Read Across Durham Tech!

Submitted by Durham Tech Library on

Tuesday through Saturday of next week (March 7-11) are Durham Tech's Inclement Weather Make-Up Days (aka "Not Spring Break"), and since we haven't had inclement weather, there will be a break in classes.

March is National Reading Month and this year, Thursday, March 2 (today!) has been designated Read Across America Day.

We get that sometimes when you're in school or teaching that it can be hard to budget time, energy, and attention for reading if it's not your go-to, but we believe that everyone who wants to be a reader can be.

Awkward Yeti comic "Heart Tries Reading". Heart and Brain are anthropomorphic organs having a conversation. Brain is reading a book and says, "Heart, come read with me." Heart responds, "Oh fine, I'll look at your boring books." When Heart looks at the book, he sees various exciting scenes: A knight, a pirate ship, and an undersea-scape. Heart appears from behind the book and says, "THAT'S reading?!" and Brain responds, "Yep. Sorry to bore you."

To challenge yourself and join our quiet society of readers at Durham Tech, check out the Read Great Things Challenge, the Library's annual category-based challenge, now in its 6th year. You can "win" with 5 strategically-chosen books.

In honor of Read Across America Day and National Reading Month, there are a few things that the Durham Tech Library would like to remind you about reading and your reading self--

  • Like other skills we learn, you can become a better reader through practice.
  • Like other habits we develop, you can work reading into your daily schedule by adding it with intention.
  • Do you like podcasts? Try audiobooks!
  • And on that note: Audiobooks and graphic novels are books and "count" as reading, too!
  • Not every book is for every person and that's okay. Don't yuck someone else's favorites.
  • No read shaming! You're allowed to dislike things without making others feel bad about liking them (and vise versa).
  • Being a slow reader is not a sign of moral failure or a lack of intelligence. Being a fast reader doesn't mean you're a better person in some existential way, either.
  • And an occasionally controversial take: If you're reading something for fun and you're just really, really not feeling it, you can put it down. [We mostly just have to push through and finish assigned reading. Such is life and college.]

Keep reading to learn more about the in-person AND online reading collections available through your Durham Tech Libraries.

Durham Tech Library Collections: Main Campus New Books, OCC New Books, Main Campus Wynn Collection, Main Campus Spanish Collection, Main Campus Graphic Novel Collection,

If reading more is one of your goals, we have some great books at the Durham Tech Library, both in our general collections, specific collections (like the Wynn Collection, Graphic Novel Collection, Children's Collection, and Spanish Language Collection on Main Campus), and in our New Books (located on the shelves nearest the door at the Orange County Campus and at the top of the stairs in the Main Campus).

We also have some excellent digital lending collections.

Dogwood Digital Library is the NC Community College collaborative collection of popular ebooks and audiobooks available through the Libby app on your smartphone or tablet (formerly Overdrive). Libby is also available in your computer's browser.

Libby Your Libraries Menu with Dogwood Digital Library, Durham County Library, and Wake County Public Libraries listed

You can add us to your list of libraries along with your local public libraries by searching either Durham Tech or Dogwood Digital Library.

When you add a library to your list and search for a book, it searches all your libraries at once to make sure you can put a hold on the book with the shortest waitlist OR find the library where your book is currently available.

You do not need a library account with Durham Tech to add Dogwood Digital Library-- just log in with your Durham Tech username and password (same as Sakai or Self-Service).

You also have access to Hoopla through your local public library or through Durham Tech.

Hoopla landing page for Durham Tech Community College

You will need a library account to use it through Durham Tech and will create your own borrowing account through the site (or download the app). Contact us (library @ durhamtech. edu) if you need to know your library card number or stop in to register.

NC Live also provides access to a selection of ebooks (fiction and nonfiction) and audiobooks from North Carolina-based publishers, appropriately called the HomeGrown ebook Collection.

Like all our other databases, log in off campus using your Durham Tech username and password (same as Sakai or Self-Service). You can select and read books in your browser.

Need some suggestions on what to read? Ask a Durham Tech Librarian (we'd love to try to help!) or check out the Novelist Plus database to browse options.

Prefer to read as part of a book group? Keep your eyes and ears open for the upcoming launch of the Durham Tech Library Reading Circles.

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