Readers, can you believe another summer is coming to an end? What an interesting, exciting, odd summer it’s been. A summer of reentry, as we tentatively dipped our toes back into the comforts of seeing family and friends, and stumbling our way towards a new normal. Undoubtedly, it’s been a summer of gratitude. Here at the Library, we wanted to do something special to celebrate some of the people for whom we are most grateful: First responders. July was dubbed “First Responders Month,” with events for all ages, but it’s really been an entire summer of honoring these heroes. If you’ve stopped by recently, you would have noticed our incredible display cabinets near the Circulation desk, currently filled with various items paying homage to fire, rescue, and medical services; stethoscopes, toy ambulances and police cars, plastic firefighter helmets, and more. Oversized red and blue letters spell out, “THANK YOU FIRST RESPONDERS.”  It’s a small reminder that we see their hard work and sacrifices.  We also wanted to give everyone a chance to share their own messages of appreciation, or to even highlight their loved ones working in the field. Teens were encouraged to put their creativity into action to craft…Read More »

Hello, readers!  It’s been awhile. How are we holding up?  I hope life is getting better and better for all of you as the fog of the pandemic slowly lifts. Personally, I’ve been reuniting with family and friends and getting back out into the world. I’m filled with gratitude for the scientists, researchers, health care professionals, essential employees, and every other individual who sacrificed and worked so hard to bring our county and our state back to a new version of normal. In the spirit of regeneration, I’d like to highlight a great service provided by our Reference Department, and it’s one that you might have missed learning about during the pandemic: The Seed Library. Though COVID slowed down our grand unveiling, it has hit the ground running. For 2021, since its opening day on March 17, over 2,000 seed packets have been distributed! Gardening has undeniable health benefits , both physically and mentally. I’m sure it’s a hobby that many of you turned to during the pandemic–it can be done safely, independently, and provides tangible results.  With your Levittown Public Library card, you can use this form to request up to 10 packets of seeds from a variety of vegetables, flowers, and herbs….Read More »

Yes, readers, it is possible to have favorite things in 2020. In fact, this year more than ever has shown me the importance of art during turbulent times. Books, movies, television, podcasts–I’ve found comfort in all of these, especially when anxiety has made my brain feel like this: Sharing my favorites with friends and family has helped to keep communication open even when we’ve been separated by distances. I’d love to share my 2020 favorites with you, and I hope they bring you the same enjoyment they’ve brought to me. Ted Lasso (AppleTV) In a very 2020 turn of events, my phone stopped working a few months ago. The plus of having to buy a new iPhone: I received a free subscription to AppleTV and was able to watch Ted Lasso. The experience of watching Ted Lasso can best be described as “an explosion of joy” (that’s my very technical description). Jason Sudeikis stars as Ted Lasso, an upbeat and guileless American college football coach hired to lead a British football club–though, as we all know, football in Britain is soccer to us Americans. You will instantly fall in love with Ted, his taciturn assistant coach, and the various teammates…Read More »

Readers, I’m filled with both excitement and dread this holiday season–more so than any other previous year. Do you feel the same? I started decorating for Christmas even before Thanksgiving because after the year I’ve had–after the year we have all had–I really needed some holiday cheer. I needed bright lights, garland, nutcrackers, Christmas movies, and colorful wrapping paper to help keep the sad reality at bay, which is that these holidays will have to be socially distanced. Isn’t that the opposite of what a holiday is supposed to be? Of course it is, but I would much rather have one less-than-great year on my own than many years with empty chairs because my high-risk loved ones (of which I have many) became Covid statistics. We’re all making decisions based on our comfort levels and individual situations. For me, this means that my extended family will not be gathering, and gatherings with my close family will be shortened and masked.    I still have hope that this last month of this weird year will feel special for good reasons. I hope you do, too. I’ve put together a few ideas for how we can make this socially distanced holiday season…Read More »

The end of August is usually a culmination of pool parties, beach days, vacations, and all types of carefree fun. However, the end of August during the COVID pandemic is not a high point of excitement. Instead, for millions of people it marks the beginning of a new stage of pandemic life, as teachers and students prepare to go back to school, an institution that will look remarkably different from any other version it has ever been before. A new type of anxiety has emerged for everyone involved. Questions surrounding the safety of students and teachers, concerns about the quality and logistics of learning, and stresses over childcare all weigh on the minds of parents, caregivers, teachers, and administrators.   We share those concerns. At the Levittown Public Library, we are standing by to assist parents, students, and teachers as best and as safely as possible. While we cannot predict how COVID will continue to impact our services, we are determined to provide support and resources through virtual means, and if possible, in person. These include live and recorded virtual programs, databases, technology assistance, resource lists, and of course a large variety of physical and digital books and periodicals.  For…Read More »

Readers, it’s been a while. I wasn’t someone who kept track of the number of days we were home, but it felt like 3,005,567,908 days, didn’t it? The pandemic is still going on around us, but it’s feeling more and more like a fog that’s slowly getting thinner. So many New Yorkers are still dealing with anxiety, fear, and for too many, grief. I wish we had a date that I could circle on my calendar and write, “Pandemic Over” in all caps, but sadly, that seems an unrealistic wish. What I do know is that we’re crawling back to some sense of normalcy, though it looks different than what we imagined or what we’re used to seeing. For us at the LPL, that means returning to our home base–the Levittown Public Library.   We’ve all been working hard from home since we closed our doors on March 13, 2020. We’ve created new content for our website, including tutorials on how to use our databases and other resources. We’ve created videos and hosted live programs to keep you and your families entertained and informed. We’ve even stayed in direct touch with so many of you who have used our chat…Read More »

Hello readers! I’ve titled this post “Dispatches from Home” because that is where I am and where I hope each of you is: home. What a strange and surreal time this is for all of us. We are each trying our best to navigate this world as best we can and this is just a hurdle to get over. The good news is that we are in this together, even if we’re at least six feet apart!   For many of you, the Library is a refuge. It’s the same for me. It’s the same for many of my colleagues. If you’re reading this, I’m sure you know by now that the Levittown Public Library will be closed until March 30, 2020. It’s a bummer, to say the least, because we work so hard to be a place for people to congregate with ease. Unfortunately, that is truly the worst thing we can do at this time and it would be irresponsible to encourage that right now. We’re making decisions based on CDC recommendations and County mandated school closures, always with the safety of our community and staff at the forefront. With that being said, the Library could be closed…Read More »

When I think back on my experiences with middle school and high school academics, there are two images that come to mind: highlighters and flashcards. These two tools were my constant companions as I prepared for tests, big and small, whether it was a Friday afternoon quiz or an AP exam. My study habits included reading, repetition, highlighting, flash card making, Doritos munching, and a lot of The Oprah Winfrey Show in the background. Yes, even before the days of texting and social media there were plenty of ways that we teens distracted ourselves from studying. As I was looking for inspiration for this piece I started Googling “quotes about studying” and found this faux definition that probably reflects reality for many of the teens we know: Source: PictureQuotes.com   It turns out that many of the study habits we’ve become accustomed to are actually detours and not pathways. Our Young Adult Department recently began programming initiatives to help prepare teens for academic success. Whether you’re a teen reading this now, or you have a teen in your life, we encourage you to consult our newsletter and contact our Young Adult Department librarians to find out more information about these programs.  Today, I…Read More »

  Are hobbies in danger of becoming extinct? As our days have become filled with nonstop clicks, scrolls, and streaming services, have we forgotten the simple joys of constructive leisure time? We usually associate hobbies with hands-on activities; in other words, creating something, whether it’s a blanket or a symphony, a jigsaw puzzle or a cake. Sure, we watch television and YouTube videos, spend hours on Instagram and TikTok, but what are we getting from these experiences? It’s the difference between eating a doughnut and a salad; one will give you a temporary jolt while the other will fuel your body. Back in 2015, writer Dan Scotti posited that while most millennials have “interests [and] even passions…rarely will they ever manifest into hobbies.” Technology, as innovative and life-saving as it is, does a superb job of distracting us from cultivating our passions. It doesn’t help that life is competitive, and the competition seems to begin earlier and earlier. We talk so much about encouraging play among young children, but at the same time, we also fixate on academic achievement. Finding a balance between the two is difficult to achieve but an important goal to work towards. Dennis Prager wrote the following in a 2018 edition of Investor’s Business Daily, and it’s something to keep in mind:…Read More »

‘Tis the season for giving. Want to know one of the best ways to show the LPL you care? Sign this petition sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and demand that Macmillan Publishers retract their library eBook embargo. If you haven’t been following the news in libraryland, here’s the situation: Beginning November 1, 2019, Macmillan is now restricting libraries to purchase only one copy of every new eBook title for the first eight weeks following its release. eBooks are no different from print books; libraries purchase multiple copies of popular authors or titles, and just like with print books, when those copies are checked out they become unavailable until they are automatically returned (an awesome eBook perk) or returned early. Some of the authors represented by Macmillan include: Jeffrey Archer, Janet Evanovich, Dave Eggers, Tomi Adeyemi, Mary Kay Andrews, Cecelia Ahern, Louise Penny, and Tom Perrotta. Despite the size of the library and its community, despite the popularity of an author or a title, we can only offer one copy to share with our masses for those critical first weeks. This will lead to longer wait times for new eBook releases and greater frustration among readers–that means YOU!   What’s the big deal? Well, as ALA’s petition states, This…Read More »

Readers, we are getting deep into my favorite season. The temperatures have officially dropped, coats are on, and the days have shortened. While it may seem that Mother Nature is trying her best to keep us indoors and miserable, the chilly fall days and nights are a great time to get creative with our socializing, whether it’s date nights or time spent with friends. There are still leaves to be seen and hot cocoa to be sipped; those two alone are worth bundling up and venturing outside!   I’ve compiled a list of creative fall hangouts, with inspiration from this Woman’s Day article.   Explore a state park. If you have an adult Levittown Public Library card you can reserve our Empire Pass , which provides access to over 100 parks within New York State. Hike, bike, or walk through a gorgeous landscape of fall foliage with the ones you love.   Visit a new town. Without even leaving Long Island, you can discover a hip new locale or perhaps a nostalgic little Main Street. Just this past weekend, I was driving through St. James and Stonybrook, two towns I’ve never visited, and was astounded by their charm. You never know what hidden gems you can find…Read More »

For the second year in a row the Levittown Public Library is proud to participate in the Great Give Back. This initiative, which began in Suffolk County, unites over 160 libraries throughout New York State by offering a day of public service experiences. Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 19, 2019.  The list of participating libraries is available online. If you would like to support the LPL’s projects, please take a look at our September/October 2019 newsletter.      Anthropologist Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” When our community comes together, we have the power to re-imagine and recreate the world, or at least our small part of it. The Great Give Back is a chance to do this on a larger scale. The other good news is that each of our departments is working with a different organization; you can “give back” in so many different ways and for many different causes! Consider stopping by for one or more of the following:   Attention pet lovers: all paws on deck! The Children’s Department is asking young crafters to stop by between 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m….Read More »

Remember how jealous we all felt at the start of the summer, wishing we could have two months off from work to catch up on sleep, go to the beach, take vacations and just relax? Well, we’ve reached the flip side of those two months of bliss: the dreaded back-to-school blues or “Sunday scaries” as my best friend, a 5th grade teacher, calls them. Going back to school stinks, whether you’re a student, a teacher, an administrator, or a parent. While many parents do see the school year as their own reprieve and celebrate the prospect of having a quiet house again for a few hours each day, the actual work of waking up early, doing school assignments, participating in after-school activities, and more, is daunting–and exhausting to even think about. Once you get past these initial hurdles, though, there are so many reasons for us to celebrate the end of the summer.   Back to School = Back to School Books! The picture book industry churns out a large amount of back to school books each and every year. We are always eager for our readers to discover something new to help ease the transition back to school or…Read More »

Readers, prepare to blast off for another exciting summer of events at the Levittown Public Library! Dedicated summer reading participants will remember that our theme last year was “Build a Better World,” focusing on architecture and altruism. This year, in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20th, our slogan is “A Universe of Stories.” Astronomers, star gazers, and space buffs of all ages are in luck! Adults can make a Galaxy Bag on July 25th, teens can make Glow Jars (August 8th), create an Alien Cake (July 24th), and more, while children will experiment with rockets (July 8th), create Star Gazers with help from teen volunteers (July 9th and August 6th), and make food fit for outer space (July 15th), in addition to many other exciting space-themed activities. Drop what you’re doing and consult our jam-packed July/August 2019 newsletter , which includes a long list of other programs, along with registration information and complete program details.    Summer wouldn’t be complete without a healthy dose of summer reading! Vacation loan is now available for Levittown cardholders, giving you a longer loan time, which means you can check out even more books for your next vacation–even if…Read More »

Happy Pride month, Levittown! Celebrated every June, Pride month is a way to acknowledge the influence and importance of LGBTQ individuals, foster a spirit of community among members and allies, and call attention to the continued need for equal rights and visibility. The connection between gay pride and the month of June can be traced back to the Stonewall Riots of 1969, an event that served as a tipping point for activitists, who soon began organizing the types of parades and marches that we see now. In commemoration of its 50th anniversary, New York City is hosting “ the largest Pride celebration in the world ,” composed of rallies, parties, and lectures and culminating in the iconic NYC Pride March on Sunday, June 30th. If you want to stay local, the 29th annual Long Island Pride Parade will be happening in Long Beach on June 23rd.   The public library is a great resource for information about the history and culture of Pride. We have a great selection of fiction and nonfiction books for all ages. It would be impossible to list them all here, but I would recommend you contact the individual department to inquire about book lists, bibliographies, and recommendations. Whether you’re looking to gain information about terminology, resources for support,…Read More »

Every May, the Administration for Community Living spearheads Older Americans Month . This year’s theme, Connect, Create, Contribute, perfectly aligns with the goals we have at the Levittown Public Library. We consistently provide a range of experiences that encourage our community members to better connect with family, friends, and local service organizations, which includes hosting programs geared towards creativity, enrichment, wellness, and giving back.   We have a thriving community of active seniors here in the Levittown area. We see them on a regular basis; whether they’re attending one of our many programs or stopping in to check out materials, they are one of our most devoted groups of users.     In recognition of Older Americans Month, we have a full slate of programs throughout May that are meant to help our community members “connect, create, and contribute.” First up is a virtual reality experience that will allow users to travel to a faraway location, climb Mount Everest, or paint on a canvas (May 7th at 10:30 a.m.). Although this might initially seem like a strange pairing–senior citizens with a cutting-edge technology– virtual reality has proven to be  a beneficial tool for older adults , especially those with limited mobility and/or diminished cognition. Staff members will be on hand to assist with the technology, so this is a great opportunity to…Read More »

Every year on May 4th the force is especially strong with Star Wars fans of all ages. What began as a clever turn of phrase referring to the classic film line has since become a semi-official holiday celebrating George Lucas’ iconic franchise.   Let’s start with a little honesty. It’s not that I’m not a Star Wars fan. I’ve seen the original trilogy and the new releases, and I’ve enjoyed them just fine, particularly The Force Awakens–despite a young patron’s assertion to me that Rey is “the face that killed a franchise” (I respectfully disagree). I can understand why the story and characters are so revered. Star Wars is an epic space opera mixed with a Greek tragedy, playing on quintessential archetypes and the tried and true hero myth. To say they are films that stir my soul would be a lie, though they certainly speak to millions of viewers across the world and are a bona fide cultural phenomenon.   At the Levittown Public Library, we not only carry all of the Star Wars installments, but we also have available numerous spin-off books, as well as other nonfiction books that explore the stories in a multitude of ways, including visual effects,…Read More »

Historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich once wrote, “Well-behaved women seldom make history.” That short statement has since become a rallying cry for women around the world. It’s the perfect quote to keep in mind throughout the month of March as we celebrate Women’s History Month and the many female “troublemakers” who have helped to improve our society and our freedoms. The quote is even featured in a beautiful display located across from our new DVD section and created by our Reference Department highlighting trailblazing women you may or may not have heard of, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Nellie Bly. In fact, that’s truly one of the best parts of months like these: discovering lesser-known historical figures. As a librarian in our Children’s Department, I walk by our current display of picture book biographies of women every day, and it’s always exciting to see a new name. For instance, just last week I showed a second grade class a biography of Mary Edwards Walker , a surgeon during the Civil War and the only woman to have won the Medal of Honor. I had never heard of Mary Walker before seeing that book! There’s also the book Pies from Nowhere about Georgia Gilmore, a cook in Montgomery, Alabama who used…Read More »

Our community is seeing green this month as we gear up for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations throughout Long Island and the tri-state area. They say “everyone’s Irish on St. Patty’s Day,” which is a good thing, as there’s no shortage of parades and festivals celebrating Irish heritage. News 12 provides a guide to St. Patrick’s Day parades on Long Island, while Mommy Poppins has compiled a family-friendly list of events.   From cooking up some authentic Irish delicacies to wearing green and listening to classic or contemporary Irish music, there are plenty of ways to show your spirit. At the LPL, we have several upcoming programs for adults and children to celebrate the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day. Adults should contact our Circulation Department to inquire about tickets for the Boston Burglars, a lively musical act that will be performing Friday evening, March 15th. This Thursday, March 7th, Linda Reilly will be guiding registered crafters through creating a festive Irish wreath. We are also lucky to have author Tom Phelan join us on Monday, March 18th to discuss his memoir We Were Rich and We Didn’t Know It, which details his early years growing up on a small farm in Ireland. Guests can look forward to light refreshments during the presentation, and books…Read More »

Do you remember the first time you read a Dr. Seuss book? More than likely it was read to you, perhaps before you could even form words yourself. You grew up with Dr. Seuss, your children grew up with Dr. Seuss. It’s a cycle that will continue because his stories are iconic, colorful, and inspirational. We can all instantly picture the Cat in the Hat, the Lorax, Horton, the Grinch, Cindy Lou Who, Sam-I-Am, and so many more of Dr. Seuss’ creations. His words are just as meaningful , with quotes adorning nurseries, coffee mugs, magnets, t-shirts, baby onesies, yearbooks, and anywhere else a dose of inspiration is needed. What graduation would be complete without at least one reference to Oh, The Places You’ll Go, especially this portion: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” Despite Dr. Seuss’ passing nearly three decades ago, his work remains fresh thanks in part to a carousel of new adaptations; it was just this last November that a new version of The Grinch premiered in theaters around the world.   March 2nd is a very special day for readers young and old, as we honor the work…Read More »

Love is in the air, readers! Though many gripe that Valentine’s Day is simply a ploy by the greeting card companies –and maybe it is–how can we pass up an opportunity to celebrate the the many ways we feel love and joy? This could mean recognizing your significant other, your family, your friends (I love a good “Galentine’s Day” party!), your pets, or even the things you love: your favorite books, films, and television shows; the foods you love; the songs you love to sing in your car or in the shower; the simple pleasures that make you smile, like wearing your favorite sweater, going to the movies, window shopping, or daydreaming about your ideal vacation. For too many, Valentine’s Day is a difficult day to get through. We should all focus more on celebrating what we have rather than obsessing over what we don’t have in the moment.   In a perfect twist of fate, February is also Library Lovers’ Month. The Levittown Library is the perfect place to connect with the things you love. Romcoms, love songs, literary romances, or even a great cooking class that will teach you how to make the perfect Valentine’s Day dinner ( see our newsletter…Read More »

  Once upon a time, in the Hundred Acre Wood, there lived a silly old bear who loved “hunny” almost, but not quite as much, as he loved his friends Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, Rabbit, Owl, Kanga, Roo, and of course, Christopher Robin. Since 1926, Winnie the Pooh and his cohorts have brought joy to children and adults, inspiring us to embrace the love and friendship that’s all around. Every year on January 18th, we mark writer A.A. Milne’s birthday by celebrating Winnie the Pooh, Milne’s greatest professional achievement.   Winnie the Pooh is one of the rare book characters to have transcended children’s literature and become a part of our culture. Although the Pooh Bear stories were originally penned in the 1920’s– Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) and The House at Pooh Corner (1928)–our favorite “ chubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff ” bear has remained more than relevant thanks to Milne’s wise words and an array of retail items, television shows, feature films, and other spinoff creations. Truly, Pooh and his pals have never left us. More so, Milne’s uplifting words are still tiny nuggets of wisdom, now spread far and wide online. Some of my favorites, all of which can be found in Winnie-the-Pooh , include:   “You’re braver than you believe and stronger…Read More »

Happy New Year, Book Lovers! Bibliophiles know the truth about New Year’s Eve: as we sing Auld Lang Syne and sip champagne, some of us are secretly waiting for the moment we can get back to that awesome book we’ve been reading so we can officially say we’ve read our first book of the year.   The new year is a time for new beginnings and a fresh batch of tantalizing, dazzling, can’t-put-them-down books!  As we welcome 2019, let’s pause for a moment to reflect on our favorite books of 2018. What’s that one book you’ve read this year that you’ve been telling everyone about? I was fortunate to be on the receiving end of a colleague’s excitement about Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. It was the epitome of a can’t-put-it-down novel, with the perfect mix of romance, mystery, and southern flare. Was there a book that took you by surprise? That you read on a whim, or to fulfill a reading challenge requirement, and yet you were mesmerized by every page turn? My surprise of 2018 was Bonfire by Krysten Ritter. If the author’s name sounds familiar, it’s because she’s an actress, known for Veronica Mars and the title role in Jessica…Read More »

Long before there was Carrie Bradshaw and company, Hannah Horvath and friends, or the sassy Miamians from The Golden Girls, there was the original feminist foursome: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. The March sisters from Louisa May Alcott’s revolutionary novel Little Women have been inspiring generations of readers, young and old, for 150 years. Set during the Civil War and published over 50 years before women were given the right to vote–thank you 19th Amendment!–Little Women helped to legitimize themes of “‘domesticity,”’ including sisterhood, family, love, and motherhood, proving them worthy of the literary canon. Like other classic works, Little Women lives on because the characters speak to essential human characteristics we see in ourselves and those we love. Some of us seek tradition, like Meg, or status and romance, like Amy. Others are quiet caretakers, like Beth, and some are courageous dreamers, like Jo.   Little Women also lives on thanks to multiple cinematic adaptations, including a 1917 silent film, a 1933 version starring Katharine Hepburn , and the first colorized version from 1949, with a young Elizabeth Taylor playing Amy. One of my favorite movies remains the 1994 version , starring Winona Ryder as Jo and Susan Sarandon as the loving and intrepid Marmie. I…Read More »

Despite a (inaccurate) reputation for silence, public libraries are actually an ideal location for two of the oldest forms of social interaction. The most obvious example is a book club ( read here for more information about books clubs at the LPL ). The other is less obvious, though still incredibly relevant to the library: games. Games have existed long before we came to know them as pixelated images on a flat screen or even as colorful cardboard mats and plastic pieces. Gaming goes way back to Mesopotamia, and one of the earliest forms of the board game can be traced back to Egypt in 3100 BCE; “senet” was a strategy game involving sticks or bones. Tile games are reported to have existed in China for over 2,900 years and Dominoes began during the Song Dynasty! Games have evolved and changed shape over the years, crossing cultures and becoming mass commercialized. Whether it’s with a die, a deck of cards, an electronic controller, or a simple piece of paper and a wild imagination, games, in all their various forms, have remained an enduring marker of how we pass our time and enjoy the company of family and friends. Today, we also recognize other inherent values that games bring us, including mental…Read More »

  This year, our most famous literary monster turns 200-years-old. To clear up a common misconception: Frankenstein is the name of the scientist who creates the monster, not the monster itself. Maybe after 200 years we can all be on the same page about that? Well…probably not; It’s a hard habit to break! Frankenstein has had an enormous impact on our culture. It is widely considered the first gothic novel and one of the earliest examples of science fiction, thereby inspiring a whole legion of artists, from filmmakers to comic book creators , for decades upon decades in its wake. Would we have Dracula or The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde without Frankenstein? Maybe not. Even The Rocky Horror Picture Show, a Halloween staple and classic midnight film experience, shares some of the same DNA as Frankenstein, as evidenced by Dr. Frank N. Furter’s creation (Rocky), who becomes more than the Doctor can control.     A seminal Frankenstein film adaptation was released in 1931 and starred Boris Karloff . This version will be at the center of an LPL program on October 30th, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. , during which patrons are invited to join a discussion about this classic film. The event will take place just in time for Halloween, fitting when we consider how prominent Dr. Frankenstein’s monster…Read More »

In case you haven’t noticed, 2018 has been the unofficial Year of the Book Club. It’s not a comeback, per se, as they’ve never truly left; book clubs can be found in almost every corner of the globe, including right here in our own Levittown Public Library. However, it’s hard to deny that one of the oldest forms of social and intellectual community is now a trending topic. This year saw the release of book club-centric films The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and the aptly titled Book Club; the continued success of Oprah Winfrey’s book club; and the rise of fresh, new celebrity book clubs from actresses Reese Witherspoon ( Reese’s Book Club x Hello Sunshine ), Emma Watson ( Our Shared Shelf ), and Emma Roberts ( Belletrist ).   At the LPL, you can participate in monthly Page Turners book discussions, moderated by a rotation of our Reference librarians and taking place at 7:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m., and/or Adult Book Discussion with Fran Cohen, offered in the afternoon at 1:00 p.m. If you are already part of a book club or would like to start your own, we also provide Book Club in a Bag, an amazing service that allows you to check out…Read More »

Summer. The time for beaches, pools, and deck chairs. Put a book in your hand and you have the recipe for a perfect season. For some, reading is a part of everyday life. You read on a regular basis and the only thing that might change during the summer is the scenery or which current best seller gets tossed into your beach bag. For others, summer is your primary reading season. The stacks that have gotten pushed to the side during the beginning of the year are staring you down. I occasionally share some of my recent reads, not only because I love talking about books, but more importantly because I want you to pick up one of the books (hopefully from the Levittown Public Library), or at least be inspired to pick up a book. Rather than go through the entire list of 27 books that I’ve read this year, I’m going to highlight five that I especially enjoyed, representing adult, YA, and children’s. Maybe you’ll decide to read them, too!   Crazy Rich Asians: Kevin Kwan   Kevin Kwan’s 2013 best seller has spawned a sequel and a major motion picture to be released this August, the first in 25 years to feature…Read More »

Some professions have “busy seasons.” For accountants, it’s early spring. For librarians, it’s the summer. We plan almost a full year ahead to prepare for the influx of patrons we (very happily) help with book recommendations, museum pass reservations, and program attendance. We realize you might have more time on your hands than you know what to do with for the next two months, and we hope you’ll spend some of that time with us, at the library.   As a staff member here at the LPL, I have the special privilege of knowing in advance some of the upcoming programs before they’re announced to the public. Our July/August 2018 newsletter will be released by the end of the month; some of you reading this now may even have it in front of you. If not, trust me when I tell you the Library will be a busy place this summer!   A staple of any public library is summer reading. Regardless of your age and reading preferences (Audiobook? Not a problem!), we have the summer reading program for you! If you’re going to be reading this summer–and you know are–why not win prizes along the way? There are so many…Read More »