August “Total Reads” Blog

 

 

The past two months have been a whirlwind of library programs and outreach events. While it was hectic, we survived and will do it all over again next year.  Youth Services will take a small break from programs to rest up from all of the fun that was Summer Reads.

Meanwhile, we have several programs for adults this month. We have two FYI programs coming up. The first one is Wednesday, August 5^th, with local author Becky Alexander. She will be sharing the latest book in her Coffee with God series, Coffee with God (Volume 6): 31 Red, White, and Blue Devotions. There will be a demonstration of the 13 folds in the American flag and a chance for attendees to try it themselves. Copies of her latest book will be for sale during the program.

The other FYI this month is the last one we have scheduled with Dr. Jetaun Bailey. She will present “Emotional Intelligence in Everyday Life: Building Awareness, Connection, and Intentional Communication” on Wednesday, August 26^th. Both FYI programs will be held in the Community Room from 12noon until 2:00pm.

The third program (for adults 18+) is called Happily Ever After at DPL and while it is free, in order to attend you must register. The program will be held in the Community Room on Thursday, August 27^th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Happily Ever After at DPL is our way of celebrating Romance Awareness Month, the romance genre, the authors who write the books and the readers who read them. Seating is limited and registration is required. Each attendee will receive a free bottle of romance-themed swag and have a chance to enter their name in the drawing for the door prize (a romance inspired goodie basket) by taking part in the activities. For more information or to reserve your place call (256-340-5780) or come by the Marketing and Outreach office.

August in north Alabama is typically hot as Hell, so the task for this month is spot on. Read a book where one of the seven deadly sins is the motivation for the main character. In case you have forgotten, the sins are: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. The task only requires one of the seven to be the motivation, but extra points for those over achievers who find a really rotten character that is motivated by multiple deadly sins.

Happy Reading!

July "Total Reads" Blog

 

The year is speeding by at breakneck speed and we have had some dino-fabulous fun at DPL this summer. Our Youth Services room now has 2 beautiful dinosaurs courtesy of local artist David Thompson: the orange and green Stegosaurus outside the entry, and a diving pterodactyl on the wall over the easy readers. If you haven’t been in Youth Services lately, go take a look at our new dino-tastic décor.

There are some great programs coming up. Don’t miss Revolutionary Stories: Celebrating the US and the Declaration of Independence, 1776-2026 (tomorrow) this Wednesday, July 8^th from 5pm to 7pm. There will be activities for all ages, a character gallery of some of the people who were alive during the time of the American Revolution, and educational displays. The main showcase will be a 6pm reenactment of the first reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776. Local actor Chuck Puckett will be portraying Colonel John Nixon, who was the historic first reader. This program is made possible by a partnership with the Stephens Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Tennessee Valley Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, local author and historian Peggy Towns, local actor Chuck Puckett, quilters Marty Lawson, Laura Miller, and Emily Whittier. We hope you can all join us to celebrate this historic milestone for our country.

The July task for the Adult Reading Challenge is to read a book set anywhere in America that you have been or would like to visit. Our country celebrates 250 years this month so read a book that allows you to experience a part of our large and diverse country. The United States of America has something for everyone, from frozen mountains to sandy beaches. Where is your favorite place or a place you hope to visit?

Happy Reading!

"Total Reads" ARC Summer Reads Challenge

It is that time of the year again when the library hosts our annual Summer Reads program that has prizes for reading, free books, and lots of fun programs and activities. Instead of using the Summer Reads app, the Adult Reading Challenge is doing something different this year.

If you attended the June Book Club on Thursday, June 4th, you already know that the Summer Reads Challenge for the Adult Reading Challenge is on paper. You can pick up a copy of the form from the Marketing and Outreach office during the week as long as we are in the office. We hate that you cannot come by any day from opening to 5pm, but this is a busy season for Outreach. We have several outings planned that mean we are not in the office every day. If you want to pick up a form, email or call to confirm one of us will be available on the day and time you are coming to the library.

This extra part of the Adult Reading Challenge is the Summer Reading Bucket List from the New York Times Book Review. They have ten prompts to help you pick a books to read this summer. If you want extra points for this year, you must read 5 books that fit the list. If you want an extra name in the drawing at the end of the Adult Reading Challenge you must do 8 of the 10 prompts. For this challenge, books must be read from May 25, 2026 to August 2, 2026, and all books used for the Summer Reads cannot be used on the Total Reads Log. You have to use the Total Reads page that we made and printed to be part of this Summer Reads Challenge. This is, of course, completely optional. There is no pressure to make anyone do this extra summer part of the Challenge.

Don't forget to call or email before coming to the library to make sure one of us will be in the office and available to give you a one of the ARC Summer Reads Challenge forms. 

Our office number is 256-340-5780 and our email is StephRhonda@myDPL.org

We hope to see you in the library soon!

Happy Reading!

June "Total Reads" Blog

 

Summer Reads kicked-off on Friday, May 29^th, and it will end on Friday, July 24^th.  If you have kids, you want to check out all of the great programs that will take place during these eight weeks. There is something for everyone and prizes to be won for those aged 0-17 in the Reader Zone app. The more you read, the more you can win.

We have programs for adults this summer, too.  FYI programs in June, July and August are lined up with Betty Bolté, Jetaun Bailey, and Becky Alexander. We are planning an interactive program on Wednesday, July 8^th, to celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence, and of course we are going to host Book Club each month. Mark your calendars and plan to join us in the library (we have air conditioning now) for fun and educational programs this summer.

On March 16^th of this year, we added The New York Times to our online resources. If you haven’t tried using it yet, you should. There is a lot to discover, from news, recipes, sports, to great games. And it is all free with your DPL card. Go to https://mydpl.org/nyt/ to find out what  is available and how to access it from the library or your home.

Summer of 2026 has 7 extra days this year due to where Memorial Day and Labor Day fall on the calendar. That’s an extra week to enjoy the season of sunshine and relaxation while reading. To celebrate this bonus week, the June task is read a book set during summer.

Happy Reading!

May "Total Reads" Blog

 

This year May is going out with a roar at DPL. This summer, the dinosaurs are coming to the library and there will be no escaping them!  Summer Reads kicks off on Friday, May 29^th. The official theme is Unearthing a Story, and we will start the celebration of the prehistoric creatures by giving away DK books about dinosaurs to kids fifteen and under (while supplies last). There will be lots of programs for kids of all ages in June and July. To win prizes for reading kids must register in the Reader Zone app and log all the books they read this summer. It is going to be a roaring fun time, and we hope you can join us.

May is also Mental Health Awareness Month. If you have not attended one of our FYI Series lectures with Jetaun Bailey, LPC-S, CSC yet, make plans to join us on Wednesday, May 27^th, for “Mental Health Matters: Reducing Stigma & Promoting Mental Wellness”. From 10 am until 11:30 am she will be set up in the main area of the library with books, informational resources, and small giveaways that patrons can take with them—items that support reflection, coping, and overall wellness. At noon, she will lead a discussion focused on mental health awareness. This will include sharing accessible and relevant statistics related to common mental health concerns, while also creating space for open dialogue. The information will be presented in a way that feels relatable and grounded—allowing participants to connect the data to real-life experiences, ask questions, and engage in meaningful conversation. All adults are welcome to this free program.

We will host another FYI on Wednesday, June 3^rd, with author Betty Bolté on “The Little-Known History of Martha Washington’s Life and Times”. This will be the second historical FYI program Betty has done for us this year. Save the date to learn about the first First Lady of the United States of America.

If you have been outside lately you may have noticed the world has come alive with every shade of green. The grass, trees, and shrubs have all put on their spring coats and some have lovely flowers blooming in all colors to go with the new palette of green. Did you know that all those colors have numbers associated with them? There are several systems used to catalog and label colors and hues. The RGB color model uses a series of numbers from 0-255, and it is based on the three primary colors, which then form all the other colors. The Pantone Matching System has over 1,800 distinct colors that are identified by a number. The May task is to read a book with a color in the title of the book. Look up the color and write the Pantone or RGB number that is associated with the color on your reading log along with the title of the book.

Happy Reading!

April "Total Reads" Blog

 

April is National Poetry Month and we (okay, Rhonda) love(s) poetry.  This year we’ve combined our love of poetry with the celebration of America’s 250^th birthday to focus on American poetry. We have several passive activities you can take part in at any time you come to the library this month. We will also be hosting two programs that we would love for you to attend.

The first program is a Poetry Jam on Friday, April 10, 2026. This program will be held in the Youth Services room but is intended for all ages.  Come recite or read a poem in celebration of poetry. The flyer for this program is on the blog following this post.

The second program is local poet Harry Moore reading and discussing his book, We the People: Confessions of a Caucasian Southerner. The program will be Thursday, April 16^th, at 6:00pm in the main area of the library. If you haven’t read his poetry before, now is a perfect time to become familiar with his work. You can find copies of his previous books in our collection to read this month as you celebrate National Poetry Month.

Poem in Your Pocket Day will be held on Thursday, April 30^th this year.  We have some poems by American poets available for you to pick up-one for your pocket and/or one to give to a friend. You can find our poetry collection on the mezzanine. American poetry is in the 811s and English poetry is in the 812s. We’re sure you can find a poem that speaks to you if you try reading poetry this month.

If you have signed up for the Adult Reading Challenge this year, you can get an extra name in the drawing for prizes by participating in the Poetry Jam or blacking out your poetry BINGO card. For all the details see Rhonda or Stephanie in the Marketing and Outreach office. (You have to sign up to be part of the Poetry Jam by Thursday, April 9th.)

The April task for the Adult Reading Challenge is an either/or this time. There is something for the sports fans and/or something for the drama enthusiast. You must either read a book with a sport that is played in quarters (basketball or football) or a play in four acts.

Happy Reading!

 

Don't Miss the Poetry Jam at DPL