Do you need help finding sources for an assignment? Not sure how to cite them? Looking for a quiet place to focus, a phone charger, a calculator or even a board game? Your Library team is here to help.

Durham College (DC) students often don’t realize just how many resources, spaces, and unexpected finds are available at their campus libraries. Whether you’re overlooking Polonsky Commons in Oshawa or nestled by the Computer Commons in Whitby, here are five things that might surprise you about the DC Library.

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Help is always available 

Working on an assignment, project or presentation? Library staff can help you find articles, ebooks, course materials, and other reliable sources. They can also help you strengthen your research skills, navigate citations, locate standards and codes, and understand how to use AI tools responsibly in your academic work.

The Library also offers accessible content and adaptive technology to help ensure students can access information and learning materials in the formats that work best for them.

Whether you’re just getting started or putting the finishing touches on a project, the DC Library is here to help.

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you can borrow more than books

One of the biggest surprises for many students is the range of items available to borrow.

Phone charging cables are among the most requested items. Students also regularly borrow laptops, calculators, chargers, external hard drives, podcast kits, therapy lights, and more. At Whitby Campus, safety glasses are another popular item, helping students arrive prepared for labs and practical learning activities.

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A study space for every style

Whether you prefer complete silence, collaborative brainstorming or somewhere in between, the libraries offer a range of spaces to help you do your best work.

The Oshawa Campus Library features silent study areas, group study rooms, collaborative spaces, computer workstations, 3D printing, a Digital Media Recording Room, and access to printing, scanning, and photocopying.

The Whitby Campus Library offers a quieter atmosphere with study carrels, open work tables, and comfortable seating, making it an ideal place to focus between classes.

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there’s more to discover online

The Library’s resources extend far beyond its walls. Students have access to scholarly articles, ebooks, journals, streaming video collections, databases, and program-specific resources that can be accessed wherever they study.

Looking for a technical standard, industry code or specialized publication? The Library can help with that, too.

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hidden gems

There is more to the Library than assignments and study sessions.

Need a break? Browse the leisure reading collection, stream a movie or documentary, borrow a board game, or stop by the de-stress desk for a creative reset. From crafts and activities to recreational reading and media, there are plenty of ways to recharge between classes.

You might come for a research question and leave with your next favourite read, a new hobby, or a fresh perspective.

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Whether you’re visiting Oshawa or Whitby, your Library is more than a place to find information. It’s a community of people, resources, and spaces designed to support you throughout your academic journey.

For more information about DC libraries, visit us online.