What We’re Reading: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

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The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (A Hunger Games novel, #0 in the series [a prequel]) by Suzanne Collins

Title: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: prequel; science fiction; dystopia
Read Great Things 2020 Categories: A book that is part of a series; A bildungsroman; A controversial book; and A book suggested by a Durham Tech Librarian

This book was read by Meredith Lewis, the [mostly] Orange County Campus Librarian. 

If you liked the original Hunger Games trilogy, you’ll probably enjoy or appreciate this. If you’re like me, you may need to re-read the other books, but I read this book and then re-read the series afterwards, pausing in the third book because everyone knows if you don’t keep reading, then the bad thing you know is going to happen totally won’t happen, right? (Spoiler: It still happened. Double spoiler: The series is about a society that pits its children against each other TO THE DEATH to control rebellion. Bad things happen in all. three. books.)

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We All Scream For Ice Cream

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It’s hot, y’all. 

It’s hot and humid and sticky and gross. This is that part of a North Carolina summer my relatives in Pennsylvania tell me is inhumane. (The joke is on them when they get snow in November though.)

Sometimes, when the sun seems angry at you personally and the world feels like it’s falling apart (see: pandemic, police brutality, climate change, the 24-hour news cycle), there’s nothing better than some ice cream to cool off and coat your insides with delicious sugar (or dairy-free with sugar substitute– do you). Want to surround yourself with ice cream history and recipes? The library can help with that. 

click here for ice cream recipes and more!

What We’re Reading: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

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Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

 This book was read by Julie Humphrey, Library Director.

Title: Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
Author: Bryan Stevenson
Genre: nonfiction, memoir
Read Great Things 2020 Categories: A book about civic engagement; A book that has won an award, and A book suggested by a Durham Tech Librarian

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Where Have All My Librarians Gone? Library services while everyone is off-campus [Updated July 2020]

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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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Read: Learning More about Race in America

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So far, we’ve watched, listened, and learned more about civic engagement. If you’re looking for reading resources to help you learn about and engage in meaningful positive change related to race in America, the Durham Tech Library has curated a book list containing history, self-assessment, action and engagement advice, art, film, data science, travel, personal stories, and social science, just to name a few. 

Check it out! 

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR DURHAM TECH BOOK LIST

Make 2020 Your Year of Civic Engagement

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2020 is both a US Census and election year.

Many of us are thinking about how we can make a meaningful impact in our community. Participating in both the Census and local and national elections can help us make those impacts. 

Click through to learn a little more about the Census, voting (especially in NC), and a few books to check off your civic engagement category on the Read Great Things 2020 Challenge. 

LEARN MORE

Listen: Learning More about Race in America

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Recent protests have reignited larger discussions of race, African American history, and the unfinished work in America towards equality. To learn more about this important conversation, the Library has collected some predominantly audio resources to help you continue to educate yourself.

Click through to for audio resources

Can’t Go to the Art Museum? Check out our virtual student art show

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At the end of the spring semester, the Library and the Durham Tech Fine Arts classes come together to host a student art display. We look forward to this event each year. 

With the physical library closed, the annual art display was [obviously] cancelled, but we still wanted to find a way to highlight some of the wonderful art that Durham Tech students created this year, so we’ve created a virtual art show two ways.

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