Book ordering delay More info >

For kids and families

The library is a place for all kinds of families to discover, explore, and have fun together.

It’s not just books (although we’ve got a great collection for kids!). At the library you can:

…and much more!

For every age

Through every stage of your lifelong learning journey, the library is there for you. From the very beginning with lapsit storytimes and board books, through homework help and fun activities for kids in school, and into the teen years and beyond – at every age, we can help you grow, learn, and have fun!

Upcoming events

This Week In the Lab: Snap Circuits

Friday, January 02, 2026 • 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Main Library (300 N. Roxboro St)

Join the Maker + STEAM Team in the Innovation Lab during specified open hours to explore the properties of electricity and circuit building! Use SNAP circuits to easily build and test hundreds of possible experiments and perform different...

Ages: Adult, Elementary School, Emerging Adult: 18-24 Year Olds, High School, Intergenerational, Kindergarten, Middle School, Pre-School, Senior Citizen, Teen, Toddler, Tweens: 9-12 Year Olds, DPS

Little WORLD Charity Holiday Model Train Show

Friday, January 02, 2026 • 1:30pm - 5:00pm

Main Library (300 N. Roxboro St) (Main Children's Programming Room)

All aboard and welcome to the train show! This exhibit is brought to us by Little WORLD Charity, a 100% volunteer effort....

Ages: Adult, Baby, Elementary School, Intergenerational, Kindergarten, Middle School, Pre-School, Senior Citizen, Toddler, Tweens: 9-12 Year Olds, DPS

Game On: Gaming Fun at Bragtown

Friday, January 02, 2026 • 3:00pm - 5:30pm

Bragtown Branch Library (3200 Dearborn Dr)

Join us at the Bragtown Branch Library for daily gaming for tweens and teens! Dive into the world of gaming with an array of exciting games available for play. Challenge your friends, explore new worlds, and level up your gaming skills in a...

Ages: Elementary School, Middle School, Teen, Tweens: 9-12 Year Olds, DPS

Children's Scavenger Hunt @ North Regional Library: National Soup Month!

Friday, January 02, 2026 • All day

North Regional Library (221 Milton Rd)

Visit the Information Desk at North Regional Library to pick up a scavenger hunt sheet. Then, explore the Children's Area to find 10 hidden pictures of soup ingredients.  Once you've completed the hunt and filled out your sheet, return...

Ages: Elementary School, Kindergarten, Pre-School

Winter Reading Challenge at East Regional

Friday, January 02, 2026 • All day

East Regional Library (211 Lick Creek Lane)

Drop by the East Regional Library to pick up a card for winter reading and win a prize! Open to ages 0-12! Return your completed sheet to the East Regional Library when you complete the challenge to pick up your prize! 

Ages: Baby, Elementary School, Pre-School, Toddler

Family Fables & Fun (Storytime)

Saturday, January 03, 2026 • 11:00am - 11:45am

East Regional Library (211 Lick Creek Lane) (East Regional - Children's Programming Room)

Bring the whole family to enjoy interactive stories, action songs, and finger plays, all while spending time with other little ones within your community!  Intended ages: 0-5 years old

Ages: Baby, Elementary School, Kindergarten, Pre-School, Toddler

Registration required

Little WORLD Charity Holiday Model Train Show

Saturday, January 03, 2026 • 10:00am - 12:30pm

Main Library (300 N. Roxboro St) (Main Children's Programming Room)

All aboard and welcome to the train show! This exhibit is brought to us by Little WORLD Charity, a 100% volunteer effort....

Ages: Adult, Baby, Elementary School, Intergenerational, Kindergarten, Middle School, Pre-School, Senior Citizen, Toddler, Tweens: 9-12 Year Olds, DPS

Check for more events like this > or See all events

Staff picks

New Year, New Books

Be one of the first people to place a hold on these upcoming 2026 Picture Books!

Featured online resources

Brainfuse HelpNow

Free online tutoring, help with writing assignments, and more.

Help and more info for Brainfuse HelpNow

Just for Kids Access Video

Kids’ shows, with favorites like Sesame Street, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss, and more.

NCpedia

Info about North Carolina history, people, government, and educational institutions.

More online resources for kids >

Accounts and access

Library cards

No one is too young or old to get a library card! Kids from 0 to 17 can check out items, use computers, and more with a juvenile card. A parent or guardian must be present to sign up for the card.

For Durham Public Schools students – Bull City, NC SLAM

Durham Public Schools students can also check out items through the Bull City, NC SLAM program. No sign-up is required: students already have a SLAM ID unless you’ve opted out of the program – it’s the same as your student ID or PowerSchool number. You can use your SLAM IDs for checking out books, using library resources online, and more. Learn more about how Bull City, NC SLAM works.

Meet the children’s librarians

East Regional children's manager Diamond petting one of the equine stars of East Regional's Storytime with Horses

Ms. Diamond

Location: East Regional Library

Diamond is the Children’s Services Manager at East Regional Library. A lover of libraries from the start, she could always be found in the library assisting the librarians as far back as her elementary school days! Since then, she has worked her way up through every level in the public library – starting as a Teen Volunteer, a Library Page, Children’s Services Library Assistant, Children’s Librarian, and now Children’s Services Manager. Though the majority of her work experience has been in the public library, she also has experience working in academic libraries of all levels: as a library assistant in her high school library, a library intern in her college library while pursuing her undergraduate degree, and as a graduate assistant in her university library. Though she enjoyed working in an academic library setting, children’s services in a public library is where her heart lies. She is passionate about placing books into the hands of small children to promote literacy from an early age. When not at work, she enjoys visiting farmers’ markets, taking yoga classes, and spending time reading in local coffee shops.

Meet all the children’s librarians >