Newsletter

Ever wonder what books are captivating our faculty and staff this season? We asked around to see what’s on their nightstands, e-readers, and library hold lists—and the answers were as varied and thoughtful as you’d expect.

Whether you’re looking for a story that challenges, entertains, or inspires, this collection has something for everyone. From page-turning thrillers to insightful nonfiction, here’s what your colleagues are currently reading:

Bethany
Crying in H Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zauner
“It is so so sad.”

Noell
 The Wedding People by Alison Espach
“Trigger warning: suicidal ideation and infertility.”
Here’s a quote that stuck with her:
“I just mean, a story can be beautiful not because of the way it ends. But because of the way it is written.”

Also reading:
Chief Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny
“Strong sense of place. Read about the cold when you are hot.”

Kevin
The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom
“Excellent.”

Judy
The Journal of a Thousand Years by C.J. Archer
“Listening to the audiobook. Good narrator.”

Princesa
Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
“A favorite book. Second time reading.”

Diamond
Ethic by Ashley Antoinette
“Good. Page-turner.”

Nathan
The Fate of the Day by Rick Atkinson
“Great if you like military history.”

Beth
ADHD Is Awesome by Penn and Kim Atkinson
“Must read for everyone. Easy read. Helped me understand ADHD as a spouse, mother, and teacher.”

Sarah
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
“Awesome. Great summer read.”

Karyn
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
“Hard to get through. Super interesting.”
Also reading:
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
“Fantastic, intriguing, good author.”

Jan
 In Death series by J.D. Robb
“Really really great series.”

Holly
 Death in the Air by Kate Winkler Dawson
“Not far into it, but I enjoy the podcast by the author.”

Carlos
The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday
“50% through. Teaches about getting through life when things get hard and being present in the moment rather than stuck thinking about the future.”

Heather
The Moth Catcher by Ann Cleeves
“Murder mysteries: that’s my jam.”
Also reading:
No Shred of Evidence by Charles Todd
“About a Scotland Yard inspector with PTSD during WWI investigating a murder.”

Mishelle
Recommends checking out Battle of the Books reading lists if you’re looking for new reads.
Recent reads include:
 City Spies by James Ponti – “Good one.”
Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi – “Similar to Percy Jackson but with Indian mythology.”

Jess
The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
“A little slow.”

Have a recommendation of your own? We'd love to hear from you! Send us your current read and a quick note about why you’re enjoying it—your next favorite book could be just one suggestion away.

Happy reading!

We hope your summer is off to a great start! If you're on campus, stop by the library for a quick brain break. Help us color our summer mural—grab a marker and add your touch!

We’re also posting a new puzzle each week—Sudoku, logic puzzles, and more. It's a fun way to recharge between tasks.

See you at the library!

If you're looking for your next book—or want to explore new genres or authors—NoveList Plus is a great place to start. This NC LIVE resource helps you search for books not just by title or author, but by appeal: the elements of a story that make it enjoyable, like tone, pace, writing style, and character traits.

Want something fast-paced and suspenseful? Or maybe a character-driven story with a hopeful tone and lyrical writing? The Appeal Mixer tool lets you combine these preferences to find books that match your tastes.

Other useful features:

• Read-alike suggestions for authors and titles

• Series information, including reading order

• Genre browsing for fiction and nonfiction

• Options for audiobooks and award winners

Check out this video from NoveList about finding books using appeal. You can also learn more about appeal terms under Quick Links > Story Elements Index on the NoveList Plus homepage.

You can access NoveList Plus through our A–Z Databases list or directly via NC LIVE.

Let us know if you'd like a quick demo or tips for exploring it further!

As we wrap up the Spring 2025 semester (January–April), we’re excited to share some highlights that reflect how students and faculty engaged with the library’s spaces, services, and resources. From collaborative learning to focused research, these numbers tell the story of a busy and successful semester.

Visitors & Digital Engagement

• 14,143 patrons visited the library in person for studying, group work, and access to resources.

• 20,520 patrons accessed the library website to explore research guides, use online tools, and connect with services.

• 4,825 patrons visited the Student Resources page for academic and personal support.

Top 5 Subject and Course Guides

1. ENG 111: Ketchum – Social Issues Essay 3

2. ENG 112: Sciences/STEM Research

3. MAT 152: Cumulative Term Project

4. Literary Criticism Resources

5. EDU 280

Instruction & Research Support

• 44 bookings in the Information Literacy Classroom, including 18 librarian-led instruction sessions reaching 314 students.

• 42 students received personalized help through research coaching sessions.

Study Room Use

• 229 group study room bookings helped facilitate focused collaboration.

Circulation

• Physical items checked out: 1,360 (books, DVDs, laptops, equipment)

• Digital items accessed: 32,069 (eBooks, audiobooks, articles, and streaming media)
  (Note: This total does not include April data from NC LIVE, Oxford English Dictionary, or Medici.tv)

  • Libby: 131 eBooks, 358 audiobooks

  • Hoopla: 295 audiobooks, 85 eBooks, 27 BingePasses, 12 movies, 2 comics, 1 music title

OneSearch Activity

• 31,873 total searches using OneSearch, our all-in-one discovery tool

• Top 5 Search Terms

  1. Memory

  2. Effects of COVID-19 pandemic

  3. NC LIVE

  4. “Omelas” and “The Lottery”

  5. Oxford English Dictionary

These stats showcase the continued importance of the library as a hub for academic success, inquiry, and support.

To our faculty: Thank you for the incredible work you do and for partnering with us to support student learning. Your dedication makes a lasting impact, and we appreciate you this Teacher Appreciation Week and all year long.

We look forward to supporting your teaching and research again next semester!

Libby just got even better, with new filters to help you find what you want faster!

Find newly added titles.
Filter by Date Added to see what’s new since your last visit. Choose from:

• Last 7 days

• Last 14 days

• Last 30 days

• Last 3 months

• Last 6 months

Stay on top of the latest releases and patron requests added to your library’s collection.

Find first in series or standalone books.
As Julie Andrews famously sang in The Sound of Music, “Start at the very beginning. It’s a very good place to start.”
New filters let you easily find first in series titles like The Color of Magic or stick to standalones if you’re not ready for a series commitment.

Find audiobooks by duration.
Now you can search by audiobook length—perfect for matching a story to your road trip, commute, or study break.
Options range from quick 1-hour listens to epic 24+ hour sagas.

Use Notify Me tags to stay in the loop.
Want to read a digital title the library doesn’t have yet? Use Notify Me tags in Libby to express your interest—and get notified if and when the library adds it.

Join the Big Library Read!

From May 15–29, join readers worldwide for Uncommon Measure by Natalie Hodges—available in ebook and audiobook formats with no waitlists or holds.

"Uncommon Measure will resonate with both music and science lovers alike, who will appreciate the bridges Hodges draws between scientific disciplines, music theory, and her life." —Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine

Renovations on the 1st floor have started, and some construction noise is carrying into the library. Headphones and ear plugs are available at the circulation desk if needed.

If you have scheduled an information literacy session in the library or reserved the Information Literacy Classroom (LRC 231), please note that noise may be present during your session. Librarians are happy to visit your classroom or meet virtually if you prefer—just reach out to make arrangements.

A barrier has been placed around the 2nd floor atrium for safety. See photos below.

In celebration of National Poetry Month, the library has partnered with the English Department to showcase a special display highlighting American poetry. Visit us throughout April to explore a curated selection of works from influential poets past and present—ranging from the classic voices of Emily Dickinson and Langston Hughes to contemporary writers like Shane McCrae.

National Poetry Month was established in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets to recognize the vital role poetry plays in our culture and lives. It’s a time to appreciate the power of language, the beauty of verse, and the diverse voices that shape American literature. Learn more at poets.org.

We invite faculty, staff, and students to browse the display, borrow a book, or just take a moment to enjoy the poems. Whether you’re teaching, studying, or simply reading for pleasure, there’s something here to inspire.

Let us know if you'd like to collaborate on a display!

National Library Week is April 6-12, and this year’s theme, Drawn to the Library, invites us to reflect on what draws us to libraries—the stories, resources, and connections that make them essential to our communities.

Celebration Days During National Library Week

• Monday, April 7 – Right to Read Day: A day to take action to protect and celebrate the right to read. The ALA will release its State of America's Libraries Report, including the list of the Top Ten Most Challenged Books.
• Tuesday, April 8 – National Library Workers Day: A time to recognize the valuable contributions of library staff.
• Wednesday, April 9 – National Library Outreach Day: Celebrating library outreach efforts that bring resources and services directly to the community.
• Thursday, April 10 – Take Action for Libraries Day: A rallying call to advocate for library support.

Spring Fling – April 9, 10 AM - 2 PM

Celebrate with us at Spring Fling on Wednesday, April 9, from 10 AM to 2 PM! Stop by our table to share what draws you to the library and discover the many ways we support learning and engagement. Whether it’s books, research help, study space, or digital resources, we want to hear from you!

Join us in celebrating libraries and the role they play in education, inspiration, and access to information. See you at Spring Fling!

Spring is just around the corner, making it the perfect time to explore gardening materials available through Dogwood Digital Library via the Libby app. Whether you're planning a vegetable garden, learning about native plants, or just looking for inspiration, you'll find a variety of eBooks and audiobooks on the topic.

Did you know you can search by subject in Dogwood Digital Library? Simply type “gardening” into the search bar or browse subjects to uncover a wealth of resources. You can also check out curated lists on the homepage, which update regularly—right now, you’ll find selections celebrating Women’s History Month.

Log in with your library credentials and start exploring today!

This year, our librarians hit the road, bringing valuable library resources directly to faculty and students across campus. We set up table displays in the Fine Arts Building, Lloyd P. Respass Trades Building, A.D. Guy Business Technology Building, and the W.D. "Billy" Mills Math and Science Technology Building, sharing curated materials and research tools tailored to each department.

At our most recent stop, we showcased resources supporting the Math curriculum, including access to Statista, ABI/Inform, Data Axle, Social Explorer, and Statistical Abstracts of the United States—along with other engaging math-related tools. Our goal is to connect faculty and students with library materials that enhance coursework, research, and creative exploration.

Check out our visit to the Trades Building!

Where Should We Go Next?

As we plan for next year, we want to hear from you! If you’d like to see our Librarians on the Move in your building or have specific resources you'd like us to highlight, let us know. Your input helps us bring the most relevant support to your department.

Reach out with your suggestions—we look forward to seeing you soon!