in the Confederacy and the last state to acknowledge the end of slavery despite the fact that the Civil

In August of 1790, President George Washington wrote to the Jewish Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island: “The Government of the United States gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.” Washington reached out to the Jewish community to assure them that they were integral and valued members of the fledgling democracy.

May is rich in reasons to celebrate, including  Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, an annual tribute to the 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. In 1992, Congress passed Public Law 102-450, which  designated May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Many people (especially Moms!) feel Mother’s Day should be celebrated every day, but the official holiday always falls on the second Sunday in May; this year, May 12 is Mother’s Day. How did the holiday come into being? The celebration owes its existence to the tireless efforts of Philadelphia resident, Anna Jarvis.

Who doesn’t love May? In May, we finally convince ourselves that we are looking at winter in the rear view mirror. Longer days, warm sunny weather and blooming buds are energizing, inspiring us to attempt new things and take on new challenges.  In the spirit of this month of rebirth and renewal, why not read a recently released book or explore the works of a first time author?  The Scarsdale Library’s shelves are packed with brand new titles, as fresh as spring itself.  Exciting new worlds await you. Click on the book jackets below to be taken to catalog links.