World Book Day - Thursday 6th March 2025

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.

Adult Events in March

Come along to a variety of events and information for adults in libraries:

Every Monday - Clowne Library - Craft and chatter - any crafts drop in - 2pm-4pm - 01629 537248

Until 25th March - Hayfield Library - Display of art work for Hayfield Underpass Project - a collection of resources for people to comment on the new tiled mural for the Hayfield Underpass Project during library opening hours - 01629 533438

Tuesday 11th March - Ashbourne Library - From Policeman to Crime Writer - talk by local author, Neil Hallam - 2:30pm-3:30pm - Please book - 01629 533950

Tuesday 11th March - Heanor Library - Citizens Advice - Advice for over 65s - 10am-12pm - 01629 533795

Wednesday 12th & Wednesday 26th March - Heanor Library - Craft yourself calm - Fortnightly craft group – a friendly group who meet to chat over a craft activity - 1pm-2pm - 01629 533795

Thursday 20th March - Glossop Library - Autism Society Information Day - 11am-2pm - 01629 531199

Saturday 22nd March - Ashbourne Library - Time Swap - monthly get together for local time swap volunteers - 10am-12pm - 01629 533950

Tuesday 25th March - Belper Library - Board Game Club - our board game club is fun and welcoming to all ages. We have a range of classic and modern board games for you to try, and support from our volunteer to get you started - 4pm-7pm - 01629 533192

All events are free drop-ins unless otherwise stated. Please ring the phone number provided for more information.

March Activities for Families

Regular activities for children can be found on our website. You can also look out for the following:

Saturday 1st March - Belper Library - Family Craft drop in session - try a selection of fun, simple crafts suitable for children aged four and over - 10am-3pm - 01629 533192

Tuesday 4th March - Glossop Library - special Police Themed Storytime, led by local police, followed by a look round a police car - 10:30am-11:00am - 01629 531199

Saturday 15th March - Heanor Library - Spring Themed Crafts suitable for all ages - 10:30am-12:30pm - 01629 533795

All events are free drop-ins unless otherwise stated. Please ring the phone number provided for more information.

Optician visits to libraries - information on sight and hearing

The M&S Opticians team will be visiting some libraries during March. Come along to the free drop in sessions:

• Wednesday March 5th and 12th - Etwall Library - 10:15am-12:15pm - Tel 01629 532633
• Tuesday March 11th - Swadlincote Library - 10am-12pm - Tel 01629 533013
• Tuesday March 18th and Friday 21st March - Ilkeston Library - 10am-12pm - Tel 01629 533275
• Wednesday March 19th and 26th - Borrowash Library - 10am-1pm - Tel 01629 533448
• Thursday 20^th March, Monday 24th and Friday 28th March - Sandiacre Library - 10am-12pm - Tel 01629 533359

The Opticians team will give out information on sight and hearing tests, answer any questions and concerns about customers eye and ear care, and offer free hearing screenings throughout the day. To find out more look here or Tel opticians 01332 947603

Further Health and Wellbeing Events

Thursday 6th March - (and first Thursday of every month) - Dronfield Library - Dronfield Breastfeeding Support Group - free support and drop in session - 10:30-11:30am - hosted by Grace an infant feeding coach - 07875747897

Tuesday 11th March - Heanor Library - Live Life Better Health Checks - Health checks including blood pressure checks -10am-12pm - further information here - 01629 533795

Thursday 13th March - Hayfield Library - Blood Pressure checking service - Blood Pressure checks for adults aged between 40-74 - 11am-1pm - 01629 533438

Friday 14th March - Borrowash Library - Live Life Better Derbyshire Wellbeing Walk In Session - Blood pressure checks, stop smoking support, weight management and other health advice - 10am-12:30pm - 01629 533448

All health and wellbeing events are free drop-ins. Please ring the number provided for more information.

Dronfield's Remarkable Women

International Women’s Day Exhibition commemorating the lives of four Dronfield women

In partnership with Dronfield Heritage Trust

At Dronfield Library, 3^rd March – 15^th March

For further information Tel Dronfield Library 01629 533450

The Carnegies 

What an amazing longlist for The Carnegies 2025! The Carnegies celebrate outstanding reading experiences in books for children and young people. Huge congratulations to the authors and illustrators recognised by the judges for their incredible work. Find out more here.

Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football Game

Just a reminder that Ashbourne Library will close at 12 noon on Tuesday 4th March & Wednesday 5th March.

For further information on the Shrovetide Football, look here.

Multi Use titles 

Every month we get a new selection of titles on our FREE 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 & Eaudio:

• The Women - Kristin Hannah
• A History of Women in 101 Objects - Annabelle Hirsch
• The Dream Home - T.M. Logan
• Rules for Perfect Murders - Peter Swanson

In eAudiobook only:

• Good Material - Dolly Alderton

New Adult Books

We’ve chosen to highlight three books published recently for you to enjoy. 

The Last Days of Kira Mullan - Nicci French

She thinks it was murder. But if she can’t trust herself, can anyone else? 

Nancy is the only one convinced that there’s more to Kira’s death than has been discovered. But all the police and the neighbours see is a vulnerable woman who isn’t sure of what she saw, and might even be imagining things . . .  

And He Shall Appear - Kate van der Borgh

When a young man arrives in Cambridge as a first-year student, he finds himself an outsider. Then he falls under the spell of Bryn Cavendish. A notorious party boy and skilled magician, Bryn is magnetic.

As the academic year intensifies and Bryn’s magic tricks become more sinister, one question lingers. Is Bryn’s charisma the source of his influence or does he wield a much darker and more dangerous power?

How to Sleep at Night - Elizabeth Harris

Shared bed. Different dreams... Meet Ethan and Gabe: a devoted couple with an adorable daughter and a house in the suburbs. They may have drifted to different ends of the political spectrum, but their marriage still has its spark.

Children's Book Recommendations

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

Katherine Johnson - Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Jemma Skidmore (illustrator)

The latest from the brilliant Little People, Big Dreams series.

Learn about the incredible story of Katherine Johnson! The trailblazer whose calculations changed the future of space exploration.

One in a million - Smriti Halls and Nila Aye (Illustrator)

Debra the zebra is delighted to find she can count anything and everything… but disaster strikes when Debra realises how big the world is – and just how small she is in it. Luckily, her wise Mama is there to remind Debra that in a world of hundreds, thousands – even millions – sometimes it’s just ONE little zebra, that counts most of all.

The nightmares of Finnegan Quick - Larry Hayes

Finnegan Quick is haunted by nightmares. They're so bad, he's terrified of going to sleep. Because Finn's dreams change the waking world too. He's already lost his mum, his dad, his dog, even his shadow. And now they're coming for his gran, the only family he's got left.