3 Fun Ways to Use Duke Libraries

There’s a Friday evening tradition in the Lazarus household: Movie night.

A few times a week, Duke staff photographer Jared Lazarus stops by Duke’s Lilly Library on East Campus to peruse the DVD selection. He tries to find movies with strong female heroines to enjoy with his 10- and 13-year-old daughters.

“It’s convenient because when I’m leaving work, I can just take a detour to East Campus,” Lazarus said. “Their selection is awesome, and it’s free.”

Staff and faculty can follow in Lazarus’ footsteps and take advantage of Duke University Libraries’ many lending programs. In addition to borrowing books, current Duke community members can use their DukeCards to check out GoPro cameras, tablets, e-books, audiobooks and DVDs. These materials are available year-round for Duke staff, faculty and students at no charge.

Here are three ways to use Duke Libraries:

Pick out a movie from Lilly Library

See the latest Academy Award-winning movies by borrowing a DVD through devilDVDs at Lilly Library on East Campus.

The devilDVDs program provides a selection of recently released movies and TV series that can be checked out for seven days and can be renewed one time online. Patrons can visit Lilly Library and peruse the DVD section and borrow titles at the circulation desk using their DukeCard. Find DVD titles not on display in the devilDVD racks by searching Lilly Library’s online Film & Video catalog and get movie ideas through Video Spotlight lists created by Lilly Library staff.

Lazarus, the Duke staff photographer, recently borrowed DVDs such as “The Martian” starring Matt Damon and “Joy” starring Jennifer Lawrence.

“This service is like a free Redbox for Duke employees, staff and students,” he said.

From GoPros to webcams

At The Link on the lower level of Perkins Library, tablets, webcams and GoPro cameras are available for rent.

To borrow equipment, employees and students must visit The Link service desk and see if the equipment is available and then fill out a rental form. The list of Link equipment can be found here.

Find audiobook and e-book titles

Looking for an audiobook or an e-book to read? You can download them using OverDrive.

OverDrive, an online lending platform, offers e-books and audiobooks that can be downloaded to desktop and laptop computers, Kindles, and Android and Apple mobile devices.

Alicia Korenman, funding opportunities specialist for the Duke Office of Research Support, enjoys reading e-books after work and on weekends. She recently borrowed “Too Much Happiness” by Alice Munro and “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry.

“For any employee who has an e-reader, I would definitely recommend OverDrive because it’s free, and if the library doesn’t have the book you want, you can always request the title,” Korenman said.

Employees can visit the Duke OverDrive website, browse the current selection of titles, and check out a title using their NetID and password.