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!

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

 

March "Total Reads" Blog

 

This month we have an educational day for the entire family planned for Thursday, March 19^th, from 9:00am until 12noon in Delano Park. We are partnering with the Delano Conservancy and Decatur Parks and Recreation to provide a fun-filled day of learning about the birds and trees in the beautiful Delano Park. The Delano Conservancy is hosting the 4-H Science School Raptor Trek program, Ms. Zoie will do Story Time under the big Oak, we will have a scavenger hunt, and give away free books to the kids. There will be tables set up with Leave No Trace, the International Crane Foundation, and the North Alabama Young Birders group, who will also lead a bird walk. There will be a photo opportunity with Tansy the Meadow Princess from Magical Memories AL. The Tree Lady will be talking to kids about the trees and will also be available for pictures with the little ones. We hope you can join us for some outdoor fun while learning about the birds and trees who live in Delano Park.

We will also host another FYI program with Jetaun Bailey, LPC-S, CSC. This month will be “When Perfect Isn’t Peace: How Perfectionism Fuels Anxiety and Blocks the Spiritual Practice of Love and Forgiveness”. Please mark your calendar to join us on Wednesday, March 25^th, from 12noon to 2pm in the Community Room for this program. You don’t want to miss this free and insightful program.

If you are here for the Total Reads task this month, we hope you are able to join us on Thursday, March 5^th, at 12noon in the Community Room for Book Club. If you are new to the Challenge or have been playing for a while, we would love to talk books with you at the monthly book club meetings. We know not everyone can make the Thursday, middle-of-the-day book clubs, so once a quarter we host a Sunday afternoon club. The next one of these will be in April. We will email more information about Sunday Book Club to everyone who is signed up for the Challenge this year, closer to time.

The task for March is to read a book with a dual timeline. This means the book must have two distinct time periods that are tied together by a common character or theme that comes together for a resolution.  Books that have flashbacks do not count. There must be two distinct story lines in different times that come together in the end to resolve both stories.

Happy Reading!

February "Total Reads" Blog

 

Welcome to the blog for the Adult Reading Challenge at Decatur Public Library. This year’s title is “Total Reads” and all of the clues are based on all types of numbers: GPS coordinates, the Dewey Decimal system, dates and times, addresses, statistics, and Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center Radio Communication Codes.  As always there are 3 levels to achieve a chance to have your name entered into the drawing for one of the prizes. However, if 5 books are a challenge for you, we are happy to have you be part of the fun! Join us this year as we read books based on clues and tasks inspired by the world of numbers.

You can sign up by coming by the Marketing and Outreach office at Decatur Public Library. We encourage you to call or email first to make sure we will be available to meet with you. Part of our job is Outreach and Adult Programming so we may be out of the building or hosting a program and not in the office to assist you. You can call the office at 256-340-5780 or email us at StephRhonda@myDPL.org to make an appointment. Generally, we are available Monday through Thursday 10am until 5:30pm and Friday 10am until 5pm.

The first book club this year will be Thursday, February 5^th starting at 11:30am until 2pm in the Community Room.  Immediately after book club, there will be a program with local author Betty Bolté called “Discovering Mary Katharine Goddard”. This program is part of our yearlong celebration of 250 years of American history. Come learn all about the woman who printed and signed the Declaration of Independence.

We will also host an FYI program this month on Wednesday, February 25^th, at 12noon in the Community Room. The first FYI program this year is called “Stress Less, Live More: Practical Tools for Everyday Calm” and will be presented by Jetaun Bailey, LPC-S, CSC. This practical, skills-based session will focus on recognizing stress and learning simple tools to manage everyday stress.

At the end the month (Saturday, February 28th, at 3:30pm) we will host author Sharon Udasin for a discussion of her book Poisoning the Well: How Forever Chemical Contaminated America. The book concerning forever chemicals polluting the Tennessee River from chemical plants, features Decatur and Courtland. She will speak and then answer questions from the public. She will also have some of the local people she interviewed for the book with her for the question-and-answer portion of the program.  This program is made possible by the Friends of Decatur Public Library. Books will be available for purchase from Brown Books and More.

The first task for the Challenge this year is to read a 2026 debut book. This means it has to be the author’s first book ever published. I noticed on a few of the book promotions I receive, publishers pushing books as “her adult debut” if the author is an established children’s author. These do not work for the sake of this task. It must be the very first book published by the author and it must be copyrighted 2026.   It must also be a book found in the adult section of the library. Juvenile titles do not work for this task.

Happy Reading!

 

November "Reading Eras" Blog

 

There is a lot of HVAC work going on at DPL this fall. Phase I ended last week so fiction and non-fiction are now open again. Phase II began Monday, October 27^th, and because of this, we have made the decision not to host a Quilt Show this year. The work for the HVAC in phase II could take up to 18 weeks so the library will be a little noisy and perhaps dusty during this time. There will be different areas of the library that we have to close off for an hour or a couple of days at a time, and we will not know where or when until the time comes. Please have patience with the staff and the workers as the much-needed repair work is done so that the library will have heat and air conditioning in the future.

For the Adult Reading Challenge we will accept reading logs starting Monday, November 10^th, at 10:00am. The last day to turn in your reading log will be Wednesday, November 26, at 5:00pm. This year if you do not turn in your reading log during the time frame given you will not be invited to the Finale. We need the reading logs on time in order to determine the stats for the reading challenge, the winners of each level, and how many people to plan for at the Finale. When you turn in your reading log make sure your name, phone number, and library card number are on the front. We will give you a ticket for the Finale when we accept your reading log. You must bring the ticket with you to the Finale. It is required for admission and it will be your ticket for the door prize. If we are not in the office when you come to turn in your log you can slip it under the door. We will contact you via the phone number on your reading log about picking up your ticket for the Finale. 

If you want to be entered for a prize drawing here are the requirements for each level:

©      ❤    Trend Setter: 15 books total and 5 of them must be monthly tasks from the blog

©      ❤    League of Your Own: 30 books total and 7 of them must be monthly tasks from the blog

©      ❤    Phenom: 60 books total and 9 of them must be monthly tasks from the blog

If you have questions about any of the rules or the challenge itself, please reach out to us. We are in the office most days 10am until 5:30pm, you can email us at stpenhonda@myDPL.org, or call our office at 256-340-5780. If you want to make sure we are available when you are coming to the library, please call or email ahead of time to schedule a meeting.

The inspiration for this year’s look back at all of the previous adult reading challenges came from Taylor Swift and her Eras Tour. For the final task read a book about a strong independent female solo artist in the music industry. You can find a couple of books on The Life of a Showgirl herself in our catalog or one on any other woman who made it in the music industry on her own terms. Artists who made it in a band or group do not count for this task.

Happy Reading!

October "Reading Eras" Blog

 

This is the busiest time of year for Outreach at Decatur Public Library. We have 6 community events we will be attending to give away books and candy this month. We hope you can join us for one or more of them if you have little ones. The list of all programs at DPL and all Outreach events can be found at www.myDPL.org/events .

If you’ve been in the library lately, then you know we are getting our much-needed HVAC repair work done. At this moment in time, the mezzanine area (non-fiction), is closed due to the work. We expect that the fiction area will be closed starting some time next week. If you are a reader and come to the library regularly to check out books, you might want to stock up on fiction and check out extra this week.  Books can be renewed online once you sign into your account or you can call Public Services and we will renew or extend your check out period while the work is taking place.

The 44th Annual Quilt Show at DPL is on hold until the repair work is finished and we can get the library cleaned up. We will have a quilt show, but for now we cannot set a date. If you would like to reserve a space for a quilt or two, please contact Rhonda in the Marketing and Outreach office. We will contact the quilters who have reserved space in the show as soon as we have more information on dates for the show.

If you are taking part in the Adult Reading Challenge, there are only 2 more clues to be released. As we are closing in on the end of this era, let’s read something from the year Taylor was born. The October clue is to read a book either set in 1989 or first published in 1989. 

Happy Reading!

September "Reading Eras" Blog

 

September is going to be a little chaotic at DPL this year and we want our patrons to be aware of the repair work that will take place.  The mezzanine will be closed after Saturday, September 6^th, to prepare for the HVAC work starting on September 15^th.  The work will begin on the mezzanine so non-fiction books will be temporarily unavailable. Because some of the ceiling tiles will have to be removed along with the cassettes in the ceiling all books on the mezzanine will be covered until work on that floor is complete. Select titles will be moved downstairs to the shelves on the far side of the elevator wall.
If you are planning on reading non-fiction, please come check them out this week. The work is estimated to last 4 to 6 weeks and we do not know how long the majority of our non-fiction collection will be unavailable.

We have one all-day event for the family planned for Friday, September 19^th.  DPL will celebrate “Talk Like a Pirate Day” with special guests the Crewe O’ Ye Crooked Goat. These fierce and fun pirates will be roaming the library and doing story time in the Youth Services room. For this event they will also allow land lubbers to tour their life-size pirate ship, which will be parked in our Cherry Street circle drive.  If you always wanted to be a pirate-here’s your chance!  Dress up as a pirate and join us any time from 10:00am ‘til 4:00pm for a fun filled day in the library.

This year’s reading challenge is based on the idea behind Taylor Swift’s Eras tour. She celebrated all of the eras of her music, so we are reliving all of the past eras of the Adult Reading Challenge. You can’t look at the internet, television, or turn on the radio without hearing all about Taylor and Travis Kelce getting engaged last month. With that in mind, the task for September is to read a book where the main characters get engaged.

Happy Reading!

August "Reading Eras" Blog

 

August, while still very warm and summery, means the return to a school routine of getting to class on time, studying, and completing homework. On the fun side it means reconnecting with classmates, ball games and other social events that come with the school year. At the library it means taking a short break from programs in the Youth Services room to recuperate from Summer Reads. For our adult programming it means planning for the annual Quilt Show at DPL.

We are currently accepting reservations for those who wish to enter a quilt (or two) in the 44^th annual show this year.  There is not a date for the show yet, because we do not know when the repair work on the HVAC system will be complete. What we do know is that we intend to host the quilt show, even if the dates must be moved to accommodate the repair work. If you are a quilter or quilt owner who wants to be part of this year’s show, please call the Marketing and Outreach office at 256-340-5780 and speak to Rhonda to reserve your space.

The August task for the Adult Reading Challenge is August. Read a book that is set in the month of August or that has the word August in the title. The book must specify that the setting is the month of August, (not just summer) or it must have the word August in the title of the book.

Happy Reading this month!

July "Reading Eras" Blog

 

We hope you took time to enjoy good food, family, friends, and a firework show for the 4^th of July. The staff certainly enjoyed our holiday as the library was closed Friday (7/4/25) and Saturday (7/5/25). Once you have recovered from the festivities make plans to join us for some free fun at the library.

DPL will host Land to Sea Exotics on SUNDAY, July 13^th from 2:00pm 4:00pm. The library will only be open for this program; there will not be other services available. This program will be held in the main area of the library and is intended for all ages to be able to learn about and get close to wild animals.  The presenters did the program for us last year and the little ones loved it. We had adults who asked why we didn’t do the same type of program for older folks, so this year we decided to use the main area to have room for everyone to come take part in the fun. The program usually has multiple snakes, tortoises, a caiman, and lizards. Please join us for some scaly fun on the 13^th.

The finale for Summer Reads this year will be on Monday, July 28^th, at noon and is all about colors. The Science Guys will be here for the Sensational Science Super Summer Show. The program will be about 45 minutes long and is intended for children ages 3 and up.

Before the June 28^th finale there will be Story Times, Book Babies, LEGO programs, a ballerina, and an author event in the Youth Services room. Our outreach will be in the community this month also. You can find them issuing library cards and giving away books at Wesley Methodist Church on July 17^th from 11am until 1pm. We will also be giving free books to children at the next Once Upon a Saturday event at Delano Park on Saturday, July 19^th from  5:00pm to 7:00pm.  Please join us for any and all of the events DPL will be hosting or attending this July.

If you are taking part in the 2025 Adult Reading Challenge, here is your July task. Read a book that is about a character’s reputation. The definition of reputation is the beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone. The word comes from Latin reputationem which means consideration.  When looking for a book for this task remember it needs to be about how the main character is perceived.  The book can be about someone  trying to save their reputation from being ruined or it could be about how they came to have a great reputation - or a nasty one. 

Happy Reading!

June "Reading Eras" Blog

 

June is here and that means Summer Reads is in full swing at DPL. Be sure to download the READsquared app to track the books you read this summer.  There is an adult program in the READsquared app; we want everyone to track their reading and earn all the digital badges, not just kids and teens.  There are badges for attendance to certain programs, too. If you need assistance or have questions about the app, please stop by the Marketing and Outreach office and we will be happy to help you get started.

If you haven’t heard, DPL will be hosting the 4^th Readers and Writers Jubilee featuring Lesa Carnes Shaul on Saturday, June 14^th from 11am until 4pm. There will be 20 authors set up on the ground floor of the library, doing meet & greets, selling and signing books, and participating in moderated author panels. The featured author’s book  Midnight Cry: A Shooting on Sand Mountain is a true crime story set in North Alabama in 1951. She will speak on the book and answer questions starting at 3pm in the main area of the library.

The June task for the Adult Reading Challenge is to read a book that has been the basis for a TV series. The book must have been used to create a series not a made-for-TV movie. Some examples that will work would be the Kathy Reichs Temperance Brennan series or James Patterson’s Alex Cross series.  If you have a favorite character, which version do you prefer?  Does the TV series stay true to the personality and character you met when you read the book?

Happy Reading!

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!