All library locations and services will be closed Monday, September 7, for Labor Day.
Durham County Main, Regional, and Stanford L. Warren Branch Libraries will be available as cooling centers during our regular open hours Wednesday, September 2, through Saturday, September 5.
Got a message from noreply@durhamcountylibrary.org saying your library account will expire soon? That is a real message from us - all library accounts now need to be renewed periodically. Learn how to renew your account >

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!

Early literacy

Parents and other significant caregivers are a child’s first and best teachers. Learn how to help children develop early literacy skills beginning at birth so that they are ready to learn once they begin school.

Upcoming events

Happy Cat Month Scavenger Hunt @ Southwest Regional

Wednesday, September 02, 2026 • All day

Southwest Regional Library (3605 Shannon Rd) (Southwest Regional - Children's Area)

For September's scavenger hunt, we’ve hidden pictures of 10 cats throughout the children’s area of the library (in honor of Happy Cat Month)... Can you find them all?!...

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

One Walk to Rule Them All Exercise Challenge

Wednesday, September 02, 2026 • All day

South Regional Library (4505 S. Alston Ave)

Join us for One Walk to Rule Them All, a Lord of the Rings-themed exercise initiative that will inspire you to participate in your favorite types of exercises! To participate, simply pick up a printed tracker from either South Regional Library (4505...

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

Happy Cat Month Scavenger Hunt @ Southwest Regional

Thursday, September 03, 2026 • All day

Southwest Regional Library (3605 Shannon Rd) (Southwest Regional - Children's Area)

For September's scavenger hunt, we’ve hidden pictures of 10 cats throughout the children’s area of the library (in honor of Happy Cat Month)... Can you find them all?!...

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

One Walk to Rule Them All Exercise Challenge

Thursday, September 03, 2026 • All day

South Regional Library (4505 S. Alston Ave)

Join us for One Walk to Rule Them All, a Lord of the Rings-themed exercise initiative that will inspire you to participate in your favorite types of exercises! To participate, simply pick up a printed tracker from either South Regional Library (4505...

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

Founding Mothers Adult Scavenger Hunt

Saturday, August 29, 2026 • 11:59pm - Wednesday, September 30, 2026 • 11:59pm

Main Library (300 N. Roxboro St) (Main Library - History Lounge)

Find all 10 Revolutionary women on the 3rd floor of Main Library! Though designed for adults, this scavenger hunt is appropriate for all ages.

Ages: Adult, Intergenerational

Check for more events like this > or See all events

Staff picks

Beginner Chapter Books (First Grade!)

This list is a catalog companion to Southwest's paper booklist for recommended beginner chapter books! Beginner chapter books are ideal for readers who are transitioning from easy...

2nd Grade Reads!

This list is a catalog companion to Southwest's paper booklist for recommended 2nd grade reads. Second graders need books that have interesting enough stories hold their interest,...

Unearth a Story: Picture Books about Diggers

This booklist celebrates all the incredible machines and amazing animals that move earth, build worlds, and burrow beneath our feet. These picture books highlight the creatures and...

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 >