Faculty and staff can borrow technology for free from The Link. Photo by Jack Frederick.
Faculty and staff can borrow technology for free from The Link. Photo by Jack Frederick.

Need A GoPro Or Other Equipment? Borrow Tech for Free

Staff, faculty and students can get equipment at The Link in Perkins Library

Need A GoPro Or Other Equipment? Borrow Tech for Free

Staff, faculty and students can get equipment at The Link in Perkins Library

For an Occupation and Technology class, Tami S. Atkins needed an iPad.

So, Atkins, an instructor in the program, borrowed one from the Office of Information Technology (OIT).

The device gave students an opportunity to try assistive technology tools from the , a state and federally funded program that helps promote independence for people with disabilities through access to technology.

鈥淏ecause technology changes so rapidly, it鈥檚 better that we鈥檙e able to reach out to the University for help supporting us with the equipment we need,鈥 said Atkins, who was able to turn the classroom into an interactive lab with the iPad.

Duke staff, faculty and students can borrow a range of equipment at no charge from the at The Link in Perkins Library. Community members with a DukeCard and then schedule an appointment at The Link to pick up the gear. A department fund code is required to reserve the equipment, in case of damage.

Kenneth Holley and student worker Inchara Yogesh hold tech equipment that can be borrowed from The Link in Perkins Library. Photo by Jack Frederick.

The includes about 300 items such as high-definition video cameras, DSLR camera kits, voice recorders, headphones, GoPros, and microphones.

Sinisa Hamaric, an IT analyst with the OIT Service Desk who helps manage the equipment, said that Duke employees most often check out items like a laptop or phone charger, but much of the equipment can be used for project needs.

Depending on the item and demand, equipment can be checked out between four hours and a few weeks, helping to fulfill a variety of professional or personal needs, Hamaric said.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e going to the mountains now that fall is here, and you鈥檙e going to Biltmore, come get a DSLR camera and take it with you,鈥 Hamaric said. 鈥淚f you have a class, and you鈥檙e doing things outside and you want to record it, use a video camera to record class. There are a lot of advantages.鈥


Sinisa Hamaric borrowed a DSLR camera for his vacation in Aruba in the fall. Photo by Jack Frederick.

When Hamaric went to Aruba in September with his wife for a friend鈥檚 wedding, he reserved a camera for the trip. Throughout their tropical adventure, he used the camera to take stunning pictures that鈥檒l help him remember the trip for years to come.

鈥淚 wanted to take some nice pictures while we were down there,鈥 Hamaric said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 use DSLRs much, but I wanted to give it a try. Why not do it in an environment like that?鈥

Borrow equipment

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