New & Noteworthy @ WHPLibrary

Metamorphosis ...... Change ...... Transformation
What does it mean to you?
Can you help change the world? ... Your neighborhood? ... Yourself?

The 2008 New York Statewide Summer Reading Progam provides games and activities to help you investigate this theme. Explore metamorphosis online! Then come to the library for more summertime reading and activities.

Join the Summer Reading Club! Click with your mouse to feed Freddie.

Courtesy of the 2008 New York Statewide Summer Reading Program

Why should kids have all the fun?

Participate from Monday, July 7 through Friday, July 25 and you, too, might win a prize for reading!

Just read or listen to a library book. Fill out a review form (available in the library) or down load it here. Drop the completed form in a special box located at the Reference Desk. The more reviews you write, the more chances you’ll have to win the prizes given at the end of the program.

If permission is given, we may post some reviews on our website so you can see what others in West Hempstead have been reading. Maybe you will find some new titles or authors to read!

It was a steamy hot Sunday in June when Friends gathered for our Walkway Dedication Ceremony. Refreshments were served for the steadfast folk who withstood the 90+ degree heat. Commemorative Journals documenting the text of each of the158 bricks installed thus far for the Buy-a-Brick Campaign were distributed. See more photos...

Back by popular demand!
Instructor Mr. William Feeley will teach two Defensive Driving class for all ages. Both classes will be taught in two sessions. A $40 check, payable to Defensive Driving Course, Inc. is due at the ongoing registration.
(1) The first class for drivers of all ages will be on Tuesdays, July 8 and 15 from 6:45 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.
(2) The second class for drivers of all ages will be on on Tuesdays, September 23 and Wednesday, September 24 from 6:45 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.
For information about similar courses offered in the community on different dates, contact the Automobile Club of America at (516) 873-2364 or call your local insurance company.

For all classes, each participant must bring his/her driver’s license and checkbook when registering and attend all parts of the course to receive credit. Classes are held on the lower level in the Community Room and begin promptly.

Drivers 50 and older can take the AARP driving course given by Mr. Charles Hlavenka. He is also offering two classes this summer. A $10 check, payable to AARP, is due at registration.
(1) The first class for 50+ drivers will be on Wednesdays, July 16 and 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Registration for W.H. residents begins at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 1. Non-residents may register on Tuesday, July 8.
(2) The second class for 50+ drivers will be on one day, Tuesday, August 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (including ½ hour for lunch.) West Hempstead residents may register at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, August 4 and non-residents may register on Monday, August 11.

For other locations and dates, call AARP at 1-888-227-7669 or go to AARP's Safety Search page. Many libraries offer these extremely popular, highly affordable ($10) classes, so be sure to call ahead!

The library has a limited supply of books for summer reading assignments. Please remember that patrons may check out only one summer reading book at a time. Once that book is returned, another summer reading book may then be checked out.

The Summer Reading carts for the WH Public High School and Middle School are set up on the main floor of the library by the American flag. The books on the middle school cart are separated by grade and are color-coded: green dots=6th grade, blue dots=7th grade, and black dots=8th grade.

Here are links to the West Hempstead Middle School website and the 2008 WH Middle School Reading List and Letter to Parents. (You will need Adobe Reader to open these links.)

6th grade (Look for GREEN dots)
7th grade (Look for BLUE dots)
8th grade (Look for BLACK dots)
Fiction Study Guide
NonFiction Study Guide

For your convenience, we have extracted the reading list pages for you. For information about the assignments, check the WH High School Website
(You will need Adobe Reader to open these links.)

Reading Lists by Grade
Regents Level Required Reading
Reading List for Honors and AP
Literature Review Sheets
Assignment for 10H
Assignment for 11H, 11AP
Assignment for 12AP, 12HC
Other Subjects

The Summer Reading carts for the WH Public High School and Middle School are set up by the American flag on the main floorof the library. The books on the high school cart (Black Cart) are arranged in alphabetical order by author. They are not separated by grade.

Please note that patrons are allowed to check out only one summer reading book at a time. Once the first summer reading book is returned they are then allowed to check out another.

We are pleased to announce that for fiscal year 2008-2009, NY Senator Kemp Hannon has secured a Special Legislative Grant of $5000 for our library. Last year's grant allowed us to purchase large print books and audio materials to help the visually impaired. This is the third year in a row that we have received a grant through his efforts and we appreciate very much his hard work on our behalf.

We will have the opportunity to thank his staff on Tuesday, July 22 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. when his Community Office Mobile Visit comes to our library. Drop by in the morning to pick up valuable reading materials and to discuss issues of concern with Senator Hannon's staff in the second floor conference room.

It'll be a sizzlin' summer at WHPL as our WIFI hotspot goes live!

You will be able to access the Internet from anywhere in the library with your compatible laptop or wireless device. To use the service you will need a valid Nassau County Public Library barcode and your account PIN number. You may create your PIN number via the Internet from home or in the library by following the prompts under "My Account" in our online catalog system at www.alisweb.org. Call the Reference Desk at 481-6591 if you need help.

Please read the Information Sheet that lists the technical parameters and the guidelines for using our free Wireless service. Please be aware that library staff cannot provide technical support for your laptop or wireless device and will not assume responsibility for any damage to your computer, data, or configuration resulting from your use of the Internet service. Always remember to backup your device's configurations before making changes.

Thanks for your patience as we worked through the technical challenges involved in setting up this service over our fiber-optic lines. The wait ends on July 1!