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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, landscape, 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)

Padawan Training with Jedi Masters of the Kessel Temple

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Train like the Jedi in a galaxy far far away (but actually at the Durham Public Library).

Padawans ages 6- 10 can join the Jedi Masters of the Kessel Temple to learn the mysteries of the force.

Be ready to defend yourselves from the Sith. Costumes with a good range of motion and visibility are encouraged, and  training lightsabers are provided!

Saturday February 14th at 10:30 & 11:30 AM.

10:30AM Session Register Here
11:30AM Session Register Here

We’re hiring!

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Position:

  • Library Page/Shelver
  • 7.5 hours per week /$16.35 per hour

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Applicable library experience

Required Competencies:

  • Ability to read, write, and alphabetize
  • Ability to learn the Dewey Decimal system and other library filing systems
  • Familiarity with office computer applications
  • Ability to communicate effectively with staff and patrons.
  • Attention to detail

Essential Functions:

  • Returns items to shelf accurately
  • Assists with maintaining order of collection
  • Assists with creating displays
  • Assists with preparations for library programs
  • Assists with maintaining order and cleanliness of library
  • In addition to essential functions, all employees are expected to carry out other duties as assigned

To apply please complete the online application form (see below) and email it to Lauren Redfield, Library Director, at lredfield@207.210.128.11. Deadline for submission is 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 30.

Application formDownload

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

Thank You, Veterans!

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Come personalize a thank you gift to our veterans! Stop by the circulation desk on Veterans Day (Nov. 11) and make a packet thanking veterans for their “roll” in our country! Packets will be dropped off at nearby VFW halls.

The Library will be open 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, November 11.

We love our PALS!

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PALS, the Friends of the Durham Public Library, raises funds for library programs, technology, equipment, and staff education. Founded in 1986, PALS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

Our goal is to promote awareness of all that the Durham Public Library offers and raise funds for services not included in the town budget. PALS contributions are aimed at a broad spectrum of ages and interests, so everyone can benefit from the library. We welcome donations as well as hands-on help and ideas that will keep the Durham Public Library as the heart of our town and bring value to every library user.

Some of our contributions include:

  • Programs for adults and children
  • Museum passes
  • Summer reading challenges
  • Annual book sale
  • Annual fundraisers
  • Community events
  • New furnishings for the library

PALS Meetings

PALS meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm in the library. Check this website for cancellations or special meeting notices. Membership is free, and meeting attendance is encouraged but not required.

Want to Learn More?

Interested in learning more? Please fill out the Information Form and we will get back to your promptly.

DPL Eliminates Late Fees

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Effective August 1, 2024, the Durham Public Library will cease charging late fees on most library materials, joining with public libraries across the country in a movement to reduce barriers to library access.

What does this mean for borrowers? 

  1. With the exception of physical museum passes and library equipment, daily overdue fines have been eliminated.
  2. Library items will still have due dates. Please bring your books and movies back on time so that other residents may enjoy them.
  3. We will continue to charge replacement fees for lost and damaged items.
  4. A bill for the replacement cost of overdue items will be generated automatically once an item is more than one loan period overdue. However, as soon as you return the item, the bill will be canceled and no fines will remain on your card.
  5. Patrons with more than $25 in billed items on their accounts will not be able to check out additional materials until the items are returned or paid for.
  6. We will remove old late fees from your account.  
  7. Please note that our fine-free status only applies to Durham items. If you check out an item belonging to another library (example: item borrowed through a system hold) at Durham Public Library, you’ll be charged fines based on the policy of the loaning library. 

Questions? Learn more about why we’ve decided to go fine free here or call or email us for more info.

Click here for a full list of Loan Periods, Renewal, and Fees

Looking for a Quiet Place to Read?

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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.