Author Archives: Courtney Bippley

About Courtney Bippley

Courtney is a Reference Librarian at the Main Campus Library. Her favorite genres are fantasy and science fiction. She loves dogs, coffee, and dancing.

What We’re Reading: Dune by Frank Herbert

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Dune is a story about politics, psychology, religion, addiction, ecology, power, and giant worms in the desert.

First published in 1965, Dune has become known as a science fiction classic. Two terrible movie adaptations have already been made and another hopefully not terrible film is coming out in October 2021. The main character is Paul Atreides, son of a Duke, who arrives to the desert planet of Arrakis and meets his destiny there. 

Dune by frank herbert (deluxe edition)
Many formats (and several additional books in the series) available through the Durham Tech Libraries

This book was read by Courtney Bippley, Main Campus Reference Librarian and library podcaster [Out Loud in the Library is available on all your favorite podcatchers]. 

Title: Dune

Author: Frank Herbert

Genre: Science Fiction

Format: Audiobook

Read Great Things 2021 Challenge Categories: A book about or set in space; A book recommended by a Durham Tech Library staff member

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Out Loud in the Library: Student Life with Gilbert Umberger

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Our latest podcast episode is out! Listen for library updates, a great interview with Gilbert Umberger (AKA G-Krispy), and book talk! 

Out Loud in the Library: Durham Tech Library Podcast

You can listen to the podcast here or on your favorite podcatcher. 

A heartfelt goodbye to Jes Dormady, who is mentioned in this episode, and has left the college since the recording. She’s gone on to new opportunities and we wish her the absolute best!

Gilbert is reading Becoming a Student Ready College (available as a print book and an ebook from the Durham Tech Library. He’s also reading Decision Points by George W. Bush (available through interlibrary loan). 

Don’t miss our next Crafternoon! Check the schedule and put it on your calendar.

Contact Shaneka Grimes with any Covid-19 vaccine or testing questions. Her email is grimess@durhamtech.edu. 

Don’t forget about our Read Great Things Challenge, and the 3 Book Read Great Things Challenge Sprint we’re doing this semester. Learn more on the Library Blog!

Follow the library on Facebook and Instagram. Contact me, Courtney Bippley, at bippleyc@durhamtech.edu. Contact the Durham Tech Library at library@durhamtech.edu. 

Out Loud in the Library: The CAE with Del Williams

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The library podcast is back! 

Our first episode of season 2 is an interview with LaDelta Williams, Director of the Center for Academic Excellence. Listen to learn what the CAE is doing this semester and how they can help you. Also included in this episode are some library updates and, of course, book talk. 

Out Loud in the Library: Durham Tech Library Podcast

This season of Out Loud in the Library will have a couple of small changes. Episodes will drop every three weeks instead of every two weeks. And, Episodes will come out on Thursdays instead of Tuesdays. (This is to keep Tuesdays clear for a special event next semester, so stay tuned!)

Without further ado, listen to season 2, episode 1, here on the blog or wherever you get your podcasts!

Disability Pride Month

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July is Disability Pride Month! 

We can celebrate by learning about the Disability Rights Movement, fighting ableism* wherever it is found, and lifting disabled voices. 

If you haven’t heard of Disability Pride Month before you can read about the origin and meaning in this article. We can spend the last few days of the month (and beyond, don’t let the calendar determine your intersectional education!) reading and learning about disabled experiences, disability advocacy, as well as enjoying stories that feature disabled characters that aren’t just objectification as inspiration. (To learn why inspirational stories about disabled people are often a form of objectification watch this video of speaker Stella Young.)

Find the books below through the Durham Tech Library.

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What We’re Reading: I Will Teach You to Be Rich

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I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi, Second edition

This book was read by Courtney Bippley, Main Campus Reference Librarian and Library podcaster.

Title: I Will Teach You to Be Rich, Second Edition 

Author: Ramit Sethi

Genre: Self-help/Personal finance

Read Great Things Challenge 2021 Categories: A book that will help with your self care, A book recommended by a Durham Tech Library staff member, Choose your own category (Personal finance book).

Summary: From iwillteachyoutoberich.com- Not just another boring, personal finance book. You don’t have to be perfect to be rich. Or the smartest person in the room. Or a type-A personality. In fact, with Ramit Sethi’s six-week program to financial independence, you can start with any amount of money, do just 85% of what he suggests, and succeed brilliantly through good times and bad.

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Virtual Student Art Show

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Welcome to the Durham Tech Virtual Student Art Show! Presented by Viva the Arts, it showcases over 100 pieces from students in our Fine Arts classes. Navigate through the show below or open it in a new window at this link. We’re thankful to be able to continue to showcase our talented students despite the pandemic. 

If you’re interested in purchasing a piece of art contact Tim Postell (postellt@durhamtech.edu). 

Questions, comments, or concerns can be sent to Courtney Bippley (bippleyc@durhamtech.edu). 

Read a Pie, Bake a Pie, Eat a Pie

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There should be another word for cookbooks that are only recipes for baked desserts. Bakebooks? Dessertbooks? Bakertbooks? We can workshop it later.

Regardless of what they are called, the library has them! I used one to make a pie on Memorial Day and it did not disappoint. The recipe came from Pie Every Day: Recipes and Slices of Life by Pat Willard. Click through to the rest of the post to see how my pie turned out!

Pie Every Day: Recipes and Slices of Life with 30 crusts and 118 ways to fill them. By Pat Willard.
Pie: not just for March 14th.
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Out Loud in the Library: Strategic Planning with Stephen Brooks

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Out Loud in the Library: Durham Tech Library Podcast

Interested in Durham Tech’s strategic planning process? Strategic Planning Committee member (and fellow librarian) Stephen Books answers all my questions. What is a strategic plan? Where is the data coming from? How will it be implemented? All this and more in our conversation.

Stephen read March, which is available at the Durham Tech Library. He’s counting it on his 2021 Read Great Things Challenge list. Are you participating in the reading challenge yet? Find out more on the library blog!

Out Loud in the Library: Men of Color Scholars Institute

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Learn all about the new Men of Color Scholars Institute at Durham Tech from Blake Williams and Dr. Keyma Clark. 

Out Loud in the Library: Durham Tech Library Podcast

The transcript will be available on the podcast website soon. I hope you enjoyed the podcast this year. We’ll be back in the fall with new updates and new interviews! Remember to like, subscribe, or follow the podcast wherever you listen. And, reviews make my heart happy.

Have a great summer!