DPL Blog

Over the holidays I sat down to read a book recommended to me by teen librarian Liz Strauss. The book was One of Us is Next and was written by Karen McManus. I won’t go into the details about the plot.  At one point in the book a popular athlete (Cooper) was coming home from college and everyone in town wanted to see him and get his autograph.  A small group of Cooper’s friends planned to meet in the back room of a local cafe.  But other people heard about the gathering and crowded into the cafe in hopes of getting a glimpse of the famous hometown hero. Here is the description of the crowded cafe: “not only is every table full, but Mr. Santos brought out all the extra chairs that are usually stored in the basement and it’s still not enough. People are standing in groups against either side of the wall, shuffling back and forth as I weave through them with a drink-laden tray for Addie and her friends.”

My library brain immediately  thought: They should have had this homecoming in the community room at the library where more people could be accommodated.

That’s when it hit me. I am constantly on the lookout for possible programs at the library…even while I am reading for pleasure. 

Many times, people come to me (or leave word at the front desk) suggesting a topic or speaker that would be interesting to people in our community.  I always follow up on these suggestions and I almost always find a person willing to share their experience with us. 

So, the invitation is open. Contact me if you are willing to present a program, or if you know someone who has had an interesting and unique experience, or if you would like to suggest a topic. I welcome your input. After all, this is YOUR public library!

Sherrel

Adult program specialist

What do Legos, cork-screw openers, Russian nesting dolls, 3-D printed objects, china dogs, coke items, 19^th Century oddities, famous signatures, and space memorabilia have in common? They were all on display at the library. This is just a small sample of the amazing subject matter that we have exhibited.

Are you a collector or a hobbyist? If the answer is yes, have you considered displaying your collection with the library?

We have three display cases, two in the foyer and one by the front desk. Every month, we highlight a different display. If you are a patron, you have no doubt noticed the wide assortment of subjects that we have been fortunate to feature.

We also have a new artist’s show each month in the Community Room, including various media including paintings, drawings, photographs, prints etc. The library is always appreciative of collectors, hobbyists, and artists who offer to share their work. 

If you would like to participate, we would certainly welcome your collections. Please contact Jan Ridenour 330-343-6123.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Here are some romantic movie recommendations from the library staff.

The Holiday

Wendy’s favorite

Pride and Prejudice (2005)

Syrena’s favorite

Somewhere in Time

Also Syrena’s favorite

What Dreams May Come

Robyn’s favorite

Sleepless in Seattle

Rick’s favorite

Ever After

Mallory’s Favorite

Pride and Prejudice (1995)

Liz’s favorite

The Notebook

Lisa, Jen G. Jamie, and Ellen’s favorite

Casablanca

Linda’s favorite

When Harry Met Sally

Also Linda’s favorite

Ghost

Also Linda’s favorite

Sweet Home Alabama

Kim’s favorite

Love Actually

Jim’s favorite

While You Were Sleeping

Jen M.’s favorite

You’ve Got Mail

Jan’s favorite

Notting Hill

Denise’s favorite

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Chris’s favorite

Do you know that feeling of butterflies in your stomach? The element of surprise and anticipation? Come “check out” our Blind Date With A Book display starting Monday, February 7th through February 19^th!

The books are wrapped up in red paper and have 5 clues as to what the book is about. We have a variety of genres including historical fiction, memoirs, suspense and heartwarming stories. You can’t judge a book by its cover! Happy Valentine’s Day!

I asked the library staff to share their favorite book they read in 2021. Here is a list of 17 books they loved. Have you read any of these books?

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richards

Favorite of Chris

The Bible

Favorite of Denise

Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty

Ellen’s Favorite

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Jamie’s Favorite

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

Jan’s Favorite

If You Tell by Gregg Olsen

Jen G.’s Favorite

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

Jen M.’s Favorite

The Simple Path to Wealth by J.L. Collins

Jim’s Favorite

The Last Castle by Denise Kienan

Kim’s Favorite

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

Linda’s Favorite

The Long Flight Home by Alan Hlad

Lisa & Paula’s Favorite

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Liz’s Favorite

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone illustrated edition by Minalima

Mallory’s Favorite

Facing Your Giants by Max Lucado

Robyn’s Favorite

Sara’s Key by de Rosnay

Sherrel’s Favorite

Misery by Stephen King

Syrena’s Favorite

Game On Tempting 28 by Janet Evonovich

Wendy’s Favorite

Have you been thinking about joining a book club in 2022?  Here are invitations from two book clubs hosted at the Dover Public Library.

Tuesday Night Book Club

The New Year is here! Full of potential and possibilities.  Everyone  is asking, “What’s  your New Year’s resolution?” I for one plan to dive into a good book.  And what better way than to share that, than in a book group.  The Dover Public Library has different  book groups that will fit into anyone’s schedule.  I happen to  oversee the Tuesday Night Book Group.  We meet the second Tuesday of each month in the main part of the library at 6:30 to 7:30. 

Reading can take you on an adventure  without  leaving your house.  And, being part of a book group you share the love of reading. At our group it’s ok to say you didn’t like the book. You can express your  opinion.  Plus, the added bonus is you read books you never would have picked out,  and you learn so many  interesting,  knowledgeable  facts. Like, did you know that there’s a correct way for the toilet paper roll to be installed on the  roller? Yes, we learned that at Tuesday Night Book Group. 

When we meet this January we’ll  discuss any Christmas book you read over the holidays. 

February 8th: Maverick, a biography of Thomas Sowell by Jason Riley

March 8th Fuzz: When Nature Breaks The Law by Mary Roach

April 12th, Lost Girls : An Unsolved American Mystery by Robert Kolker

Come check us out and share the love of reading.

~DeniseCampbell Johnson 

Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC)

The CLSC was started in 1878 and is America’s oldest continuous book club.  It was founded in order to provide people who could not afford the time or money to attend college the opportunity of acquiring the skills and essential knowledge of a college education.  Every year, the Chautauqua Institution selects must-read books that broaden our knowledge of current topics and expand our intellectual curiosity.   

We, the members of the Chautauqua Book Club at the Dover Library, do our best to honor the institution’s mission.  We meet from noon to 1:00 PM in the community room at the library on the last Thursday of every month. 

Join us on February 24 when we will discuss The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich.  This novel is the story of a network of people who are connected to the Turtle Mountain reservation in North Dakota in 1953, when the Chippewa are fighting for the survival of their tribe.  Thomas Wazhashk, the night watchman at the Jewel Bearing Plant and tribal chairman, gathers the elders together to tell them about a new bill in Congress that would terminate federal recognition of all Indian tribes, thereby ending all government services and forcing tribes to relocate to new lands.  He is successful at organizing a delegation that travels to Washington, D.C. to protest the bill.  

In addition to Thomas, the  author introduces us to other members of Turtle Mountain:  19-year-old Patrice “Pixie” Paranteau who supports her family with the wages she earns at the plant;  her older sister Vera who left the reservation and later found her way back to tribal life; Lloyd Barnes, a non-native teacher at the school who runs a boxing club for the students; the star boxer named Everett “Wood Mountain” Blue. The author shows the interconnectedness of these people and their need for each other.  

We’d love to have you join us at noon on Thursday, February 24 to explore this moment in the history of our nation.  Feel free to bring your lunch.  If you have questions, please contact Sherrel at the library at 330-343-6123 or at srieger@doverlibrary.org.

Happy New Year readers!  A fresh start is upon us in so many ways. I encourage you to consider making The 100 Book Club Reading Challenge a goal for 2022.  In its ninth year, this annual community reading program challenges the community to read 100 books over the course of the new year.  Stop by the library to pick up a reading log.  The 100 Book Club is a great way to start the year off right. Here are the details:

• Membership is open to readers 6 & up.
• Members must read or listen to the title themselves.
• Only titles completed before December 31, 2022 will count. 
• Each title can only be counted once per calendar year.
• All formats of books count.
• Magazines and comic books do not count.
• Picture books do not count for patrons over age 10.
• Turn in completed reading log by January 6, 2023.
• Patrons who complete the challenge will receive a special 100 Book Club t-shirt, a membership card, and invitation to the recognition reception.

Let’s get reading!

Jim Gill

Director

Dover Public Library