November's Adult Reading Challenge "Clues"

While we love the feeling of accomplishment that comes from completing a major project, we are a little sad to see the end of this year's Adult Reading Challenge. We met new people and had some wonderful conversations about books. Some of the players have read a book for every clue and are just waiting for the last two clues to be released. While others are reading only what appeals to them. Either option is okay, that's why we make it with different levels. Having said that, you can now turn in logs if you are ready to be done. We will be checking to make sure which level you completed and then entering your name in the correct box for the prize drawings. At the bottom of this blog are posted the days and hours we are scheduled to be in the library. If you can't get by during our posted hours please call 256-353-2993 ext. 125 or email StephRhonda@decatur.lib.al.us and we will try to set up a time to meet you. You can also drop off your log anytime you are in the library and we will get back to you once we have entered you in the drawing. The last day to turn in logs will be Thursday, December 3, 2015 at the last Portals Meeting in the Community Room from 12:00-2:00 pm.
Thanks so much for you participation.

November posted "clues" are:
Foodie- Book must be centered on food or chefs/cooks.

Winter Holiday-Book must have one of the winter holidays in it (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Diwali, or Chinese New Year).

Vampires-Book must contain a vampire.

November Author-Book must be written by an author born in the month of November. Neil Gaiman, Mark Twain, Lee Smith, and Rita Mae Brown were born this month.

The last two released clues are:

December Author- Book must be written by an author born in the month of December. A few examples are Catherine Coulter, David Sedaris, Arthur C. Clarke, and Jane Austen.

The last clue is found on the map of the library and is the Isthmus of Inspiration. Any book with the inspirational sticker on the spine will work for this clue.

Happy Reading!

StephRhonda November 2015 Schedule

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
1 2pm-5pm	2 9am-5:30pm	3 9am-5:30pm	4 9am-8pm	5 11am-8pm* *Program 6-8	6 8am-5pm	7 Not Available
8 Not Available	9 9am-5:30pm	10 9am-5pm Library closes at 5	11 CLOSED VETERAN’S DAY	12 11am-6pm	13 9am-5pm	14 9am-5pm
15 Not Available	16 9am-5:30pm	17 9am-5:30pm	18 11am-8pm	19 11am-6pm	20 9am-5pm	21 9am-5pm
22 2pm-5pm	23 11am-8pm	24 9am-5:30pm	25 9am-5pm Library closes at 5	26 CLOSED	27 CLOSED	28 Not Available
29 Not Available	30 9am-5:30pm

  

October's Adult Reading Challenge "Clues"

It’s hard to believe but the end is in sight for this challenge. This blog will give you two of the last four clues for this year. You may start turning in your “Letter of Marque” (reading log) to StephRhonda after the last two clues are released on the second day of November. For those who need longer you will have until 5:00pm on December 1, 2015 to complete the challenge. In order to be eligible for the prize drawings you will need to see Stephanie or Rhonda to have your log validated. If we are not in the small study room on a day you come into the library, please ask the circulation desk to buzz us at our desk in the back. One of us is usually here 9-5:30 most days and 2 weekends of the month we cover the reference desk. We will post in another blog the hours we will be in the library next month so you can make sure to catch us. Thanks so much for playing along this year.

The clues for this month are:

Ghosts: Read any book that contains a ghost. This should get you in the mood for Halloween.

Book from Friends’ Market: Book must be purchased from the Friends of the Library Used Book Room (in the hallway across from the public restrooms). Just in time for this clue the books are ½ price this month. You can’t beat that.

Witches/Magic: Book must contain witches or the use of magic.

October Author: Read any book by an author who was born in the month of October.  A few suggestions are Anne Rice, Elmore Leonard, Jackie Collins, and Pat Conroy.

The two released clues are both areas located on the map you received when you signed up for the challenge.

Young Adult: Read any book found in Young Adult Cove. This ties in with the first of the month because Banned Book Week is being celebrated September 27^th-October 3^rd.  This year the emphasis is on young adult books because they are the ones most likely to be targeted for censorship.

Science Fiction/Fantasy: Read any book found in Sci-Fi Sound and it will count. This could be a fantasy or science fiction book.  Refer to the map to find these book locations in our library.

September’s Adult Reading Challenge “Clues”

It is hard to believe there are only 3 months left for this year’s challenge.  There are only 6 more clues to be released.  If you have just joined us, welcome and if you are a regular to our Reading Challenge, thank you for playing our game. Don’t forget to join us, if you can for the Portals Reading Group in the Community Room on Thursday, September 3, 2015 from 12:00 till 2:00 pm. We’d love for you to join us because the more the merrier when discussing books.

The clues for this month are:

Banned Book Banned Book week is September 27^th-October 3^rd. Help us celebrate the freedom to read by choosing any book that has been banned for any reason.

Pirates On September 18^th the library will celebrate all things piratical during our all day Piratical Pursuits Family Day. There will be programs for all ages, games, photo ops, and snacks. Get in the mood by reading a book that features a pirate and then come party with us on the 18^th.

Big Apple Read any book set in New York City.

September Author Read any book by an author who celebrates their birthday this month. Some suggestions to get you started are Agatha Christie, Stephen King, Fannie Flagg, or F. Scott Fitzgerald.

The released clues for this month are:

Non-Fiction Read any non-fiction book. Must be catalogued with a Dewey Decimal number to qualify.

Classic Read any book considered to be a “classic”. One definition of classic is a book that expresses some artistic quality and stands the test of time. Most of us have at least one on our personal TBR List. For some suggestions check out:  http://pigfish.hubpages.com/hub/List-of-Classic-Books-to-Read-Before-You-Die  or http://www.listchallenges.com/100-classic-books-challenge. If you just don’t know if the book you want to read will count, ask us. We love to talk books.

Happy Reading!

August’s Adult Reading Challenge “Clues”

The beginning of August means back to school time for most people. For some patrons this will mean less time to read, but for a few we have heard “now I can have my reading time while the kids are in school”. Whatever the month brings, we hope you have time to read a book or two toward the challenge and maybe come to our book club meeting on Thursday, August 6^th from 12:00 to 2:00p in the Community Room. We are very informal so you can come and go and bring your lunch with you. Hope to see you there!

The clues this month are:

TV/Movie Read any book that is the basis for a movie or television show.

Sports Read a book that is about a sport or has an athlete of a particular sport as a prominent character.

Your Birth Year Read a book set in the year you were born, copyrighted in the year you were born, or on one of the lists from the following websites*: http://www.booksofthecentury.com or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publishers_Weekly_lists_of_bestselling_novels_in_the_United_States

The library does NOT own all of the books on these lists, you will have to check the catalog for availability. Additional books with years listed can be found in the Portals through Time Reading Guide found in the Information Department.

*Years must be explicitly stated, not implied to count for the challenge.

August Author Read a book by one of the authors celebrating a birthday this month. Some to choose from are Isabel Allende, Annie Proulx, Jonathan Kellerman, or Stieg Larson.

The released clues this month are:

Nom de Plume Read any book that is written by an author who uses or has used a pen name. There are some who have published under multiple pen names as well as their real name.

The second clue again comes from the map of the library you got when you signed up for the challenge. Go to Biography Beach and find your next read. Biographies at DPL are arranged by the last name of the person they are about and the call number is B and their last name. Look for this decal on the endcaps:

 

Happy Reading!!