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

Read to Me ( Pet Partners Reading Dog Program)

Saturday, January 10, 2026 • 10:00am - 11:00am

North Regional Library (221 Milton Rd) (North Regional - Children's Programming Room)

Relax and read with a dog and other animals! This program brings dogs and reluctant readers together for 15 minutes of companionship. Handlers and their dogs provide quiet encouragement to children so that they might develop a love of...

Ages: Elementary School

Registration full. Join the waitlist >

Family Storytime @ Southwest Regional

Saturday, January 10, 2026 • 10:30am - 11:00am

Southwest Regional Library (3605 Shannon Rd) (Southwest Meeting Room)

Join us for a Saturday morning Family Storytime that will include stories, fingerplays and interactive songs!...

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

Family Fables & Fun (Storytime)

Saturday, January 10, 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 full. Join the waitlist >

Trinket Trade Pop-up

Saturday, January 10, 2026 • 10:00am - 1:00pm

North Regional Library (221 Milton Rd) (North Meeting Room - Full Room)

Want to declutter after a holiday haul? Have blind box doubles? Is your trinket drawer overflowing? ...

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

This Week In the Lab: Ozobots

Saturday, January 10, 2026 • 11:00am - 1:00pm

Main Library (300 N. Roxboro St)

Join the Maker + STEAM Team in the Innovation Lab during specified open hours to discover the power of robotics thorugh color! Code our special color sensing Ozobots by drawing directly onto the page, or dive deep into the basics of block coding...

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

This Week In the Lab: Ozobots

Saturday, January 10, 2026 • 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Main Library (300 N. Roxboro St)

Join the Maker + STEAM Team in the Innovation Lab during specified open hours to discover the power of robotics thorugh color! Code our special color sensing Ozobots by drawing directly onto the page, or dive deep into the basics of block coding...

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

Check for more events like this > or See all events

Staff picks

In Memoriam: James Ransone (1979-2025)

"James Ransone, the prolific character actor and star of series like _The Wire_ and films like _Sinister_ and _It Chapter Two_, died on Dec. 19 at the age of 46....

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

Children's librarian Ms. Chelsea

Ms. Chelsea

Location: North Regional Library

Ms. Chelsea moved to Chapel Hill, NC after living in Georgia her whole life! She grew up with her 6 younger siblings! With so many people in one house, Ms. Chelsea always loved the quiet trips to the libraries where she could be anyone she wanted to be. She could be a knight who fights dragons or a scientist who does tons of experiments to help make the world a better place. Though Ms. Chelsea got a bachelor's degree in psychology, she realized that her true passion was advocating for literacy and getting as many books into the hands of young minds as she could! Ms. Chelsea worked as a reference librarian while working on her bachelor's, which is where she truly learned how serving your local community could change the lives of so many and just how rewarding it was. She moved to Chapel Hill in July of 2021 to begin working on her master's in library science with a focus in children and teens. This is still a work in progress! She has been with North Regional Library since May 2022, and she absolutely loves hanging out with all the children while they do crafts together or play with bubbles at her storytime! You can catch Ms. Chelsea reading books, watching crime shows, listening to K-pop, cuddling with her cats, or playing Fortnite! Ms. Chelsea is always looking for anime recommendations or a cool new place to see in Durham!

Pronouns: she/her

Meet all the children’s librarians >