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Join us at a premiere for Pinkalicious and Peterrific

10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, in the Community Room

Come to a special preview for a new PBS show!

A new series from PBS based on the series of Pinkalicious books by Victoria Kann premieres on KPTS Channel 8 at 8 a.m. Monday, Feb. 19. Derby Public Library is one of nine libraries in south-central Kansas that will offer a special screening of the new series. Families are invited to the library to view episodes of the show and participate in fun Pinkalicious activities.

The Library will be closed Feb. 19

Looking ahead, make sure you mark your calendar to make sure you pick up books or DVDs for watching over the long weekend in February, when the library will be closed Feb. 19 in observance of Presidents Day. The library will be open regular hours Sunday, Feb. 18 (1-5 p.m) and Tuesday, Feb. 20 (9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.).

Check out one of the library's three book clubs in February

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. We love to see new faces at each of our book 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. Feb. 7. The title for February is The Girl With All the Gifts by M. R. Carey.
Hauntingly Good Reads — meets at 7 p.m. Feb. 12. The title for February is Relics by Tim Lebbon.
Joyful Page Turners — meets at 6:45 p.m. Feb. 22. The title for February is A Sister's Promise by Karen Lenfestey.

Did you know the library sells used books?

If you are looking for good books at a great price, you should stop in to the library and take a look at our sale shelves. The books may be old library books or donations and there are also books on CD, music CDs, and DVDs. Paperbacks sell for 25 cents, and hardcovers for 50 cents. Music CDs sell for $1 and books on CD and DVDs sell for $2. Until Jan. 31, fill a library bag with books ONLY for just $5.

Book review

Sisters First by Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush

First line: From the very beginning, before we could walk, before we could talk, Barbara and I were a pair.

Summary: Barbara and Jenna Bush are twin sisters. As the first daughters, they were often in the media spotlight. Being trailed by Secret Service agents and hounded by the paprazzi led to hectic lives. Through an alternating narrative, the sisters tell the stories of their lives. The foreword in the book was written by former First Lady Laura Bush.

My thoughts: I listened to the audio version of this book and I loved it! Brabara and Jenna narrate the book. They discuss their embarassing moments and their triumphs. The stories of their parents and grandparents are endearing. I enjoyed hearing that these families are still normal families. I laughed aloud listening to the struggles of Barbara trying to order a pizza. When you have the same name as a former First Lady, simple things can be a challenge.

Ashley's rating: Release date: Oct. 24, 2017

Click here to see the title in our catalog: Sisters First: Stories from Our Wild and Wonderful Life

See what books members of the library staff read in 2017 and loved!

With so many readers (naturally!) on staff in our library, we thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite reads from 2017. Click below to go to the blog post, where you will find a list of books we recommend.

Find our favorites on the blog!

New-book review

The English Wife by Lauren Willig

First line: "They say he's bankrupted himself rebuilding the house--all for her, of course."

Summary: When Bayard Van Duyvil is found dead with a knife in his chest, and his wife, Annabelle, is missing, speculation about the happy couple begins. Did Annabelle kill her husband? Who is she anyway? The whirlwind romance and quick marriage to an English woman brings gossip and questions to New York society. Janie, Bay's sister, is determined to find out who killed her brother and clear her sister-in-law's name.

My thoughts: I am a huge fan of Lauren Willig's books. She writes good mysteries with well-developed characters. I liked the character of Georgie/Annabelle. She has a twisted past that is slowly revealed through the story. Her relationship with Bay is one of my favorite parts. I enjoyed their interactions and how their relationship changed. The end shocked me. I was not expecting the story to wrap up how it did, but it was perfect.

Ahsley's rating:

Release date: Jan. 9, 2018

New-book review

The Girls in the Picture by Melanie Benjamin

First line: Lately, the line between real life and the movies has begun to blur.

Summary: Mary Pickford and Frances Marion were two of the biggest celebrities at the dawn of the motion picture era. Their friendship and collaboration were the genesis of some of the earliest movies. Each took their own careers in hand and made a name for themselves--Marion as a screenwriter and Mary as "America's Sweetheart."

My thoughts: Melanie Benjamin is becoming one of my favorite authors. She writes amazing stories that feature strong women. I am completely enamored with Mary Pickford and Frances Marion after reading this novel. Despite their independence, the women rely on their friendship. The history of the early days of the motion picture was fascinating to see through the eyes of women who experienced it at a time when women rarely worked outside the home.

Ashley's review: ?

Release date: Jan. 16, 2018

The Dragons are Coming!

Beware the great wings and fire breath in February when DragonFest comes to Derby! The library will be hosting two dragon-inspired programs on Saturday, Feb. 24.

At 10 a.m., we'll party with the preschoolers at our special DragonFest Storytime featuring dragon tales, songs, games and more. Families with children age 3-5 encouraged to attend.

At 2 p.m., we'll head to the land of Pyrrhia in a Wings of Fire-inspired program for tweens in third- through eighth-grades. Tweens will discover what dragon they are as they rally with the dragonets of prophecy to defeat the evil Sandwing triplets and save the land. Registration is required for this program.

Butterfly 3 one of a triptych

Festival of Dreams

Artist Skip Kreibach discovered his artistic talent as he neared retirement and enrolled in an oil painting course. This solo exhibition features more than 60 of Skip's works, some of which you may mistake for photographs.

**Please join us for a reception with the artist at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, in the Community Room at the library.