2007/2008 Divinity School Library Guide to Computing

Computers are a vital part of the academic environment of the Divinity School and Duke University. Computers are used for class registration, library research, and communication within the Divinity School. In addition, a number of Divinity faculty regularly create course webpages that may require you to electronically exchange or submit papers, download assignments, and communicate electronically with your classmates.

What computers do you have for student use?

The Divinity School Library has twelve public research terminals with access to hundreds of catalogs and databases available from our webpage. The Divinity School Library computer classroom offers students ten networked computers, a laser printer, and a laptop connection for printing. In addition, Duke University maintains several 24-hour-a-day computing labs equipped with Macintoshes, Windows, and Linux PCs.

What kind of computer do I need ?

Owning a computer is not a requirement for attending the Divinity School but is highly recommended. To use a computer for your work at the Divinity School, you need one that will be robust enough to handle the current versions of email, web browsing, and word processing applications. A number of students purchase portable computers (notebooks, PDA, or tablets) to take notes in class, use Duke's wireless network, and work in a variety of locations. Some students decide (or discover) that they would prefer not to keep up with a portable computer while on campus and instead combine use of a home computer with publicly available computers on campus.