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Durham Tech Home > Library Home > How do I ...?

Welcome, Durham Technical Community College students, staff, and faculty!
Please consider this a launching
point for learning about our library.

 

How can I get a library card?
How do I access reserve material?
How do I access the library online catalog?
What computer resources are available in the library?
How do I know what the library circulation policies are?
How do I find newspapers and periodicals?


  How do I make photocopies, scan, or fax?
How do I place a book on hold?
How do I renew a book online?
How do I request an interlibrary loan?
How do I access Blackboard?
How can I learn how to use library resources?
How can I contact the library for further assistance?

How do I get a library card?
idcardiconYour Durham Tech Identification card will serve as your library card. ID cards are issued in the Campus Police/Security office, which is located in the rear annex of the White Building. Be prepared to show your Durham Tech ID when you need to check out materials. We do not accept a driver’s license or other ID cards in lieu of your Durham Tech ID.

How do I access reserve material?
Come to the circulation desk with your Durham Tech ID card to use reserve materials in the building. Some reserve items may be checked out if stipulated by faculty members.

How do I access the library online catalog?
Go to the library home page and there select the link to the Durham Tech Online Catalog to search for books and audiovisual items in our collection or the collection of another community college in North Carolina. No password is required to search our catalog, and it may be searched from anywhere that you have access to the Internet.

What computer resources are available in the library?
computergrahicThe computers upstairs in the library are for research and internet use only and may be used by the general public. Software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint is not available on these computers. Please note that these computers are occasionally reserved for classes. During these times, other users may be asked to work elsewhere. The ERC computer lab downstairs is available to students, faculty, and staff. These computers have Microsoft Word and other programs available. Users are required to show their Durham Tech ID and sign in. Lab monitors are available to assist users. At this time, wireless Internet connections are not available in the library. Computers for persons needing disability access are available in the assistive technology lab located within the Campus Learning Center Computer Lab, in the Phail Wynn, Jr. Student Services Center in room 1310. The library has one computer in the general public area upstairs that offers Zoomtext magnification and reading software.

How do I know what the library circulation policies are?
Circulating books, audio books, and music CDs are checked out for three weeks, with one renewal. There is a check out limit of two audio books and of two CDs at one time and of two books on the same topic at one time (you may check out additional books on different topics). Overdue items cannot be renewed. A Durham Tech ID card must be presented to check out books from the library. Reference books, certain video recordings, some reserve materials , and all periodicals are for library use only. If a circulating book is checked out, you may come to the circulation desk with your ID card and ask a library staff member to place it “on hold” for you. Videos and DVDs with a blue bar on the spine label are available for one-week check out. Other videos and DVDs materials may be checked out only by faculty members or staff; students may watch them in the library. In Addition, Durham Tech students may check out two books at a time at North Carolina Central University’s Shepard Memorial Library.

How do I find newspapers and periodicals?
The library subscribes to many magazines, journals, and newspapers. Current issues of journals and magazines can be found in the Periodicals section, located at the back of the first floor of the library. Older (archived) journals and magazines can be found downstairs along the wall on the left by the circulating books. A few journals are kept on reserve, and you may ask for them at the reference/circulation desk. In addition, some daily newspapers are kept at the desk. Newspapers and periodicals are for library use only and cannot be checked out. Also keep in mind that many newspaper and journal articles are available through our online databases. Please ask us for help if you need research assistance.

How do I make photocopies, scan, or fax?
copierPhotocopies cost 5 cents per page, and printouts from the networked computers upstairs in the library also cost 5 cents per page. From the computers in the ERC lab downstairs, students are allowed to print 10 pages for free. Additional pages are 5 cents each. Outgoing faxes cost $1.00 per page; please ask at the desk for assistance sending faxes. A scanner is available in the ERC computer lab downstairs, and computer lab monitors are available to assist with scanning.

How do I place a book on hold?
closedbookiconIf an in-house book or circulating audiovisual item is checked out, then you may come to the circulation desk to "place a hold" on that item. You will be put on a list and called or emailed when that title is turned in to the library circulation desk and your name is next on the list. A student ID card must be presented to check out materials from the library.

How do I renew a book online?
bookiconOn the library home page, click on the link that says “Renew your Books.” The screen may say "Session has timed out." Please select "OK" to start a new OPAC session. Type in your 14-digit library system barcode number found on the back of your I.D. leaving out any spaces. For example, 29024000000000. You do not need an alternate ID number or a pin number. Click on “OK.” Then select “My Account” and “Renew My Materials.” Select the items to be renewed by clicking in the box beside the title. Remember, you may renew materials only once and you may not renew items that are overdue.

How do I request an interlibrary loan?
bookmobileAn interlibrary loan is a request from our library to another library for material that is not in our collection. Interlibrary loan request forms are available at the circulation desk as well as online. Requests may be submitted by current students, staff, and faculty members of Durham Tech only. We will try to obtain the book from another community college in our state. We are unable to process interlibrary loans for the general public. We are unable to request DVDs or video recordings through interlibrary loan. Please note that sometimes other libraries may charge us for certain materials, such as photocopies of articles, and we must pass any such charges on to you. Please let us know if you are only interested in materials which we can obtain for free.

How do I access Blackboard?
blackboardGo to the following web page to access Durham Tech’s Blackboard login page http://blackboard.durhamtech.edu/webapps/login/. The Blackboard link is also available on the Durham Tech home page (under the Career Program and University Transfer Students section) and on the Career Program and University Transfer Students page. Please note that Blackboard version 6 has been replaced with Blackboard 7, and user names and passwords have changed. Student Blackboard help is available at http://courses.durhamtech.edu/wiki/index.php/Blackboard_7_Help_for_Students. Instructor assistance is available at http://courses.durhamtech.edu/wiki/index.php/Help_for_Instructors.


How can I learn how to use library resources?

Most English (ENG) and Reading (RED) classes visit the library for a formal orientation. Stop by the reference/circulation desk for help if you have not attended an orientation, and we will be happy to answer any questions you have. To get you started, here is some basic information on searching the library catalog, searching the library’s electronic databases as well as some advanced strategies for database searching.
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How can I contact the library for further assistance?
Getting in touch with us is easy!

Email us at: library@durhamtech.edu
Call us at:919-536-7211 or 1600 (on-campus)
Fax us at: 919-686-3471

Write to us at:
Durham Technical Community College Library
1637 Lawson Street
Durham NC 27703

NC KnowsIf you need research help immediately and the Durham Tech library is closed,
try asking for help from NC KNOWS which offers round-the-clock online reference service from librarians worldwide.



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