Category Archives: Adult

Book Buzz: Holiday Edition

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PALS, the Friends of the Durham Public Library, invites you to a book and holiday themed fundraiser!

Book Buzz: Holiday Edition will feature a presentation by Cindy Haiken, Wallingford Library’s Readers Advisory Librarian. Cindy will share some of the hot new titles coming out and suggestions for new books that would make great holiday gifts. We’ll also enjoy fun holiday mocktails and snacks.

When: Saturday, November 14 5:30 – 7:00 PM

Where: Durham Public Library

Tickets are $25 per person. Register here. Payment can be online or via check dropped off at the library.

Take our survey!

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We want to hear from you!

Please help us plan for the future of the Durham Public Library. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and will help shape the Durham Public Library’s plans and priorities over the next 3 – 5 years. We’re committed to serving our community in the best way possible, and your voice helps make that happen.

Click here to access our online survey

Rather take the survey on paper? Stop by the library and ask for a copy at the circulation desk.

Summer Reading For All Ages

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Pre-K Summer Reading Game Boards

For all kids not entering kindergarten in 2026.

How to Register: Pick up a game board at the Durham Public Library’s Summer Reading Desk or print one from our website. If you pick up your game board at the library, you can also claim a free book to keep.

How to Play:

Complete the fun summer reading activities on your game board.

How to Win: Return your completed game board to the library to claim your prize. Prizes must be claimed by August 28th.

Print at home version (double-sided)

Read & Bead (Grades K-5 )

How to Register: Visit the Summer Reading Desk at the library to pick up your Read & Bead Activity Log, a Read & Bead chain, and your first brag tag. If you can’t make it in right away, you can print your log at home and backdate activities with a caregiver’s approval.

How to Play:

  • Read or complete any activities listed in your log each day.
  • Color in each completed day to track your progress. (No timing or counting—just have fun and enjoy reading.)
  • Bring your log to the Summer Reading Desk to collect the beads you’ve earned.
  • Trade in your beads for exciting new shapes and colors.

Important! You must bring your log to the library to collect beads. If you’re exchanging beads to level up, you must bring them with you.

Print at home (booklet style, portrait, doubles-sided)

Teen Summer BINGO (Grades 6+)

Starting June 12th, stop by the library to pick up your Teen BINGO Card and start the challenge!

How to Play:

  • Complete any activities on the board.
  • Cross off what you’ve done—aim for three in a row.
  • Return your completed card for a small prize and a chance at a special raffle prize.
  • All cards must be returned by August 28th for prize entry.

Finished a card? Keep playing! You can pick up new cards to play until August 21st.

Print at home (double-sided)

Adult Summer Reading BINGO

Pick up a Summer Reading BINGO Card and complete five activities in a row to participate.

Print at home (one-sided)

Share Your Library Joy!

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Help us celebrate National Library Week in April! We’re collecting stories of library joy now to share in April – and want to hear from you!!

National Library Week is April 19 -25, 2026. This year’s theme is “Find Your Joy!” – all about finding joy at the library! We want to share library joy with our community and want to hear from you! Please tell us a time that you experienced library joy – whether it’s a book you found, a program you attended, a library worker who helped you, or some other experience that meant a lot to you. We will be selecting a few entries to share on social media.

Please submit your library joy by Friday, April 3, 2026.

Click here to submit your library joy!

New Resource: Newsbank

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Newsbank offers access to news and information from reliable news sources spanning the U.S., including the Hartford Courant, the Town Times, USA Today, Boston Herald, Chicago Sun-Times, and thousands more.

This resource is available to Durham Public Library cardholders 24/7 on any device, in addition to being available to all patrons at the Durham Public Library.

Click here to check out all that’s available with Newsbank!

You can also find Newsbank under the Digital Resources tab on our website.

Check out our new library app!

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We are thrilled to announce we now have an app for the Durham Public Library!

What’s in the app?

  • A digital version of your library card –
    • Got your phone? Then you’ve got your library card with you!
  • Access to family library cards –
    • You can attach your family members’ cards to your account, so you always have them with you!
  • Access to all of your account information –
    • See what you have checked out, what you have on hold, pay fines
  • Scroll upcoming events and register for them easily
  • Find information on how to reach and contact other LION libraries
  • And more!

To download the app, search “libraries online” in the Apple or Android app stores. You will then be prompted to select your library and enter your library card information.

Apple app store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/libraries-online/id6739070221

Android app store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.capiratech.leo&hl=en_US

Summer Reading – For All Ages!

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PRE-K GAMEBOARDS

(ALL KIDS NOT ENTERING KINDERGARTEN IN 2025)

To register, pick up your game board at the Durham Public Library’s Summer Reading Desk or print below

To play, complete all the fun summer reading activities on it.

To get a prize, return your game board to the library for your prize. Prizes must be claimed on or before August 30th.

Pre-K Log Print- Double-sided

READ & BEAD (K-5)

To register, simply visit the library’s Summer Reading Desk and grab a Summer Read & Bead Activity Log along with your Read & Bead chain and your first brag tag. If you can’t make it to the library right away, you can print your log at home and backdate any activities with your caregiver’s approval.

Here’s how to play:

  • Read or complete any other activities listed in your log each day
  • Color in the day to mark your progress
  • There’s no timing or counting necessary; just have fun and enjoy the program
  • Bring your log to the Summer Reading Desk and collect the beads you’ve earned
  • Trade in your beads for more exciting shapes and colors

Remember, you must bring your log with you to the library to collect your beads. If you’re exchanging beads to level up, please bring them with you.

To finish the program, simply turn in your log by August 30th and receive a small surprise. And don’t forget, all beads earned are yours to keep.

Print Grades K-5 Log- (Double-sided, Flip on SHORT edge)

BINGO BOARDS (TEENS GR 6+)

Starting June 13th, stop by and grab your Teen BINGO Card.

Complete any of the activities on the board. 

Cross off what you’ve done.  Aim for three in a row. 

Return your card for a small prize and a chance at a special raffle prize. All cards must be returned by 8/30.

Finished a card? Play as many times as you’d like until 8/9.

Print Teen BINGO Card

BINGO BOARDS (ADULTS)

Pick up a Summer Reading BINGO Card and complete 5 activities in a row. Turn your card in for a chance at a bi-weekly raffle prize.

Play as many times as you’d like until 8/19.

Print Adult BINGO Card

Why Wait? Download an Ebook or Audiobook Right Now

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The Library offers a wide variety of free e-books, digital magazines and audiobooks, and streaming music and video, all available with your Durham Public Library card and many available instantly.

OverDrive/Libby
Best-selling and award-winning fiction and nonfiction books, audiobooks, and magazines. You may borrow up to 10 items at a time. Over 3,000 popular magazines are available, with no wait lists and no item limits. Use the “Available Now” filter to find currently available items.

hoopla
Always available movies, TV shows, music, books, comics, and audiobooks. You may borrow up to 4 items per calendar month.

The Palace Project
Thousands of free eBooks and audiobooks from the Connecticut State Library and Durham’s digital collections in the Palace Project app. 

Looking for a Job?

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Free Online Career Assistance

JobNow™ provides library patrons with a host of services to help in every step of the job search process.  Job coaches are available to help patrons with any and all job search-related questions.  In addition to helping beginning job seekers pinpoint their desired career field, coaches can also provide constructive suggestions on resumes, help write a professional cover letter, and give live interview practice and feedback.

The link is available 24/7/365 in the library or from your home — click here or on the JobNow! icon on the left-hand side of the Library website home page.

Looking for a job? Use the Career Resources to begin your job search. Create your resume and get expert feedback. Prepare for your interview.

Not sure how to start your job search? Use eParachute to help you discover the career of your dreams.

Writing your resume? Begin by using one of the templates or the document builder in OptimalResume. Then use our Resume Lab to send it to a job coach and receive feedback and revisions to help strengthen your resume. FREE Online Career Assistance

Prepare for your interview. Read through our tips and connect with a live job coach to get ready for your interview.

Going back to school? Want to brush up on academic skills? Select “Adult Learners” from the menu to access GED prep, US Citizenship Test prep, resume assistance, Microsoft Office support, and Career Resources. Maestros en español disponible