WHITE PLAINS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Digital Media Specialist at the White Plains Public Library
Austin Olney is the Digital Media Specialist at the White Plains Public Library, teaching patrons to be digitally literate and providing them with technology skills necessary for the modern world. Receiving his Master's Degree of Science in Education from SUNY Cortland in 2011, he earned a New York State Social Studies teaching certification and later A+ (Plus) Certification from CompTIA IT Industry & Association. Austin has experience teaching in a variety of educational institutions, and enjoys applying advanced technology skills to actively engage students with diverse backgrounds and learning styles. He currently lives in Poughkeepsie, NY, with his wife and daughter…and another baby on the way!
Responsibilities: Digital Media Specialist.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Language Pathologist for the New York City Department of Education
A speech and language pathologist for the New York City Department of Education, a mentor with Good for Girls, and a member of Pi Iota Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and a lifetime resident of White Plains. She is also a devoted mother. Her passion is enhancing people's quality of life through improved language skills.
Job Titles:
- Library Director
- Archives for Administration
"I've been with the Library for nine wonderful years, full of renewed facilities, new programs and services, and, best of all, new books! While I appreciate all the Library offers, I have a special passion for book discussions, and facilitate Book ‘Em, a monthly crime fiction discussion group. Before coming to White Plains I worked as editorial director of Library Journal and School Library Journal, and before that was with the Brooklyn Public Library. I try and spend as much time as I can on the Outer Cape."
Caroline Reddy was born in Shiraz, Iran and moved to the United States when she was eight years old. She fell in love with stories after reading The Last Unicorn and Boy's Life. She has a Master of Arts in Writing from Manhattanville College, an MLS from Queens College and a background in Education. Caroline has been involved in a variety of writing communities including For the Love of Words and Immigrants & Exile. Her work has been published in Breadcrumb Magazine and The Literary Oak Review. She is interested in developing the notion of Writing Boxes to motivate young patrons to tell their own unique stories in a fun way. Some of her favorite books include: Paradise, A Tale for the Time Being, Catching the Moon, Speak, Boy's Life, As I Lay Dying, LOTR, Vinyl Princess, Ghost World and Persepolis. Caroline also enjoys live music and is interested in the healing arts-she holds a certification in Reiki III.
Responsibilities: Librarian I.
An active community volunteer since moving to White Plains four decades ago, her leadership roles include serving as President of the White Plains Library Foundation, Family Services of Westchester and The Association of Development Officers. She currently serves as a Trustee of the Westchester Library System and as Treasurer of her neighborhood association. After careers in social services, corporate human resources and not-for-profit management, she is retired and volunteers as a mediator and arbitrator.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Superintendent of Schools
Job Titles:
- President
- Trustee
- President, Board of Trustees
A native of Ecuador, Ms. Summers grew up in New York City and has called White Plains home for over 20 years. She is a member of the White Plains Lion's Club and a District Leader in the district of downtown White Plains, wherein she resides. She is a frequent visitor to the White Plains Public Library and has oftentimes taken part in its programs and services.
Originally from Maryland, Erica received her MSLS from UNC Chapel Hill in 2022. She's a fan of storytelling and roleplaying in all its forms, but her favorite RPG at the moment is Wanderhome. Outside of the library, she can be found walking around town, catching up on TV shows/movies she missed during her school years, playing games and RPGs with friends, or reading (of course!).
Responsibilities: Librarian I.
Erika grew up and lived in South-Central PA for most of their life. After a few years working behind the scenes in broadcast news, she went back to her hometown library to work the circulation desk while she earned her MLS at PennWest-Clarion. Now in White Plains, Erika is excited to bring their love of stories to kids at The Trove. When not in the library or reading, Erika can be found browsing for vintage toys, playing video games, lifting weights, or petting any domesticated animal.
Responsibilities: Librarian I.
Ibi Holden has worked at the library for the past 16 years. She works as a library clerk in the circulation department. In her spare time she likes to spend time with her family/friends and enjoys quiet nights at home. Ibi resides in New Rochelle with her husband and 2 sons.
Responsibilities: Library Clerk.
Jerrick Harris is a Senior Library Clerk for the Circulation Dept. working for the library for 20+ years full-time. He started as summer help working with maintenance, then as an adult-page shelving books for a few years before being hired full-time. Jerrick's duties not only include Circulation but helping out in Collection Management and supervising the adult shelvers. You can catch Jerrick around White Plains enjoying all the great things this city offers.
Responsibilities: Senior Library Clerk.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator, Computer Systems
"A White Plains native, I've spent almost my entire life living here and watching the City evolve to where it is today. After college, I worked for seven years as the Test Materials Quality Control Engineer at the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers where I eventually became known as the resident PC guru. Seeing at the time where those new-fangled personal computers were headed, I decided on a career change and started working for Prodigy Services Company providing technical support helping to introduce members to their first ever online experience. Over the next 15 years as Prodigy went through corporate changes, I was laid off, rehired and relocated twice, once to Tennessee and once to Texas. I eventually worked as an application developer specializing in applications for the company intranet and also to support a call center environment, the latter leading me to learn much about the development and implementation of expert systems.
Returning to White Plains in 2004, I was fortunate enough to end up in my current role here at the Library where I very much enjoy accommodating the technology needs of staff and patrons alike. While it's a constant challenge keeping up with so many different aspects of technology, I welcome the on-going mental exercise it provides. As for my interests, I suppose they're somewhat atypical: light & sound brain stimulation, meditation, biofeedback, psychic phenomena, physics (quantum and otherwise), holistic medicine, religion and philosophy, holography and fractals. I also enjoy dabbling in artwork and writing. Although I enjoy the written word very much, I find little time to sit and read anything but technical blather. It's a shame when I find myself surrounded by so much to read with so little time to do so. The same can be said of all the latest VR, 3D and other tech "toys" we have here at the Library with which I'd love to spend time. As far as recreation goes, my passion is paddleball, a definitive NYC sport. Weather permitting, I play once a week at Orchard Beach."
Responsibilities: Coordinator, Computer Systems.
After receiving his MSIS from UAlbany, Josh started his professional career as a Teen Librarian in NJ before becoming the Youth Services Supervisor at Utica Public Library, and then the Manager of Youth Services here in White Plains. He's very interested in how play is the most effective way through which children learn, as well as how pop culture and games can be integrated into library programs and services to create engaging and interesting activities. Josh has been married to his amazing wife for over fifteen years and they have an absolutely wonderfully cool young daughter. He's a fan of graphic novels, action adventure movies, board and card games, and is a supporter of Liverpool FC. You'll Never Walk Alone!
Responsibilities: Librarian III and Manager of Youth Services.
Kathlyn Carroll is a YA librarian, working with teens in the Edge. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, she began her library career as an undergraduate working in a college library. She earned her MLIS degree in 2012 from Florida State University. She joined the Edge team in December 2013, one week after the Edge's grand opening. She feels lucky to have fun at work, and still can't quite believe that her job involves coaching book trivia teams, sewing, playing card games, and joking with teens.
Responsibilities: Librarian II.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Library Director
- Meeting Room Coordinator
Kathy Degyansky is the Assistant Library Director of the White Plains Public Library. Before coming to White Plains, Kathy was the Executive Director of the Southwest Florida Library Network and from 2002-2010 was the Assistant Director of Programs and Services at the Queens Library. She lives in Queens with her husband and naughty cat, Sassy.
Kristen Thornton-De Stafeno earned her Master of Science in Information Science from UAlbany in May 2017 and started as the Marketing Librarian here in White Plains two months later. Kristen got her start in libraries in 2013 when she began working as a part-time circulation clerk at the Pleasant Valley Library-it was while working there that she decided to pursue a career in libraries due to her passion for promoting equatable access to information and her first-hand knowledge that libraries have the ability to change lives. When not working behind the scenes on marketing content, you can find Kristen at the Welcome & Hub desks, co-hosting our monthly Poetry Slam, or assisting with one of our other adult programs. In her free time Kristen enjoys going to concerts and rewatching Vincent Price's filmography.
Lauren Lichtenthal was born into the library world. Her mother has been with the Westchester Library System since before she was born. As an act of teenage rebellion, she decided to get her Masters Degree in Education instead of Library Science. After teaching for ten years, she finally made her way to library land by getting her Library Science degree from The University at Buffalo. She spends her time outside the library reading, relaxing, and spending quality time with her husband and four year old son.
Responsibilities: Librarian II and Manager of Collection Management.
Lilian Boyd is a Teen librarian, working with teens in the Edge. She began working in libraries as a Library page in 2013. She earned her Masters of Public Administration from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and MLS from Queens College. Her passion for connecting the community with free services is what led her to public libraries. She is excited to create college and career programming for teens in the White Plains community. In her free time Lilian enjoys traveling, photography, biking, learning to roller skate and hiking with her husband.
Responsibilities: Librarian I.
Madhu Sundriyal has worked at the Library since 1999. She began part-time and became full-time after about 2 years. Madhu has very much enjoyed her time at the Library through all these years. Being a resident of White Plains has strongly contributed to this. She says it "feels good to be able to help neighbors and people who have been visiting the library for years." Seeing her own daughters grow up while visiting the library has also made it a huge part of her family's life. Madhu says she has seen many bright children grow up before her eyes as they visited the library throughout their youth and believes it has played a positive role in the lives of both children and adults.
Responsibilities: Library Clerk.
After working for the White Plains Board of Education for almost 3 years, Mary came to the White Plains Public Library in December 1990, as a clerk typist in the circulation department. Mary is currently the Head of Circulation. She also took on some added responsibilities helping out in the collection development department. Mary has 3 adult children, 2 sons and 1 daughter; and 6 beautiful grandchildren, 5 girls and 1 very special grandson ranging in ages from 14 years old - 4 years old.
Responsibilities: Head of Circulation.
A retired mathematics teacher. She has lived in White Plains for over 50 years and is a dedicated White Plains Public Library user. She is also a member of the Westchester Library Association Board of Trustees and an emeritus, but still active Trustee of the Smithsonian Institute Libraries.
A Partner in the law firm Allen & Desnoyers LLP with offices in White Plains, a parent of three children who attended the City of White Plains Public Schools, and a resident of the City of White Plains for over three decades. She also serves on the Library Board Foundation, White Plains Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Westchester County League of Conservation Voters.
An economist dedicated to empowering small business owners, employees, students and parents by providing Personal Financial Education through her organization Because Your Money Matters. She has been a White Plains resident for the last 15 years and is an active member of the local Hispanic community.
Raquel Cavalcanti received her MLS from Rutger's University eons ago. She started her career in Children's Services at NYPL working at various branches in Staten Island and the Bronx. She loves interacting with the littlelest library-goers in Mother Goose and Trove Time, and really enjoys finding that "perfect book" for the kids in the Trove. When she is not working, she likes to travel with her family. Recently, she greatly enjoyed participating in the Day of the Dead celebrations in San Diego, CA and even more recently enjoyed a trolley car rendition of Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol in Salem, MA. She really likes cozy mysteries, cats, and freshly-baked goodies.
Responsibilities: Librarian II.
A parent of three children who attend the City of White Plains Public Schools, and a resident of the City of White Plains for over three decades, Saad also serves on the Board of Directors of the Community Resource Center and the Fair Housing Justice Center. Saad is an attorney formerly of the Westchester County Department of Law and the Westchester County Human Rights Commission.
"I have been working at the White Plains Public Library for over 10 years in the Circulation Department. I enjoy listening to audiobooks on my commute to work. My favorite book so far has been Me Before You by Jojo Meyes. On my days off I like to relax and hangout with my friends and family. On the weekends, I also enjoy watching movies and going out to eat at different local restaurants."
Tata Cañuelas is devoted to sharing programs that celebrate holidays and explore cultural diversity. She has planned programs for such well-known holidays as Groundhog's Day and St. Patrick's Day. She has established and grown connections in the community, and with them has presented creative events introducing Day of the Dead, Chinese New Year, and Diwali to the broader community. Tata brings passion and enthusiasm to her programs and looks forward to sharing them with Westchester's families. She earned her MLS at Queens College. Tata loves to travel, watch movies, read (especially cookbooks), cook, and eat.
Responsibilities: Librarian I.
Job Titles:
- Manager of Adult Services
Tim has been the Manager of Adult Services since 2011. After earning his MLIS from McGill University, Tim left the Great White North to work at the Baychester Branch of NYPL in Co-op City. Next came a short stint at the Mid-Manhattan Library of NYPL before joining the White Plains Library in 1999. One of Tim's roles for the Library is serving on the Mayor's Youth Board where he has developed a close relationship with the White Plains Youth Bureau. Tim's wife Z is also a librarian in Westchester, Manager of the Crestwood Branch of the Yonkers Public Library, and they met in library school in Montreal! If you do not see Tim at the Welcome or Hub Desk, you can find him on the slopes of Whiteface, paddle boarding in the Long Island Sound with Z, playing bridge, or playing Paddle Tennis at the Metropolis Club. Tim's favorite band is AC/DC and his favorite movie is Strange Brew [Take off, eh!].
Responsibilities: Librarian III and Manager of Adult Services.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Project Manager at the Westchester County Board of Elections
White Plains native, Vincent Fields is currently a Project Manager at the Westchester County Board of Elections. Mr. Fields has been a local civic leader for the better part of a decade. He previously worked in the office of State Senator Shelley Mayer as her District Director, as well as a former board member of The LOFT LGBTQ+ Community Center. He currently is on the Mayor advisory board for The White Plains Youth Bureau. He is passionate about getting more people civically engaged and uplifting at risk communities at the grassroots level.