Services & Programs

WLS Outreach Services reach every corner of the County. To add your support

Adult Services

Community Conversations in the Library | Westchester Breathes | Westchester Resilience Coalition – The 2020 program focuses on bringing forward resilience building skills for individuals and communities.  We offer free public programs and customized programming to teach Breath-Body-Mind (evidence based breathing and movement exercises that work for all ages) and – building on 2018/2019 efforts – to support understanding and exploration of childhood trauma trauma and trauma-sensitve services. See the calendar and highlighted resources to know more. Content from the 2017 series on Criminal Justice – Yesterday and Today is also available.

Firstfind.org – Want to pass the GED test and get your high school equivalency diploma? Learn English? Need to update your computer skills? Looking for a job? Find out if you qualify for benefits? Firstfind.org is an easy-to-use website with information and resources to help Westchester residents work toward these goals. Firstfind.org can also point you to agencies in Westchester County and in New York State where you can get specific, in-depth help.

HSE Connect! – This program helps adults get their High School Equivalency diploma. Attend an Information Session to learn about the three paths to a diploma and the resources for study – from local classes to a fully online course (Essential Ed’s GED Academy).

Music and Memory at the Library – Being a home caregiver for a friend or a family member with dementia or Alzheimer’s is challenging. With the use of a personal music player and over the ear headphones, you can incorporate music into daily care. Westchester Library System offers a free support service to explain the impact of music on those with dementia or Alzheimer’s, and to share how you can use library resources to build a customized music playlist for the one in your care. This program has been funded in part with support from M&T Bank Foundation.

One Book Westchester – A literacy initiative designed to bring the community of Westchester County together through books written by local authors. This project is being sponsored by the Westchester County Executive’s Office, Westchester Library System, the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival, and BOCES.

Read Better – Adults who want to improve their reading skills can get free one-to-one support at their local library.

VisionLabs (Reading for a Lifetime) – View presentations, access one-on-one support, and find local services available to those experiencing vision loss. Learn how you can benefit from services like the free New York State Talking Book and Braille program which lends out audiobooks and books on tape to those with visual or physical impairments which make reading or holding a book difficult. This Program has been funded with generous support from The Field Hall Foundation.

Senior Law Day Collaborative – Learn more about legal and financial topics impacting older adults. Get your questions answered at free seminars and consultations offered throughout the year. Sample topics include wills and trusts, retirement planning, home care options, and having a successful dialog between parents and adult children about health and legal matters. See the calendar for upcoming evens and access recorded sessions.

WLS Career Coaching Services – Whether you’re facing a difficult situation at work, or need help planning or managing your career, WLS offers specialized programs with trained professionals to guide you in your career path.

Westchester Connections – is a guide for persons formerly incarcerated, those working through probation or parole, and others similarly in need. It offers advice from those with experience and information about organizations that can help you get ahead.

Youth Services

Battle of the Books – a book based trivia tournament for Westchester youth grades 4-10. The goal of the program is to promote a love of reading in kids and teens, to expose them to titles and authors that they might not encounter otherwise, to encourage them to think of their local public library as a resource for entertainment and to inspire teamwork and good sportsmanship in an atmosphere of friendly competition. The 2020 Battle of the Books has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are looking forward to announcing the 2021 Battle – with a new date and location in early 2021. This program has been generously supported with funds from The HOPE for Youth Foundation and participating library communities.

Early Literacy Education and Outreach –  Since 2014, Westchester Library System has had a focused effort to promote awareness of the importance of early literacy education and to share skill building information and training with library professionals, community organizations, and parents. Among our actions to date have been to provide a multi-year series of educational workshops to library staff, deliver training to early childhood center staff and families, and to create videos and printed materials that parents can use with their children. We know our efforts have provided information, training, and age-appropriate books to more than 8,000 families in Westchester County. For more information and resources for families with young children, visit FirstFind.org. WLS is grateful for the generous support of Con Edison and NY State Early Literacy funds for this program.

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