Category Archives: General Library Info

Welcome Back! Fall Semester Library Services

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Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back!

Welcome Back, Durham Tech!

We’re excited to see everyone back on campus and to “see” you online, too– just a reminder that you can chat with your Durham Tech Library staff between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM Monday through Friday (and with other librarians evenings and weekends).

What can the Durham Tech Library do for you this semester? Whether it’s research assistance, library instruction, Tech Tool or Chromebook lending, facilitating reading communities or challenges, helping you access your creative muscles through Crafternoons, or just providing a place to study and print, the Durham Tech Libraries are here for you!

Click through and find out more!

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It’s Summer Session and the Hours Are Changing

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It may only be mid-May, but Durham Tech is getting ready to ramp up for Summer Session classes (starting May 23). The Library hours will be changing for the summer beginning Monday, May 16.

A sunny beach scene that has the words "Hello Summer Library Hours" with a laptop, open book, beach chair, and attentive seagull
Disclaimer: Please do not bring your library books or Chromebook on the beach. Sand. Water. Seagulls. Yuck.

Come see us at the Main Campus Library Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM.

Come visit the Orange County Campus librarian Monday or Tuesday from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM (the library space may be open additional hours in accordance with front desk staffing).

Request services at the Northern Durham Center through the library email address (library@durhamtech.edu).

Library services will be VIRTUAL on Fridays from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Computer and printing access are available in the Student Resource Center (Wynn 10-115) from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Need more time? All Durham Public Library locations are open until 6:00 PM on Fridays.

Need library instruction or to check out/return a laptop after posted hours? Reach out to us at library@durhamtech.edu and let’s chat.

Hours will change again in August when we return for the fall, but check College communications and the Library website for any unanticipated changes.

Finishing Up National Library Week: Your Library Staff

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So technically Tuesday was National Library Workers’ Day, but it was also a high pollen count day, so there’s been a bit of a delay in posting (apologies).

We may be biased (acknowledging bias is an important part of information literacy, you know), but we have a great group of library employees. Your Durham Tech Library staff participate in councils, committees, mentoring, programming, advising, campus planning, and many other parts of the Durham Tech community. We recognize that the way to best help Durham Tech is to be engaged beyond the Library walls, while still providing our necessary services and spaces for collaboration, studying, and research. We support students by collaborating with other departments to provide Chromebooks, Crafternoons, and even help host the annual Art Show (coming very soon!). We facilitate reading groups and challenges and help with tech literacy. We’re proud of our role at Durham Tech.

Oh, and your Library staff can also help you check off that final box of your Read Great Things Challenge every year— A book recommended by a Durham Tech Library staff member either in person or on the blog.

Without further ado, here’s your 2021-2022 Durham Tech Library staff with a furry or book friend.

2021-2022 Durham Tech Library staff. More details in caption, including book or animal component and professional title
Top to bottom, left to right: Courtney Bippley, Main Campus Reference Librarian, and photogenic Kira; Kyle Minton, Reference Librarian (Main Campus and Northern Durham Center) and fluffy gentleman Otto; Susan Baker, Main Campus Reference Librarian, and Dewey (the book and symbolic cat); Meredith Lewis, Orange County Campus Librarian, and George, who does not like to be held except in certain very specific situations; Charles Farrow, Main Campus Library Technician and our rock, and Educated and Your Best Life Now; Lorell Butler, Main Campus Library Technician, sassy purple glasses, and Tune In; Stephen Brooks, Main Campus Reference Librarian, and Infinite Jest (an infinite book); Sasha Deyneka, all campuses Reference Librarian, the lovely Echo (the dog), and Uncle Tungsten (the book); and our kind and generous leader Julie Humphrey, Durham Tech Library Director, and her precious angel cat man Sumo.

Don’t hug a librarian without their permission, but a thanks is always appreciated if we’ve helped you.

It’s National Library Week!

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April 3-9, 2022 is National Library Week, a time celebrate our nation’s libraries, library workers’ contributions and promote library use and support. This year’s theme is Connect with your Library.

Connect with your Library for National Library Week 2022-- Durham Tech and the American Library Association

How can you connect with your Durham Tech Library? Well, follow the blog (hi!) and you can definitely check out our social media (especially our much more active Instagram but also our less active Facebook). You can also attend some of our Crafternoons or other events, such as those in collaboration with Durham Public Library’s Library Fest (this year’s theme is FOOD). You can stop in and use our resources, such as our Tech Tools, Recording Room, or study areas. You can Book-a-Librarian for research assistance and instructors can schedule library instruction or refer their students to the library for assistance with research.

We’re here and ready to connect with you in person or virtually!

The American Library Association kicks of National Library Week by releasing the annual State of America’s Libraries report, which contains the most frequently challenged books from the previous calendar year.

Learn more about banned books in the Durham Tech Library Blog’s Banned Books Week post from September 2021.

Click through to see the most frequently challenged books from the past calendar year and the stats on who, why, and where these challenges take place.

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Sitting at Home Waiting for Snow? Check Out Our Virtual Library Services

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Sumo Humphrey, a precious little gray cat, looks out the screen door at snow while wearing an adorable red, puffy cat jacket

Waiting for snow like sweet little Sumo Humphrey in his warm, ADORABLE winter jacket?

Just taking virtual classes this semester?

Good news is that you don’t have to be on campus to take advantage of lots of Durham Tech Library resources and services!

Keep reading for information about our virtual library services AND a bonus joyful dog video! (Click that Read more link!)

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Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back! Spring 2022 Library Services

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It’s a new semester and your 3 branch campus libraries and 9 library staff members are ready to help you succeed!

Masking is required on all Durham Tech campuses and in all Durham Tech Libraries. To encourage continued masking, food is no longer allowed to be eaten in the Main Campus Library. Masks may be removed briefly while actively drinking from beverage containers with lids, but should be put back on immediately.

BEFORE arriving at any Durham Tech campus, be sure to assess your health.  If you are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19 or have been in contact with someone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, do not come to campus. Contact your supervisor or instructor and the Public Health team at (919-536-7200, ext. 5510) or email covid19@durhamtech.edu.

This applies to anyone who visits any Durham Tech campus and may have been exposed to COVID-19 and/or may be experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19. Exposure to COVID-19 must be reported whether it happened on a Durham Tech campus or not. Report possible exposure and/or if you are experiencing COVID-19-related symptoms by completing the Contact Tracing Form. 

Okay, back to library business.

Your campus libraries are open for studying, printing, book and DVD checkouts, and research assistance.

All Durham Tech Campus Libraries: Main Campus (left), Northern Durham Center (top right), Orange County Campus (bottom right)

Your online library (our library website!) is always open for research, research assistance, ebook and audiobook checkout, streaming video access, chat services, and more! To access databases and other digital resources off-campus, authenticate or log in with your Durham Tech username and password (same as for Sakai or Self-Service).

Scrolling through the options on the Durham Tech Library website, including research, collections, hours, etc.

How can we help?

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Winter Break and Looking Forward to 2022

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The end of the semester is upon us!

The last day the Durham Tech Library will be open and Durham Tech Library staff will be available is Friday, December 17. All Durham Tech Libraries will be closed Monday and Tuesday, December 20-21 and the College will be closed from Wednesday, December 22 through Monday, January 3. The Libraries will reopen starting on Tuesday, January 4 and your library staff will be back and ready to help.

Have a Chromebook to return? If you miss us in December, plan on bringing it back when we return in January. Unless explicitly arranged, you need to put that Chromebook in the hands of a Durham Tech Library staff member. Do not put it in the book return! If you are taking classes again next semester, email us at library@durhamtech.edu to renew. Need some help with your Chromebook? Check out our Tech Tools Chromebook Help page. Need to borrow a Chromebook for the Spring semester? Check out that Chromebook Help page for more details.

Have a book to return? That can go in any of our campus book returns. We’ll check them in when we get back in January if you return them while we’re closed.

Have a rental textbook to return? Take it to the Bookstore on Main Campus in the Wynn Building (Building 10) or follow mailing instructions to make sure you get credit.

Need a book to read over break? Stop in while we’re open or check out our Dogwood Digital Collection to read or listen to our ebooks and audiobooks using the Libby app. Search for ‘Dogwood Digital’ in Libby and log in using your Durham Tech username and password (just like Sakai or Self-Service).

Want to know what you should start reading for the Read Great Things 2022 Challenge? Hold your horses, buddy. Those categories will be released January 1, 2022. Subscribe to the blog for notifications. Have you already completed the 2021 Challenge and SPRINT, filled out your form(s), and collected your prizes? If so, good for you! If not, what are you waiting for? You’ve got 16 whole days!

Need advising help? While our college locations are closed to in-person visits December 22 – January 3, Durham Tech will have admissions representatives available for enrollment, transcripts, and advising-related questions through our email at betterskills@durhamtech.edu or by calling an enrollment specialists at 919-536-7200 ext. 1125, 1149, or 1815. Your assigned librarian advisors will be back January 4 to answer questions if you can wait.

We’re looking forward to working with you in the Spring semester! Have a nice break!

Library Hours for the Thanksgiving Holiday

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Need to use the Durham Tech Libraries next week? Well, our hours will temporarily change.

The College will be closed Wednesday, November 24 through Sunday, November 28. No classes or events will be held.

The Main Campus Library will be open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Monday and Tuesday, November 22 and 23.

The Northern Durham Center Library will be closed. Contact your librarians if you need help during this time.

The Orange County Campus will be open for access on Monday and Tuesday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with librarian services available from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

Library chat will be available when your librarians are not available (with the exception of Thursday, November 25).

Do Your Own Research! (But how?)

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It’s officially fall. There’s a chill in the air and jackets are starting to be worn outside (and not just in overly air conditioned buildings). 

It’s also research assignment season. 

Research: Asking the right questions

Whether you’re working towards your last research assignment of the semester, starting your first big research paper, or somewhere in between, we can help! Keep reading for some tips and tricks from your Durham Tech Librarians about researching and keeping your sources organized (which will make writing your paper easier in the long run).

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