November “Total Reads” Blog

 

Well, this is it. The last month of the Adult Reading Challenge for 2026. We hope you have enjoyed taking the Challenge and reading books to fill in the Reading Log. There are 70 total prompts (60 pre-printed clues and the 10 tasks released once a month from February to November). It you are participating in order to try to win one of the level prizes make sure you have fulfilled the following requirements:

Quarter Reader-must have 15 books on the Reading Log with 5 of them monthly tasks

Half Reader-must have 30 books on the Reading Log with 7 of them monthly tasks

Whole Reader-must have 60 books on the Reading Log with 9 of them monthly tasks

 Each level will have one winner determined by random drawing. Participation in the challenge does not guarantee a prize.

The Reading Log states on the back that the last day to turn them into the Marketing and Outreach office is 5:00pm on Friday, November 20, 2026. We will give extra points to anyone who turns them in by Friday, November 6^th.

Once the Reading Logs are turned in and we have a list of all those eligible for the Finale party we will send out the invitations. Remember, this year only those who turn in the Reading Logs on time are eligible for the Finale in December.

If you signed up this year and did not read as much as you thought you would or read books that didn’t fit any of the clues or tasks, we still ask you to turn it in to the office. We explained when you signed up that all that is required of you to play is to turn the Reading Log back in at the end of the Challenge, even if you only wrote one book down. We will return the Reading Logs to everyone either at the Finale or as we see you in December and January. You will also receive a certificate for taking part in the 2026 Adult Reading Challenge at Decatur Public Library.

For the final task this year, read a book that has a one-word title. Obviously, most all non-fiction will not work for the task. The only exception to the one-word rule is if the book is a fiction title that has “a novel” behind the one-word title. For example, Etna, which is on the book river on our website and catalog. Underneath the title on the cover of the book it says “a novel” in smaller print.

If you have questions or concerns, please email us StephRhonda@myDPL.org , call the office at 256-340-5780, or come by and speak with us during office hours.

Thank you for taking the Challenge this year.  Happy Reading!

October “Total Reads” Blog

October at DPL is always busy, but this year is looking to be even more busy than usual. We have the 44^th Quilt Show underway now until Saturday, November 7^th. There are 49 quilts this year to choose from when you vote for your favorite. Winners will be posted on October 27^th so if you haven’t been in to view the quilts yet, come in any time the library is open to admire the hard work and artistry of the local quilters.

We will host Beth Hunter from the Alabama Historical Association on Thursday, October 8^th, at 12noon in the Training Center. She will be using quilts to discuss the people and places that make up the fabric of our state. The program is titled “Alabama Quilts and Their Stories” and promises to be an informative and enjoyable way to learn more about quilts and our state.

We are hosting another author event this month as well. Mark your calendar to join us on Friday, October 16^th, at 5:30pm to meet Mollie Smith Waters who is also known as “That Cemetery Lady”. She will be discussing her book, Historic Resting Places of Alabama. The book contains at least one cemetery from every county in Alabama. We hope you can help us welcome her to Decatur, where the cemetery for Morgan County is located.

If you are here for the October task for the Adult Reading Challenge, there are only 2 months left to read the books and mark off the clues and tasks.  The Challenge this year is all about numbers and the October number is 42. If you have read The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, then you know that the number 42 is the answer to the meaning of life. If you haven’t read the book, add it to your TBR now.  As for what it means for this Reading Challenge, we are going with author Douglas Adams’ explanation that he picked the number because he wanted an ordinary number and chose it randomly. For this clue you can randomly pick one book that did not fit anywhere else on the Reading Challenge. It must be a book that was checked out using your DPL card and is in the adult section of the library or on one of our eBook/eAudiobook platforms.

Happy Reading!

September "Total Reads" Blog

 

September is my favorite month of the year. I love the beginning of autumn when we get cooler weather (that is, when Mother Nature remembers she’s supposed to make a change in the temperature), football mania - it is Alabama y’all - and shorter days. The shorter days mean more time to snuggle under a blanket with a great book.

Another of my favorite things about this month -we’re preparing for the Annual Quilt Show. This year will be the 44^th year DPL has hosted a Quilt Show during the month of October. We are accepting reservations for quilt entries now. If you have a quilt you would like to enter in the 44^th Quilt Show at DPL, call Rhonda or Stephanie at 256-340-5780. When you call, we will take your information and give you an appointment when we will be in the office for you to drop off your quilt at the library. You need an appointment to bring in your quilt.  We not only handle the quilt show, but do the adult programming and all of the outreach events, so there are days and times we are not available to receive quilts. We only make appointments for the times we are in the office and available to the public.  We are already more than half-way to being full, so if you have a quilt, call today! We will stop accepting quilts when we hit capacity or on Friday, September 18^th, whichever comes first.

We also have several author events coming up at DPL. Don’t miss the next FYI program on Wednesday, September 9^th from 12noon to 2pm in the Community Room. Connie Pearson will be discussing her two books Take the Drive on 65: Where Every Exit has a Story and 100 Things to Do in Huntsville and North Alabama Before You Die. On October 1^st, we will host a book launch for Alicia Hunter Pace’s newest book Last Wish Motel, number one in her new Angel Bayou series. The program will begin at 5:30pm and books will be available for purchase with Brown Books and More set up in the library.  

Another of my favorite things about the month of September is reaching the end of another Adult Reading Challenge. There are only 3 more tasks to be released. If you are planning on being in the drawing for a prize, you need to make sure you have enough regular clues (pre-printed on your reading log) and tasks (one a month on this blog) to qualify for a level. If you have questions about levels or any other details about the Adult Reading Challenge, come by the Marketing and Outreach office, email or call us. All of the information you need to contact us is printed on your reading log. The task for September is to read a book with a number in the title. Now there are only 2 more tasks to be released! Thank you for taking the challenge, we hope to see each one of you when you turn in your reading logs.

Happy Reading!

 

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!