New Rochelle Public Library Presents Film Screening & Panel Discussion: “Free for All: The Public Library”
(NEW ROCHELLE, NY) May 14, 2025 The New Rochelle Public Library and the New Rochelle Public Library Foundation are pleased to present a special screening of the acclaimed PBS documentary Free for All: The Public Library on Thursday, June 5 at 6:00 pm, followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion with distinguished local leaders in education, library services, and civic engagement.
This powerful documentary tells the story of the quiet revolutionaries who made a simple idea happen. From the pioneering women behind the “Free Library Movement” to today’s librarians who service the public despite working in a contentious age of closures and book bans, the film tells the inspiring story of those who created a civic institution where everything is free and the doors are open to all.
Immediately following the screening, a panel of experts will reflect on the film’s themes and discuss the evolving role of the public library as a cornerstone of democracy and inclusion. The panel includes:
Eugenia Schatoff, Director, New Rochelle Public Library; Dr. LaRuth Gray, Scholar, Author, and Educator; Terry Kirchner, Executive Director, Westchester Library System; Tatiana Infante, Trustee, New Rochelle Public Library. The discussion will be moderated by Theresa Kump Leghorn, Board Member, New Rochelle Public Library Foundation
Guests are invited to stay for light refreshments following the discussion.
“This film is a beautiful and timely reminder of the power of the public library as a democratic institution,” said Eugenia Schatoff, Director of the New Rochelle Public Library. “In New Rochelle, we are proud to serve as a welcoming place where community members of all backgrounds can learn, connect, and grow. We hope this event inspires continued conversation about the essential role libraries play in civic life.”
Terry Kirchner, Executive Director of the Westchester Library System, added: “Free for All celebrates the enduring values of access, equity, and opportunity. Libraries remain a vital force for positive change, particularly for those who have been historically underserved or marginalized.”
About the Panelists:
Dr. LaRuth Gray is a lifelong educator, former superintendent, and author. A trailblazer in school leadership, she has spent decades advocating for educational equity and civil rights, including as Deputy Director, The METRO Center and as an Affiliate Professor in the Administration, Leadership and Technology Program in NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development.
Eugenia Schatoff became NRPL Director in 2024, following leadership roles at public libraries across New York State. She was named the 2023 Innovative Library Director of the Year by the New York Library Association and was a 2024 recipient of the 17th district’s Congressional Woman of Distinction Award for her visionary, inclusive approach.
Terry Kirchner has led the Westchester Library System since 2009, where he supports 38 member libraries in serving the county’s diverse communities. With a doctorate in Human Development, an MBA in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and a Masters in Library Science, he has helped advance training, equity, and outreach across the region.
Tatiana Infante, elected to the NRPL Board of Trustees in 2023, is a finance professional who brings a deep commitment to increasing access and community engagement at the library she loved as a child.
Theresa Kump Leghorn, moderator, is a dedicated arts and civic leader, President of the New Rochelle Council on the Arts, and a Board Member of the New Rochelle Public Library Foundation.
This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. The program takes place in the Ossie Davis Theater at the New Rochelle Public Library, 1 Library Plaza, New Rochelle. Registration is requested at bit.ly/FFA_06_05_25
The New Rochelle Public Library (NRPL) is a community resource that seeks to improve the life of every citizen in our city. The Library offers a comprehensive print and digital collection that includes retrospective and current materials, up-to-date technology for public use, and a wide range of community services and programs tailored to a diverse audience. Chartered in 1894, NRPL is a school-district library with its own operating budget and a Board of Trustees composed of seven elected members. It has served the 81,500 residents of New Rochelle from its Main Library building in the downtown business district since 1979. A smaller branch, located in the park in front of the New Rochelle High School, was restored through a grassroots effort and currently operates as the Huguenot Children’s Library. Learn more at nrpl.org . Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @NRPublicLibrary.
###
Photo:
Free-for-All-the-Public-Library.jpg: The New Rochelle Public Library and the New Rochelle Public Library Foundation will present a special screening of the acclaimed PBS documentary Free for All: The Public Library on Thursday, June 5 at 6:00 pm, followed by a panel discussion with distinguished local leaders in education, library services, and civic engagement.
About New Rochelle Public Library
The Friends of New Rochelle Public Library, incorporated in 1978, was organized to support the Library’s mission by providing cultural programs for all ages and other library needs outside the regular tax-based budget. The Friends raise money through monthly used book sales, an in-library bookstore and membership dues and contributions. The New Rochelle Public Library (NRPL) is a community resource that seeks to improve the life of every citizen in our city. It is dedicated to encouraging learning in all stages of life, to protecting intellectual freedom and to providing fair and equal access to information.