Spring Library Technology Lending: Tech Tools, Laptops, & Calculators!

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Photo of HP Fortis Chromebooks on a stack of laptop boxes

Fall 2024 was rough, y'all. The Library ran out of both loaner laptops and calculators within the first weeks of class and, we were operating on a waitlist for the whole 16 weeks. We hated it as much as you did.

THANKFULLY, we're mostly great now and ready to check out Chromebooks and loaner calculators to those who need them thanks to our NC DIT Digital Champion Grant which will allow us to buy more and refresh our current circulating Chromebooks AND purchase additional TI-84 graphing calculators for our MAT students.

We're still working on processing more PC laptops for those students who need them for IT classes, including our multiple one-term CIS 110 borrowers. Soon! Also soon? Info about our "keeper" Chromebook program for loaner laptop borrowers.

Keep reading for refreshers on borrowing a loaner laptop, calculator, or one of our awesome Tech Tool options.

As a reminder, to borrow equipment from the Â鶹ӰÊÓ Library--either Main or Orange County--you'll need a library account and

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National Library Week: Right to Read Day

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Right to Read Day: Protect Your Right to Read, April 24, 2023
National Library Week is April 23-29, 2023, a time celebrate our nation's libraries, library workers' contributions, and promote library use and support. This year's theme is There's More to the Story. Today is Right to Read Day, a call to action to fight back against censorship to defend, protect, and celebrate your right to read freely. The American Library Association has also released its most challenged books of 2022 as part of its State of American Libraries 2022 report [link to webpage

International Women's Day: #EmbraceEquity

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the ascent of woman: a 10,000 year story documentary
March 8 is International Women's Day (IWD). This year's theme is #EmbraceEquity to get the world talking about Why equal opportunities aren't enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action. Inclusion should be intersectional and is for all ages. We can all be allies to #EmbraceEquity. https://youtu.be/wPbOORwmFA0 (Wait, what does intersectionality have to do with IWD? All forms of inequality are mutually reinforcing and must therefore be

Celebrating OER Week at Â鶹ӰÊÓ

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College Board Annual Survey of Colleges 2022-23 data for Student Budgets: Public Two-Year In-District Commuter data reads for average: $3,860 for tuition and fees; $9,610 for room and board (rent, etc.); $1,460 for books and supplies ($340 for course materials and $1,120 for "other" supplies such as computers); $1,870 for transportation; and $2,430 for other expenses
March 6-10 is Open Education Week! Open Educational Resources (OER) are high-quality educational materials that are available for free in the public domain and can be retained, reused, revised, remixed, and redistributed under Creative Commons licensing. These materials can be textbooks, research documents, or instructional tools, among other things. https://youtu.be/gLWTbIt8l3U Â鶹ӰÊÓ has already awarded stipends for OER adoption to almost 20 instructors, and the OER Task Force is pleased

Â鶹ӰÊÓ's Favorites for Black History Month

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more than a month documentary, directed and produced by shukree hassan tilghman
It's nearing the end of Black History Month, so while our blog post topics may broaden, we'd like to leave you with some books by Black Americans that have made an impact on the Â鶹ӰÊÓ community to read beyond just February because Black history is American history all year long. Keep reading for Â鶹ӰÊÓ's favorite reads by Black American authors--fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art, environmental justice, social justice, criminal justice, economics, fantasy, and finance--, and for a

Contemporary Black Activists and Advocates

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Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II; Photo credit: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
This week's Black History Month post highlights contemporary activist and advocates and their works, but also highlights some folks closer to home. North Carolina has a history of Black advocates and activists--in no particular chronological order--from Pauli Murray to Ann Atwater to James Shepard to Ella Baker to the Greensboro Four (Franklin McCain, Jibreel Khazan, Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond) to Nina Simone to the Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II. Two time Â鶹ӰÊÓ university graduate

Black Wordsmiths: Black Musicians & Poets in the Â鶹ӰÊÓ Library Collection

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"BLK History Month" by Nikki Giovanni. If Black History Month is not viable then wind does not carry the seeds and drop them on fertile ground rain does not dampen the land and encourage the seeds to root sun does not warm the earth and kiss the seedlings and tell them plain: You’re As Good As Anybody Else You’ve Got A Place Here, Too
This week's Black History Month post highlights Black creators in poetry and music, including pop, hip hop, rap, punk, and rock. This is only a small selection of our collection, so stop by and browse our digital collections from your own computer or stop in and browse our shelves. Updated 2/15/2023: Want some poetry bookmarks? Go to the end of the post! Interested in learning how to make your own music using only a laptop? Check out this awesome event through the Wake County Public Libraries

Black History is American History

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Hayti Heritage Center sign with St. Joseph's UME in the background
This week for Black History Month, we're highlighting the actual history of the month itself and resources available to work towards Dr. Woodson's goals when he envisioned a month highlighting Black contributions to American history. https://youtu.be/WMfWGc5kyBg Dr. Carter G. Woodson is the "father of Black History Month." Starting as a week in February in 1926 (selected as the same month as the birthday of Abraham Lincoln and the chosen birthday of Frederick Douglass) and expanded to a month by

Sitting at Home Waiting for Snow? Check Out Our Virtual Library Services

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Sumo Humphrey, a precious little gray cat, looks out the screen door at snow while wearing an adorable red, puffy cat jacket
Waiting for snow like sweet little Sumo Humphrey in his warm, ADORABLE winter jacket? Just taking virtual classes this semester? Good news is that you don't have to be on campus to take advantage of lots of Â鶹ӰÊÓ Library resources and services! Keep reading for information about our virtual library services AND a bonus joyful dog video! (Click that Read more link!) While you can't do research on our PCs when we're closed, you're always able to access our databases from your home. Either