Author Archives: Christine Michaud

Library Renewal Project Updates

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Update June 5, 2023

The Library will be CLOSED Wednesday June 7 through Saturday June 10 for carpet installation. We apologize for the inconvenience. We expect to reopen on Monday, June 12 at 9:00 a.m.

Our Digital Collections Are Available 24/7.

Update May 25, 2023

We expect to be open our regular hours between May 25 and June 3. We will be closed on Memorial Day. As work on the bathrooms will be ongoing during this time, please take care to avoid the work in progress. You may find a quieter browsing experience between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., after workers have gone for the day. During this time, the lower level bathroom will be the only public restroom available.

The adult collection is available for browsing, the Children’s Department is open and computers, copier, and printer are available downstairs.

And Check Out Our Digital Materials!

Update May, 23, 2023

The Library will be open from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday May 23. We apologize for the inconvenience.

We will open at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday May 24.

Update May 17, 2023

On Monday May 22 and Tuesday May 23, the Library will be open from 3:30 – 8:00 p.m. We will be closed in the mornings for plumbing and electrical work.

We expect to be open our regular hours Wednesday – Saturday. As work on the bathrooms will be ongoing during this time, please take care to avoid the work in progress. You may find a quieter browsing experience between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., after workers have gone for the day. During this time, the lower level bathroom will be the only public restroom available.

Update May 3, 2023

Painting is substantially complete! We are anticipating some electrical work between May 8 – 12, but the library should be much quieter than it has been the past several weeks. Come by and stock up before the next phase of construction (new bathrooms!) begins on May 15.

The adult collection is available for browsing, the Children’s Department is open and computers, copier, and printer are available downstairs.

And Check Out Our Digital Materials!

Update May 1, 2023

Painting and electrical work will be in progress the week of May 1. The adult collection is available for browsing; however, you may find a quieter browsing experience between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., after painters have gone for the day. Please be aware of wet paint signs!

The Children’s Department is open and computers, copier, and printer are available downstairs.

And Check Out Our Digital Materials!

Update April 27, 2023

No work is being done on Thursday April 27 or Saturday April 29 — come on over and stock up on books and DVDs while it is quiet!

Painting will be in progress Friday April 28 and the week of May 1.

The adult collection is available for browsing; however, you may find a quieter browsing experience between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., after painters have gone for the day. Please be aware of wet paint signs!

The Children’s Department is open and computers, copier, and printer are available downstairs.

Update April 25, 2023

The adult collection is available for browsing; however, you may find a quieter browsing experience between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., after painters have gone for the day. Please be aware of wet paint signs!

The Children’s Department is open and computers, copier, and printer are available downstairs.

Update April 24, 2023

The Adult Collection is not available for browsing today while painting is in progress. If you are looking for a particular title, please let us know and we can pull it for you and let you know when it is available to pick up. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The Children’s Department is open and computers, copier, and printer are available downstairs.

Update April 20, 2023

Painting is in progress! The library is open during this process. Our adult fiction collection is available for browsing; however, you may find a quieter browsing experience between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., after painters have gone for the day.

The Children’s Room is open as usual; some young adult materials have been moved there as well. Please ask one of our staff if you need help finding materials.

Public computers, copier, and printing are available in the lower left meeting room.

Update: April 18, 2023

Please excuse the noise while shelving is being moved! The library is open; please check out materials in the Children’s Department.

Public computers and the copier/printer are available in the lower left meeting room. Please check in with the staff upstairs. WE DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE FAX SERVICE. The public may use the fax machine at Town Hall.

Update: April 17, 2023

We have begun moving materials and furniture into storage. Preparation of the walls for painting will begin this week. The library will be open during this phase of work. (Please note that no work is being done in the Children’s Department, which will be operating as usual.)

The Following Items Have Moved Temporarily

  • New Fiction, Nonfiction, Mysteries, and Large Print are available on the first shelf (where new fiction has been.) currently holding the new fiction.
  • New DVDs, Three-Day DVDs, New Audiobooks, and some of the DVD collection are located adjacent to the new fiction.
  • Children’s DVDs are located in the Children’s Department.
  • The paperback collection is located on the shelves behind the new books, where New Mysteries were previously.
  • New and popular Young Adult materials are located on the central shelf unit near the middle-grade fiction in the Children’s Department.
  • Adult biographies, adult nonfiction 001-499, some young adult materials, music CDs, magazines, and some audiobooks and DVDs will be in storage. If you are looking for a specific title, please ask a staff member.
  • Today’s newspapers are available at the circulation desk.

Update: April 2, 2023

Construction on the long-planned Library Renewal Project is set to begin in April. The project will refresh the public spaces of the Durham Public Library to best serve the current and future needs of the community. The project includes:

  • Quiet Study: Two small study rooms and updated reading areas.
  • Collaboration: Gathering space for group work, conversation, and community.
  • Technology: Upgraded public computer and “bring your own device” access.
  • Accessibility: Convenient, handicap-accessible access to the building and services.
  • Carpet, paint, and the two main floor restrooms will also be updated.

We intend to keep the Library open as much as possible during the renovation process. However, parts of the library and portions of the library collection may be unavailable as work is being done. The locations for specific services may also change.

Please check the library website or social media for updates. During construction, please bear with us and observe all posted signs for your safety.

Materials Being Moved the Week of April 3

  • New Fiction, Nonfiction, Mysteries, and Large Print will be consolidated on the shelves currently holding the new fiction.
  • New DVDs, Three-Day DVDs, New Audiobooks, and some of the DVD collection will be located where the new nonfiction is currently.
  • The paperback collection will be on the shelves behind the new books, where New Mysteries are currently.
  • New and popular Young Adult materials are located on the central shelf unit in the young adult section.

Can’t Find Something? Please Ask!

Sponsors

This library renewal project is made possible by grants and funding from the following sources:

  • State of Connecticut State Library Construction Grant for $146,957
  • Town of Durham
  • The Peach Pit Foundation
  • The Generous Donations of the Residents of Durham.

Electric Car Charger

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Did you know that Durham has an electric car charging station? The charging station is located in the rear of the parking lot at the Durham Public Library at 7 Maple Avenue and can accommodate two cars at a time

Electric vehicle owners can activate the charger by tapping their “ChargePoint” card on the charger’s screen. Once activated, the driver plugs in and can recharge their car’s battery while they use the library, walk to the Post Office, or stroll Main Street. If the car’s battery is quite full, “topping up” the charge may take just minutes. A full charge for low battery can take a few hours. To finish the transaction, the driver taps their card on the charger again, and will be charged for electricity used.

The charger is administered by the ChargePoint company. Chargepoint has supplied a phone number on the charger in case of questions or issues with the charger. If a driver does not have a ChargePoint card, they can call the phone number and ChargePoint will then remotely activate the charger and will send the driver a card for future use. Visit www.chargepoint.com for more info.

The ChargePoint website has a charging station locator map to help drivers find car chargers locally and across the country. If anyone has questions about the car charger, please contact ChargePoint at the number listed on the charging station.

The charging station is an initiative of Sustainable Durham and installation was funded by a State of Connecticut Bright Ideas Grant. Durham is proud to join surrounding towns in making this clean energy technology available to CT drivers!

New Service! Online Language Learning

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110+ Languages Are At Your Fingertips: Transparent Language Online Now Available

Planning a trip to Italy to celebrate your anniversary? Collaborating with your Chinese counterparts in your company’s Beijing branch? Just want to brush up that language you studied for four years in school, but somehow can’t seem to remember at all? We’ve got you covered.

We are excited to announce that we now offer Transparent Language Online free to all Durham Public Library card holders. Whether you’re starting at the very beginning with a new alphabet or you’re an intermediate learner looking to enhance your vocabulary and grammar knowledge, Transparent Language Online can help. Available for learning 110+ languages, plus English (ESL) materials for native speakers of 30+ languages, the program has something for everyone. This resource is funded by PALS: The Friends of the Durham Public Library.

Click Here to Get Started

Worried that you won’t be able to learn on your own? A customizable Learning Path allows you to choose what you want to learn, while an integrated analytics system tracks your progress, periodically prompting you to review material that you haven’t seen in a while. It’s like having a built-in teacher there to keep you on track toward your language-learning goals.

Best of all, Transparent Language Online works on any Internet-connected device, so you can learn from your laptop, phone, or tablet.

Transparent Language Online is available FREE to all Durham Public Library cardholders. Sign up today at Transparent Language Online or download the app to your mobile device and set up you account with your Durham Public Library card.

Feel free to contact us with any questions at dpl@durhamlibrary.org.

Homebound Delivery Service

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The Durham Public Library provides books and other materials for residents of Durham who are physically unable to visit the library because of a temporary or permanent disability.

How to apply: Applicants should complete the Durham Public Library Homebound Delivery Application and a reading interest form. Click here to complete the form online or call us at (860) 349-9544, ext. 5 to request a physical form.

How is delivery arranged?  Materials will be delivered by a library representative on a schedule convenient for the library, but no more than once per month. When we receive your enrollment form, we will contact you to discuss delivery.

What are the borrowing guidelines? Any circulating item may be borrowed by our homebound patrons, with a limit of 25 items per delivery. There is no fee for the delivery service and overdue fees will not be charged. The Library’s standard fee schedule shall apply for damaged or lost items.

For more information: Please contact Christine Michaud at (860) 349-9544, ext. 5 or cmichaud@durhamlibrary.org if you have questions about this service.

Plant Identification Walk

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Saturday, June 4 at 9:30 AM

In person, meet at Curtis Woodlands. 

Join Aubree Keurajian of Ungardening for a plant identification walk around Curtis Woodlands. You’ll learn all about the local flora and fauna here in Durham!

This hike will take place in the meadow of Curtis Woodlands, the route is just under 0.5 miles, mostly in full sun, but with some areas of shade. Curtis Woodlands is located at the corner of Dunn Hill Road and Salted Lane in Durham. There is a small parking area just beyond the point where Dunn Hill Road turns into Salted Lane, approximately 400 feet beyond Brittnay Drive. There is additional parking along the street. Closed toed shoes, long pants, and bug spray are suggested.

Registration required; click here to register.

Thursday Movie Matinees Are Back!

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The Durham Public Library hosts a movie matinee every Thursday at 2:00 pm. This film series is free and open to the public. Please note that for movies rated R, only individuals age 18 & over are permitted to attend. Viewer discretion is advised.

Movie Matinees are on pause as of March 2023. We hope they will return this summer after our remodeling project!

PALS Book Sale – Saturday May 14

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The Book Sale is Back! Saturday, May 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the lower level of the Durham Public Library. All proceeds benefit PALS: The Friends of the Durham Public Library.

Please note: we are unable to accept additional donations for the Book Sale. Thank you to everyone who has donated!