Community Connections with the Davidson County Public Library system
Traditionally, when people think of a library, they imagine a building full of books. However, the Davidson County Public Library system is so much more! The theme for this year’s National Library Week (April 3-9, 2022) is “connect with your library.” This motif encourages patrons to observe the ways that they utilize the many services that the libraries offer.
The DCPL system is home to five campuses plus the Davidson County Historical Museum. A DCPL library card allows the checkout of books from all branches located in Denton, Lexington, North Davidson (Welcome), Thomasville, and West Davidson (Tyro). Through the libraries, patrons have access to the NC Cardinal Consortium. Books, DVDs and Blu-rays from other NC Cardinal member libraries can be placed on hold and delivered to the campuses in Davidson County. This means that a DCPL card provides access to collections that extend across the state!
The libraries house a sizable selection of books including fiction, non-fiction, biographies, westerns, as well as many titles in large print. Audiobooks on CD, DVDs, Blu-rays, and magazines are also available for checkout and patrons can read local newspapers within the library. For those that prefer to engage digitally, DCPL offers E-books and E-audiobooks through the Hoopla and Libby Apps plus streaming video through Kanopy, all of which are available through app stores on mobile devices. A Davidson County Public Library card is all that is needed to gain access!
In addition to materials for check out, the libraries also offer information services, free public Wi-Fi (also available in our parking lot), printing, copying, scanning, faxing as well as computers which can be accessed with a Photo ID or a Library Card (with parental permission). By providing these services, the libraries aid the community by allowing those without a computer, printer, fax machine, or Wi-Fi to quickly complete the tasks they need to for little to no cost.
On top of these services, the DCPL website is full of helpful links to databases and programs for school, career, business, and much more. A library card gives access to electronic resources such as World Book Online and, through NC Live, admission to Cypress Resume Builder, Learning Express Library, and Data-Axle Reference Solutions. DCPL is also a member of the Federal Depository Library Program, connecting patrons to thousands of online documents from the Government Publishing Office. One such example is Ben’s Guide to the U.S. Government, a fun and entertaining digital program that educates on citizenship for all age groups.
Lastly, the system provides a variety of programming for children, teens, and adults. These are free for the public to attend and occur at all of our branches. Programs happening at DCPL-West Davidson are only a short drive away for those who live in Lexington, Welcome, Thomasville, and Denton. Examples include Children’s Storytime, lunch book clubs, and crafting.
In conclusion, DCPL invites the public to consider all the ways to “connect” with the library, both within and outside its walls. A recipe learned during a DCPL-North Davidson cooking class and an e-book vacation read checked out through Libby are both examples of how patrons can connect with DCPL. Most importantly, the libraries are a space for the community to visit, sit, relax, read, and enjoy.
The Davidson County Public Library system wants to continue to provide excellent services and resources. Please send any feedback to brenna.buchanan@davidsoncountync.gov or call (336) 236-3109.
