It’s Friday, y’all! We made it to the end of another week doing the social distance disco. This week is National Library Week, too.
National Library Week 2020: Find the Library at your Place (and our New Social Media Accounts)
Category Archives: Events
Celebrate National Poetry Month with poems of hope and solace
Here are three short poems to read and reflect on during this uncertain and challenging time.
blessing the boats by Lucille Clifton – 1936-2010
(at St. Mary’s)
may the tide
that is entering even now
the lip of our understanding
carry you out
beyond the face of fear
may you kiss
the wind then turn from it
certain that it will
love your back may you
open your eyes to water
water waving forever
and may you in your innocence
sail through this to that
From Quilting: Poems 1987-1990 by Lucille Clifton. Copyright © 2001 by Lucille Clifton.
Spring Morning by Marion Strobel
O day—if I could cup my hands and drink of you,
And make this shining wonder be
A part of me!
O day! O day!
You lift and sway your colors on the sky
Till I am crushed with beauty. Why is there
More of reeling sunlit air
Than I can breathe? Why is there sound
In silence? Why is a singing wound
About each hour?
And perfume when there is no flower?
O day! O Day! How may I press
Nearer to loveliness?
This poem is in the public domain. Published in Poem-a-Day on March 22, 2020, by the Academy of American Poets.
Everyone Sang by Siegfried Sassoon – 1886-1967
Everyone suddenly burst out singing;
And I was filled with such delight
As prisoned birds must find in freedom
Winging wildly across the white
Orchards and dark green fields; on; on; and out of sight.
Everyone’s voice was suddenly lifted,
And beauty came like the setting sun.
My heart was shaken with tears and horror
Drifted away … O but every one
Was a bird; and the song was wordless; the singing will never be done.
This poem is in the public domain.
Looking for more poetry?
A wonderful resource for poetry is Poets.org. You can sign up for a free poem-a-day in your inbox and discover amazing poets and poems from around the world.
Another great resource is Poetry Foundation. Their website feature an audio poem each day and has topical poetry collections such as
U.S. Latinx Voices in Poetry, Asian American Voices in Poetry,
Poems of Anxiety and Uncertainty, Poetry and Food, poems for children and teens, and helpful poem guides.
Banned Books Week Sept. 22-29, 2019
Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and open access to information for all. The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted for removal or censorship in libraries and schools.
Image courtesy of https://bannedbooksweek.org/promotional-tools/
The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom compiles lists of challenged books in order to bring awareness of censorship that affect libraries and schools.
Stop by our banned books display on the lower level of Main library and pick up a bookmark, sticker, or coloring sheet at the library’s desk to celebrate your freedom to read.
Crafternoon Workshops scheduled for Fall Semester
The Library and Student Government Association are excited to host craft workshops again this fall semester. Workshops are held in the Library’s Group Study Area room 5-105A on the lower level of Main Campus Library unless otherwise noted and are open to all students, faculty, and staff. All materials and supplies are provided. Join us for creative fun and to try something new!
Photos from spring semester Crafternoon workshops:
mask painting for Mardi Gras 
wool felting 
wool felted owl 
wool felting 
string art 
string art 
string art 
Mardi Gras masks created by students
Main Campus Schedule
Make and decorate your own academic planner or notebook
Thurs. 8/29 2:00-4:00 Main Campus Library room 5-105A
Candle Making
Thurs. 9/19 2:00-4:00 Main Campus Library room 5-105A
Pumpkin painting
Thurs. 10/31 2:00-4:00 Wynn Multipurpose room 10-103
Native American crafts
Tues. 11/19 2:00-4:00 Main Campus Library room 5-105A
Orange County Campus Schedule
Make and decorate your own academic planner or notebook
Tues. 8/27 11:00-1:00 OCC Lobby
Candle Making
Wed. 9/20 11:00-1:00 OCC Lobby
Pumpkin painting
10/29 11:00-1:00 OCC Lobby
Native American crafts
Wed. 11/20 11:00-1:00 OCC Lobby
Celebrate Poetry Month with Durham Tech
April is National Poetry Month, which celebrates and encourages people to read and rediscover poets and poetry in their literary lives.
How can you participate at Durham Tech? Good news! We’ve got a few easy suggestions!
- Visit The Poetry Fox in the Main Campus Library on Thursday, April 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and celebrate local vulpine poets.
- Check out a book from the poetry displays in the Main and Orange County Campus Libraries.
- Write some of your own poetry inspired by the many seasons we’ve had in the past two weeks.
- Pick up or print out your own copy of the Durham Tech Library’s 2019 Poetry Month bookmarks.
Want some more poetry in your life? Check out local public libraries and independent bookstores for more events.
Celebrate reading all the great things in 2018!
Need some more details? Here you go!
- Looking for the completion form so you can get yourself a tote bag? Here’s where you can find the Read Great Things 2018 Challenge Completion form.
- Need more information about the Read Great Things 2018 Challenge? Here’s where you can find the Durham Tech Library blog post about the Read Great Things 2018 Challenge.
- Looking for information about the Read Great Things 2019 Challenge? You can find out more at the celebration or posted on this blog in January. Subscribe to this blog to keep up-to-date.
- What’s this about a book swap? In order to participate in the book swap, you should bring at least one used book that you no longer want and will trade it for a book someone else is ready to rehome. Feel free to drop off book swap books–in good used condition without significant stains, smells, or damage–before the event at either the Main Campus or Orange County Campus Library. Any books that are not swapped will be donated to the Durham Tech Little Free Libraries.
Contact Meredith Lewis (lewisma @ durhamtech . edu) if you have questions.
Read Great Things Challenge 2018 — Check-in & Celebration Information
We’re 11.5/12ths of the way through 2018, and the end of the year and the end of the Durham Tech Library’s Read Great Things Challenge 2018 is coming up fast.
To give us an idea of how many prizes (!!!) and participation items we need, if you’re participating or have been trying to participate, please fill out our survey if you haven’t already: Read Great Things Challenge 2018 Check-In Survey
All participants (whether you finish or not) are welcome to stop by the Main Campus Library on Wednesday, Dec. 12 from 11:00 to 1:00 to have some cookies and tea, pick up a tote bag (priority goes to current faculty, staff, and students who submit their challenge completion form) and other swag (any participants are eligible), and participate in a used book swap (bring one, trade for another one). Anyone wanting to donate a book for the book swap ahead of time, drop it by any Durham Tech library location– those not claimed in the swap will be put in one of our Little Free Libraries.
If you want more information about the Read Great Things Challenge, check out our library blog entry about it: Read Great Things Challenge 2018 Information
We’ll be doing this again in 2019, so hold onto your reading glasses and prep your TBR piles! Look out for upcoming TLC events and check-ins throughout the year.
Happy reading! Direct any questions to Meredith Lewis, Orange County Campus Librarian (lewisma @ durham tech . edu)
Celebrate Banned Books Week Sept. 23-29
Banned Books Week is an annual event which celebrates the freedom to read and highlights the importance of open access to information for all. Banned Books Week brings awareness to issues of censorship in libraries and schools. The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom compiles reports from libraries, schools, and the media of attempts to ban books in communities across the country.
Image from American Library Association
To see a list of the most frequently challenged and banned books, visit: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks
Stop by our banned books display on the lower level of the library and pick up a bookmark or coloring sheet at the library’s desk to celebrate your freedom to read.
Join us for Crafternoon workshops this Fall semester
The Library and Student Government Association are hosting craft workshops this fall semester. Workshops are held in the Library’s Group Study Area room 105A on the lower level of Main Campus Library unless otherwise noted. All materials and supplies are provided.
Images from previous Crafternoon workshops:
Schedule for Main Campus
Mon. 8/27 1:00-3:00 Academic planners/notebooks
Tues. 9/18 1:00-3:00 Mixed media collage
Wed. 10/24 11:00-3:00 Pumpkin painting (note location: Fall Fest, Main Campus Plaza)
Thurs. 11/1 1:00-3:00 Day of the Dead masks (note location: Wynn Multipurpose Room)
Tues. 11/27 1:00-3:00 Tote bag painting
Schedule for Orange County Campus
Wed. Aug. 29 11:30 – 1:30 Academic planners/notebooks
Thurs. Sept. 20 11:30-1:30 Mixed media collage
Tues. Oct. 23 11:30-1:30 Pumpking painting during Fall Fest
Wed. Oct. 31 TBD Day of the Dead masks
Thurs. Nov. 29 11:30-1:30 Tote bag painting
Library hosts third annual Student Art Exhibition
The library is thrilled to be hosting our third annual Student Art Exhibition. Come see the amazing art by our extremely talented Associate in Fine Arts students. Drawings, paintings, watercolors, and sculpture are all featured. The art will be on display through May 4th. Enjoy photos of some of the art works in the exhibition here.
For more information, view the poster:
Student Art Exhibition Poster Spring 18