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The library will be closed Nov. 23 & Nov. 24 for Thanksgiving!

With the holiday upon us, there will be no children's programming during the week of Thanksgiving, except Teen Movie Tuesday (see below for more information). Story time, babies, ones and twos, as well as school-age programming will resume at normal times the week of Nov. 27.

Thesaurus Rex is coming to the library!

Have you missed seeing Thesaurus Rex when he's been in the building? Well, here's your chance to meet our literary dinosaur. Come on in to the library on Nov. 20. Thesaurus will be hanging out around the library and saying hi. Want a picture with our extinct guy? No problem! He will even be able to show you where the books about dinosaurs are.

If you can't get enough dinosaurs, be sure to follow the library on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, where you will meet eight crazy dinosaurs who have been involved in shenanigans around the library all month! It is #Dinovember after all!

Meet Thesaurus Rex in the Gathering Space 4:30-5 p.m . Monday, Nov. 20

Teen Movie Tuesday is 4 p.m. Nov. 21, in the Community Room

Join us the Tuesday before Thanksgiving to watch Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Bring your pillows and blankets, and come in your comfiest clothes, sweats, or pajamas if you like. We'll have popcorn and other snacks available.

Make that last push for NaNoWriMo!

We've got one last write-in scheduled for all you novel writers out there. If you are working hard to get your word count where it needs to be and need a couple of hours to get some good writing in, come to the library on Saturday. We'll have snacks and some writing word-count challenges that could not only help you get that last push you need, but may also win you a prize! Teen and adult writers are welcome.

National Novel Writing Month Write-In
10 a.m.-noon, Nov. 25, Group Study Room

Check out one of the library's three book clubs

Did you know we have three active book clubs at the library? If you are looking for a lively book discussion, drop in on any one of our clubs. Click the title of the book below to go to the library catalog, where you can place the book on hold.

Bemused Bibliophiles — meets at 1 p.m. Dec. 6. The title for December is The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson.
Hauntingly Good Reads — meets at 7 p.m. 11. The title for December is Kraken by China Mieville.
Joyful Page Turners — This book club does not meet during December. Please join them for their next book discussion in January.

"Christmases on the Prairie" with Sarah Jane Richter, Ph. D.

What did pioneers and cowboys do to celebrate Christmas on the western prairies during the 19th century? They had few resources for everyday living, let alone preparing for Christmas. However, the reason for the season is always the same, and frontier citizens got creative to decorate for parties, give gifts, and celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Simple and inexpensive decorations were made from rocks and tin cans, twigs and paper cutouts. People made gifts such as dolls, aprons and food to give to loved ones on Christmas morning. People gathered as a community to trim Christmas trees, dance, tell stories, have parties and go caroling. Learn more about life on the prairie at Christmas when you attend this special holiday program.

"Christmases on the Prairie" is at 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 9 in the Community Room

The librrary is an Operation Holiday drop-off location

If you have items to drop off for Derby's Operation Holiday, and you are coming to the library, bring them with you and drop them off here! All donations for Derby Operation Holiday must be made by Dec. 9. Our donation box is just inside the front door near the checkout counter.

In theaters: Nov. 22, 2017

Book to movie review:
The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford

First line: In London, in 1824, it was the custom to treat a debtor little differently from a man who had reached into a purse and stolen a similar sum.

Summary: A mini biography of the life and writing of Charles Dickens and his most famous work, A Christmas Carol. Dickens was not a child of wealth, but spent years working to pay off his father's debt while his father languished in debtor's prison. As an adult, he became one of the most famous writers of his era. He advocated for the rights of the poor and unfortunate. In A Christmas Carol, he continued this theme while also inspiring the Christmas we now know.

My thoughts: While I was reading, I was shocked by the details of the life of Dickens. He was a man with a complicated past and difficult career. The book takes us through the man's past and explire the history of Christmas in Victorian England. It was not the Christmas of today. Christmas trees were not popular, gift giving was rare, and few people actually celebrated the holiday. With the introduction of Scrooge's tale, Christmas was on its way to becoming the celebration it is now.

A new movie about how A Christmas Carol came about, starring Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) and Christopher Plummer (The Sound of Music) is coming to theaters. I have always been a fan of the story of Scrooge and his ghostly partner, Marley. I have seen many versions, but my favorite is the Scrooge with Albert Finney and The Muppet Christmas Carol. I am looking forward to seeing this in theaters on Thanksgiving Day.

Ashley's review:

Adult non-fiction book cover

School-age chapter book cover

A story written for all ages:
Finding Gobi by Dion Leonard

First line: I stepped through the airport doors and out into China.

Summary: Finding Gobi is the inspiring story of a little stray dog that followed Australian ultra-runner Dion Leonard, author of the books, for 80 miles of a 155-mile, multi-stage race through the Gobi Desert. Leonard chronicles meeting Gobi during hte race and immense financial and political struggle to bring her to his home in Edinburgh, Scotland.

My thoughts: As a fellow dog lover, I grinned at how quickly and deeply Leonard bonded with Gobi. It was natural for him to want to bring her back to Scotland, adn the fact that he was willing to move to China to live with her during her quarantine and health checks was amazing. If you ar a runner or a dog lover, you will love this book.

FYI: Leonard brilliantly published three versions of his and Gobi's story. There is an adult non-fiction book, a school-age chapter book and a preschool picture book.

Another POV: Both of my boys read the school-age chapter book. "I love Gobi because she looks so much like our dog Merry! I didn't know it took that much to get a dog from one country to another." —Mark, 8
"The worst part about this book was waiting for my brother to get don with it so I could read it too. I can't believe that little dog ran that far!" —John, 10

Check out our blog for more on this book and for other book reviews.

Hannah's rating:

Jeus Des Vagues by John Ellert

Gallery XII

Come to the library to see the newest art exhibition in the Gathering Space Gallery—works by 23 artists celebrating Gallery XII's 40th anniversary. Artists' works include watercolors, oils, pastels, photography, drawings and mixed media. A country road in Greenwood County, embellished seascape photographs, and luminous forest paths await the viewer. Gallery XII will be on exhibit through mid-January.

Meet Santa at the library!

Have your picture taken with Santa
Watch model trains
Enjoy a Christmas story time
Make a Christmas craft
Write a letter to Santa
Bring your camera to take a family photo in front of the Christmas tree