Easter Opening Hours

We hope to see all of you at your local library over the Easter holidays!

This is just to confirm that we are closed on Friday 3rd and Monday 6th April. Click here to see our opening times.

April Activities for Families & Children:

We have lots of events planned for April for families and children in our libraries. To keep up to date with the latest events as we add them be sure to keep an eye on our website's 'What's On' page. You can narrow down to search for Children's events at particular libraries. Some of our events for families and children this month include:

• Thursday 2nd April - Buxton Library - Snap Circuits - discover our exciting STEM activity making simple electrical circuits - 10am-12pm - BOOKING REQUIRED - Ring 01629 533460 for more information
• Friday 10th April - Ilkeston Library - Warlocks & Words - fantasy and board game session for ages 12 and above - 11am-1.30pm - ring 01629 533275 for more information
• Tuesdays 14th, 21st & 28th April - Ashbourne Library - Young Writers' Workshop - three-week writing workshop aimed at 11-14 year olds with author Abbie Eaton - 3.30-5pm - BOOKING required - Ring 01629 533950 for more information
• Wednesday 22nd April - Shirebrook Library - Sensory Room Launch - join us for the launch of our exciting new sensory space, with music from Brightside Music - 2-5pm - ring 01629 537960 for more information

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

Adult Events in April

To keep up to date with the latest events as we add them be sure to keep an eye on our website 'What's On' page.

Some of our events for adults this month include:

• Friday 10th April - Clay Cross Library - North East Derbyshire Recycling Roadshow - drop-in to chat about the new food waste recycling bins - 10am-12pm - ring 01629 537084 for more information
• Friday 17th April - Alfreton Library - Spring Felt Decoration Craft Event - join us to make some Spring decorations out of felt, with materials provided, and all abilities welcome - 2.30-4pm - BOOKING REQUIRED - ring 01629 535000 for more information
• Saturday 18th to Saturday 25th April - Belper Library - Garden of Plenty: Colin and Gill's Patch of Derbyshire Paradise Exhibition - photographic celebration of the garden that Colin and Gill Hancock have lovingly nurtured for 50 years, with images from the book by Ashley Franklin - during library opening hours - ring 01629 533192 for more information
• Monday 30th April - Melbourne Library - Derbyshire Dementia Information and Advice Service - drop-in service to discuss any questions you might have for the team, either for yourself or someone you know - 2-4pm - Ring Alice on 07545 094968 for more information

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

Carnegies Shortlists

Discover the 2026 Carnegie shortlists for Illustration and Writing featuring!

The 16 shortlisted books are full of great stories with themes of identity, belonging, and home, as well as striking illustrations, available to borrow through Derbyshire Libraries.

Find out more on The Carnegies website, and order your copies from our online catalogue.

Jhalak Prize 2026

The shortlists for the Jhalak Prize 2026 will be announced on 14th April. First awarded in March 2017, the Jhalak Prize awards seek to celebrate books by writers of colour in the UK and Ireland. There are separate awards for Prose, C&YA, and Poetry, and you can find more about the prize (including the current longlists) here.

Reserve your copies from our online catalogue.

Multi-Use Titles on BorrowBox

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 April are:

In eBook & eAudio

• The Hawk is Dead - Peter James
• Heart the Lover - Lily King
• Wild - Kristin Hannah

In e-Audiobook only

• Pesky Pets and Parties - Tom Gates
• One of Us - Elizabeth Day

In eBook only

• I Am I Can I Will - Gerry Hussy

Buxton Museum and Art Gallery

Buxton Museum and Art Gallery’s Future Takes Shape

Progress is being made on moving Buxton Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG) into its own dedicated temporary building, next to Buxton Library on Kents Bank Road.

The new mini BMAG will be open this Spring. Suggestions about what you would like to see included in the new service are always welcome. You can email: buxton.museum@derbyshire.gov.uk or tel: 01629 533540 or leave a comment on one of BMAG's websites or social media platforms.

For further information, look here.

(Image: The Buxton Museum & Art Gallery Bear)

Libby - No Wait Titles

The Libby app has a wide selection of No Wait Title e-audiobooks, that you can borrow instantly as well as being perfect for reading groups. Here are just a few that are available - please go to the Libby app to explore more great titles:

• A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J Maas
• Becoming - Michelle Obama
• Appointment with Death - Agatha Christie
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - JRR Tolkien
• The Guest List - Lucy Foley
• The Break - Marian Keyes

For help on using our eAudio and eBooks, look here.

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:

Sticky Mildred - Alastair Chisholm (Author) and Rikin Parekh (Illustrator)

Mildred Honeyfur LOVES being sticky and REFUSES to have a bath. She sets off to find the stickiest things in the world – doughnuts, pond slime, toffees and glue – until she becomes a ball of stickiness, rolling through the town sticking to everything … and everyone! Stuck in the ULTIMATE sticky situation, will Mildred ever be stopped?

The Last Wolf - Rob Biddulph

Jax, Jovi, Esau and Fourth live for full-moon adventures – sneaking out after curfew, dodging the Nighthawks and roaming the empty streets of Moonhaven.

But when a rare werewolf attack rocks the town, the friends become prime suspects. With the Nighthawks closing in on anyone who was out after dark, they’re forced to run – setting off a chain of rumours, secrets and betrayals. As suspicion spreads, friendships are tested and the truth may be more dangerous than any of them imagined . . .

Phone Smart - Tom Jackson (Author) and Emans (Illustrator)

Find out how to manage your phone settings and apps, have fun and keep safe. Learn how to take the best photos, play some games, do homework and get creative, as well as know how to control your privacy and avoid or deal with cyberbullying.

Reserve your copies from our online catalogue.

New Adult Books

Here are three new exciting novels and a non-fiction title for you to discover in March! 

Hooked - Asako Yuzuki (Author) and Polly Barton (Translator)

Eriko's life appears perfect – devoted parents, pristine apartment and a high-flying job in the seafood division of one of Japan's largest trading companies. But beneath her flawless surface she is wracked by loneliness.

Eriko becomes fascinated with a popular blog written by a housewife, Shōko. Shōko’s posts about convenience-store food and her messy home are the opposite of the typical manicured housewife. When Eriko tracks Shōko down at her favourite restaurant, Shōko is at first charmed by her new companion. But soon Eriko's obsession with Shōko begins to spiral out of control. How far will she go to hold on to the best friend she’s ever had?

The Quiet Girls - Dorothy Koomson

When MJ Hudson, an old work acquaintance, shows up at Dr Kez Lanyon's house in the middle of the night, Kez knows she has no choice but to help.

At the prestigious boarding school that MJ's daughter attends, a teacher has been killed and a pupil is missing. And it seems that the same thing happens every few years. Only this time, the school haven't been able to cover things up and MJ's daughter and her group of nice, quiet friends are right at the heart of the scandal…

Six Little Words - Sally Page

Can one Note. One Act of kindness. Her new beginning is closer than she thinks. Kate gave up her dreams of being a painter years ago. But six little words pinned to the noticeboard of her local café could change her path forever.

Get Growing: Easy Tips for a Garden Full of Fruit, Veg, Flowers and Wildlife - Joe Clark

Start growing your own fruit, veg and flowers with this feel-good guide to planet-friendly gardening.

Gardening expert and social media sensation Joe Clark of @joesgarden shares his useful and easy-to-follow advice on gardening to bring you joy, save you money and help the planet.

Packed full of practical do-it-yourself tips and instructions,  Get Growing is the perfect book for budding or seasoned nature lovers who want to use their green fingers to make a difference.

Reserve your copies from our online catalogue.