Books on the screen!

So many great books are hitting the screen this fall, either as TV shows or movies.  Many are already out or available on streaming platforms. 

Here are a few book adaptations that we’re looking forward to watching or are currently enjoying.

If you would like to read one of these but it’s not available at our libraries, you may request it through Interlibrary loan. Happy reading and watching!

Library Hours for the Thanksgiving Holiday

Need to use the Durham Tech Libraries next week? Well, our hours will temporarily change.

The College will be closed Wednesday, November 24 through Sunday, November 28. No classes or events will be held.

The Main Campus Library will be open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Monday and Tuesday, November 22 and 23.

The Northern Durham Center Library will be closed. Contact your librarians if you need help during this time.

The Orange County Campus will be open for access on Monday and Tuesday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with librarian services available from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

Library chat will be available when your librarians are not available (with the exception of Thursday, November 25).

Last Crafternoon of the Fall: Granular Wax Candle Making!

It’s getting dark early and a candle sure does make the evenings more cozy, so why not make your own candle at our final Crafternoon of the Fall 2021 semester?

Wax candle from previous Crafternoon event.

Choose your favorite colors and layer your own personalize candle using granulated wax.

Join us in the Orange County Campus lobby on Wednesday, November 17 from 11:00 to 1:00 or in the Main Campus Library large group study area (downstairs) on Thursday, November 18 from 1:00 to 3:00.

All supplies are provided. Students, faculty, and staff are all welcome to participate.

Keep an eye out for our Crafternoons next semester– we’ll be felting, making string art, and painting totes.


For questions about the Main Campus Crafternoon, reach out to library @ durhamtech.edu. For questions about the Orange County Campus Crafternoon, reach out to Meredith Lewis (lewisma @ durhamtech.edu).

Technical Difficulties: Please Resubscribe!

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Pictures Books for Everyone!: A book with pictures

Only 53 days left to complete both the 2021 Read Great Things Challenge and the 2021 Reading SPRINT

While your SPRINT books don’t count towards your Read Great Things 2021 Challenge completion, you can definitely complete both challenges. Or just one. Or neither. Either way, you’re still welcome to come join us in December for our bookish celebration. 


One of our favorite* categories in the 2021 Read Great Things Challenge is A book with pictures. Pictures are for everyone!

Click through for some options from the Durham Tech on-campus and digital collections! 

Continue Reading →

Do Your Own Research! (But how?)

It’s officially fall. There’s a chill in the air and jackets are starting to be worn outside (and not just in overly air conditioned buildings). 

It’s also research assignment season. 

Research: Asking the right questions

Whether you’re working towards your last research assignment of the semester, starting your first big research paper, or somewhere in between, we can help! Keep reading for some tips and tricks from your Durham Tech Librarians about researching and keeping your sources organized (which will make writing your paper easier in the long run).

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It’s Election Day!

Happy Election Day, y’all!

It may not be a presidential election year, but municipal elections matter, too

vote nc

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.


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 


For a bit of background history on why elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, see this article from NPR’s Morning Edition.


Charlie Voting Do Not Selfie

Charlie Lewis would like to remind you that, even though this is not a presidential election year, voting is still important (but no completed ballot selfies). 

Open Educational Resources at Durham Tech (and a TLC Presentation on Nov. 3)

Have you heard of Open Educational Resources (OER)?

Maybe you’ve heard they’re “free textbooks.” Maybe you’ve heard that replacing commercial textbooks with open textbooks improves students’ success and retention rates. Maybe you’ve heard that instructors can edit OER, mix them together, or otherwise modify them to align with your learning outcomes. Maybe you know someone right here at Durham Tech who is already teaching using OER.

OER are materials for teaching, training, or research in any form –digital or otherwise– that are in the public domain or have been released under an open license that permits their free access, use, modification, and redistribution by others – either with no restrictions or with limited restrictions.

Expanding OER adoption can be an important tool in furthering Durham Tech’s new Strategic Plan, particularly with respect to Pathways to Student Success:

Ensure that all enrolled students persist, progress, complete a credential or appropriate training, transfer, and secure living wages at equitable rates that meet or exceed regional, state, and national averages.

Students whose classes rely on OER are more likely to remain in those classes and to enroll in more credits over time.


If you’ve followed the Library blog for some time, you may already be aware of Durham Tech’s involvement with Open Educational Resources.

Librarians here attended “OER boot camp” training through NC LIVE in 2018 and have been building support for OER since then, working to help faculty incorporate OER into their courses.

Going forward, library staff look forward to helping instructors expand OER adoption in support of student success.


To learn more about about OER and how we can help, please join librarians Courtney Bippley and Stephen Brooks for their TLC presentation 
Walk the Talk: How OER Adoption Is Integral to the New Strategic Plan (via Microsoft Teams) next Wednesday, November 3, at 2:00 p.m.

What We’re Reading: Pumpkinheads

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks
Available as an ebook through Dogwood Digital Library

Josiah and Deja work at the Pumpkin Patch, a seasonal fair with food, animals, and a corn maze. It’s their last night of the season and next year they’ll be at college unable to work at The Patch. Will Josiah finally talk to the girl he’s been pining over for years? Deja is going to make sure of it!

A cute fall romance with tons of atmosphere and adorable illustrations.


This book was read by Courtney Bippley, Main Campus Reference Librarian. 

Title: Pumpkinheads

Author: Rainbow Rowell and illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks

Genre: Graphic novel

Read Great Things 2021 Categories: A short book; A book with pictures; Choose your own book category: A seasonal book; A book suggested by a Durham Tech Library staff member

Continue Reading →