May "Reading Eras" Blog

 

This May, make sure you check out the display cases as you enter the library. In the cases by the Cherry Street entrance there is a display of cloth art dolls created by DPL’s Heather Whiteside. The dolls run the gamut from fantastical to flashy fun.

To celebrate Star Wars Day (May the 4^th) there is a collection of Star Wars memorabilia in the 6^th Avenue cases. There are light sabers, figurines, and comic books. There is also a Featured Titles display on the new books shelf of books about Star Wars. Stop by the library this May to see the displays, check out a book or a DVD and visit a galaxy far, far away….

If you have children or know of a child 12 and under, make sure to mark your calendar for Friday, May 30^th, when we will kick-off the Summer Reads program from 10:00am until 2:00pm. Drive through DPL’s circle drive on Cherry Street - with the kids in the car - to receive a free goody bag to get the summer started right. Each bag contains a hardback book (courtesy of our wonderful Friends group), coupons from local businesses who are sponsoring the 2025 Summer Reads program at Decatur Public Library, and a full schedule of all the free fun programs this summer. We have 500 of the bags to give away.

May is the month we celebrate those that serve the red, white, and blue in uniform. May 17^th is designated to honor the men and women who are currently serving our country in one of the branches of our military. May 26^th is Memorial Day and is set aside to remember those who gave their lives in the service to the United States. If you know a member of the military, please extend your gratitude for their service.

The May task is to read a book where the main character is a member of the United States military.  The character can be a current member or a veteran who is no longer serving, but the book needs to have more than just a mention that they once were in the military. They need to still have some connection to the military or use the skills they learned while serving in the course of the book.

Happy Reading!

April "Reading Eras" Blog

 

“April is the cruelest month”, or so Eliot said in the beginning of “The Waste Land”.  Those who love poetry know it is the time to celebrate all things poetic at Decatur Public Library and we have many ways to do that this month. Check out the spine poetry display in the cases as you come into the library. Make sure to pick up a poem to carry and one to share for Poem in Your Pocket Day on Thursday, April 10^th. There are multiple copies of poems to choose from on the tops of the display cases.  Check out the featured books shelf beside the new arrivals for a display of poetry books from the collection. Make sure to pick up a leaf from the plug-in bar in front and fill in two lines from your favorite poem. Leave the leaf in the basket and we will add it to our “poet-tree”.  At the end of the month we will list all of the lines as a single poem on our Facebook page.

There is also a copy of “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow on the bar to take. It is part of our celebration of the Two Lights for Tomorrow initiative, which commemorates Paul Revere’s famous ride on April 18, 1775  and America’s fight for liberty and independence. You can find more information about Two Lights for Tomorrow here.

There are also two FYI Series programs this month. The first one is on Wednesday, April 16^th, “Native Plants to Attract Pollinators” presented by Jessie Douglas Taylor. “CSI-K9” will be presented by Leona Conner and K-9 Micha on Wednesday, April 30^th. Both programs will begin at 12noon in the Community Room.

The April task for the Adult Reading Challenge is to read a novel in verse.  There will be a list of books that work for this task in the public lists on our catalog. For this task you will be able to use those juvenile titles that are on the list. We hope this task doesn’t leave you feeling like a tortured poet. If you have questions about if a title works, please email or drop by the marketing and outreach office.

Happy Reading!

 

March: Reading Eras” Blog

 

March with its capricious weather has arrived. Whether it is sunny or chilly, windy or calm, rainy or dry, or any combination at the same time, the library has a book to either enhance the vibe or help you escape it.  We have books to help you get ready to spring into whatever Alabama has to offer next. Our FYI Series returns with a program for you to learn about how to stay safe during severe weather on Wednesday, March 26^th,  from 12noon to 2pm in the Community Room.

March is women’s history month, so while you are here be sure to look for your favorite female author or discover a new one to read. One way to find new authors is to take the Adult Reading Challenge.  Sign up and join us for the monthly ARC Book Club to find out what other people are reading and which clues and tasks their books fulfill. There is always bookish fun at the meetings and room at the table for new members.

The March clue is to read a book about a woman who is fearless. Whether she’s an elected official standing for her constituents or a woman facing down her own worst fears and doubts to accomplish her goals, the character overcomes obstacles to help herself or others.  In the words of Michelle Obama, "There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish." This should be an easy task to fill in on your reading log, while learning about a strong woman.

Happy Reading!

February “Reading Eras” Blog

 

It’s that time again, DPL has kicked off the 2025 Adult Reading Challenge for patrons 18 and older.  This year, we’re taking a page out of Taylor Swift’s book and celebrating all of our past Reading Challenges. It’s hard to believe, but we have 12 past challenges to mine for the best clues.  If you haven’t played before, now’s your chance to catch up on all of the past years’ fun at one time!  Adults can sign up anytime we are in the office, most weekdays from 10am ‘til 5pm. If you want to make an appointment to confirm that we will be available, call or email us. Our contact information is at the bottom of this post.

The February task is perfect for Valentine’s Day! Read a romance to celebrate Lovers day. Everyone needs some happy ever after and there is no better place to find it than between the pages of a romance.

Happy Reading!

Marketing and Outreach Office

256-340-5780

StephRhonda@myDPL.org

 

November "Roarin' Reads" Blog

 

It is hard to believe , but we are headed into the holiday season and the end of 2024. Here at DPL the end of the year is always a busy time. In October we hosted 21 in house programs, plus the 43^rd Annual Quilt Show, and took part in 5 Outreach events outside the library.  That was a lot of programming and event participation!  We hope we saw you at some of the in-Library programs and the outreach events, too.

We will kick-off November by participating in Downtown Decatur’s Día De Los Muertos Celebration on Saturday, November 2^nd from 11:00am until 5:00pm. Come see us if you are in the downtown area. This November there will be lots of activities in the Youth Services department and a couple of programs for teens and adults.  Our Friends will host their Holiday Book Fair on Thursday, November 21^st from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm  and on Friday, November 22^nd from 10:00 am until 4:30 pm.  We would love to see you at any or all of these programs!

This last task for the 2024 Adult Reading Challenge is all treat, no trick!  You are getting it a day early and it is an easy one to boot.  In the 1920s the most popular dog breed was the German Shepherd. For the November task read a book with a German Shepherd as a character in the book.

Don’t forget the deadline to turn in your Reading Log is Wednesday, November 27^th by 6:00 pm. We hope you enjoyed reading books inspired by the Roaring Twenties and will sign up for the Adult Reading Challenge again next year.

Happy Reading!

October "Roarin' Reads" Blog

 

There are 44 quilts displayed in the Decatur Public Library during our 43^rd Annual Quilt Show. We need you to come in and vote for your favorite before we close on Saturday, October 19^th,  at 4:00pm. The ribbons for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place for Viewer’s Choice will be posted on Monday, October 21^st . The quilts will be on display until Saturday, November 2^nd.

There are also programs to learn about quilting. Join the Piecemakers and  the Decatur Quilt Lover’s Guild to learn how to hand quilt at a quilting bee in the main seating area on October 9^th and 30^th from 10am until 4pm. Teens and adults are welcome to come put in 2 or 200 stitches. If you have no idea how to stitch, they will teach you. 
There will also be a class on making pictorial pixel quilts on Wednesday, October 16^th,  at 12 noon in the Training Center, taught by Heather Whiteside. Her pixel self-portrait quilt is hanging outside the Youth Services room.

If you are participating in the Adult Reading Challenge, it is time to start making sure you have entered all of the books you have read that work for clues or tasks on your reading log. The deadline for turning in reading logs is Wednesday, November 27^th,  by 6:00pm. Please make sure your name, library card number and phone number are on the reading log before you turn it in. If you signed up for the challenge but did not read enough books to qualify for one of the drawings, please turn in your reading log anyway. We realize not everyone has time to read as much as they would like, but if you filled out any of the reading log it shows participation.

The October task for the ARC is to read a book with a séance in it.  The 1920s saw a resurgence in the paranormal and occult. Many people had lost loved ones in the first world war and were desperate to contact their lost loved ones. Some people hosted seances as parlor games the same way they played with an Ouija Board. Mediums, mesmerists, and magicians were all popular during this time.

Happy Reading!

 

 

September "Roarin' Reads" Blog

 

Alabama has made changes to the state guidelines for funding public libraries. These changes affect the Decatur Public Library in two main ways: our collection development and library card policies.

The biggest change for the collection development policy impacts our Young Adult section. Some of you may have noticed that the YA section has been shrinking.  This genre designation will disappear from our catalog  effective October 1^st and the books will be assigned to the Adult fiction shelves.  If you are over 18 and usually browse this section to find your next book, please try the adult section. If you need help finding the books you are used to reading from this area, please ask at the Public Service desk. Any staff member will be happy to assist you.

The impact for the library card policy will change how we issue cards to juveniles (a designation that now applies to birth to 17 years old). The following is a letter we will be handing out to patrons to explain the changes and the parent’s ability to decide the level of access their juvenile will have to DPL materials.

Dear Parent/Legal Guardian:

On October 1, 2024, Decatur Public Library (DPL) will implement required changes to our library cards so that we may comply with new state guidelines regarding what materials are available to those patrons under 18 years old. 

Library cards for ages 17 and under will be designated as “juvenile” and may only checkout materials from the library’s Youth Services department.  Juvenile designated cards will no longer have access to the hoopla and Libby platforms.

Parents or guardians who wish to grant their child permission to access all sections of the library’s collection, may do so by signing the Parental Agreement Form.

Visit our Public Services Desk on October 1^st or later to sign the Parental Agreement Form.  Please have your Decatur Public Library Card and a government issued I.D.  Once you sign the Parental Agreement Form, your child will have access to all material in DPL’s collection.

Thank you for being a patron of Decatur Public Library.  We look forward to continuing to serve you and appreciate your patience and flexibility.

                           Decatur Public Library Staff

We ask the public be patient and understanding as we all navigate these changes. We are working to make this as easy as possible for our patrons, while also making all of the changes as quickly as possible in order to be in compliance with the state guidelines.

If you have questions or concerns, we are happy to speak with you and try to make these changes as easy as we can for you, our patrons.

Banned Book week this year is September 22^nd-28^th . The September task for the Adult Reading Challenge is to read a banned book.  Celebrate your intellectual freedom by reading a banned or challenged book. Some of the best and most loved books have been banned or challenged, from To Kill a Mockingbird,  to Harry Potter, The Bluest Eye, and even the Bible.  We bet there is a book on your To Be Read list that is on a banned or challenged book list, if you are taking part in the Adult Reading Challenge, read it for the September task. If you are not taking the Adult Reading Challenge, but are 18 or older, read it because you can. Then decide for yourself if it is or isn’t a book you enjoyed, but either way, leave it for the next person to decide for themselves.

Happy Reading!