The Books & Beyond Used Book Store will be open from 2-4 p.m. during the Library's Grand Re-opening Celebration today 4/25! Books & Beyond is operated by Friends of the Library board members with unmeasurable assistance from FOL volunteers.
Color Run - Decatur Public Library - Approximately 100 Decatur Public Library supporters paticipated in the Color Run on Saturday. Photo by Donnette Beckett, Decatur Herald and Review.
Did you know we also have puzzles in our store? The puzzle shelf has just been completely restocked! We have over 30 puzzles donated this week! They are in great shape and all popular brands. None priced over $6.
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 - 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 ! Thanks.
Please join us on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 12:15 in the Decatur Public Library’s Madden Auditorium for Books Between Bites. Book: “Second Chances” by J. Terry Shull
About the Book: “Second Chances” is a science fiction novel based on the Einstein-Rosen theory of wormholes. It is a nostalgic journey of five friends and former high school basketball players at Lakeview High School in 1959, which became defunct in 1983. Finding themselves seventeen again, they pursue their dreams of winning the state basketball championship and have planned an amazing strategy (given their lifetime experiences) to accomplish just that. One twist is that they recruit a seven-foot-one inch Watusi exchange student and former players who were living there in 1959 to fill their roster. There is drama, adventure, excitement, humor, anticipation, and misdirection along the way. What man or woman would not like to relive his or her high school years? Shull’s engaging tale will transport readers as they explore just how far these friends are willing to go in order to have a chance to live out their dreams one last time. Expertly paced and character-driven, “Second Chances” is sure to resonate with readers of all backgrounds, inviting them to reflect upon themes of regrets, forgotten dreams, and lifelong friendships. (Page Publishing)
About the Author / Presenter: Decatur native J. Terry Shull is a recent widower and loving father as well as a lifelong athlete and retired teacher and professor of fifty-six years. “Second Chances” was published by Page Publishing and released in January 2025.
Books Between Bites is a free program at the Decatur Public Library,
FOL booksales are at the library 3 to 4 days a week! At the new Friends area on the lower level of the library. Every Monday from 10:30am – 2:30pm, Tuesdays from 10:30am – 2:30pm, Thursdays from 3pm – 6:30pm. And second & fourth Saturdays sales are from 9:30am – 12:30pm.
Book Tok Shelf
We have added more books to the Book Tok shelf. Not all of these books are priced up-if they are not marked they are $1.00 or .50. We have a great selection of blind dates in their permanent home in the bookstore. We are adding children's wrapped books which are titled Story Explorers. Come see us this week Monday & Tuesday 10.30-2:30, Thursday 3-6:30 and Saturday 9:30-12:30.
Thank you so much to the person who donated the huge collection of paperbacks! Check out our BookTok shelves! Fans of Shalini Boland, Shari Lapena, Natalie Barelli and Anna-Lou Weatherley will not be disappointed! Open Saturday 9:30-12:30!