Category Archives: Just for Fun

Let’s GO! to the library

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Whether you’ve stubbornly decided to deny that you know what a Pikachu is, have whole-heartedly embraced that you’re committed to powering up your Snorlax, or are anywhere in between, Pokémon GO is here… and accessible for smartphone gamers of all skill levels.

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There are lots of options of places to battle or gather supplies (and catch ’em all!) around Durham Tech.  Did you know the Main Campus Library is a gym or that there are two PokéStops accessible in the Orange County Campus Library?

Caught any interesting Pokémon in the library or around Durham Tech? Take a picture and email it to us at library AT durhamtech dot edu and we’ll add it to our slideshow!

I Ain’t Afraid of No Ghosts!

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Prepare yourself for the new Ghostbusters movie by reading some ghost stories from the Durham Tech Library. Some are scary, some are funny, but they all have those opaque apparitions we love to fear!

A black cat on a grey and white background.

Collected and introduced by the bestselling author of The Time Traveler’s Wife and Her Fearful Symmetry–including her own fabulous new illustrations for each piece, and a new story by Niffenegger–this is a unique and haunting anthology of some of the best ghost stories of all time. From Edgar Allen Poe to Kelly Link, M.R. James to Neil Gaiman, H. H. Munro to Audrey Niffenegger herself, Ghostly reveals the evolution of the ghost story genre with tales going back to the eighteenth century and into the modern era, ranging across styles from Gothic Horror to Victorian, with a particular bent toward stories about haunting–haunted children, animals, houses. Every story is introduced by Audrey Niffenegger, an acclaimed master of the craft, with some words on its background and why she chose to include it. Niffenegger’s own story is, “A Secret Life With Cats.” Perfect for the classic and contemporary ghost story aficionado, this is a delightful volume, beautifully illustrated. Ghostly showcases the best of the best in the field, including Edith Wharton, P.G. Wodehouse, A.S. Byatt, Ray Bradbury, and so many more.

Drawn girl with a ghostly outline in her black hair.

 

Of all the things Anya expected to find at the bottom of an old well, a new friend wasn’t one of them. Especially not a new friend who’s been dead for a century. Falling down a well is bad enough, but Anya’s normal life might actually be worse. She’s embarrassed by her family, self-conscious about her body, and she’s pretty much given up on fitting in at school. A new friend–even a dead one–is just what she needs. But Anya’s new BFF isn’t kidding about the ‘forever’ part…

Title over green smoke coming from a house chimney.

When Jeremy Johnson Johnson’s strange ability to speak to the ghost of Jacob Grimm draws the interest of his classmate Ginger Boltinghouse, the two find themselves at the center of a series of disappearances in their hometown.

Negative space silhouettes over flames.

Since losing both of her parents, fifteen-year-old Katie can see and talk to ghosts, which makes her a loner until fellow student Law sees her drawing of a historic house and together they seek a treasure rumored to be hidden there by illegal slave-traders.

Too Hot to Cook?

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Summer has really and truly arrived, which means it may be too hot to use some of our awesome cookbooks,* but that doesn’t mean you can’t check out some of our awesome other food-related books and movies.

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*Check out section TX in all campus libraries for cookbooks of all cuisines and sizes.

Explore Durham’s Soul Music History

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In the 1960’s and 1970’s, many soul, funk, and R&B performers lived and worked in Durham, NC. More than 40 groups recorded singles and full-length albums in this time period. Ten recording labels were based in Durham during those decades.

Durham County Library’s North Carolina Collection, put together a comprehensive web exhibit, Bull City Soul, where you can learn about this fascinating musical history.

Read about musical origins and influences, see profiles, images, and discographies of the musical artists.  Learn about the politics of the time, local live music venues, and record stores that contributed to this vibrant culture and history.

Skull & Bones group

Skull & Bones promotional photo,
© 2014 Joshua Clark Davis, Jason Perlmutter, Lincoln Hancock

This 2014 project was funded by the Durham Library Foundation, Duke University, and North Carolina Humanities Council. This web exhibit is based on two projects which began in 2005 by local record collector and record store owner, Jason Perlmutter.  Perlmutter launched a website, Carolina Soul History to share his research.  “The Carolina Soul website serves as a living encyclopedia of soul music made in North and South Carolina.”

Did you know our library has music CDs available for checkout?  Search the online catalog to locate artists and albums.  These are shelved on the lower level of the library.

 

 

 

 

 

What We’re Reading – The Fire Sermon

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This book was read by Meredith Lewis, a Reference Librarian at (mostly) the Orange County Campus Library.

A burned and smoking Omega symbol is in the center of a white cover with burned edges

The Fire Sermon by Francesca Haig

Why did you choose to read this book?

If we’re being honest, the cover was impressive—a picture of a burned out Omega symbol with no other text and artistically “burned” corners. I picked it up, realized it was dystopian lit without a zombie apocalypse (nuclear destruction, yes) and not focused solely on romance (those are not my favorites), so I picked it up… and read it in two days. During the work week.

What did you like about it?

I liked that, despite being yet another book in a pretty common genre nowadays, it had its own vibe, and I wasn’t constantly comparing it to the other books in its dystopian genre. The twin idea that this world is centered around is unique—after a period of very few births post-nuclear blast, two twins are born in every birth.  One is deformed in some way (missing leg, extra eye, etc.), the Omegas, and they are separated and subjugated in society run by the “normal” twins, the Alphas. I also like that I’m pretty sure Cass’s twin Zach is just simply evil (I don’t trust the guy), but I still, at the end of the first book, can’t quite tell. A little mystery is a good thing in the first book in a series.

What feeling did the book leave you with?

Eager anticipation for the next one in the series, which luckily will be released on May 3, so I don’t have to wait around very long for the next in the series. I’m also curious to see how the trilogy progresses—there was only one real plot twist in the first book, and I expected it, but not until close to the reveal. I don’t know where Cass, Zach, Piper, and Zoe will end up and if/how they’re going to be able to save this society from itself. (They have to, though. Right?)

Who would you recommend the book to?

Anyone who liked The Hunger Games or The Red Queen or The Queen of the Tearling other dystopian novels that deal with a broken societal structure becoming even more broken. Other reviews compare it to Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, too, but not nearly as bleak. It’s a pretty fast and engaging read, too, so I’d also recommend it to someone who didn’t want a tough read.

What would you pair this book with?

Some fresh, clean water–this book did kind of make me thirsty. Maybe a good pair of walking shoes and fresh socks, too.

Interested in reading The Fire Sermon for yourself? Check it out from the library!

Want to read The Map of Bones, the second book in the series that will be coming out May 3? Use the book request form to ask the Durham Tech Library to buy it.

What We’re Reading: Gut

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This book was read by Meredith Lewis, a Reference Librarian at (mostly) the Orange County Campus Library.

A tan cover with a comic-style representation of the intestines leading from the title of the book, Gut

Why did you choose to read this book?

The Orange County Campus has a new small collection of medical and scientific nonfiction, and this one stood out because it was about an entire body system that, frankly, I realized I knew very, very little about. Plus, who doesn’t want to know more about what goes on inside their own body (presented in an interesting and easy-to-read way)? I’m also trying to read more nonfiction as a personal goal.

It’s also described as “A cheeky up-close and personal guide to the secrets and science of our digestive system.” Are you sold on it yet?

Did it remind you of any other book, or a movie?

It reminded me of a Mary Roach book— presenting science in a funny and interesting way so that a non-scientific, non-medical person (me) can understand and learn… while still being entertained. It also kind of reminded me of the Magic School Bus and Futurama episodes where they go inside a digestive tract (for obvious reasons).

Was there anything noteworthy about the book?

I’m just so amazed by how much I didn’t’ know and how much is still being discovered about the human digestive system, considering how much impact it has on our day-to-day and overall well-being. I also didn’t think much about spit before—did you know it’s partially made up of white blood cells?

Who would you recommend the book to?

Everyone? Anyone who wants to learn from a reputable source (the author has a medical degree and cites scientific studies to back up her facts)… but doesn’t want to have to read a textbook and decipher the complex terminology. Or someone who is cool with the terminology, but wants an easier, more engaging read.

What would you pair this book with?

Some probiotic yogurt… or yogurt in general. Healthier gut, healthier life.

Interested in reading Gut for yourself? Check it out from the library!

Check out the Science Slam Berlin video of the author about the charming guts (in German with English captions)!

#colorourcollections: Coloring Pages from Library & Museum Collections

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black and white drawn image of stereotypical college sports and other activities from the 1913 UNC-Chapel Hill Yackey Yak Yearbook

One of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Libraries’ #colorourcollection pages, including a football scene at the top. (Go, Panthers!)

It’s almost the weekend (yay!), and you may want to unwind a little and give yourself a mental break between study sessions and family responsibilities (and maybe a little football?).  Why not throwback to your childhood and take a mental break by coloring?

Several special collections libraries and museums across the US and UK decided to create “Color Our Collections” week (Feb. 1-5) by posting images from their collections with the color removed, creating pages that anyone can access and color in their own way.

For all you A&P students, check out the Oregon Health & Science University’s Historical Collections & Archives Coloring Book, featuring a wide variety of historical medical illustrations. (Skeletons! Amputations! Guts!)

For the animal and nature lovers out there, check out the BioDiversity Heritage Library‘s collection of images (scroll down for their coloring book).

For a more complete list of participating libraries and museums, see Book Riot’s roundup or search #colorourcollections on Twitter or Facebook.

What We’re Reading: The Brothers K

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The Brothers K - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Title: The Brothers K

Author: David James Duncan

Genre: literary fiction

Why did you choose to read this book?

I have a Goodreads account and this book kept showing up on my recommendations, even though I’d never heard of the author.

In a small mill town in Washington State, a former minor-league baseball pitcher and his Seventh-Day Adventist wife raise five children. The book follows the members of the family from the late 1950s through the early 1970s.

What did you like about it?

I liked the development of all the characters. The children grow to become adults as the story reveals more about the past of older characters too. My favorite character is arguably the main character and the narrator’s father, Hugh Chance. Following characters for decades also provides a window into an earlier time in history.

Did it remind you of any other book, or a movie?

It reminds me of Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen, which also follows multiple characters over a period of time.

Was there anything noteworthy about the book?

It was a New York Times Notable Book. It is written in beautiful but accessible prose. Introducing each chapter or section of the book is a quote from a work of literature or philosophy.

What feeling did the book leave you with?

At 645 pages, it’s a long book, so I was glad finally to have finished it! I thought it was a great book, but felt like the ending, in which we learn what happened to each of the characters years down the road, was tacked-on and unnecessary, which diminished the overall experience of reading it.

Who would you recommend the book to?

I’d recommend this to fans of literary fiction and baseball. I would also suggest that people who are experiencing some sort of significant familial change may find this book to be an opportunity to reflect on their own situations.

What would you pair this book with?

Spicy Indian food and cold, cheap beer.

Take a walk! Explore NC State Parks, Trails, and more.

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Are you stressed by the end-of-semester crunch or the upcoming holidays?  Spend time outdoors!  It’s amazing what nature, walks or hikes, and fresh air can do for you!  We have many beautiful parks and trails in the triangle to enjoy as well as throughout the state.

Visit the NCpedia page, Exploring North Carolina: North Carolina State Parks, Trails, Lakes, Rivers & Natural Areas, which includes links to articles and contemporary and historic images of the parks from the NC Division of Parks and Recreation, the State Archives of North Carolina, the North Carolina Museum of History.  You’ll also find links to maps and web pages for the individual parks, trails, and recreation areas.

NCpedia is an online encyclopedia about North Carolina and highlights North Carolina’s unique resources, people, and culture. It is coordinated and managed by the Government & Heritage Library at the State Library of North Carolina, a part of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources.