Monday - Thursday 9:00 am to 8:00 pm
Friday, & Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
National Play Outside Day is Saturday, July 3rd! To celebrate, kids and teens can stop by the circulation desk at the library any time between July 1 and July 3 to pick up a kite!
No registration required. While supplies last.
On Vacation or a Long Car Trip? Take out one of our portable DVD players and keep the family entertained!
Loans and Holds
DVD players are available on a first come, first served basis. They cannot be reserved in advance. Checkouts are limited to one player per household at any given time. Players may be checked out for one week and cannot be renewed.
DVD players must be picked up and returned at the Durham Public Library circulation desk. Please do not return the player to another library or place it in the book drops.
Loss or Damage
Overdue fines of $5 per day, to a maximum of $20, will be charged for late DVD players.
DVD players that are two weeks or more overdue are considered lost. Patrons will be charged an $80.00 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.
The Durham Public Library is the busy hub of the community, going beyond its mission of “Growing Knowledge and Community.” Now it is time to ask you to help fund the updating of the Library to meet changing technology and public use. This will benefit users of the Library like you, other patrons, and the public at large.
Because you value the Library and the services it provides to our community, would you please consider a gift to PALS to support these efforts? Please Make a Tax Deductible Donation to PALS Today and Help the Library Continue to Thrive! Yes! I would like to make a tax-deductible gift to PALS. Select one of the donation amounts below to make a secure online donation through PayPal (you do not need to have a PayPal account).
$500 Donation $250 Donation $100 Donation $50 Donation Other Donation
If you prefer to donate by check or money order, please forward your contribution of any amount to: PALS, ATTN Library Renewal, P.O. Box 271, Durham, CT 06422
LIBRARY HOURS: Monday thru Thursday, 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
MASK REQUIREMENTS: Masks are requested, but not required in the library.
Current Procedures
Meeting Rooms: Currently, only the Durham Conference Center (lower level left) is available for community use. Room capacity is limited to 30 persons. To request use of a Library meeting room, please fill out the online Meeting Room Reservation form. Meeting room availability is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation from the Library.
Social Distancing: Please maintain a 6-foot distance from other patrons while in the library. While browsing the library shelves, we ask that only one patron (or family group) be in any aisle section at a time.
Curbside Pickup: If you would prefer curbside pickup, please call the library to request it when your holds are available. We will arrange a time to pick up materials in front of the Library.
Public Computers: Four computers will be available for patron use and spaced apart for social distancing. Computer use is first come, first served and last 60 minutes. Due to social distancing guidelines, staff are not available to directly assist patrons using the computers. Terminals and equipment will be cleaned between uses.
Public wifi may be accessed from the parking lot or in the building. Wifi sessions inside the building are limited to 30 minutes. We also have wifi hotspots available for checkout. Click here for more info.
The following services will continue to be available:
We will continue to offer a wide array of digital resources, including books, audiobooks, music, streaming movies and television, digital subscriptions to newspapers and magazines, and streaming arts and crafts classes at durhamlibrary.org/digital-resources/.
We are offering a variety of programs in a mix of formats, including in-person, online using the Zoom platform, and pick-up kits. Please check our calendar for dates and registration details.
Please ask us if you have any questions. We will update everyone should the situation change. Please check the library website and follow us on social media for updates. In the meantime, please stay healthy and safe!
Christine Michaud, Library Director, and the Staff of the Durham Public Library.
Information Resources on COVID-19
Town of Durham COVID-19 Information
Connecticut Department of Public Health
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Resources for Talking with Children about COVID-19
Join us for a new film discussion on Zoom! Connect with others over the shared experience of a movie. Watch the movies on Hoopla, linked below, then join us over the next few months as we explore these Oscar-winning films over the decades. This program is intended for adults as some films are Rated R. Registration required to receive the link to the zoom meeting. Please register for each discussion separately.
February 23 Moonlight (2016) 7 PM
Winner of Best Picture in 2017 Moonlight takes a frank look at the challenges of racism and homophobia, as confronted by Chiron, the young protagonist struggling to reach adulthood despite the support of immediate family. This film is rated R with mature themes. Viewer discretion is advised. Register here.
March 23 The Apartment (1960) 7 PM
Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine and Fred MacMurray are superb in this tale of love and ambition in the world of big business that went on to garner a Best Picture Oscar. Register here.
April 27 An American in Paris (1951) 7 PM
Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron sing and dance to the music of George and Ira Gershwin in this winner of six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. When ex-GI Jerry Mulligan (Kelly) remains in Paris to pursue life as an artist, he is discovered by a wealthy patroness interested in more than his art. But Mulligan falls in love with a French shop girl (Caron) who is engaged to his best friend. Register here.
Have you ever wondered how we should ensure that people have the food they need? It’s a big question with many possible solutions. Join us for a community conversation on Zoom as we deliberate this topic, consider what we value most, and look for shared direction. We won’t be reaching an agreement or seeing eye-to-eye, but we will have an opportunity to weigh the views of others and better understand the basic values that define us as human beings. Pick up a copy of the Land of Plenty Issue Guide at the library, read it, and join us for a community conversation on Zoom. Register here.
Thursday March 25 7- 8:30 PM
Ground rules for the forum:
Focus on the options
All options should be considered fairly
No one or two individuals should dominate
Maintain an open and respectful atmosphere
Everyone is encouraged to participate
Listen to others
The Durham Public Library has an extensive collection of digital magazines available through the Libby app.
A sampling of digital magazines available include: The Economist, National Geographic, Bon Appetit, Country Living, Runner’s World, Cosmopolitan, Vanity Fair, and over 3,000 more. Click here for a full list.
Digital magazines have no wait lists or holds, do not count towards checkout limits and provide readers the option to renew their selections. Library name patrons can also download magazines to Libby for offline use. Readers can browse lists of magazines within the app and search by format to find available titles.
Named one of Popular Mechanics’ 20 Best Apps of the Decade, Libby seamlessly connects first-time users and experienced readers with Library name’s digital collection. This locally selected collection offers ebooks, audiobooks and digital magazines including bestsellers and new releases. Readers of all ages can select from virtually every subject ranging from mystery, romance, children’s, business and more.
New to digital?
In just a few taps, you can start reading instantly on your phone or tablet. The digital library is available 24/7 without leaving home and is free from our library. Download the Libby app to get started or click here for more info.
Are you finding yourself with more and more tasks to do, yet there’s never enough time to get everything done? Are you stumped about how to accommodate kids, spouse, and yourself, learning and working virtually from home at the same time, or in limited space? For 40 years, Ronni Eisenberg has helped others get organized and now she can help you! Join us for this Zoom workshop and take control of your time and space.
Thursday January 21 at 7 PM
Please register to receive the Zoom link prior to our meeting.
This two part series will help you learn the history of a house in CT. Bryna O’Sullivan will share her expertise for doing research.
House History: Who’s Lived in Your House? (Part II)
Identify the homeowners and learn the history of your house! Using the census, local history, newspapers, photographs, maps, and architectural surveys to trace the story behind the people who once lived in your home. Bryna O’Sullivan will walk us through using these resources.
November 19 7 PM
Please register here. This program will take place over Zoom and a link will be sent prior to the meeting.
How did the women of CT work for – or against – the right to vote? Join us as we explore the fight for women’s suffrage in Connecticut. We will look at photos, letters, and pamphlets from the CT Historical Society’s collection to understand one of the most hard-fought political battles of American History.
November 9 at 7 PM. This meeting will take place over Zoom. A link to the Zoom meeting will be sent prior to the event.
Registration required. Please register here.
This program is made possible the P.A.L.S.
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