Monthly Archives: April 2020

What We’re Reading: The City We Became

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This audiobook was listened to by Courtney Bippley, a Reference Librarian at the Main Campus Library (currently working from home). It was received for free from through the Libro.fm ALC program.

The City We Became: A Novel by N. K. Jemisin

Title: The City We Became: A Novel

Author: N.K. Jemisin

Narrator: Robin Miles

Genre: Fantasy

Summary: Three-time Hugo Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author N.K. Jemisin crafts her most incredible novel yet, a story of culture, identity, magic, and myths in contemporary New York City.
In Manhattan, a young grad student gets off the train and realizes he doesn’t remember who he is, where he’s from, or even his own name. But he can sense the beating heart of the city, see its history, and feel its power.
In the Bronx, a Lenape gallery director discovers strange graffiti scattered throughout the city, so beautiful and powerful it’s as if the paint is literally calling to her.
In Brooklyn, a politician and mother finds she can hear the songs of her city, pulsing to the beat of her Louboutin heels.
And they’re not the only ones.
Every great city has a soul. Some are ancient as myths, and others are as new and destructive as children. New York? She’s got six. –Hachette Book Group

Read Great Things 2020 Challenge Category: Recommended by a Durham Tech Librarian, A book that is part of a series (Great Cities #1)

Read courtney’s thoughts on this book

Celebrate National Poetry Month with poems of hope and solace

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Image of tree with pieces of wood hanging that features the following line from the poem "Remember" by current U.S. Poet Laureate, Joy Harjo: “Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you.”
The official April 2020 National Poetry Month poster features the artwork of Samantha Aikman, winner of this year’s National Poetry Month Poster Contest for Students

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. 







					

		
		
	


				
					
	

				
					
	

				
					
	

		

						
What We’re Reading-Meg & Jo

			
			                

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Meg & Jo by Virginia Kantra





This book was read by Susan Baker, a Reference Librarian at the Main Campus Library.





Title and Author: Meg & Jo by Virginia Kantra





Genre: Contemporary romance, domestic fiction





Read Great Things Challenge 2020 category: Recommended by a Durham Tech librarian





Description: Meg March Brooke as a stay at home mom may not stretch the imagination too far, but Jo March as a prep cook and food blogger in New York City sure does! Louisa May Alcott’s classic Little Women is delightfully re-imagined by North Carolina RITA award winning author Virginia Kantra as a contemporary tale of adult sisters from a close knit family, following their very different paths, brought together again by a family crisis.This book is told through the eyes of the older sisters, Meg and Jo; a sequel, Beth & Amy, is scheduled to follow in December 2020.




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Where Have All My Librarians Gone? Librarian contact info and library services while everyone is off-campus

			
			                

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The librarians are still here for you, though we’re working remotely and with our new [unpaid] coworkers. Note: These coworkers are not very good at accurate typing, so will not be manning the chat.  





Shiba Inu dog reclining on pillows animated to be "typing" on a laptop (its paws are not touching the keys)





Well, what can we do (and what is a no-go for off-campus work conditions)? 




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