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Visit Botanica, Tanganyika or Sedgwick County Zoo with your library card!
Discovery Passes are a special way Derby Public Library can help connect your family to the wonderful events and activities available in our community. Once checked out, a Discovery Pass will allow a family to get into Botanica, Tanganyika Wildlife Park, or Sedgwick County Zoo free. These are a great way to explore three of Wichita's feature attractions!
Adults can check out one Discovery Pass and they are limited to one pass per family at a time. The passes will be checked out for one week and cannot be renewed. They are available to put on hold now, but aren't available to check out until Sept. 9.
To place a Discovery Pass on hold, search the library catalog for "museum pass" or the specific location pass you would like to check out. Derby passes can only be checked out at Derby and must be returned to Derby.
When you search the catalog, you'll see that a couple of other libraries in the consortium also have museum passes available. If you place one of those on hold, you will need to go to its home library to pick it up and return it.
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Reduced hours till further notice
9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday-Friday
9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday
Please wear a mask and social distance while visiting the library.
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Children and teen programs remain virtual for fall session
As we continue to grapple with the effects of COVID-19 on the community, all fall programs for children and teens will continue to take place virtually, via Facebook Live or Zoom. Please check the fall Youth Services brochure for complete details about programs. The brochure is available to pick up in the library or find it on the library website.
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Book bundles offer surprise books!
Want a surprise bunch of books? We've expanded availability of book bundles, and now you can pick one up at the drive-thru. Book bundles are available for babies, toddlers and preschoolers.
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Derby Photographer Shows Images
Captured in Photography Blind
The Derby Public Library and Derby Arts Council invite the public to enjoy the latest art installation in the High Wall Gallery, a wildlife photography tour of Kansas. Derby resident, David Birmingham shares 18 photographs in “Coyotes and Birds and Deer, Oh My…” through Sept. 26.
Birmingham has enjoyed photography since the 1970’s when he attended Wichita South High School. For the past 40 years, he has never stopped taking photos. He has been a member of many camera clubs, and has had the opportunity to participate in many competitions. Several of his photographs have been highlighted in national publications, with awards given for those images.
Learn more about David Birmingham on the Arts Council's webpage by clicking the red "Read More" button below.
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Red Finch in a Redbud Tree
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Looking for someplace to discuss books? We've got you covered!
We have three active book groups here at the library that are open to everyone. If you love to read and talk about the books you read, pop in to one or more of the book groups!
Bemused Biblipohiles — meets at 1 p.m. Sept. 2. The title for September is Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes. *The book club will meet in person in the Community Room.
Hauntingly Good Reads — meets at 7 p.m. Sept. 14. The title for September is Boneshaker by Cherie Priest. *The book club will meet in person in the Community Room.
Joyful Page Turners — meets at 6 p.m. Sept. 24. The title for September is The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni. *The book club will meet in person in the Community Room, and is meeting 45 minutes earlier than normal.
Bemused Bibliophiles meets during the day and reads popular books that have been on the bestseller list. Hauntingly Good Reads meets in the evening and explores all kinds of books that have a supernatural/magical/unexplainable kind of bent—we look far beyond the traditional vampires, ghosts and witches.
Joyful Page Turners is the most enduring book club at the library—it's been meeting regularly since May 2000! Books selected for this book club include just about everything: classics, modern bestsellers, non-fiction, and more.
Click the red "Read More" button below to visit the book club page on the library website, where you can find lists of books each book club has read.
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House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
First Line: There was a wolf at the gallery door.
Summary: Bryce Quinlan appears to be the epitome of party girl. She dates frequently, dances, drinks and takes drugs. But then one night her best friend and her pack of wolves are slaughtered in their apartment. Bryce is determined to avenge their deaths. During her investigations she is thrown together with a fallen angel, Hunt Athalar. As they look deeper into the darker side of Crescent City they find that there is a threat that may bring down everything.
My Thoughts: Sarah J. Maas is an excellent creator of fantasy worlds. She builds these elaborate worlds with creatures of all kinds. This book took three tries to get past chapter three but it wasn’t because it was bad. There is just so much! This is a modern day fantasy with all the creatures like angels, werewolves, pixies, fae and more. It took me time to get it all straight and finally get going in the plot.
But once I did I was in for anything Maas threw at me. I liked the characters, the plot was fast paced, and there were lots of twists. She writes minor characters so well. They are always fun and give the story some heart and laughs. And her heroines are always kicking butt while being snarky. If you liked her other stories then you will definitely enjoy this one too!
*I do want to warn readers that it is graphic and gets a little steamier then her other books.*
Release date: March 3, 2020
Ashley's rating:  
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The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis
First Line: She had to tell Jack.
Summary: Laura Lyons and her family had recently moved into the superintendent’s apartment in the New York City Public Library. It seemed like a dream come true to be surrounded by so much history and knowledge. But even with everything seeming so perfect she knows something is missing. She takes a chance and applies to Columbia Journalism School. When she is accepted she doesn’t realize how much her life will now change.
Eighty years later, Sadie, Laura’s granddaughter is working in the same library. She has been preparing an exhibit when books, very valuable books, begin to disappear. As she helps search for them she worries that the blame may be put on her because of her family’s past. It seems that the past is repeating itself.
My Thoughts: I am so happy that Davis went back to her old style of writing. I love her stories that have intertwining stories from different time periods. She does them so well. I was really disappointed in the The Chelsea Girls when she diverged from this format. It did not have the same magic as her other books have had.
The author does a wonderful job of bringing the landmarks she writes about to life. They almost become a character in the story as well. These buildings have so much history. I would love to one day be able to visit them. And the fact that there are all these secrets or unknown parts of each building are fascinating. Who knew that there were apartments in the New York library? I for sure didn’t. It would be a dream to live in such an iconic location.
Release date: Aug. 4, 2020
Ashley's review:
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Guest book review by Carmaine Ternes:
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Amos Fortune, Free Man
by Elizabeth Yates
"Sacred to the memory of Amos Fortune, who was born free in Africa, a slave in America he purchased liberty, professed Christianity, lived reputably, and died hopefully Nov. 17, 1801 Aet. 91” intrigued Elizabeth Yates when she noticed the gravestone inscription in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. Her curiosity inspired research resulting in Amos Fortune, Free Man (1950), which won the prestigious Newbery Medal and the first William Allen White Children’s Book Award (a Kansas children's choice book award).
Born into royalty, At-Mun was destined to become chief of his African At-mun-shi tribe. During a peaceful musical ceremony, the equatorial forest was disturbed by ruthless invaders. These slavers bound chains around the young and the strong, barbarically shipping them to American ports to be sold. Separated from his family and village at the age of fifteen, Prince At-Mun was captured and never saw his 12-year-old princess sister or nation the remainder of his life. For months At-Mun was restrained at sea, then paraded at auction.
When Caleb Copeland bought At-Mun, he was instructed by sellers to call him Amos. Amos did not speak but listened intently and was willing to learn any trade. Carpentry, weaving, and tanning required tedious physical strength and attention to detail. Although he was regarded as inferior, Amos never whimpered, whined, or wailed for being treated unfairly.
He eagerly learned to read, write, and cipher thanks to Celia Copeland who patiently taught Amos to read the Bible. Her generous heart did not reflect the strict and callous behaviors of other human merchandise owners. Obeying whites with respect, reverence, and loyalty, Amos toiled in hard labor and sacrificed for others his entire life.
Yates incorporated the vernacular appropriate for the time and setting. Her similes, metaphors, analogies, and vocabulary bring life and meaning to the struggles and labors of survival. Descriptions of the rugged terrain and magnificent mountains enhance this biographical account.
The author’s dedication, research, and composition efforts bring praise to a man who was a victim. Despite the physical and territorial chains that encompassed Amos’ life, his mind was free to love and flame eternal hope rather than a fire of hate. Giving your life on a battlefield or in slavery fighting for “freedom as a reward for service” was the foundation of a nation where “all men are created equal.” Amos Freeman believed, “It does a man no good to be free until he learns how to live.”
Click here to place this title on hold in the library catalog. |
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Need a BookFix?
If you're struggling to find a book you want to read, let us help! The library is now offering personalized book recommendations through the BookFix form on our website.
Just fill out the form, and we'll send you a customized list of several books we think you'll like. And it works for kids, too! Parents, grandparents or caregivers can fill out the form for kids, and someone in our youth services department will find books just for them.
Click the red "Read More" button below to get to the BookFix request form.
Book recommendations for kids and teens
The Reader's Advisory for the Youth Services department also includes lists of books based on theme, award winners and Umbrella Books (books about difficult topics). If you need some inspiration on what books to borrow for your child, check these out! To see these lists and more, click the red "Read More" button below.
Wanting a more individualized list? Use the Book Fix form (click the red button above) and we will put together a list just for your child.
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Catch our ads at the movies or on the radio!
Did you know that you can see ads for the library featuring our resident dinosaur Thesaurus Rex, before the movies at Derby Plaza Theater? You can!
And you can also learn more about library services with Granny Cletus and Moony Pie on the radio in our ads on KDKQ 105.9 FM here in Derby.
When you come in, be sure to let us know if you've seen or heard our ads.
And if you just can't wait to go to the theater to see Theo, head on over to our YouTube channel to catch all the library's videos.
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Library processing passport applications — long delays
While the library has begun accepting and processing passport applications again, it's important to note that the State Department is still experiencing significant delays, of up to several months.
Expedited service is unavailable at this time as well. If you need to renew your passport (by mail) or get a new passport by applying in person at the library, be prepared to wait several months for your completed passport.
The library is processing passport applications between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday. Please visit the library's passport information page on the library website for more information.
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Click the "Read More" button to visit the State Department's passport website. |
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September 2020 
Issue 401
