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Kids' programs are back beginning Jan. 6

Story time and other regular programming in the youth services department has taken a break for the holidays. But all the fun programs you love will be back next week, starting Monday with Family Night. Story times, elementary and teen programs will be back on their regular schedules. We'll see you at the library!

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 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 on the book titles below to see them in the library catalog. Sign in to your library account on the catalog and you can place a title on hold.

Bemused Bibliophiles — meets at 1 p.m. Jan. 8. The title for January is Dear Mrs. Bird by A J Pearce.
Hauntingly Good Reads — meets at 7 p.m. Dec. 9. The title for December is The Fold by Peter Clines.
Joyful Page Turners — meets at 6:45 p.m. Jan. 23. The title for January is Savage Country by Robert Olmstead.

New art exhibition in Gathering Space Gallery explores 'Layers'

A new exhibition of works by artist Kayann Ausherman will be open to the public Jan. 10 in the Gathering Space Gallery. Ausherman uses a variety of media to create her art, which is more whimsical than realistic in is its representation of everyday objects.

She feels the creative process is about experimentation and exploration of new ways to express the familiar and seeks to evoke an emotional connection with the viewer. Ausherman often uses unexpected materials in her work, including wrappers, postage stamps, envelopes and other found items.

Public reception for Kayann Aushermann: 6:30-7:30 p.m., Jan. 23, in the Community Room

Read one book in two weeks, earn a chance to win a prize

If you love books, we've got a great (little) challenge for you. Join us Feb. 2-14 for the "Love of Reading" challenge on Beanstack. Read and log one book, minimum 100 pages, in the app between Feb. 2 and 14 and be eligible to win a $25 gift card to Watermark Books & Cafe. Read more than one book and get an entry for each book you read!

Click here to learn more about Beanstack. On that page you will learn about the tracker, and be able to download the app, or visit the website. Watch our Facebook page for more about the reading challenge!

Doctor Sleep
by Stephen King

First line: On the second day of December in a year when a Georgia peanut farmer was doing business in the White House, one of Colorado’s great resort hotels burned to the ground.

Summary: Danny Torrance was five years old when his life changed. He has spent years trying to hold back the psychic power called “the shining.” Many of those years were spent as a drunk barely surviving as he drifted from place to place until he stops in a small New Hampshire town. He receives a chance by several local men, giving him a new lease on life. As he cleans up his life he finds his purpose in living, working at a hospice, helping the patients pass on earning the nickname Doctor Sleep by the staff.

But when he starts to receive messages from a little girl who also has “the shining” he finds his world once again turned upside down. As he and Abra learn more about this mysterious group of nomads looking for people like them, they have to figure out how to stop them once and for all.

My thoughts: I love this book! It is completely gripping from the very beginning. Most people are familiary with the story of the The Shining. It is one of Stephen King’s most famous novels. I read this while tightly gripping the pages. King does an amazing job providing imagery for his readers. I could easily picture the ghostie in the bathroom, Rose the Hat and Teenytown. He can build a story slowly but make it so engrossing that you cannot stop reading.

I enjoyed finding out what happened to Danny after the events in Colorado. I felt for him as he tried to quiet his demons. I loved his interactions with the patients at the hospice. There were several twists that I never saw coming and I literally gasped as I read them. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you wanting more.

Release date: Sept. 24, 2013

Ashley's rating:

I Found You
by Lisa Jewell

First line: Alice Lake lives in a house by the sea.

Summary: When Alice notices a man sitting on the beach behind her house in the rain she wonders what he could be doing there but decides not to get involved. Several hours later he is still sitting there. When she takes out a coat to the man she starts to talk to him and learns that he has lost his memory. With no idea who he is or how he ended up on the beach, Alice invites him to stay in her guest house for the night.

Lily Monrose has been married for three weeks. Her husband loves her very much but one night he does not come home. The police look into who he is and where he might have gone. As they search they discover that Carl Monrose does not exist. Lily is determined to find her husband and get some answers.

My thoughts: I enjoy everything I have read by Lisa Jewell. Her books have a fun mystery with twists and turns. The story always moves along quickly with intriguing characters and situations. However, I was a little disappointed in this one. I enjoyed the story but it was really predictable. I kept hoping that the ending would have an OMG moment like her newest books have had but it did not. It wrapped up nicely and everyone ended up “happy."

I did enjoy the characters and the events of the book. I really liked the flashbacks to 1993. It was dark and disturbing. It was the typical Lisa Jewell. Maybe I need to stick to her newer books rather than trying some of her older ones. But if you like a good story then this is one.

Release date: June 30, 2016

Ashley's rating:

The Oscars are coming

Save the date and mark your calendar! Join us to watch Oscor-nominated short documentaries Thursday, Feb. 6 and Oscar-nominated short animated and live films Friday, Feb. 7. The movies will start at 6 p.m. both nights, in the Community Room.

What is the 2020 Census and why does it matter?

An annual census is mandated by the Constitution and the goal is to count every person living in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). The U.S. Census Bureau, a non-partisan government agency, conducts the census every 10 years. Every home will receive an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire and can reply by phone or mail, and this year for the first time, you will be able to reply online.

Those who are homebound can still use the library

If you know someone who is not able to get out of the house easily, let us bring the library to them! Derby Public Library and Derby Rotary Club have collaborated on Library2Go to bring library materials to those who cannot get to the library because of physical or medical limitations.

This service is available to anyone who lives in the USD 260 boundaries and is homebound, including those who may be temporarily homebound due to illness or other conditions. The program is free. Materials are delivered to the patron's home on Friday afternoons, every four weeks.

To register for Library2Go, visit the library's Library2Go web page and click on the link to complete the form, or call the library at 316-788-0760 and the person who answers the phone can help you register.