2026-2027 Grants Announced

Digging Durham Seed Library

The mission of the Digging Durham Seed Library is to distribute seed packets and relevant gardening information to residents, supporting the strategic goal of lifelong learning. The seed library now distributes thousands of seed packets through all library locations and the bookmobile and outreach staff, as well at outreach events. The Seed Library also starts and supports community library gardens such as the ones at North Regional, Southwest Regional, Stanford L. Warren Branch Library, and Bragtown Branch Library. The Seed Library has recently grown by taking on Durham's Innovative Nutrition Education’s (DINE) classroom microgreens program and a One Seed One Community program to further support the community.

Humanities Programming

The 2026-2027 Humanities season, titled "The Weight of Our Words," explores the profound impact of communication on our personal identities and community connections. Through the works of award-winning authors, patrons will examine how the stories we tell and, perhaps the ones we keep secret, shape our reality. This series brings world-class literary talent to Durham to engage folks in deep reflection on history, family, and social equity.

7th Annual Library Fest - Art Edition

Library Fest is an annual community celebration showcasing the diverse ways the library integrates into our patrons' lives. Held during National Library Week (April 11-17, 2027), this year's "Art Edition" will explore Durham's rich creative landscape. The festival will feature system-wide collaborations and community partnerships to offer inclusive, arts-based programming for all ages.

2027 Summer Reading Program

The 2027 Summer Reading Program, “2027: Mysteries Await at Your Library: Los Misterios te Esperan en tu Biblioteca,” is a countywide initiative designed to keep children, teens, and adults reading, learning, and engaged throughout the summer months. The program supports all eight Durham County Library service points and Community Engagement by offering reading challenges, themed events, STEM activities, and literacy‑rich programs for all ages. With a focus on minimizing summer learning loss, the program provides free books, interactive programs, and access to community partnerships that enrich the learning experience.

Circle and Square

“Circle and Square” is an interactive, mostly nonverbal play designed for ages 2-5 and their caregivers to attend and experience together. By offering these performances, the youngest library patrons will be introduced to age-appropriate drama performances, deepen social and emotional learning, and engage in problem solving. This program is an extension of a 2024 Friends of the Durham Library grant, originally titled "Theater for the Very Young," that saw a successful pilot program held at Southwest Regional Library in June 2025.

The African American Legacy in Gardening and Horticulture 3.0

The African American Legacy in Gardening and Horticulture 3.0 is a two-day, national symposium that will bring together novice and expert community gardeners, youth, seniors, artists, land stewards, scholars, climate activists and the public to explore the role African American and BIPOC communities have played in shaping overlooked gardening, ecological and environmental narratives.

Daytime Book Club: Proud Shoes at the Pauli Murray Center

In March 2027, Durham East Regional Library’s Daytime Book Club will read Proud Shoes: The Story of an American Family by Pauli Murray. This is an exciting opportunity for Durham residents to learn more about Pauli Murray, a twentieth-century human rights activist, legal scholar, author, labor organizer, poet, Episcopal priest, multiracial Black, and LGBTQ+ Durhamite. To enhance discussion, the Daytime Book Club will go to the Pauli Murray Center in Durham and one of the center’s facilitators will lead the Club discussion about Proud Shoes, followed by time for folks to explore the exhibit and ask questions about the space.

Visualizing Urban Renewal: Expanding Access to 20th Century Durham Neighborhood Photography

The North Carolina Collection (NCC) holds several archival collections that contain thousands of slides depicting historic images of Durham. This grant will enable the NCC to make the slides easily accessible to the public online through its digital repository (nccdigital.durhamcountylibrary.org).

Engaging Seniors Through Hands-on Programming Nurturing Senior Connection Through Arts and Crafts

This project will help the Library create activities to reflect hobbies and interests, while engaging in their senses. Empower dementia, duals living with or without dementia to engage in meaningful interactions will promote mental stimulation and emotional well-being.

Life Lines: A Poetic Series

"Life Lines: A Poetic Series", is a 3-part event series promoting the reading and writing of poetry throughout the life course. Occurring in the fall, winter, and spring, each season will feature activities to engage specific age group (elementary aged children, teens, and adults) with the genre. Local and statewide poets will be invited to facilitate workshops or give performances for members of the Durham County public and visiting areas.

Spark Studio: Digital Art

This grant will provide iPads, Apple Pencils, accessories, and the app Procreate to encourage children, teens and young adults to explore digital illustration and other art forms. This technology can be borrowed for a course with a guided professional and for in-library use for practice purposes.

Oasis Memory Kit Upgrade

This project is to expand OASIS’ already significant outreach initiatives to people living with or without dementia and their caregivers. The memory kits currently available only have a DVD (many places stream on-line) and flash cards. This addition to the memory kits introduces more hands-on components with a stronger emphasis on interactive items designed to engage the users directly. Along with empowering individuals living with dementia to reminisce about past experiences and engage in meaningful conversations to promote mental stimulation and emotional well-being.

A Growing Makerspace for a Growing Community

Over the 5+ years of the official Maker + STEAM unit, the Library has expanded offerings by adding makerspace equipment reservations with a laser cutter and Cricut machine, multiple makerspace trainings, 3D printing services, poster printing STEAM kits for checkout, in-building and virtual programs, outreach services, Open Lab Hours, and more. As the Durham community has grown, so have requests from patrons for specific makerspace offerings. This grant will enable the Library to get a sublimation printer for heat press and print-then-cut features for Cricut reservations, get a sewing machine, expand STEAM kits for checkout for small groups, provide filament recycling, and more!

Discovery and Play at Main Library

This project will connect children with interactive, engaging equipment, manipulatives, toys, and puzzles that foster discovery and creativity. One of the highlights of this program includes getting a museum-grade digital microscope system designed for unsupervised, high-traffic environments, allowing children to explore a wide variety of samples.

Collections Development

Funds from Durham Library Foundation will enable the Library to purchase additional and popular titles for children's easy reading and picture books, Overdrive, large print, and audiobooks.

Library Staff Development

Funds from Durham Library Foundation support staff development through continuing education and professional development as well as scholarships for events such as the annual American Library Association (ALA) conference.