May Monthly Gauntlets

We have a lot of fun and a lot of changes on tap for this summer. If you come into the library in May you may notice some construction noise and disruption of public computer use. We apologize, but progress is sometimes noisy and we are striving to make necessary changes to our layout without having to close the library. A new reference desk will be installed that will enable us to serve the public more efficiently; hopefully this installation will take place on May 16^th and 17^th. We appreciate your patience while we are undergoing  upgrades.

We have several programs lined up for May that will work for the Bonus Category on the Adult Reading Challenge. On the 3^rd of May, Jim Phillips will be here at 2:00 pm to present Stories of Lost Antebellum Alabama in the Community Room. Mr. Phillips is an entertaining presenter who has spoken here before and always makes history entertaining. In observance of Asthma Awareness Month (May), we will have Al Keith, a certified respiratory therapist and accomplished musician to perform the Asthma Blues. The program presents a music-based educational bridge to improved asthma care. Asthma Blues is music created for people with asthma and their caregivers. Appropriate for all ages, the program will be held in the Community Room at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, May 4^th. We hope you will be able to join us for these fun and entertaining programs.

Now the real reason most of you clicked on this blog: the gauntlets for this month. The first is a very simple: read your favorite female author. This means if you have an all-time favorite or if you have a female author that just hasn’t fit any other category, here’s your chance for an easy stamp for that author.

 The second gauntlet is read a Latino author. While poking around on the internet looking up events and happenings for May, we ran across a list that included Latino Book Month, Salsa Month and Cinco de Mayo. That gave us a craving for salsa and chips and the urge to read something written by an author who identifies as Latino. For a list of Latino authors you can check http://latinostories.com/Latino_Boom_resources/latino_boom_authors_alphabetical.htm. A list of Latino authors represented in our collection will be in the Quest Notebook found in the Reference Department soon. Don’t forget the Round Table Book Club Meets Thursday, Cinco de Mayo from 12:00 to 2:00 pm in the Community Room. Hope to see you there.

Happy Reading!

StephRhonda’s May Schedule**

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
1. 2-5pm	2. 9am-5:30pm	3. 9am-5:30pm *2 pm Jim Phillips Program	4. 9am- 8pm *Asthma Blues at 4 pm	5. 9am-5:30pm *12-2 Round Table Book Club	6. 9am-5pm	7. 9am-5pm
8. CLOSED Mother’s Day	9. 9am-5:30pm	10. 9am-5:30pm	11. 9am-8pm	12. 12-6:30pm *Movie Night	13. 9am-5pm	14. Not Available
15. Not Available	16. 9am-5:30pm	17. 9am-5:30pm	18. 9am-8pm	19. 12-6:30pm *Movie Night	20. 12-4:00pm *3rd Friday Downtown Jones Park	21. Not Available
22. Not Available	23. 9am-5:30pm	24. 9am-5:30pm	25. 9am-8pm	26. 9am-5:30pm	27. 12-5pm *Movie Extravaganza	28. 9am-5pm
29. 2-5pm	30. CLOSED Memorial Day	31. 9am-5:30pm

** This schedule is accurate as of 4/29/2016, but subject to change. If you have questions or wish to make sure we will be available at a certain time, please contact us.

Email: stephrhonda@decatur.lib.al.us

Phone: 256-353-2993 ext. 125

Catch your breath @ DPL…

World Asthma Day Is May 3, 2016

May is Asthma Awareness Month

Over 25 million people living in the United States have asthma, a chronic lifelong disease that affects the lungs. Asthma can cause wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. Although asthma cannot be cured, it is possible to manage asthma to reduce and prevent asthma attacks, also called episodes. In the United States, approximately half of people with asthma had at least one asthma attack in 2012. More children (55%) than adults (49%) had an attack.

Asthma affects over 230 million people worldwide. The prevalence of asthma has been increasing since the early 1980s across all age, sex and racial groups and is the leading chronic disease among children.

Asthma attacks cause adults to miss work and children to miss school. These dangerous and sometimes life-threatening episodes reduce the quality of life for people with asthma. The good news is that we can raise awareness about asthma and how it can be controlled.

People with asthma can prevent asthma attacks if they learn how to avoid asthma triggers, but studies show that less than half of people with asthma report being taught how to do so. Almost half of adults who were taught how to avoid triggers did not follow most of this advice.

But we can help fix that! 

Join us at DPL on 

Wednesday, May 4^th at 4pm 

for “Asthma Blues” with Al Keith.  

Mr. Keith, a Certified Respiratory Therapist and an exceptional musician, has combined his two passions to create “Asthma Blues”® for people with asthma and their caregivers.  This unique and fun program makes it easy for asthma sufferers and those who love them to remember critical information for managing asthma.  How?  The messages are delivered in songs of popular musical genres, including Blues, Country & Western, Hip-Hop, Reggae, R&B, and Rock & Roll music.  You can find out more about this innovative and world-renowned program by clicking here.

Most of us know someone living with asthma who can benefit from this program.  Please join us on Wednesday, May 4^th for fun and educational live music with the “Asthma Blues” man himself!

National Library Week 2016

Transform your ideas about the library: celebrate National Library Week April 10-16

This week, DPL joins libraries nationwide in celebrating the dynamic changes that are happening in today’s libraries. Libraries today are more about what we do, for and with library users as opposed to what we have for patrons. Libraries aren’t only a place of quiet study, but also creative and engaging community centers where people can collaborate using new technologies, learn how to use a 3D printer or just relax. Our library offers access to a variety of print and digital resources, including eBooks, free downloadable and streaming music, Homework Alabama, Alabama Virtual Library, Learning Express, and digital archives of the last 10 years of the Decatur Daily. 

Libraries of all types are evolving to meet the needs of the communities they serve. At Decatur Public Library, we are transforming in several ways.  First we are moving our Fiction downstairs and our Non-Fiction upstairs, so that our most popular books are more easily accessible.  Based on your feedback, we have begun an after-school tutoring program for grades K-5; Homework Help just started last week and is off to a great start!  We are continuing to take the Library to the streets by participating in 3^rd Friday again this year and we have implemented Free Movie Nights for adults on the 2^nd & 4^th Thursdays of each month.   We still have the same dynamic programs we’ve always had for children, and then some!   Later on this year, we will unveil many more changes for the better of your Decatur Public Library.

Here at DPL we celebrate Libraries every day, and National Library Week is no exception.  This week, we’ve got a lot on our calendar:

Monday, Apr. 11^th:  

·         10am – Preschool Story Time

·         3:30pm – Story Crafternoon for school agers

Tuesday, Apr. 12^th:

·         10am - Preschool Story Time

·         3:30pm – Kids’ Movie Time

Wednesday, Apr. 13^th:

·         10am – Book Babies

·         3:30pm – Art Class for grades 2 -5

Thursday, Apr. 14^th:

·         4pm – Harry Potter Book Club for Tweens & Teens

·         5:15 – 6pm – 1^st Annual Friends of the Library General Membership Meeting

·         6:30pm – Free Movie Night

Friday, Apr. 15^th:

·         5pm – 3^rd Friday Downtown

We hope that you’ll join us for some or all of these events!  Remember, the best way to celebrate Libraries is to make use of the services offered.  This is YOUR Decatur Public Library and we want you to enjoy it!

For more information about your Decatur Public Library visit the website www.decatur.lib.al.us. 

 

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