The Lineup : Ashley

Ashley’s Lineup

TV show/streaming: Community

On my recent trip to Seattle my cousin had Community playing and I became immediately obsessed with it. It is a group of misfits who form a study group at a community college and it centers around their antics and interactions with each other. It first aired back in 2009 so I am way behind the times on this one but it also means I can binge all the seasons right now! It is quirky and laugh out loud funny with a stellar cast.

Shopping: Old Town Farmers Market

It’s farmers market season! I love wandering around the Old Town Farmers Market in Wichita. There are all sorts of things available including baked goods, arts & crafts, dog treats and a few vegetables (it is a bit early for much). I have been taking my dog, Dudley, who gets very excited to try all the treats on offer. He gets all the admiring oohs and aahs. I have loved trying some of the foods on offer such as Polka Pierogi who has a weekly offering and usually sells out quickly. I am hoping to try one of the other food vendors this weekend and continue exploring all the market has to offer. If you get a chance visit the market in Old Town and find some goodies to take home with you!

Podcast: After Dark : Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

I absolutely love this podcast! The two hosts, Maddy Pelling and Anthony Delaney, are both historians of the eighteenth century but the expand their research for the show to all time periods. Their chemistry and banter on the show is perfect. They do such a great job of telling the stories or talking with experts about the topic of the episode. They have covered everything from hauntings, UFOs, the last days of historic figures and serial killers. I have learned so much from them which has led me to read or learn more. I currently have Maddy’s book from interlibrary loan and cannot wait to start it this weekend!

Genre: True crime

In the last several months I have been in my true crime era. I watch all the new documentaries on Netflix. I place holds on the upcoming historical true crime books. I don’t know what it is about the genre that has recently pulled me in and completely engrosses my attention. My most recent read was The Peepshow : The Murders at Rillington Place by Kate Summerscale. It details the crimes, trial and aftermath of the serial killings of Reg Christie in 1950s London. The book was a fascinating look into a sensational case of a serial killer who had possibly slipped under the radar for years. If you love true crime then I’d highly recommend this one. I am now anxiously awaiting my ILL of the mini-series based on the Rillington murders to arrive.

Hobby: Cross stitching

For years I have been working on a cross stitch of Beauty and the Beast in the style of Thomas Kinkade. I am getting near the end of it and excited to see it completed and framed. This is the most intricate project I have worked on and it will be very rewarding to finally finish it. Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie and this will be a perfect addition to my home library decor. I have several other kits or projects lined up after this one which I cannot wait to get started on.

Resource of the Month: NoveList Plus

Most bibliophiles have long TBR (to-be-read) lists. Stacks of books on the bedside table and over-full bookshelves. And yet, we still often ask the age-old question: what should I read next?

At the library, we call the service that answers this question “readers advisory.” Our staff is ready to help you find your next read. Most of the library staff are prolific readers and can make recommendations from our personal reading history, but we are also knowledge in searching the KanShare catalog and utilizes other resources to help patrons find the right book to fit their reading preferences.

One of those resources in called NoveList Plus, and patrons can access it through our website and use it on their own!

On NoveList, patrons can browse curated lists of trending titles, popular genres, and award winners. A favorite feature is the read-alike search for both individual titles and series. If you liked Hunger Games, NoveList will give you a list of other dystopian series you might enjoy.

If you find a book you are interested in, read reviews from Library Journal and click the “Check the Library Catalog” link to put the book on hold with your library card.

NoveList Plus will receive an update on June 16th with even more features and ways to search for titles. Check out NoveList Plus today and find your next read!

What’s Ashley Reading?: Kill Your Darlings

Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson

First line: The first attempt at killing her husband was the night of the dinner party.

Summary: Thom and Wendy have been married for years and the whole time they have had a secret that has bound them together. But now Wendy is sure that she is ready to make sure that Thom will never reveal this secret, which means she needs to kill him. Everything leading the Wendy’s decision is evident from their past. Told in reverse the story hits on major life events going all the way back to their secret and the childhood that brought them together. Sometimes only two people can keep a secret if one of them is dead.

My Thoughts: Of all the Peter Swanson books, this was probably my least favorite. I loved the premise which several authors have used recently. Sometimes it works and other times not as much. At the beginning I was really interested in how it would work out. However, I felt that much of it dragged on and on. I did not like any of the characters. They all had major flaws and we see where it came from as the story progressed. Even the ending felt rather blah. There was a bit of information that ties back to the beginning and shows what consequences may be coming for our characters. This slow burn was interesting but Swanson’s other books have been much more engaging for me.

FYI: Release date is June 10, 2025.

Take a Listen: May 2025

Welcome to our monthly series, where we explore the music tastes of our staff.

I love it because the lyrics feel so mythological and mermaid-like while the beat makes you want to dance. It’s an uplifting song and one that’s great to jam out to in the car.

~Alyssa

His voice is smooth like butter.

~Dawn S.

I enjoy this song because it is light hearted, lifting my spirits and grounding me to the present moment. It’s like a mini vacation for my mind.

~Tabbitha

It’s been final paper, after final paper, after final paper for me recently so I have been listening to a lot of classical music while I study. My favorite at the moment is Camille Saint-Saens, “Le Carnaval des animaux” in particular I love The Swan but all 14 movements are beautiful.

~Maycie

Maycie & I listen to this almost every Saturday. Going through the motions of the album is moving.

~Megan

It’s always been my favorite, it takes you back to the good old days, when life was so good.

~Kristy H.

I had to pick one off of Ghost’s new album. I have been a fan for years. I like the sound of this whole album, it feels nostalgic and new all at the same time. As always with Ghost, the lyrics say more than you get with just one listen.

~Shane

Stevie Nicks just has a way of singing directly to the soul. Her passion in the live version is so intense and captivating, it’s a hard song to not enjoy.

~Emily B.

Happy listening!

What’s Ashley Reading?: The Love Haters

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

First line: It was quitting time on a Friday, but Cole Hutcheson didn’t care.

Summary: Katie Vaughn has had a turbulent love life recently and her career may be the next thing to implode. Her supervisor has recommended her for a promotional video about the Coast Guard starring none other than Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, who also happens to be her boss’s brother. Rather than expose the fact that she cannot swim she takes the job and decides she will tackle that speed bump when she arrives in Key West. However, upon her arrival in paradise things become messier than expected as Hutch happens to be the best looking man she’s ever seen and the chaos around the job brings them closer together.

My Thoughts: Katherine Center is definitely becoming one of my highly anticipated new release authors. This is my third book by her and I have enjoyed all of them. Her writing is witty but also it gives the characters flaws which makes them endearing. In her newest story, Katie struggles with image and self-worth issues that I believe many readers, especially women, will identify with. It can be a difficult topic to discuss but she did a great job with it. I really enjoyed seeing Katie grow through the story and accept herself for who she is.

In addition to Katie there are many other characters to love but I definitely was a huge fan of the Great Dane, George Bailey. He barrels into the book, literally, and steals the reader’s heart. I can easily picture this lovable dog who just doesn’t understand how big he truly is. I also loved Rue, Hutch’s aunt and Katie’s landlord in Key West. She is larger than life and has a personality that brings Katie out of her shell and adds some color to her life. In all I found the book to be an enjoyable read and perfect for summer and a cold drink by the pool or on the beach.

The Blog Wants to Know: May 2025

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and with the end-of-school year and summer stress looming, it’s a great time to chat about managing stress.

What are some tips, tricks, methods, and resources you use to de-stress? How do you take care of your mental health and what have you found that works for you?  

Maycie, Public Support Services: Quiet time is so important! I recommend a dark quiet room for when you have sensory overload. Don’t overestimate what laying on the floor for a minute can do for your mental well-being. You have to remember to give your brain, your ears and your eyes all a break together during the day and just when you’re sleeping.

Also adopt a cat (or two) … they help a lot.

Maycie’s kitties, Barrett and Chopin

Kathy, Public Support Services: My biggest joy is actually reading so I end my day reading for about 30 minutes.  I let the book take me away from everything else and then I am ready to go to sleep.

Emily B., Public Support Services: Anxiety is always something I have struggled with, and while journaling is easy, it’s hard for me to be consistent. I found an app called How We Feel and I cannot recommend it enough! It helps you dissect your feelings and helps you get to the source of your problem. It also has several other techniques to help de-stress and manage negative thoughts. It’s entirely free too!

Shane, Public Support Services: As a college student, I often have overlapping deadlines and workloads with each class having its own structure. This semester was a unique challenge with two accelerated courses and two regular courses (and I will be doing the same thing for the summer semester).

To manage my stress, I plan out my time using a day planner (I use the Happy Planner weekly layout) and I color code each class. I write down my work schedule, due dates, appointments, social obligations, etc. and plan out when I will work on assignments. If I have a large assignment, I find breaking it up into little chunks much easier than trying to deal with the whole assignment. That way, “I have to write a 10 page paper by this date” becomes “I have to write the four paragraphs of my paper today.” Also, it always helps to plan a break day to let my mind rest and recover and enjoy myself so I can be more productive the next day. It’s important to enjoy yourself even when you’re busy!

Megan, Outreach Coordinator: How I de-stress is by putting in ear buds, playing some Kendrick Lamar and artists similar, and deep clean/organize my space. 

Alyssa, Adult and Teen Services Coordinator: When I’m stressed, either I need to move my body or I need to be a quiet, lazy blob . For movement, going for a walk, practicing yoga, or even just putting on some music and dancing around the house can really help. I often watch SarahBethYoga videos if I want to follow an instructor or a guided meditation. I do also love boxing or HIIT workouts like this one just to get all of that built-up cortisol and adrenaline out. And for peak blob-form, I’ll get in this shark onesie, turn on a comfort show, and turn off my phone!

Shelia, Interlibrary Loan and Cataloguing: My go-to for stress relief is usually being out in the sun and/or spending time with our various pets. My husband and I recently purchased bikes and getting out and riding always puts a smile on my face and makes me feel better.

Trinity, Page: When I’m stressed, I spend time with my dog. She’s a cuddlebug and I can’t say no to her puppy eyes! 

Hannah, Assistant Director: I wear an Oura ring to monitor my biometrics, and I’ve been using the Finch app for the last month to prioritize my mental health and my productivity. I’m a big fan of meditation as well. I’ve used almost all the apps…Headspace, Calm, Mindllama, and the Mindfulness app on my Apple Watch.

Dawn, Youth Services Coordinator: For de-stressing I tend to talk to friends and listen to music. Going to a movie or streaming something also helps me de-stress. I try to make lists so I don’t overwhelm myself both at home and work. It’s so gratifying to cross off things on a list once I get them accomplished. 

Now it’s your turn! What works for you when you’re dealing with stress? Let us know in the blog comments below!

Resource of the Month: America’s News

When I was a small child, I often had sleepovers at my grandparents’ house on the weekends. Every time, I looked forward to Sunday mornings, curled up on the couch with my grandpa, his coffee, and the Sunday newspaper. He’d usually grab the sports section first and pass the funnies to me.

Today in the year 2025, this activity can continue. However, it might look a little different, since most of us read our news on our phones or tablets. Thanks to the online database America’s News, available with your Derby Public Library card, families can still read the Sunday paper together, just on your iPad or other tablet.

Through America’s News, library patrons can read full color digital versions of the Wichita Eagle from 2018 to today. Articles from the Eagle are searchable from 1984 to today. Additional content is also available from the Topeka Capital-Journal and the Kansas City Star.

To access America’s News, click on the Research & Learn tab on the library’s website using the internet browser on your computer, tablet, or phone. If you are accessing from home, enter your library card number when prompted.

What’s Ashley Reading?: The Hunger Games trilogy

The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

First line: When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold.

Summary: Ever since the rebellion against the Capitol, the districts are forced yearly send one boy and one girl to fight to the death in the Hunger Games.  For decades the districts have complied and submitted to the games but tensions are rising among the populace.  Katniss Everdeen volunteers in place of her sister in the games and slowly wins the hearts of the Capitol residents and the districts.  As she fights to survive the arena it appears that a fire may be catching throughout Panem. 

<b>My Thoughts:</b> It has been years since I read The Hunger Games trilogy but after reading the latest installment, Sunrise on the Reaping, I decided it was a perfect time to revisit the original stories.  As I went through each book and movie I noticed things that Collins built upon.  Now that I was able to connect more with Haymitch and his story it gives a deeper look at his motives and personality.  Little details I would never have remembered from my first reading became clearer.  Characters that we know and love are able to seem more real and have deeper backstories.  There were many times where I would smile or gasp as something happens that connects to Haymitch’s story.  Katniss’ story is still as heart wrenching as the first time I read it but it is now richer because of the addition. 

If you recently read the new book, then I would highly recommend re-reading the trilogy.  It gave me a whole new appreciation for the author and her work. 

Bookworm Buffet: A Feast for your Reading Senses

Bookworm Buffet: May 2025

Welcome to Bookworm Buffet! Get ready to feast on three literary delights, each served up in a different format: physical, digital ebook, and audiobook.

May’s Spread –

Physical: Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction, Romance-ish

Summary:
Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: To write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years—or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the 20th Century.

But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room. And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story—just like the tale Margaret’s spinning—could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad…depending on who’s telling it.

Publication: April 22, 2025

My Rating:

eBook: The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult, Science Fiction

Summary:
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Publication: September 14, 2008

My Rating:

Audio: Diavola by Jennifer Marie Thorne

Genre: Gothic, Horror, Paranormal
Read for: Hauntingly Good Reads Book Club

Summary:
Anna has two rules for the annual Pace family destination vacations: Tread lightly and survive.

It isn’t easy when she’s the only one in the family who doesn’t quite fit in. Her twin brother, Benny, goes with the flow so much he’s practically dissolved, and her older sister, Nicole, is so used to everyone—including her blandly docile husband and two kids—falling in line that Anna often ends up in trouble for simply asking a question. Mom seizes every opportunity to question her life choices, and Dad, when not reminding everyone who paid for this vacation, just wants some peace and quiet.
The gorgeous, remote villa in tiny Monteperso seems like a perfect place to endure so much family togetherness, until things start going off the rails—the strange noises at night, the unsettling warnings from the local villagers, and the dark, violent past of the villa itself.

Publication: March 26, 2024

My Rating:

The Lineup: Alyssa

TV Show: Summer Camp Island

This is one of my all-time favorite comfort shows. Unlike most cartoons (or really most TV Show these days), this show is so gentle and soothing. It follows two best friends, Oscar and Hedgehog, while they’re away at a magical summer camp led by three witches. The show has everything; musical yetis (with one voiced by Elijah Wood), ingenious elves, talking trees, dancing aliens, a shark who’s a licensed therapist, and a friendly moon. It’s pure magic!

Books: The Silmarillion Collector’s Edition

I tackled J.R.R. Tolkien’s world-building behemoth, The Silmarillion, a few years ago, and I’ve always wanted to give it a re-read. While strolling through Barnes and Noble, I found this edition and had to get it! It’s got this beautiful blue hardcover with the Two Trees of Valinor and the three Silmarils perfectly highlighted. The inside is fairly straightforward with a colorful map and decently-sized text, but the spine is flexible enough to lay flat which is perfect for all the note-taking I plan on doing. It’s even got a built-in bookmark. I feel like a Tolkien scholar walking around with this!

Coffee: NesCafe Gold Espresso Instant Coffee

I’m a coffee fiend. Whether hot or cold, flavored or unflavored, I’m into all the robust dark-roasted coffees. For the past few years I’ve been making pour-over coffee each morning which, while effective, does take a little time and clean-up. As I approach the hectic summer season, I was looking for something quicker and stronger. I found this NesCafe Gold on YouTube Shorts and O. M. G. it’s amazing! Just two teaspoons, some boiling water, and you have dark, rich, espresso-like coffee that even has a lovely crema on top. Perfect for iced lattes or my fave almond milk lattes. It is on the pricey side, but it lasts a while and it’s way cheaper than hitting up the drive-thru line.

Hobbies: Cat Full of Spiders Tarot Deck

In preparation for a trip to Planet Comicon in Kansas City where I planned on meeting the incredible Christina Ricci, I purchased her tarot deck, Cat Full of Spiders. I’ve always had a love of tarot, and this deck is so fun! It highlights a lot of her movies, but in subtle, secretive ways. I’ve done some deep digging into each of the cards to find all the meanings and references. And meeting Christina was so awesome!!

Streaming: Dropout

I stumbled on Dropout from seeing random YouTube shorts and thought I’d try the full subscription. Their content is amazing! It’s hilarious and random, but also really thoughtful at times and such a great company. I love shows like Game Changer and Make Some Noise which both have a “Whose Line Is It Anyway” improv vibe. The Dimension 20 series is also great, especially the season called “Burrow’s End.” Highly recommend giving Dropout a try, even just for a month. It’s worth the money!