Durham Public Library will have a registration table in Perkins Library on West Campus, in the lobby in front of the entrance to the Perk Cafe (Von Der Heyden Pavilion). Come get your public library card and gain access to all the amazing options for free digital and print content that the public library provides. It’s not just print books: you can stream and download thousands of e-books, e-audiobooks, magazines, movies, music, and more!

What do I need to bring?

• Faculty/staff: A government-issued photo ID (license, passport, etc.) with a Durham address. If your ID has not been updated with your Durham address, bring a piece of mail that has your name and Durham mailing address on it (such as a utility bill) along with your photo ID. This address cannot be a P.O. Box.
• Students: You can get a card regardless of whether you live in Durham! Bring any government-issued photo ID and your Duke ID card. You are eligible for a free temporary student card, which can be renewed annually by proving you are still a student at Duke. You can access all the same materials, but can only check out 10 items at a time. If you do live in Durham, you can get a regular library card by following the instructions for faculty/staff above.

How long will it take? Approximately 3 minutes! You’ll get your card right there. Note that your library card PIN (required to log in on the website and check out digital materials) is automatically set to be the last four digits of your phone number.

More about the public library

Great programming! On top of having tons of great materials to lend, the Durham Public Library has a wide array of adult programming, with everything from history, politics, and book talks to yoga, Mahjong, seed sorting, knitting, oragami, bookclubs, and karaoke. They also have extensive programming for children and teens.

New library! In early 2020, the Durham Public Library will be opening a renovated, state-of-the-art central library in downtown Durham with free wifi and great spaces to study and read, as well as meeting rooms, an auditorium, a MakerLab, outdoor public plaza, and a cafe. See building plans and read more here:
https://blogs.library.duke.edu/blog/2018/02/21/sneak-peek-downtown-durhams-new-main-library/

Explore the public libraries digital offerings:

https://durhamcountylibrary.org/materials/digital-collections/

• Ebooks
• E-audiobooks
• Streaming movies and TV
• Streaming music
• Popular digital magazine subscriptions (Rolling Stone, the Economist, National Geographic, Wired, the New Yorker, Cosmo, and more!)
• Digital newspaper subscriptions
• ...and more!