The Durham Tech Library staff is heartbroken to announce the death of Rachel Smith, our Northern Durham Center Librarian and off-site library liaison. 

We are shocked and devastated, and in addition to feeling Rachel’s loss at our college, we are incredibly sad for her family’s loss. 

Rachel joined our Durham Tech Library team in January 2020. Ten weeks later, we were all off-campus and trying to adapt to new, uncharted circumstances. To help support our campus community during the transition, Rachel helped our students with online chat reference, created research guides for college programs and classes, and assisted with library outreach. She learned the ropes of a new job during a tremendously difficult time. 

Rachel shone brightly in the library community and will be greatly missed. She earned her MLIS degree from UNCG in 2013 after earning her bachelor’s degree in theater at NCCU.  She was a Pennsylvania State University Libraries Diversity Resident librarian from 2013-2015, participated in the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Immersion Program in 2014, and was Learning Technologies Librarian at Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries from 2015-2019 before joining Durham Tech.  She recently served on the editorial board for Weave: Journal of Library User Experience and was a current member of the North Carolina Community College Library Association.

Rachel was kind, funny, bright, and loved Carolina Panthers football. She enjoyed kayaking, walks with her family dog, and fun books.  She added “y’alleagues” to our departmental lexicon. We’ll miss her tremendously and are grateful that we had the opportunity to work with and know Rachel. 

Her obituary can be found at Rose Hill Funeral Home, which includes service information.