Off the Shelf

Friday, October 30, 2026

November 2026

November is a month full of celebrations; not just Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. It is Native American Heritage Month and Men's Health Awareness Month. You can also find, mixed into any list of November's National days and observances, a whole slew of Literary celebrations. There is Picture Book Month, National Family Literacy Month, and National Life Writing/Memoir Writing Month. The National Book Awards will take place on Wednesday, November 18th. National Young Readers Week is from Monday, November 9th to Friday, November 13th. Special Literary days in November are National Authors' Day and National Family Literacy Day on the 1st, National Nonfiction Day on the 6th, and I Love to Write Day on the 15th.

Celebrate Picture Book Month by selecting a picture book to check out from our catalog.

If you need cooking inspiration, we have plenty of cookbooks and even some magazines to help.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The Essential Recipes: 120 greatest hits, new twists, and perfected classics by Drummond, Ree

Scratch That: Embrace the Mess, Cook to Impress by Traeger, Alix

Julia Child's Kitchen: The Design, Tools, Stories, and Legacy of an Iconic Space by Johnson, Paula J.

The Best Casserole Cookbook Ever by Ojakangas, Beatrice

Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine by Harris, Jessica B.

Found Recipes: Beloved Vintage Recipes Worth Sharing. by Crocker, Betty

November 11th is the 100th anniversary of Route 66 officially becoming a part of the U.S. highway system.

You can browse our catalog for books featuring Route 66 and then check out https://www.route66centennial.org/ for more information

For Native American Heritage Month, you can select items from both our catalog and from our Kanopy streaming services.

A Voice Like Mine: a memoir by Haaland, Deb

Native America: The Story of the First Peoples by Feder, Kenneth L.

Ours to Tell: Reclaiming Indigenous Stories by Yellowhorn, Eldon

Stealing America: The Hidden Story of Indigenous Slavery in US History by Fisher, Linford D.

Indigenous Citizens: Native Americans' Fight for Sovereignty, 1776-2025 by Rosier, Paul C.

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz's Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States: A Graphic Interpretation by Peart-Smith, Paul

MEET THE CAST: JUNIE B. JONES & DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS! 

Get ready for an exciting afternoon with your favorite characters! Join The Dixon Children’s Theatre at the Dixon Public Library for a special Meet the Cast event featuring *Junie B. Jones: Essential Survival Guide to School* and *Disney’s Descendants*! 

 Monday, November 2
 Dixon Public Library

 Enjoy fun crafts and coloring activities!
 Enter our ticket drawing for a chance to win along with other fun prizes!
 Meet the cast and celebrate these exciting upcoming productions!

Bring the kids, bring your friends, and join us for an afternoon full of creativity, theatre magic, and fun!

We can't wait to see you there! 

Drop in anytime from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, on Saturday, November 7th

for some Junk Journaling. Supplies will be available but you can bring your own.

No registration required.

In Promotion of her latest book, "Witches of Questionable Intent", author Jenn McKinlay held a Baby Book Dragon’s Big Day Out contest.

For this contest, a baby dragon visited the library and documented his many adventures. Our library went to battle against other libraries to see who had the mightiest, most vote-worthy dragon adventure. We are happy to say we won this dragon contest with minimal bloodshed (I may have gotten a papercut). The sacrifice was worth it, and we gained a worthy guardian for our Fantasy section.

We call him Fred.

Monday Mysteries, Orbital, and Literary Merits will have a combined meeting

on Wednesday, November 18th at 5:30 p.m..

Pizza will be available.

The Library will be closed on Wednesday, November 11th in observance of Veterans Day.

On November 25th, the library will close at 5:00 p.m. and will remain closed on Thursday, November 26th, and Friday, November 27th, for Thanksgiving.

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

October 2026

October is National Book Month!

To celebrate all things books, the adult department will have some Book Bingo sheets available. Complete 5 in a row on a bingo card and win a prize from our pumpkin pail!

Did you know that every year the last Friday in October is National Frankenstein Day?

In 1818, the first edition of Frankenstein was published, and within 5 years, its first 500 copies sold out. In 2016, 50,000 copies were sold. In 2021, an original copy of Frankenstein sold at auction for $1.17 million, a record for a book authored by a woman.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-Wollstonecraft-Shelley

Frankenstein

Banned Books Week:

This year, Banned Books Week runs from October 4th through the 10th with the theme of "Let Books Be."

According to the American Library Association, 2025 saw 487 documented attempts to censor books at libraries, schools, and universities. Claims of obscenity, the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ representation, and topics including race, racism, social justice, diversity, and various views of politics and religion are the most common reasons given for the censorship attempts. These attempts resulted in a total of 4,235 different titles being challenged or banned in 2025.

1. Sold by Patricia McCormick

2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

3. Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe

4. Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

5. (tie) Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

5. (tie) Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

7. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

8. (tie) A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

8. (tie) Identical by Ellen Hopkins

8. (tie) Looking for Alaska by John Green

8. (tie) Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout

What's New:

We are starting a greeting card exchange in the adult department! We have a small selection of greeting cards available for you to take/share. Feel free to take a card or leave a (blank) card that someone else could use!

Through the generous support of the Illinois State Library "My Library is..." grant, the Dixon Public Library

is pleased to announce the addition of 3 Memory Care Buddy Bags to our collection. These resources are

available to check out from the adult department circulation desk.

Book Groups:

It's Homicide for the Holidays with Monday Mysteries!
Get ready to discuss the holiday mystery of your choice at the October 26th meeting at 1:30 p.m. 


Order up a food-themed nonfiction read for Literary Merits.

Orbital will be taking on the paranormal this month by selecting a Science Fiction and Fantasy novel that features ghosts for its October 27th meeting at 6:00 p.m.

YA:

Check out the Teen Department for a new activity!

A mystery book cover is on display in the Teen Section of DPL- can you guess the book? Submit your response; if your guess is correct, you can earn a prize! A new book cover will be featured each month.

DPL Kids:

The Children's department has a variety of activities planned: Weekly Storytimes, a Halloween-themed family event on the 29th, and Fall Coding on Thursdays (registration required).

Monday, August 31, 2026

September 2026

September is Read a New Book Month! To take part, you don't have to only read newly released books.

It's about reading something new to you. It could be a book that has been waiting patiently on your TBR (to be read) list, or a genre that you are unfamiliar with. The choice is up to you.

Beyond the Prescription: A Doctor's Guide to Taking Charge of Your Health by McBride, Lucy

"In Beyond the Prescription, Dr. Lucy McBride explains why: Modern health care prioritizes transactions over relationships, screens over stories, and data over context. Into that void has stepped a massive wellness industry offering seductive promises of control - "optimize," "detox," "biohack" - often without evidence and with real risks. McBride refuses the false choice between conventional medicine and wellness culture. Instead, she offers a practical middle path built on health agency: the capacity to make informed decisions aligned with your values while advocating effectively for support. This book isn't prescriptive or perfectionist. It's a framework to help you navigate uncertainty, misinformation, and the realities of your life. At the center is a five-step process that moves you from redefining health on your own terms, through mapping your full health ecosystem and understanding how you personally approach care, to asking for help more effectively and making peace with what you cannot control." - Amazon

Wonderful Me: A First Guide to Taking Care of Yourself by Shapiro, Nancy

"Self-care is not just for grown-ups! Wonderful Me is a fun guide for children, featuring simple ways they can care for their mental, physical, and social wellbeing. Discover simple ways children can look after themselves, from naming feelings and moving their body, to building boundaries, and caring for their friends!"--. Provided by publisher.

It's Not You, It's the World: A Mental Health Survival Guide for Us All by Cheek, Joanna

"What if the mental health symptoms we face aren't the actual problem? What if they're signals that help us see and solve the real problem -- the imbalances in our wider systems that are making us all sick?"

Whoops... I'm awesome: a Workbook with Activities, Art, and Stories for Embracing your Wonderfully Awesome Self by Villaseñor, Melissa

From comedian Melissa Villaseñor of Saturday Night Live, this self-help workbook filled with her original art, laugh-out-loud stories, and heartfelt reflections will help you embrace the silliness inside of you. Color in- or outside the lines, spend a moment finding your way through a snail-themed maze, make a list of your favorite childhood snacks--be as goofy as you wanna be! Because you're awesome.

Feral Self-Care: 100 Ways to Liberate and Celebrate Your Messy, Wild, and Untamed Self by Em, Mandi

"It's time for a new type of self-care. No bubble baths. No yoga. Just some truly wild-truly effective-ideas and activities that are good for you and your overall wellness. It's time to get feral! Feral Self-Care is loaded with self-care ideas that will actually help nourish your soul and make you feel good. Each entry covers an activity that reconnects you with your authentic self, helping you feel more empowered, free, and confident in embracing this human experience-in all its messy glory. From self-care activities that will have you connecting with nature to those that have you digging deep and exploring your truest self, Feral Self-Care goes beyond the skin creams and face masks to reveal and restore your inner being. You'll find inspired ideas such as: nature sounds ASMR, dancing in the rain, and much more!"--. Provided by publisher.

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15th to October 15th with the theme of “UNIDOS, SOMOS MAS.” “TOGETHER, WE ARE MORE.”

The Man Who Could Move Clouds: a memoir by Rojas Contreras, Ingrid

PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST * NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST * From the bestselling author of Fruit of the Drunken Tree, comes a dazzling, kaleidoscopic memoir reclaiming her family's otherworldly legacy.

Interweaving family stories more enchanting than those in any novel, resurrected Colombian history, and her own deeply personal reckonings with the bounds of reality, Rojas Contreras writes her way through the incomprehensible and into her inheritance. The result is a luminous testament to the power of storytelling as a healing art and an invitation to embrace the extraordinary.

Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family's Fight for Desegregation by Tonatiuh, Duncan

A 2015 Pura Belpr\u00e9 Illustrator Honor Book and a 2015 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

Almost 10 years before Brown vs. Board of Education, Sylvia Mendez and her parents helped end school segregation in California. An American citizen of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage who spoke and wrote perfect English, Mendez was denied enrollment to a "Whites only" school. Her parents took action by organizing the Hispanic community and filing a lawsuit in federal district court. Their success eventually brought an end to the era of segregated education in California.

The Children's Department is ready to "rake" in the fun with some

unbe-"leaf"-bly fun programs

Storytimes:

September 9th-November 18th

Tot Tales (18 months-3 years): Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m.

September 8th-November 17th

Raising Readers (3-5 years): Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m.

Coding:

Ages 5-14

Thursdays at 10:45, 3:30, and 4:15

October and November

*Sign-up required*

Family Events:

All Ages

3:00-5:00 p.m.

September 17th

October 29th

November 19th

Check out the Teen Department for a new activity!

Through the generous support of the Illinois State Library "My Library is..." grant, the Dixon Public Library

is pleased to announce the addition of 3 Memory Care Buddy Bags to our collection. These resources are

available to check out from the adult department circulation desk.

Book Groups

It's Back to School for our Monday Mysteries group! Class will be in session on September 28th at 1:30. Come prepared to share all you've learned about being schooled in mysteries. Literary Merits will be heading to the kitchen, metaphorically speaking, and indulging in food-themed non-fiction for their meeting on September 22nd at 2pm.

Wires were crossed,

Times got scrambled,

and a mistake was made...

Last month, it was announced that the Orbital Book Club was traveling to Camelot to spend time with King Arthur and his Knights. However, the book selection for August was actually all about one of the greatest books and movies ever produced: The Princess Bride. Luckily, I have been spared from being cast into the "Pit of Despair." My humble apologies, dear readers, and I would fully understand if anyone chooses to dress up as an old hag to relentlessly "boo!" me.

Therefore, I can safely say that I have been reassured that this month, patrons of The Orbital Book Club are set to convene around a no-so-round table to discuss Arthurian-themed tales on September 22nd at 6:00pm.

This month, the adult circulation desk is offering up free buttons for everyone who signs up for a library card!

The Library will be closed on September 7th for Labor Day.

Luckily, you can still check out books on the Libby app.

On Thursday, September 24th, the library will be closing early for a staff in-service day. Our open hours that day will be 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. We will resume our regular business hours on Friday, September 25th.

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

August 2026

Summer Reading has come to an end, and a new school year is about to start.

If it seems like the library has a little less going on this month, don't worry,

we are just taking some time to reset and transition into a new season of activities and programs.

August is Read A Romance Month, and we've been curating a collection fit for every spice level.

Check out some of our more recent titles below:

Holding the Reins by Hope, Paisley

Love You More by Giffin, Emily

The Deal by Kennedy, Elle

The Rainy Day Bookshop by Thayne, RaeAnne

Romance Revival by Lauren, Christina

In Stormy Weather: a novel by Curto, Chelsea

The Daisy Chain Flower Shop by Gilmore, Laurie

Find Me in the Lyrics by Miller, Christina

The origins of Family Fun Month are a mystery. What is known is that at some point in the 1980's it became an unofficial observance, and some websites claim it coincides with efforts to create a more family-focused environment. However it began, the idea is to spend quality time with your family, whether it be pizza and movie night, game night, a vacation, or even a trip to a museum; the point is to spend time together in a way that is fun and engaging.

Here are a few of our books that can help plan for some family fun activities:

All Together Now by Dove, Hannah

The Unplugged Family Activity Book: 60+ simple crafts & recipes for year-round fun by Jepson Wolf, Rachel

DIY Backyard Games: 13 projects to make for weekend family fun by Pastoor, Colleen

101 things to do on a walk by Eaton, Kait

The Down & Dirty Guide to Camping with Kids: how to plan memorable family adventures & connect kids to nature by Olsson, Helen

Another option for family fun is to click on the Resources tab on our website and look for Explore More Illinois for access to free and discounted tickets to museums, science centers, sporting events, zoos, park districts, theatres, and other fun and local cultural venues

Book Groups: