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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, be able to download the app, or visit the website. Be sure to create a Beanstack account now so when the challenge begins, you will be able to join right away.

The challenge won't be available in the app until Feb. 2. Be sure to join the challenge in the app when it pops up! Then start reading and log your books to be eligible to win the $25 gift card.

Oscar short films show at the library Feb. 6-7

Join us to watch Oscar-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.

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. Feb. 5. The title for February is Dear Mrs. Bird by A J Pearce.
Hauntingly Good Reads — meets at 7 p.m. Feb. 10. The title for February is The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco.
Joyful Page Turners — meets at 6:45 p.m. Feb. 27. The title for February is The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg.

Stop by High Wall Gallery to enjoy 'Peace of Art'

Look for Rita Tillison's paintings to be hung the first week of February and be up through March. Rita discovered her love of painting at a date night at Pinot's Palette in Wichita. With no formal training, she learned to convey the peacefulness of nature through acrylics.

Her impression-style landscapes are inspired by what she has seen and experienced personally. She believes her hand is guided through each brushstroke by her faith in Christ. Rita donates from sales of her artwork to mission projects including Stroll to Prevent Domestic Violence, Freedom Hooves, and Christian Missionary Fellowship.

Read and Watch

Join us for 'Where'd
You Go, Bernadette'

Stop by the library to pick up a copy of Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple and then join us as we watch the film adaptation. Lunch will be provided. Registration is required. Register at the front desk or online starting Feb. 1.

Read and Watch:

Noon-2:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20

Community Room

We are introducing a new monthly book review from our staff member Megan, which will focus on books her daughter loves. We hope you enjoy reading about Amelia's favorite books.

There's a Monster in Your Book
by Tom Fletcher

Summary: There is a monster in your book and you have to try and get him out!

My thoughts: When I first saw this book, I wasn't sure how Amelia would react to it, especially with it being a book you interact with, but she absolutely loved it.

We read it over and over and over again, each time it just got sillier between the two of us. We enjoyed it because you have to shake and wiggle, blow, and even scream to run him out of the pages. Probably wouldn't read this as a bedtime book as it will amp your child up (as it did mine). Ha!

Another good one by the same author is There Is a Dragon in Your Book.

Gwendy's Button Box
by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar

First line: There are three ways up to Castle View from the town of Castle Rock: Route 117, Pleasant Road, and the Suicide Stairs.

Summary: Gwendy is a 12-year-old girl from the town of Castle Rock. One day while running up the stairs to Castle View she is stopped by a gentleman in a black hat. During their conversation he gives her a box. The box has buttons in it. Some are harmless but others are not. He tells her that the box is her responsibility and to keep it secret. As the years go by Gwendy notices changes in herself and the world she lives in. Is it the box? And what price does she have to pay for its gifts?

My thoughts: : I had no idea what I was getting in to when I started this book. It seemed to walk the line between a sweet little story and a nightmare. I listened to the audiobook while cross stitching on a Sunday morning. I was completely engrossed in the story. I even gasped and set my stitching down at several points so that I could focus on the story.

When Gwendy first gets the box it appears to be a dream come true. The box spits out silver dollars and chocolates that suppress cravings. Everything in her life starts going better. What’s not to like? But when she starts getting curious about the other buttons I knew something bad was coming. Books like this show how great of a writer Stephen King truly is. He can mix the genres and write an excellent story in less than 200 pages.

Release date: May 16, 2017

Ashley's rating:

Book preview-March release

Lady in Waiting by Anne Glenconner

First line: One morning at the beginning of 2019, when I was in my London flat, the telephone rang.

Summary: Lady Anne Glenconner, lady in waiting to Princess Margaret, led a spectacular life. She lived through the Second World War, carried the train of Queen Elizabeth at her coronation and married an eccentric aristocrat. In her memoir she takes us behind the scenes of important events in the British monarchy and her life. She has many ups and downs but stays strong through them all.

My thoughts: After watching The Crown I have become fascinated by Princess Margaret. I knew very little about her but came to love her wild side and the way she stirred up the monarchy. When I saw Lady Glenconner’s book I immediately had to request it.

The writing is very comfortable. It is almost like having a conversation with the woman herself. It flows so easily and is a lot of fun to read. You can feel her emotions as you read along. I loved hearing her memories about life with the royal princesses. I was shocked as she discussed her marriage. Her husband sounds like a very difficult man to be around but that she stuck it out shows her devotion and will to commit to her promises.

I loved looking for pictures as I was reading. And I found the pictures at the end delightful. It was nice to put faces to the names. Mustique looks like paradise. I have never visited the Caribbean but this definitely makes me want to take a trip. The one thing I was missing was more insights into the lives of the Queen and Margaret. They appear and play important parts in her story but I expected more from reading the blurb.

Release date: March 4, 2020

Ashley's rating:

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.