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Countdown to Christmas has begun!
We will wrap all your books for $15! Book-A-Month promo has also begun!
We will wrap those for $15!
The library and our Bookstore will be closed on Thursday Nov 27th!
Aaron Reynolds (Jasper Rabbit's Creepy Tales) will be here Saturday Nov 15 and our shop will be open from 9:30 to 12:30

24 Books for Christmas!
Start a new tradition this year! Forget that elf and do a countdown to Christmas. More fun reading with your kids and not having to worry about what that elf is doing! We are all set up for Christmas. Come pick out 24 books for your kids (they do not have to be all Christmas books). Most books are .50 or $1. Then give them to us and for $15 we will wrap them up for you. Each night pick a new book to unwrap and read. Open Monday & Tuesday 10:30-2:30 and Thursday 3-6:30.
200 New Paperbacks!
HUGE shout out to the people who donated over 200 NEW paperbacks! Thank you SO much! Included in the recent donation are Bridgerton and Longmire books! Also Colleen Hoover, Christine Feehan (romance section) and sets from Ellen Dugan plus many more! Come shop with us
Annual FOL Membership Application 2025 FOL Membership Form Membership forms with payment may be mailed to "Friends of the Library, 130 N. Franklin St., Decatur, IL 62523" or brought into our Books & Beyond bookstore during business hours as listed in the letter.
FOL Phone Number - We do have an extension number you can use to notify us. Call the library at 217-424-2900 ex 6133. Leave a message and someone will return your call as soon as possible.
Book Donations and Dropoffs - Reminder: we are still accepting donations of used books. There is a cart located outside the main library entrance where donations can be left. All genres are needed. This is one of our main routes of fundraising. Thank you again for supporting your community by supporting Friends of the Library! - Also on second saturdays we will have someone to help you unload your book donations outside at the main door from 9:30 to 1:00. Clean books only please.
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Book: The Dark Maestro Author: Brendan Sclocumb
Presenter: Susan Danco
About the book - Curtis Wilson is a cello prodigy, growing up in the Southeast D.C. projects with a drug dealer for a father. But through determination and talent, and the loving support of his father’s girlfriend, Larissa, Curtis claws his way out of his challenging circumstances and rises to unimagined heights in the classical music world—even soloing with the New York Philharmonic.
And then, suddenly, his life disintegrates. His father, Zippy, turns state’s evidence, implicating his old bosses. Now the family—Curtis included—must enter the witness protection program if they want to survive.
A propulsive and moving story about sacrifice, loyalty, and the indomitable human spirit, The Dark Maestro is Brendan Slocumb at the height of his powers.
About the author Brendan Nicholaus Slocumb was born in Yuba City, California and was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a degree in music education, concentrations on Violin and Viola. As a musician, Brendan has performed on violin with the Washington Metropolitan Symphony, the McLean Symphony, the Prince George's Philharmonic, and the Alexandria Symphony.
In his spare time, Brendan enjoys writing, exercising, collecting comic books and action figures, and performing with his rock band, Geppetto's Wüd.
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Any spicy romance readers out there? We have a lot of Samantha Chase located on Booktok shelves. Also a few more in the romance section. Biography section and general non-fiction was completely restocked today! Out with the old and in with the new! Open Thursday 3-6:30 and Saturday 9:30-12:30. We will be closed Monday as the library will be closed that day. If you have books on the hold shelf-please come pick them up!
FOL booksales are at the library 3 to 4 days a week at the new Friends area on the lower level of the library. Open every Monday from 10:30am - 2:30pm, Tuesdays from 10:30am - 2:30pm, Thursdays from 3pm - 6:30pm. And second and fourth Saturdays sales are from 9:30am - 12:30pm.