Where Have All My Librarians Gone? Librarian contact info and library services while everyone is off-campus

Submitted by 91ÖÆƬ³§Pro Library on

91ÖÆƬ³§Pro

The librarians are still here for you, though we're working remotely and with our . Note: These coworkers are not very good at accurate typing, so will not be manning the chat.  

Shiba Inu dog reclining on pillows animated to be "typing" on a laptop (its paws are not touching the keys)

Well, what can we do (and what is a no-go for off-campus work conditions)? 

What we can do for faculty, staff, and students: 

  • Help you to find your textbooks online (for free until May 25 in most cases), either using the bookstore's or . 
  • Help you do research and find sources without an appointment via ChatStaff, staffed by your 91ÖÆƬ³§Pro librarians from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and available 24 hours. Click on "Connect with a Librarian" on the Library homepage. 
  • Set up research appointments either over video chat, audio chat, or email. Email your preferred librarian or the general library email account (library@durhamtech.edu) to set up an appointment or fill out the . 
  • Provide self-paced tutorials and instructional materials , including search strategies, that you can watch on your own time to learn how to use library resources (though feel free to ask us questions if you have them!). 
  • Create library instruction videos for individual classes for instructors. Fill out and select the online option.
  • Much more! Email and ask.

What we cannot do (sorry): 

  • Renew your books. They're no longer overdue if you've checked them out recently-- you can return them when we open the building up again. Remember that we don't charge late fees for non-reserve items, just replacement fees for long overdue items. Have a bill for a long overdue book? If you have the book, you can return it when we get back on campus. If you don't, you can pay the bill through Self-Service. 
  • Check out physical books for you. (Have you checked out your public library's awesome online databases, including Libby or Hoopla?)
  • Help you print, copy, or scan. But there are lots of apps for scanning available for your smart phone! (No links, but they exist! Search your app store.)
  • Check out a study room for you and five of your best study buds. (Have you tried Zoom or Google Hangouts? We're using Microsoft Teams around 91ÖÆƬ³§Pro. Phone apps are available for all these programs.)

We know this is a really unsettled time. Please let us know what we can do to help or if we can try to direct you to any college resources. Many of us are also advisors, too. 

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