Author Archives: Meredith Lewis

About Meredith Lewis

Meredith is a librarian at Durham Tech on both the Main and Orange County Campuses.

It’s Election Day!

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Happy Election Day 2020! 

Today is the last day to cast your vote! Join your Durham Tech community and cast your vote if you’re eligible and haven’t already! 

Durham Tech Early Voting pictures and Selfies, including some pens, thumbs up, and celebratory shoes. We voted!

In order to vote today, you’ll need to go to your assigned polling place and can vote until 7:30 p.m.– if you’re in line at 7:30 p.m., no matter how long the line may be, you can cast your ballot. Learn more from the NC State Board of Elections about what to expect when voting on Election Day, including links to download a sample ballot.

No ID is required. 

As a voter, you have rights! Here’s a concise list from Democracy NC about your Voter’s Bill of Rights. (Also available in Spanish.) Remember that voter intimidation is against both state and federal law. Report any instances of voter intimidation to the election official at your polling place 

If you’d like to drop off your Vote-by-Mail/Absentee Ballot in person, you can do so on Election Day at your county’s Board of Elections office by 5:00 p.m. All ballots sent through the mail must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 12. 

Unfortunately, if you have not registered to vote, you can no longer do so, but if you have registered and your name is not found at your polling place, you have the right to complete a provisional ballot. 

Out Loud in the Library: A Durham Tech Library Podcast

The second episode of the Durham Tech Library podcast, Out Loud in the Library is out today! Check out Episode 2: Action Plan with Angela Davis about Durham Tech’s Action Plan for Equity, Inclusivity, and Diversity.

Need to study for the TEAS & NCLEX (or other professional exams)? Check out our test prep resources

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Are you looking for some study resources for the TEAS, NCLEX, or other professional exams? Or even some GED, ACT, SAT, and GRE prep?

The Durham Tech Library has access to three test prep databases: BoardVitals, PrepSTEP, and TERC.

All Durham Tech students, faculty, and staff are able to access these databases on and off-campus. Log in using your Durham Tech username and password, the same as you’d use for Self-Service, WebAdvisor, or Sakai.

Not affiliated with Durham Tech? TERC is also available through your local NC public library through NC LIVE. 

For your TEAS and NCLEX online test preparation needs, let’s explore what’s available. 

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Durham Tech Crafternoon– Making Decorative Masks… for your Eyes!

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Crafternoons are a partnership between the Durham Tech Student Government Association and the Library. 

Masks have taken on a different meaning this year, but let’s decorate the top part of your face to go along with the mask that covers your nose and mouth. 

Durham Tech Crafternoon: Make Your Own Mask
Does this remind anyone else of the putties from Power Rangers?

What you need for a basic mask:

  • Paper (I’d recommend a lightweight sheet to make your ideal template and then–if you like– something heavier to give it structure, but since you’re going to decorate it, feel free to use those political fliers)
  • OR a blank mask template (Many printables are available online, but for something a little fancier, you can purchase one at craft supply stores.)
  • Decorations! Felt, sequins, feathers, leather, paint, or anything else to decorate that brings you joy! 
Current students can request a blank mask to pick up at the Main Campus Library.

Do you want your own blank mask to decorate? We have some masks available for current students to pick up at the Main Campus Library. 

Request your mask through our Wufoo form– current students only, please. 

Are you a reluctant crafter who needs some advice on how to get started? We’re here for you. Read on. 

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Your Vote, Your Voice: Early voting ends this week in NC

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Your vote, your voice. Be heard. Vote by November 3.

Need some info on your ballot, your rights, and other information about voting early (by Sat., Oct. 31) or on Election Day (Tues., Nov. 3) in NC?

Check out our first Library podcast episode: Out Loud in the Library– Early Voting with Erin Riney with your host Courtney Bippley

You can also check out the Library blog’s Informed Voter Resources post. 

Various "We Voted" pictures from Library staff

Hey, Durham Tech faculty, staff, and students! Have you already voted? Send me (Meredith Lewis– lewisma @ durhamtech . edu) your voting selfie and we’ll post a Durham Tech group “picture” on Election Day! 

Happy Early Voting Day!

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I mean, it’s not a holiday or anything, but today is when North Carolina early voting sites open, including one on Durham Tech’s Main Campus (in the Newton building, room 4-141, accessed from the back parking lot–near the construction classrooms) for Durham County voters. 

  • Meredith squinting in the sun with a red mask, a Vote Now t-shirt, and a No Bull-- I Voted sticker
    I voted! This is my first time being a Durham County voter and working on the Main Campus while we have early voting available (I’m normally in Hillsborough).
  • Parking Lot H behind the Newton Building-- Early Vote Here!
    The back parking lot of the Newton Building (Lot H) is where you’ll find the early voting entrance.

Early voting begins Thursday, Oct. 15 and ends on Saturday, Oct. 31. I voted today at he Newton Building and it took me about an hour to vote– while it wasn’t ridiculously busy like some of the news from other states, the poll workers made sure we kept appropriately distanced, got our own pen (to keep!), and were spaced out in the voting site. Everyone was wearing a mask and it felt very safe and organized. 

During early voting, you can update your registration or register to vote, drop off your absentee ballot at an early voting location, or cast your ballot! 

Click through to learn more about early voting (and see some Library WFH cat staff members). 

LEARN more ABOUT EARLY VOTING (& LIBRARY cAT pICTUREs)

Make 2020 Your Year of Civic Engagement: Informed Voter Resources

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If you’ve decided that you’re going to be a more informed voter, now is the time. Elections are coming up soon, and if you’re eligible to vote and want to learn more about your choices and the issues on your ballot and how to actually cast that vote, here are some resources that you might find useful.

North Carolina state image above VOTE in a red and blue button image
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What You *Could* Be Reading: Series for Fall Weather (& RGT2020)

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We had our first few days of fall, which means in addition to warm beverages, I’m also thinking about settling into a series of books to cozy up with (and also to complete one of the categories of the 2020 Read Great Things Challenge: A book that is part of a series). 

photograph of a series... of old Encyclopedia Britannicas (9th edition). They are black with lovely gold writing on the spine. Very fancy.
You don’t have to read the encyclopedia, but if that’s your thing, you do you. 

There are lots of series out there, but sometimes it’s nice to start on something without having to wait for the next or final installment to be published (which may or may never come–I’m looking at you in particular, George R. R. Martin). 

The Durham Tech Library has some of these complete series, but we also have a lot of series starters– let us know if you want the next book or books and we can borrow them from other libraries. Want to know how to get books from the library during the fall semester? Check out our Library To-Go info. 

READ ON FOR SOME SERIES SUGGESTIONS AVAILABLE AT THE dURHAM tECH lIBRARY

September Crafternoon: Decorate Your Own Mug

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We’ve had a few solid days of fall-like weather, which reminds me warm beverage weather. With that in mind, what better way to celebrate the beginning of fall weather than to decorate your own mug? 

white mug with paintbrush and four colors of paint: red, yellow, blue, and green (the components of the mug painting kit)

Durham Tech Student Life will mail or reserve for in-library pickup mugs for the first 30 students who submit the September Crafternoon Mug Request Form (link under previous text) between Tuesday, September 22 and Thursday, September 24. One mug per student and current student status is required (and will be checked prior to mailing). If the form is closed, all the spaces have already been reserved. An oven that can get to 360 degrees is needed for this project. 

A painted white mug with "Happiness in a cup" and the "u" in cup has illustrated flowers in it

Not a current student or want to get mugs for you and your family? We’re using Michael’s Ceramic Mug Kit by ArtMinds, available in stores and online.

Well, other than dumping a packet of [delicious] hot chocolate [preferably with those little dehydrated marshmallows] into your beautifully decorated mug, what else might you be able to do with it?

Two words: MUG CAKE

READ MORE FOR MUG CAKE RECIPES FOR YOUR MUG