Information Resources

dm9 — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 22:20:38 -0400

Bryan Center Information Desk

The Bryan Center information desk (684-2323) is open 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 a.m. They have information on just about everything going on at Duke or will help you find it.

Inclement Weather?

Call 684-INFO (684-4636) or check the Duke University homepage to receive information regarding class attendance due to inclement weather, emergency situations or whenever information needs to be made available to the Duke community.

Performing Arts?

Information about the performing arts at Duke can be obtained by calling the 24 hour arts line at 681-ARTS (681-2787), or by calling the Page Box Office at 684-4444. Schedule of performing Arts can be found by checking out links on the following web-site: http://www.duke.edu/main/news/arts.html. The University Union, which sponsors a variety of programming, can be reached at 684-4741.

Durham Information

The Durham Chamber of Commerce--The Durham Chamber of Commerce is a great source of information for newcomers. Stop by their office on W. Morgan Street in the Peoples Security Insurance Building, on the 14th floor, to pick of loads of free information, including apartment guides, travel and vacation guides, newcomer guides, and information on Durhan clubs and organizations. Their phone number is 682-2133. You can also check out their web-site at http://www.durhamchamber.org/

Technology Help

Office of Information Technology (OIT): This is one of the most useful places to seek internet help. They have a help desk and offer free software to students. 684-2200
E-mail: help@oit.duke.edu
http://www.oit.duke.edu/

Periodicals

The Herald Sun, the city daily, contains more local, regional, and national news, sports, etc. than The Chronicle. The classified ads in this paper are effective for buying and selling and the rates are low. A Friday supplement contains listings of local events. For a subscription call 419-6900.
The Independent is a weekly, state-wide paper which mainly does features and in-depth reporting on local events, plus book and movie reviews. The paper reports a calendar of events (movies, music, exhibits, special events, etc.). It tends to be rather politically oriented. The paper can be picked up free at various spots around town and on campus, including in the Bryan Center.
The News and Observer is a Raleigh-based newspaper and a Durham edition is available. Call 687-0207 for a subscription.
The Chronicle is the daily campus newspaper. It covers campus events, touches on world affairs, prints commentary, interviews, special interest stories, and includes sports, comics, classifieds, announcements, and advertisements. Stacks of The Chronicle appear daily around campus during the Fall and Spring academic sessions.
Duke Dialogue, published weekly during the academic year and biweekly during the summer by the office of News and Communications, gives reports on university affairs and provides a detailed weekly calendar of lectures, concerts, and other events. It is available free around campus.

Libraries

Duke Libraries
The libraries of the University consist of the William R. Perkins Library and its seven branches on campus: Biology-Forestry, Chemistry, Lilly, Engineering, Music, Mathematics-Physics, Special Collections; the Pearse Memorial Library at the Duke Marine Laboratory in Beaufort; and the independently administered libraries of Divinity, Law, Medicine, and Business (Fuqua).

Social sciences and humanities students find themselves spending much of their time in Perkins Library, which is a large, modern research institution with extraordinary primary and reference facilities. For help in finding out where items are located in Perkins, attend one of the audio-visual presentations conveniently scheduled at the beginning of each semester. Check for details at the reference desk (660-5880). Also at the reference desk, you can pick of a copy of the booklet Guide to the Duke University Libraries. Closed study carrels are available to graduate students who have passed their prelims. These are tiny rooms with desks and doors which may be locked. There are fewer closed carrels than there are people who want them, so you are encouraged to apply early. Ask at the circulation desk.

Finally, the recently renovated Lilly Library on East Campus subscribes to art periodicals not kept in Perkins, and hold most of the university’s collection in the arts. There are changing art exhibits in the Book Lover’s Room on the first floor, an attractive Japanese study room upstairs, and an extensive collection of videos, which may be checked out overnight. Many graduate students find this an excellent place to read and study away from the often noisy and distracting atmosphere of Perkins.

Other university libraries available to Duke students

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (http://www.lib.unc.edu)
North Carolina Central University (http://www.nccu.edu/library/shepard.html),
North Carolina State University (http://www.lib.ncsu.edu)

Public Libraries
The Durham County Public Library has several branch locations around Durham. Along with collections of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books, the library has a strong local resource and reference collection, an audiovisual library with a wide selection of videotapes featuring foreign films and documentaries, and an impressive selection of music tapes and CDs. All borrowings are free to holders of library cards. Borrowing periods are 21 days for books, and 7 days for videotapes. To obtain a library card, you must bring a NC driver’s license, or a bill showing you current NC address. Children under 16 must have the signature of a parent or legal guardian.

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