Updated March 26, 2020
Library Access
After March 18, all Duke University Libraries will be closed until further notice, but we will continue to provide resources, services, and consulting online.
Getting Help
Research and Reference Services
- We are maintaining extended Ask A Librarian chat services for research and reference questions.
Hours are:- Mon–Thu: 9 am – 5 pm / 6 pm – 12 am
- Fri: 9 am – 5 pm
- Sat: 1 pm - 5 pm
- Sun: 1 pm - 5 pm / 6 pm – 12 am
- Subject Specialists are available for remote consultation and instruction and can be reached via email.
- To chat with a librarian, submit a question via email, or find your subject specialist, visit our Ask a Librarian page
Link Service Desk
The Link Service desk is still available (24x5) via chat and phone at oit.duke.edu/help .
Electronic Materials
- All of our eBooks, online journals, databases, and other streaming/electronic materials remain available as usual. If you have issues with access, contact asklib@duke.edu.
- If you are experiencing trouble accessing library resources using Duke's VPN, check out our troubleshooting guide (PDF) or view information from OIT.
- Millions of eBooks are available to Duke users through the HathiTrust Digital Library , NC Live , the Internet Archive's Open Library , OverDrive , and the Durham County Library .
Course Reserves
We will try to find electronic versions of resources for use by faculty in their courses.
- Faculty can consult with our staff on access to publisher resources or alternatives: perkins-reserves@duke.edu
- For film reserves requests, faculty can contact lilly-requests@duke.edu
Students can learn more about accessing course reserves online.
Request a Purchase
To request that the Libraries purchase an eBook or other materials for you, fill out our Title Purchase Request form . We will move quickly to fulfill all approved orders.
Interlibrary Requests
Given that interlibrary lending systems are shut down nationally, and there is limited ability to move materials between libraries within the university, interlibrary requests are suspended until further notice. For questions about interlibrary requests and document delivery, contact interlibraryrequest@duke.edu.
Physical Materials
- Overdue fines for books and other library materials have suspended and will not be charged to you, including for materials on loan from other libraries.
- All books and materials with due dates between March 6 and May 6 will be automatically renewed to May 7. Renewals will be extended and repeated as necessary.
- Recalling items through the catalog has been disabled.
- For questions about borrowing physical materials, circulation rules, fines, renewals, etc., contact perkinsrequests@duke.edu.
How to Return Books
If you're still in Durham you can deposit the books our outside book return. It's built into the wall of Perkins Library near the triple entrance doors on the quad.
If you need to take the books with you or are already out of town you can ship them to:
Perkins Library
411 Chapel Drive
Durham, NC 27708
Attn: Access and Delivery Services
Please make sure to use a trackable delivery service like FedEx or DHL. The books won't be checked in until we are able to return to the building, but they will be secure.
Archives and Special Collections
The Rubenstein Library Reading Room will be closed to all researchers until on-campus classes resume. Researchers with existing travel plans should reschedule their visit. For questions about Rubenstein Library resources and services, contact special-collections@duke.edu.
Data Consulting, Workshops, and Grant Projects
- Center for Data Visualization and Sciences (CDVS) staff continue to be available by email and online video using Zoom.
- CDVS is also providing a wide range of online data instruction through our previously recorded series of workshops .
- Additionally, CDVS continues to work on grant-funded projects and will continue to evaluate project proposals during the spring semester. We are happy to advise on data management plans for grant-funded research and can advise on data curation and data sharing strategies as part of your next grant or publication.
- For questions related to data science, data visualization, data management, digital mapping, and data sources, contact askdata@duke.edu.
Remote Instruction Support
Duke Learning Innovation staff are available to assist faculty with the transition to remote instruction. Visit keepteaching.duke.edu for a list of resources, strategies, and frequently asked questions, or contact keepteaching@duke.edu for help.
Library Events and Room Reservations
All room reservations for meetings and events are canceled through May 7, per university policy . If you have a question about an event, please contact its organizer or Lenora Gilbert, Library Events Assistant .
More Questions? Need Additional Help?
- For general questions, or if you're unsure who to ask, contact asklib@duke.edu.
- For questions related to Lilly Library resources and services, contact lilly-requests@duke.edu.
- For questions relating to music research, music formats (such as scores and streaming audio), and Music Library circulation, contact music-requests@duke.edu.
- For questions about copyright, fair use, and other legal questions related to online coursework, contact copyright-questions@duke.edu
- For questions about publishing, open access, metrics, digital scholarship, and alternative platforms for publishing content, contact scholarworks@duke.edu
- For questions and consultations related to data, data visualization, digital mapping, and data management, contact askdata@duke.edu
Information for Library Staff
Library staff can access additional information related to our response to Coronavirus .