Category Archives: General Library Info

Taking Home Tech Tools: Chromebooks, Webcams, and Other Tech for Success

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Are you, a friend, or one of your students trying to complete school assignments on a smart phone, tablet, old/slow/wonky computer, or shared computer?

  • kira, a brindle dog with perky ears, rests her paw on a laptop
    Kira needs to complete her assignments, but Courtney needs their shared laptop for work.
  • charlie, a tuxedo cat, rests on a laptop
    Scheduling computer time makes Charlie tired, so he fell asleep on the laptop he shares with Meredith.

Does your computer mostly work, but you need a better webcam or microphone to participate in online class discussions?

Do you need a Chromebook to bring home so you can complete your assignments when it’s convenient? 

Let the Library help!

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Library Announcements and News– Fall 2021 Newsletters

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News! For youse! To use! 

The Library has two new excellent librarians that have joined our team and lots of exciting things going on this semester. 

  • Durham Tech Library Newsletter- Employee News & Updates, Fall 2021
  • Durham Tech Library Newsletter- Student News & Updates, Fall 2021

Click through and then on the images (or the links above the images) to read our Fall 2021 Employee & Student Newsletters.

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New Semester, New Goals (and pet pictures!)

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After a year of working from home, we’re (mostly) back on campus and ready for a great Fall 2021 semester. 

We all have goals for the new semester, but our work-from-home coworkers/roommates are excited to be setting new benchmarks for their  success.

Click through to read their goals cleverly used to promote some Library services (and see Library staff pet pictures— I’m not trying to bury the lede too much here). 

brown tabby with green eyes peeking Royalty-free peeking photos free download | Pxfuel
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Fall Library Operations: Tech and Spaces and Services!

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Monday, August 16 is the start of the fall semester. Are you ready?

Check the Library and College website for up-to-date hours. The Main Campus and Orange County Campus Libraries will open with our fall hours on August 16. The Northern Durham Center will begin fall hours on Monday, August 23. Hours are subject to change, but changes will be posted online if needed.

What’s new or back for the fall semester?

Well, classes are back in person (still online, too!) and everyone must wear a mask while indoors on any Durham Tech campus location. More information about masking, campus access, food and drink, and other questions about being on-campus during the Fall semester can be found on Durham Tech’s Fall 2021 Guidelines page— check it out! 

Students should bring a student ID or photo ID– Main Campus is using a scanning system to check in (which can also be used for contact tracing). All guests MUST show a photo ID to use the Library.

What’s new in the library in the Fall? Keep reading for all the details!

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Fall Semester is Coming!

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Fall classes start on Monday, August 16, which means next week is Fall Semester Preparation Week!

Fall Semester is Coming!

The Library (and the College with the exception of the Bookstore) will be closed to students on Monday, August 9 for professional development. The Library will reopen to students on Tuesday, August 10.

Check the Library and College website for up-to-date hours for next week and the fall semester.

What’s new for the fall semester? Well, classes are back in person (still online, too!) and everyone must wear a mask while indoors on any Durham Tech campus location. More information about masking, campus access, food and drink, and other questions about being on-campus during the Fall semester can be found on Durham Tech’s Fall 2021 Guidelines page— check it out! 

What’s new in the library in the Fall? Check back next week for more details!

Durham Tech’s First Virtual Open House

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Have you signed up for Durham Tech’s First Virtual Open House? 

2021 Virtual Open House. Durham Tech logo and Do great things tagline

The 3-hour event will take place on Wednesday, June 2 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm and will provide information on College Admission, Financial Aid, Career Services, Student Support Services, and various other areas of the college. Following the Open House, the College will have virtual booths open for additional questions and information for specific Durham Tech departments.

As a part of the Student Support Services department, the Library has created a short (very short!) video highlighting our main services and friendly (masked) faces. Click through to check it out! 

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Summer 2021 Library Hours & Services [Updated Friday, July 23]

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For the summer schedule, Main Campus plans to be open Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Orange County Campus plans to be open from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Monday (closed 7/26). Virtual services will be available on Friday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Fall hours will begin the week of August 9.

To ask about the availability of resources or verify current hours, email the Library (library@durhamtech.edu) or call 919-536-7211 x1631.

Students should show a photo ID (preferably your student ID) at the check-in desk to use the Durham Tech Library. Guests must show a photo ID to be signed in at the check-in desk. 

Face coverings over the nose and mouth are no longer required while on campus as of May 24, 2021. You may still choose to wear one. We especially encourage those who have not yet been vaccinated to continue wearing a face covering.

Hours may change during the week as required for the College’s COVID response plan. Please check the library homepage or call the library before coming to campus. Updates will be posted and sent out to the college community.

When available, library chat (ChatStaff) is staffed by Durham Tech Librarians Monday through Friday during business hours. Library staff are available through email as well–if the chat is inactive during the day, please email library@durhamtech.edu with questions.

Students, faculty, and staff may request appointments at the Northern Durham Center, Orange County Campus, and Main Campus at alternate times through the library email account (library@durhamtech.edu). We will try our best to work with you.

Durham Tech’s Coronavirus Response page has more information about contact tracing and other resources for faculty, staff, and students. Durham Tech’s 2021 Summer Guidelines page has more information about current College operations and rationale. 

Please remember to be considerate of those around you as we transition into this new phase. 

Students who need to pick up or drop off loaner Chromebooks should contact library staff either by phone (919-536-7211, extension 1631) or email (library@durhamtech.edu) to schedule an appointment or come by when the Library is open, including discussing options for picking up or dropping off after scheduled hours.

Students who are enrolled in upcoming classes either during the summer or fall at Durham Tech can renew their laptop and should contact the library. 

Students who need to return rented textbooks to the bookstore should follow instructions from the Bookstore to get return credit. Questions about rental textbooks should be directed to the Bookstore. 

For more information about current Library operations, keep reading!

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Current Library Hours & Services [Updated Tuesday, May 11]

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New term, new hours! Spring semester is ending and summer session is coming soon.

Please remember– All Durham Tech students, staff, and visitors must wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth the entire time they are in the Library and should complete the Daily Check-In form to get the daily code word. We will update guidelines as the College does. 

Durham Tech Library Planned Hours of Operation for May 10-28. During the weeks of May 10 and May 17, the Main Campus Library plans to be open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Orange County Campus Library plans to be open Monday from 12:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Virtual services are available on Friday from 8:30 to 5:00. During the week of May 24, hours will change to summer schedule-- Main Campus plans to be open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Orange County Campus plans to be open from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Mondays. Virtual services will be available on Fridays from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Appointments are preferred for both campuses. To make an appointment, email the general library email account (library@durhamtech.edu) or call 919-536-7211 extension 1631. Before coming to campus, everyone should complete the Durham Tech Daily Check-In form to get the current code word. Face coverings over the nose and mouth are required the entire time you are on campus. Expect to show a photo ID and have your temperature taken at the Library check in desk. Hours may change during the week as required for the College's COVID response plan. Please check the library homepage or call the library before coming to campus. Updates will be posted and sent out to the college community. Library chat (ChatStaff), when available, is staffed by Durham Tech Librarians Monday through Friday during business hours. Library staff are available through email as well--if the chat is inactive during the day, please email library@durhamtech.edu with questions. Students, faculty, and staff may request appointments at the Northern Durham Center, Orange County Campus, and Main Campus at alternate times through the library email account (library@durhamtech.edu). We will try our best to work with you.

Students who need to pick up or drop off loaner Chromebooks should contact library staff either by phone (919-536-7211, extension 1631) or email (library@durhamtech.edu) to schedule an appointment, including discussing options for picking up or dropping off after scheduled hours.

Students who are enrolled in upcoming classes either during the summer or fall at Durham Tech and need to renew should contact the library. 

Students who need to return rented textbooks to the bookstore should follow instructions from the Bookstore to get return credit. Questions about rental textbooks should be directed to the Bookstore. 

For more information about current Library operations, keep reading!

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A Drawing! And Happy National Library Week!

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Enter our National Library Week “Why I Love My Durham Tech Library” Drawing to win some sweet library prizes! Fill out our form by 5:00 on Wednesday, April 7 letting us know why you love your Durham Tech Library (or if you just like us– honestly, we know love is a strong feeling). 

white ceramic coffee mug with tan cork bottom and white plastic lid, navy blue face mask with black elastic ties, and a bookmark peeking out, all with Read Great Things logos on them

Four faculty/staff and four students each will be eligible to be entered in a drawing to win a cork-bottom coffee mug (complete with lid!) and a mask from our previous Read Great Things Challenge prizes. 

You’re also welcome to let us know how the library has helped you or why you love your Durham Tech Library without entering in the drawing.

Alumni and community friends are welcome to enter, too, but priority for prizes goes to our current students, faculty, and staff. Winners will be contacted on Monday, April 12. Everyone who fills out the form is eligible to get a bookmark. 

Out Loud in the Library: Durham Tech Library Podcast

In addition to National Library Week, it’s also Durham County Public Library’s Library Fest. Our library podcaster Courtney Bippley has interviews with several of their featured presenters, including one that dropped on Saturday with artist Volkan Alkanoglu.

April 4-10, 2021 is National Library Week– an opportunity to celebrate our nation’s libraries, library workers’ contributions and promote library use and support.

Welcome to your Library! National Library Week, April 4-10, 2021

National Library Week launches with a special report from the American Library Association (ALA): “The State of America’s Libraries Report: Special Edition”

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