60 for 60: Innovative free telephone-taped instruction served nearly half a million calls in 1980s

In celebration of Durham Technical Community College’s 60th anniversary, the College is publishing 60 for 60 – a storytelling campaign that highlights the people, places, and events that have progressed and shaped the College’s six decades of impact. To view more 60 for 60 stories, visit www.durhamtech.edu/60for60. 

In January 1980, Durham Technical Institute introduced an innovative way to reach more people in the community. The College launched telephone-tape services that provided free instruction and information to local residents.  

Dial Access Instructional System, or DAISY, offered informational tapes on topics such as:  

• DAISY Literacy Program  
• Durham Tech information  
• Educational Skills  
• Health Information  
• Public/Consumer Information  
• Spelling Sessions  
• General Listening (entertainment)  

Over the years, DAISY expanded and added new topics including local job openings, children’s stories, and clinical depression. 

The program operated seven days a week. When operators were unavailable, several recorded tapes were available for listeners. Local newspapers also provided weekly schedules of the tapes.

When DAISY launched at the College, Dr. Susan H. Payne and Helen Pressley oversaw the program. Payne designed and wrote the DAISY literacy program, collected, and narrated tapes. 

On September 30, 1987, the program accepted their last calls. Due to equipment needs and pricy repairs, the program ended. Over the seven years it was in operation, nearly 500,000 calls were logged by Durham Tech operators and more than 500 audio tapes were produced. 

For more information, contact Desiree Towson, M.S., Communications and Public Relations Coordinator, at allisontowsond@durhamtech.edu.