55 Words

We’re pleased to announce that ’55 Words – stories by Derbyshire residents’ is now available for loan as an ebook on Borrowbox here.

In October 2022 we launched a short story writing competition which was open to all adults aged 18 and over living in Derbyshire.The theme was ‘Derbyshire’ and authors could submit stories of up to 55 words in whatever style they wished.

This collection of eligible entries showcases the wonderful local talent that we have in the county.

World Book Day - Thursday 2 March 2023

Promoting reading for pleasure for children and young people is the mission of this special day. Why not visit your local library during March and borrow some of the fantastic children's books in stock? Or download books to listen to from our eaudio suppliers, here, all for free! 

To find a regular story and rhyme time activity, for under 5's in our libraries, check here.

To find out more about World Book Day, and to find fun reading activities, visit the official website here.

Activities for children

Chesterfield Library - Slime Lab

Saturday 11th March - 10 am to 12 pm

For children 5+ (parental supervision please). Free, drop in event. For further information call 01629 533400 Chesterfield Library

Etwall Library - Springtime Children's Craft/Stories

Wednesday 15 March - 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.

For under 5's plus parent/carer. Free, drop in event.
For further information call 01629 532633 Etwall Library

Alfreton Library - Crafty Club

Saturday 25th March - 10:30 am to 11:15 am

Free drop in event, for families.
For further information call 01629 531481 Alfreton Library

Board Game Clubs

Belper Library

Drop in to play a selection of modern board games at Belper Library, suitable for teens and older, on:

Tuesday 14th March - 4pm to 7pm

This is a free event and there's no need to book! We've recently played Ticket to Ride: Europe, Forbidden Island, Between Two Cities, The Mind, and many more, so why not come along to see what we've got lined up next?

For further information call 01629 533192 Belper Library 

Alfreton Library

Drop in to play a selection of board games, card games and puzzles as a family, free of charge, or make new friends to play with! Choose a game, find a space to sit and play as a family or with friends.

Saturday 4th March, and continuing one Saturday per month, 10am-12pm.

Suitable for all the family, parents required to stay with children. For more information call 01629 531481 Alfreton Library

Robinson & Sons Ltd -

Local History Talk by Mr John Robinson and Coffee Morning at Chesterfield Library

Thursday 30 March 10 am - 11:30 am

10 am - Talk by Mr J  Robinson

Then join us for tea and biscuits, bring along your memories of Robinsons and look at photos and materials from our archive.

For further information call 01629 533444 Chesterfield Library

eMagazines & eNewspapers on PressReader 

Derbyshire Record Office

Buffalo Bill in Derbyshire!

Did you know that the famous Buffalo Bill brought his Wild West Show to Derbyshire? Find out on our blog what happened when cowboys, stagecoaches, horses, and a large group of Native Americans descended on Derbyshire in 1903.

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for more fascinating stories about Derbyshire’s history.

Poster advertising Buffalo Bill's show

Buxton Museum & Art Gallery

Showcasing the rich history of lead, lime and coal in Derbyshire

Derbyshire’s long relationship with mining and quarrying is explored in a new exhibition at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery.

The exhibition explores how thousands of people living in the Buxton area have throughout time worked as miners or quarry men, getting and transporting stone, and contributing to changing the landscape completely.

Paintings, photographs and artefacts, which are kept at the Derbyshire County Council-run museum in Terrace Road, will go on show in the exhibition entitled ‘Lead, Lime, Coal’.

Visitors will be able to step back in time, discover the workers’ memories of the industries and consider what working in these industries was like then, compared with now.

Councillor Barry Lewis, Derbyshire County Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Leadership, Culture, Tourism and Climate Change, said: “Derbyshire has a proud industrial history that has shaped our landscape and our people, from Roman times to the present day. This fascinating exhibition gives us a glimpse into that history – and a voice to the people who made it all happen.”

Lead, Lime, Coal is open at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery from Saturday 18 February until Wednesday 7 June. Admission to all parts of the museum is free.

Please check opening hours here.

Ring 01629 533540 or email buxton.museum@derbyshire.gov.uk for more information.

Greaves Croft Mine

Adult Community Education - 

Multiply your maths skills

Multiply - Become friends with numbers

Have you got involved in Multiply yet? Multiply is open to anyone living in Derbyshire aged 19 or over. Multiply can help you to improve your maths skills to help with budgeting, homework and job opportunities.

Get rewarded for upgrading your maths skills!

You can now do an activity in your own time and get rewarded with a £20 Love2Shop voucher! This activity is open to people who haven’t already participated in the Facebook version.

To take part:

1. Visit 20 for 20 Nearpod edition
2. Complete this Multiply registration form.
3. Once you’ve completed 20 activities, email multiply@derbyshire.gov.uk, and we can arrange for you to collect your voucher from your local adult community education centre. 

The Multiply 20 for 20 terms and conditions are available at derbyshire.gov.uk/multiply

Multiply is available to you if you’re aged 19+ and do not already have a GCSE at grade C (or equivalent) in maths. There will be courses and initiatives for beginners and those who want to build on the foundations of their maths knowledge – to more advanced offers such as GCSE Maths, Level 2 Functional Skills qualification, or equivalent. With online tutorials and content also available, you can learn at a pace and time that suits you. Ask for details of what is coming up in your local adult education centre.

Sign up to receive the Multiply Derbyshire email newsletter 

Multi-Use Titles

Every month we get a new selection of titles on our BorrowBox app of both eBooks and eAudiobooks that can be taken out by multiple users at one time. These stay multi-use for 60 days, so if you have a book club and you're looking for your next title then one of these could be your next choice! 

You can find these titles on the main BorrowBox page, identified as a collection with 'No Waiting!' or 'Available Now!'

Titles available from March are:

In eBook and eAudiobook format:

• Small Things Like These: Claire Keegan
• Breakfast with Einstein: Chad Orzel
• Missionaries: Phil Klay

In eBook format:

• Crying in H Mart: Michelle Zauner

In eAudiobook only:

• The Wishing Chair: Enid Blyton
• Hag-seed: Margaret Atwood
• The Women of Rothschild: Natalie Livingstone

New Adult Fiction Books Coming in March

We’ve chosen to highlight three books published in March for you to enjoy. You can reserve them via our online catalogue.

The Institution by Helen Fields

“They're locked up for your safety. Now, you're locked in with them. Dr Connie Woolwine has five days to catch a killer. The forensic profiler is renowned for her ability to get inside the mind of a murderer. Now, she must go deep undercover among the most deranged and dangerous men on earth and use her unique skills to find a girl - before it's too late. But as the walls close in around her, can Connie get the killer before The Institution gets her?”

The Mother by T. M. Logan

“A woman attends a funeral, standing in the shadows and watching in agony as her sons grieve. But she is unable to comfort them - or reveal her secret. A decade earlier, Heather gets her children ready for bed and awaits the return of her husband Liam, little realising that this is the last night they will spend together as a family. Because tomorrow she will be accused of Liam's murder. Ten years ago, Heather lost everything. Now she will stop at nothing to clear her name - and to get her children back.”

Cuddy by Benjamin Myers

“Travelling through the wilderness, a young woman has visions of a cathedral on a hill. The downtrodden wife of an archer seeks the truth in stone walls, in meadows full of garlic flowers. A group of soldiers sit out their last hours before their death under a vaulted ceiling. The professor receives unwelcome night-time visitors. A young man bids his dying mother goodbye and sets off on his first day of work as a labourer. From these seeds of historical truth and strange mythology, Benjamin Myers spins an unforgettable story of love and loss that breaks free of realism, entering a thrilling space both hilarious and terrifying.”

Or try one of these top titles:

The Close by Jane Casey

I will Find you by Harlan Coben

The Favour by Nicci French

A Secret Garden Affair by Erica James

Pure Evil by Linda La Plante

Cold Blooded Liar by Karen Rose

Worthy Opponents by Danielle Steele

The Shadows of London by Andrew Taylor

This Month We Recommend You Read...

One of our favourite things to do is recommend amazing books to you! This month we recommend you check out these titles:

Pages & Co: The Treehouse Library - Anna James

With his uncle Horatio trapped in an enchanted sleep, Milo Bolt is now the Driver of the Quip - a train that can travel anywhere you can imagine. As the Alchemist goes to greater and greater lengths to take control of all of bookwandering, Milo leaves Tilly at Pages & Co. and heads off with new friend Alessia to try and save them all. Their journey takes them to the magical treehouse home of the Botanist, the arch-rival of the Alchemist and an expert in imagination. The search for a cure for Horatio leads them to stories more strange and dangerous than they've been to before, from the walls of the Secret Garden to facing off against the Jabberwocky. Meanwhile the Alchemist will stop at nothing to find the book that holds all the secrets of bookwandering, and the key to opening it. The children find themselves in a desperate race against time as the entire world of imagination is under threat.

Stateless - Elizabeth Wein

It is 1937 and tensions are high. A spectacular air race around Europe seeks to promote unity among a group of young pilots, but distrust and animosity are rife. The British and sole female contestant, Stella North, is determined to prove not only her skill, but also her identity as her Nansen passport declares her 'stateless'. However, barely a few hours in, Stella is witness to a horrifying attack when a contestant's plane is forced out of the air and crashes. Was this the work of another competitor desperate to win? Was the attack random or premeditated and, most importantly, will it happen again? With the competition heating up and the death ruled an accident, Stella is left to form her own investigation. Can she find allies among her fellow competitors or will suspicion and deceit bring them all down?

The Frozen Worlds: The Astonishing Nature of the Arctic and Antarctic - Jason Bittel (Author) & Claire McElfatrick (Illustrator)

Ice, polar bears, and penguins glide across the pages of this colourful book, which combines gorgeous illustrations and photos to help young enthusiasts learn all about the Arctic and Antarctic. From icy rivers to Antarctic volcanoes, they'll discover the incredible secret life of Earth's polar regions. They'll also find out how they can help take care of the Arctic and Antarctic themselves. A multitude of polar life is included, plus amazing facts on how icebergs are formed, how animals survive in the freezing cold, and how scientists study the Antarctic.

Order your copies of these fantastic books on our online catalogue.

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