The American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program consists of several comprehensive levels that teach children of varying abilities how to swim skillfully and safely. Each level includes training in basic water safety. All aquatic and safety skills are taught in a logical progression. Prerequisites for each level are: Beginner: No pre-requisites; new to the pool, needing to learn water adjustment skills and basic stroke techniques. Intermediate: Able to fully submerge head, able to swim at least 15 yards (half of pool length) of both front crawl and elementary backstroke. Ages: Age at least 6 yrs but less than 12 yrs,

The American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program consists of several comprehensive levels that teach children of varying abilities how to swim skillfully and safely. Each level includes training in basic water safety. All aquatic and safety skills are taught in a logical progression. Prerequisites for each level are: Beginner: No pre-requisites; new to the pool, needing to learn water adjustment skills and basic stroke techniques. By the end of this lesson students should be able to fully submerge head, able to swim at least 10 yards (half of pool length) of both front crawl and elementary backstroke. Ages: Age at least 6 yrs but less than 13 yrs,

Need to find food or housing? Have immigration questions? Want to know more about healthcare? Want to volunteer? Come learn about what and who are in your city. All are invited to learn and engage with Durham's non-profit resources, volunteer, and ask questions at DCIA's annual resource fair! Please join us on April 21, 11am-1pm, at the Main Library, 2nd floor. Durham Congregations in Action will be providing lunch, first come, first serve. Special thanks to the Durham County Library, our non-profit partners, and our member congregations for co-sponsoring. Drop by for this community resource fair to connect with services, ask questions, and find organizations that meet your needs. Lunch will be available while supplies last. Vendors will include: HomeShare Durham End Hunger Durham Aging Well Durham Meals on Wheels Durham CARES Religious Coalition for a NonViolent Durham Take Care Duke Health Open Table Ministry CWS World Relief Durham

Kids ages 8 will learn the basics of needle felting and walk away with their own woolly creation. We'll cover rainbows and tacos, plus how to use pipe cleaner armatures to start building their favorite video game or TV character in 3D. No experience needed, just a willingness to stab some fluff with a sharp needle and see what happens. What is needle felting? Think of it like sculpture, but instead of clay you've got fluffy colorful wool and a pokey needle. No mess, no glue, just stab until something awesome appears. This program is geared towards children ages 8 - please note that we will be using sharp needles to complete this project. Due to limited supplies, registration is required. Questions? Please reach out to Ms. Kristen at kstockdale@dconc.gov

Library Fest: Make Your Own Bookmark Snacks with Poetry Fox Durham Library Fest 2026 Tuesday, April 21st | 4:00–5:30 PM Durham Main Library Makerspace, 1st floor. First come, first served In collaboration with our community partner Bookmark NC: What Are You Reading, NC? Join fellow readers and creatives for a fun, hands-on bookmark-making workshop celebrating this year’s Library Fest theme, “The Stories That Built Us.” Reflect on the stories, people, and experiences that have shaped you as you design a bookmark that’s uniquely yours. We’re excited to welcome Poetry Fox, who will be on-site creating personalized typewriter poems inspired by your ideas, perfect to pair with your custom bookmark! A series of playful, open-ended prompts will help spark your creativity as you explore the stories that have influenced your life and community. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED Library Fest: Crea tu propio separador de libros SNACKs con Poetry Fox Durham Library Fest 2026 Martes, 21 de abril | 4:00–5:30 PM Makerspace de la Biblioteca Principal de Durham Por orden de llegada En colaboración con nuestro socio comunitario Bookmark NC: What Are You Reading, NC? Acompáñanos para una actividad creativa y divertida donde podrás diseñar tu propio separador de libros, celebrando el tema de Library Fest de este año, “Las historias que nos formaron.” Reflexiona sobre las historias, personas y experiencias que han influido en tu vida mientras creas un diseño único. Nos emociona contar con la presencia de Poetry Fox, quien estará creando poemas personalizados en máquina de escribir inspirados en tus ideas—¡perfectos para acompañar tu separador! Una serie de dinámicas y sugerencias abiertas te ayudarán a inspirarte y explorar las historias que han dado forma a tu vida y comunidad. Todas las edades y niveles de habilidad son bienvenidos. ¡Se proporcionarán materiales y SNACKs! NO NESESITA REGISTRARSE!

Join Durham County Library for a dialogue with acclaimed mystery novelist Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier and award-winning horror author P.M. Raymond exploring the storytelling impulse behind both fear and curiosity. From the clues that illuminate human motive to the darkness that conceals it, their work reminds us that every revelation carries its own chill. Ideal for readers who love fiction that lingers long after the last page. P.M. Raymond is an award-winning author and aspiring screenwriter from New Orleans who knows a thing or two about good gumbo, grits, and café au lait. She is a 2026 Killer Shorts Screenplay Semifinalist, the Sisters in Crime 2024 Eleanor Taylor Bland Award Winner, and 2024 Claymore Award and Killer Shorts Screenplay Finalist. She was named to the 160 Black Women in Horror in 2023. Her inter­connected short story collection, Things Are as They Should Be and Other Words to Die For, will be released April 2026 from Uncom­fortably Dark Horror. She teaches the course Masters of Dark Fiction at North Carolina State University and Duke University in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute program. Her work has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Writer's Digest, Punk Noir, Flash Fiction Magazine, Kings River Life Magazine, The Furious Gazelle, and Dark Yonder, among others. You can find her at https://www.pmraymond.com/ Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier's work has appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Black Cat Weekly, The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2023, and other esteemed anthologies. Originally from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Ashley-Ruth writes mysteries highlighting the vibrant culture of her home. Ashley-Ruth is a 2022 winner of NCWN’s Jacobs-Jones award, a 2023 SMFS Derringer finalist, a Killer Nashville Claymore finalist, a 2024 recipient of MWA’s Barbara Neely grant for Black mystery writers, and a 2026 Agatha Award nominee. THE BUSH TEA MURDER is her first novel-length work. She currently lives with her family and teaches first grade in Apex, North Carolina.

Join us for Hola, Let's Learn Spanish! This interactive program designed for children offers them a chance to practice their conversation skills through engaging games, fun activities, and dynamic conversation topics. This is a fun way to boost your child's confidence in speaking Spanish. This program is designed for children ages 5 and up. Registration is required.

Ever feel like your brain has 47 tabs open..and more than one is screaming for attention? This workshop is for the moments when: -you're feeling like you just had a triple espresso (and not in a good way.) -you snap at someone you love..then feel bad -you can't focus, but you also can't rest In Taming the Beasts of Stress, Anxiety & Overwhelm, we're not just going to talk about it. You'll do things in real time: -name what you're feeling so it stops running the show -spot your "stress loop" -try simple reset moves you can use the same day -leave with a plan that actually fits your life Come as you are. Messy day and all.

Registration is appreciated but not required to attend. This session introduces the life and legacy of Pauli Murray, a pioneering writer, lawyer, activist, and Durhamite whose work shaped civil rights and gender equality, with a special focus on Murray's authorship. Join in person or stream live on Youtube if you can not join us! https://www.youtube.com/live/KHAHY6tTeeE?si=YZhLP-tyCumGvgDb Session will be lead by: Angela M. Mason (nee Thorpe) is a cultural heritage leader, public historian, and scholar based in Durham, North Carolina. For a decade, she has worked to share stories of the Black Southern Experience, and to amplify histories of marginalized communities, in archives, museums, and historic sites. Angela has experience in cultural resource management, organizational development, community programming, strategic planning, and communications. She attended the University of Florida, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in African American Studies. She pursued graduate studies at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, where she earned a Master of Arts in History with a concentration in Museum Studies. Most recently, Mason served as the director of the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission. In this role, she transitioned the Commission from its position as a program of the North Carolina Arts Council to an independent division of the North Carolina Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. Angela’s values are rooted in community care, equity, and honesty. Angela’s work to reconsider the social impact, and economic possibilities, of heritage resources, spaces of remembrance, and sites of impact led to her being selected as a member of Leadership Raleigh Class 43, and an inaugural cohort member of the Association of African American Museums and Howard University School of Business Advance Executive Training Program for museum leaders. Where can I park when the Main Library parking lot is full? Parking is available in the library parking lot or at the North Queen Street Garage located at 115 North Queen Street which is behind the apartments directly across the street from the library. Parking is free in the garage. Please bring your ticket to a service desk in the library for validation.

In honor of 2026 marking 90 years since the original publication of The Green Book in 1936, we invite you to join us for: Library Fest Keynote Speaker - Alvin Hall in conversation with Adrienne Nirdé discussing "Driving the Green Book" Alvin Hall set out to revisit the world of the Green Book. With his friend Janée Woods Weber, he drove from New York to Detroit to New Orleans, visiting the motels, restaurants, and stores. We will explore landmarks, from the theaters and clubs where stars like Duke Ellington and Lena Horne performed to the Lorraine Motel to what landmarks and business still stand in Durham. Along the way, they gathered memories from some of the last living witnesses for whom the Green Book served as a primary guide for navigating their journeys. Join us as we explore how the physical landscape and landmarks of the U.S. have changed for travelers over the years. You will also have the chance to see The North Carolina African American Heritage Commission's traveling exhibit about Green Book history in North Carolina. About the Author Letters Community Bookshop will be on-site for anyone wanting to purchase (Card/contactless) a copy to take home! Hall will sit in conversation with Adrienne Nirdé Adrienne Nirdé (pronounced "Near-day") was appointed as the Director of the NC African American Heritage Commission in June 2023. Prior to this role, she served as the Commission's Associate Director where her role focused on grant project management, heritage trails, and communications. For over ten years Adrienne has worked in museums and cultural institutions including the President James K. Polk State Historic Site in Pineville, NC, and the Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby, NC. She holds a master's degree in museum studies and bachelor's degrees in history and anthropology, all from Indiana University. Adrienne is a graduate of the Jekyll Island Management Institute and the Smithsonian's Ethical Interpretation Workshop. Adrienne has always had a primary interest in sharing diverse stories, particularly those have not yet been told and centering the communities that hold them. NC African American Heritage Commission Green Book Project Did you know there is one business still in existence in Durham that advertised in the original Green Book? Check out Friendly City Barber Shop for a piece of history that is still lasting! Tonight's event is brought to you by and sponsored in part by Duke University Libraries Where can I park when the Main Library parking lot is full? Parking is available in the library parking lot or at the North Queen Street Garage located at 115 North Queen Street which is behind the apartments directly across the street from the library. Parking is free in the garage. Please bring your ticket to a service desk in the library for validation.

Join Teri in an interactive talk and creation of a few Purposeful Containers. Presented by Teresa Speight, Author of Black Flora: Inspiring Profiles of Floriculture’s New Vanguard and owner of Cottage in the Court Join Teri in an interactive talk and creation of a few Purposeful Containers. As African Americans we had to make use of just about everything we planted and planted in to make it affordable, pleasurable, and purposeful. From a discarded bucket to wore out pots and pans, we created herbal containers, pollinator attracting containers and containers that tickled our senses. Teri will share a list of plant material from edible, natives, annuals, and perennials that will thrive in most containers with the proper care. Container Gardening is a way to empower our community to grow something however or wherever you can. This class is part of the Hattie Meadows Gardening School and is open to everyone. The Hattie Meadows Gardening School is a free community learning project to spread knowledge and love of gardening. Classes will take place at the Stanford L. Warren Library from January through June 2026. This program is presented in partnership with Stanford L. Warren Library, Sarah P. Duke Gardens, and Durham County Cooperative Extension, and is made possible by the Durham Library Foundation. Registration is appreciated to receive an email reminder, cancellation link, and program updates. Seating is first come first served. Registration does not hold or guarantee a seat.

This class is for students interested in focusing on tumbling. Participants will be learning basic tumbling skills such as forward/backward rolls, cartwheels and hand/headstands. Ages: Age at least 3 yrs but less than 6 yrs,

Join for a safe, supportive conversation on death, dying, and all that surrounds these deeply meaningful topics. Differing views, beliefs, questions, and curiosities are welcomed! Learn more about death cafes. Refreshments will be provided. Space is limited!

Confused about Medicare? We’ve got you covered! This free, informative session offered by the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), a division of the NC Department of Insurance, will break down everything you need to know about Medicare—who’s eligible, when, and how to enroll, and the different coverage options available. Learn the differences between Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug Plans, and Medigap policies. We’ll also cover what Medicare does and doesn’t cover, important enrollment periods, programs that can help with costs, and recent updates like capped insulin prices and drug price negotiations. Whether you’re approaching 65, already enrolled, or helping a loved one, this presentation will give you the tools to make confident, informed decisions about your healthcare.

This session will be moved indoors to our 2nd floor Children's Programming Room. Need a break from your hectic schedule? Release the stress of your day with outdoor Gentle Yoga at Main Library - Nicole Varnado, RYT-200, is offering this six-week series of gentle flow yoga for adults on Tuesdays! Classes are accessible to all-comers, and will include guided meditation, breathwork, movement, and yoga philosophy. Please bring a yoga mat or towel for class (we have a few available if you do not have one), and wear 'moveable' clothes. If you bring a reusable water bottle, you can refill it at one of the filling stations in the library. If class must be relocated due to inclement weather, registrants will be notified by email.