Connections

Jun 14 2026

Money Matters - this edition is dedicated to fundraising for our beloved Crestwood Library - the little library that could and does!

Find out about a few of our generous donors, grant sources and giving opportunities such as Crestwood Centennial $100 for 100 Campaign; Sarah Murdoch, our YPL Gala Donor, and the Junior League of Bronxville's support for our newest sustainability initiatives- bats!

Save the Date - Sun, Sep 27 for our Crestwood Centennial Concert at Asbury United Methodist Church.

Update on our most recent Centennial Conversation - On Jun 6, Simon Winchester OEB, British writer, journalist and broadcaster was interviewed by Friends of Crestwood Library Board Member Joe Harbeson. Photos from event

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Message from Branch Administrator

Donor Sarah Murdoch, center, with Crestwood Library supporters from right Ann Rakoff, Friends Board Member; Cathy Walsh, Friends President; Z Baird, Branch Administrator, and Connie Cullen, Library Volunteer, at the 2026 Foundation for Yonkers Public Library Gala

Meet Crestwood Library's newest guardian angel, Sarah Murdoch, who generously raised her paddle to support Centennial Celebrations for Crestwood Library during the Auction at The Foundation for the Yonkers Public Library annual Gala on Apr 16, 2026. The Gala theme, Building Readers, Building Yonkers, emphasized Yonkers Public Library's role in supporting literacy in many forms throughout the city. We are grateful for Sarah's outstanding support for literacy during our Centennial Year.

Murdoch and Crestwood Library have a natural connection as she recently commented, "My lifelong passion for reading was sparked at a young age in public libraries. Now, I have the immense good fortune to live near Crestwood Library! The librarians, staff and other community members have cultivated a welcoming place for everyone. Whether I’m browsing for my next read, finding a cozy spot in the reading room, or enjoying peaceful shade on the lawn, Crestwood Library always lifts my spirits. Cheers to your next 100 years!"

It takes all types of contributors to help make Crestwood Library special. Recent funding has come from individuals like Sarah, community groups like Friends of Crestwood Library, local organizations offering grants like the Junior League of Bronxville, and programing partners such as Asbury Methodist Church and Arts Westchester.

Every dollar counts and I hope you will join us with your support to celebrate our Centennial!

Z Baird

Branch Administrator, Crestwood Library

"Everyone Belongs Here"

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Centennial Challenge

$100 From 100 Friends Celebrating 100 Years!

Yonkers Public Library (YPL), including Crestwood Library, is navigating a maze of finances. YPL, like every department of the City of Yonkers, must operate next fiscal year (Jul 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2027) with budget cuts. At Crestwood Library, this translates into a reduction of part-time staff and number of programs we can offer.

Hopefully, “we can get by with a little help from our friends” with the $100 from 100 Friends for 100 Years Centennial Challenge. While staff costs can only be funded through YPL, you can contribute to programming and materials through this Centennial Challenge.

A sneak peak at the Centennial Challenge was announced in our first issue of Connections. Here are more details about what it is helping fund. Friends of Crestwood Library (FOCL) and Crestwood Branch staff have been running a stellar line-up of centennial author talks, concerts, family programs and other events. Check calendar for schedule.

Be part of these events and the library’s next chapter by joining FOCL through the Centennial Challenge. It’s a fantastic way to show support for the continued work of Crestwood Library.

A Centennial Challenge Honor Roll of contributors will be featured on the Friends’ website.

Contributions can be made at the library, or online on the website. FOCL is a 501(c)3 organization and your contribution is completely tax-deductible.

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Z Baird, Branch Administrator, holds Grant Certificate at the Apr 29 Junior League of Bronxville (JLB) Service & Scholarship Celebration. Joining Z, from left are, Victoria Thiessen, President-Elect, JLB; Kelly Shine, JLB President; Briggitte Dix, Founder & Executive Director, Cottontail Cottage Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education, and Connie Cullen, Library Volunteer who wrote the grant, and Amy Brown, Chair, Grants Advisory Council, JLB.

We're Going Batty with Funds

From the Junior League of Bronxville!

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a single bat can eat up to 3,000 insects (including mosquitos) in one night! Bats also play an essential role in pollinating plants and dispersing seeds. Bat populations are dwindling, so our Library is here to help by continuing our efforts to combine literacy and sustainability resulting in informative, educational and hands-on programming. Thank you to Junior League of Bronxville (JLB) for their support.

This grant will establish a pilot program to educate the community on the beneficial contributions of bats to the environment and teach conservation activities including data collection on the presence of bats locally. These efforts will contribute to sustaining dwindling bat populations.

Through this grant, Crestwood Library will purchase two bat houses and three echolocation devices so participants can listen, identify and record the presence of bats. The data will be sent to Gotham Bat Conservancy to be used in local, state and national studies.

We will be receiving in-kind services from the Gotham Bat Conservancy for more bat houses, software to aggregate and interpret the data collected from echolocation devices, plus training and expert guidance. Cottontail Cottage Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education has assisted the Library with wildlife awareness programing for children and families and has a bat rehabilitation site in Westchester. Our own Z recently received her certification to become a Wildlife Rehabilitator from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

You are invited to register to join us on Tue Jun 30 at 7pm for an Informational Talk and Bat Walk taking place at Crestwood Library. Space is limited and registration is on a first come, first served basis.

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Save the Date - Sun Sep 27

Crestwood Centennial Concert

at Asbury United Methodist Church

Mary Thombs, Asbury Crestwood United Methodist Church's Minister of Music, wrote and won a $2500 Arts Alive Grant to support a collaborative concert celebrating the centennial of Crestwood Library, featuring local Crestwood and Tuckahoe musicians.

This is a another great example of our partnership efforts with local organizations to raise funds to enhance the Library's Centennial programs .

For more about Asbury's commitment to musical programming, click here.

The concert will:

Provide FREE high quality, diverse, live entertainment to a wide array of community residents, especially those for whom attendance at professional concerts is financially or otherwise prohibitive
Provide professional opportunities for Westchester-based performing artists, focusing especially on residents of Crestwood/ Tuckahoe / greater Yonkers
Strengthen ties between Asbury Church and the local community by working closely with staff and volunteers of the Crestwood Library on the planning and implementation of this concert

Participating artists include:

DuoJalal, an ensemble of viola and percussion who live in Crestwood
Trumpeter William Schaeffer of Crestwood
Oboist Heidi Chisholm of Crestwood
Chamber choir of St. Vladimir’s Seminary
Cellist Charles DuChateau
Pianist AnnBritt DuChateau;
The Little Big Band of the Library Jazz Band, based in Yonkers and co-founded by two Crestwood musicians

DID YOU KNOW? Asbury Church was the temporary home of Crestwood Library for two years prior to its opening at its current location on Thompson St. The Sep 27 concert highlights the long historic connection between the Church and the Library.

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Dig Into Good Books this Summer!

Yonkers Public Library's 2026 Summer Reading Program

runs from Jun 1 to Sep 15. The annual initiative encourages residents of all ages to discover the joy of reading while helping children and teens maintain critical literacy skills throughout the summer months.

"Whether you're uncovering your family history, exploring a new subject, attending a library program, or simply finding your next great read, Yonkers Public Library offers opportunities all summer long for residents of every age to learn, create and grow," said Library Director Jesse Montero.

Participants can download a free Yonkers activity book designed to help young readers connect with family members and friends while learning about family traditions, recipes, stories, and local history.

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Many thanks to Ann Rakoff, Board Member, Friends of Crestwood Library, for her generous donation to sponsor Connections for 2026. (She is one of the volunteers writing and sending Connections.)