Monday - Thursday 9:00 am to 8:00 pm
Friday, & Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
| Have you ever dreamed of writing a murder mystery? You’re in luck! Lucy Burdette (a.k.a., Roberta Isleib), author of the USA Today bestselling Key West food critic mystery series, will discuss the secrets of hatching ideas for and then writing a murder mystery. Clues, red herrings, shady characters, plot twists and turns—she’ll share all her secrets. Or at least some of them. |
The Library provides a number of passes for free or discounted admission to local museums, generously funded by PALS: The Friends of the Durham Public Library Check out our full list of passes here and start exploring!
Looking for a new book suggestion? We can help you! Use one of the forms to let us know what you like (and what you don’t) and we’ll send you some titles and authors to try. This service is available for all ages:
Children (Grades 1-6): http://goo.gl/forms/In9QHjzBoJ
Teens (Grades 7-12): http://goo.gl/forms/fM7yGG2TJu
Adults: http://goo.gl/forms/n68mgiJ48f
Enter for a chance to win a $200 Visa gift card.
Contest Dates: April 1 – 30
Your library card opens the world to you through physical books, audiobooks, music CDs, DVDs—as well as downloadable or streaming version of the same products. Now let your library card open the doors of Connecticut libraries by participating in the Passport to Connecticut Libraries Program!
Over one hundred fifty (150) Connecticut library locations are proud to participate in the Connecticut Library Association’s Passport to Connecticut Libraries Program. To celebrate National Library Week during April, the Passport to Connecticut Libraries Program invites you to visit all of the participating Connecticut public libraries. Each library has its own architecture, vibe, and collection to explore and browse! The program is open to adults and children, and the hope is that it encourages residents to explore the amazing diversity of our public libraries.
To begin, visit your local participating library to pick up your Passport. They will stamp it and possibly give you a token gift to get you started. Then, take your Passport along as you visit other participating libraries. At each visit, show your Passport; the library will stamp your Passport and may give you another small gift. (Please note: not all Connecticut libraries are participating and not all participating locations are giving gifts! Please be kind to library staff.)
If you visit at least five (5) participating libraries and return your Passport to a participating library by May 10, 2024, then you will be entered into a state-wide drawing for a chance to win a $200 Visa gift card for adults (18 and up) and a $200 Visa gift card for children (under 18). This is a state-wide contest where four winners will be selected: one adult and one child from a random drawing from all returned Passports with at least five separate library stamps, and the one adult and one child who visited the most libraries/received the most stamps.
For more details and a full list of participating libraries, ask your local librarian.
Ask for your Passport at the circulation desk today & begin participating on April 1st! Click Here for a List of Participating Libraries
This is a Connecticut Library Association initiative.
As part of the Library Renewal Project, the Library has added two study rooms for 1-4 people for the purpose of quiet study and discussion.
Please note that the rooms are not soundproof — please keep conversation to a low volume. Noise-reducing headphones may be borrowed at the circulation desk.
Submitting a reservation indicates acceptance of the Library’s Room Reservation Policies.
In addition to the study rooms, the Study Zone also includes a “laptop bar” and comfortable seating with device charging and flip up tablet desks. Just plug your device in and get to work. This area is past the circulation desk, where DVDs were previously.
In order to expand Internet access to Durham residents, the Library has established a Wi-Fi hotspot lending program. The hotspots are provided by T-Mobile and funded by a gift from Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare and PALS: The Friends of the Durham Public Library.
No internet at home? Borrow ours for: school projects and papers, job searching online, and connecting your tablet or laptop.
On a long car trip? Have the kids in the backseat streaming movies, music or other online content.
On Vacation? Road trip, camping, or grandmas house with no internet? Bring it with you!
Loans and Holds
Hotspots are available to Durham Public Library card holders ages 18 and up with fines of less than $10.00. Patrons must present their valid Durham Public Library card at the time of checkout.
Checkouts are limited to one hotspot per household at any given time. Hotspots may be checked out for one week and cannot be renewed.
Hotspots may be reserved by placing a hold online or by calling the library. Devices will be held for two days. If the device is not picked up by the end of the second day, the hold will be cancelled and the device will move to the next person in line.
At the time of checkout, patrons must sign a Hotspot Use Agreement, acknowledging the Library’s Hotspot Use Policy.
The Library reserves the right to refuse lending to patrons who abuse equipment or who repeatedly return Hotspots late.
Hotspots must be picked up and returned at the Durham Public Library circulation desk. Hotspots must never be returned to another library or placed in the book drops.
Hotspot Use
Patrons are responsible for the proper care and use of the Wi-Fi hotspot. We recommend that patrons have a basic working knowledge of the device on checkout. If you encounter any technical problems, contact Library Director Christine Michaud at cmichaud@durhamlibrary.org or 860-349-9544, ext. 5.
The Library is not responsible for any liability, damages, or expense resulting from use or misuse of the hotspot and its connection to other electronic devices, or data loss resulting from use of the Hotspot. Any use of the device for illegal purposes, unauthorized copying of copyright-protected material in any format, or transmission of threatening, harassing, defamatory or obscene materials is strictly prohibited.
Wi-Fi service will be turned off if the hotspot is more than two days overdue, rendering the device unusable.
Loss or Damage
Overdue fines of $5 per day, to a maximum of $20, will be charged for late hotspots.
Hotspots that are two weeks or more overdue are considered lost. Patrons will be charged a $100.00 replacement fee if the hotspot is lost or damaged.
Patrons will be charged a replacement fee not to exceed $20 if a charging block or case is lost or damaged.
Try our Periodical Reading Room!
The the original library room has now been set up for silent reading or working. Comfortable chairs invite you to sit down and spend some quiet time with a book, or with the newspapers and magazines which are now located in this space.
Absolutely no conversation or phone calls allowed in this space.
Coffee is now available for purchase. Keurig pods may be purchased for $1.25 each. Enjoy our cozy reading areas. (Lids must be used in the Library.)
Keurig machine provided by PALS: Friends of the Durham Public Library.
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.
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.
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.
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