Progress downstairs

Work continues on the main level:

(above: the main floor, tented)

(above: the Reference area, no carpet!)

(above: the stairs are wood!)

(above: the original carpet -- orange!)

(above: the books in crates)

The balcony is done!

The upper level of the Library is re-carpeted, furniture moved back in, and the plants are back home!

Library carpet: progress!

The upper level of the Library is done! All the furniture, shelving, print periodicals, and plants were removed, the old carpet was ripped up, and new carpet laid (below).




After the carpet was laid, all t furniture was put back in place, the periodicals re-shelved, and in a delicate operation, the plants were returned!

Work continues on the main level.

A look at the new carpet:

Guess the name of the pattern:

A) Belly Flop

B) Belly Dancer

C) Dance Party

D) Party Crasher

Some Library services continue to be available in Room 234.

Stop by and see us.

Library Recarpeting: progress report

The Library project is moving ahead. Check here for updates.

To facilitate some of the dangerous and messy work, parts of the Library have to be sealed off with plastic sheeting:

(above: wrapping the stairs to the upper level)

(above: the stairs completely wrapped in plastic. Watch those books! They are next to go!)

(above: where did the books go? All the books had to be moved off the shelves and onto these carts)

(above: many of the books were packed into these yellow crates. You can see the empty shelves. All the shelving will have to be dismantled).

(above: as part of the process, all of the furniture in the Library had to be removed or moved out of the way. Here are study tables stacked on end, with more of those book crates. There are over 60,000 volumes in the Library collection that must be moved and stored, and 21,000 square feet to be carpeted).

Carpeting in room 327 (the Libray classroom) has been completed! Computers are being installed today.

Carpeting has begun on the upper level of the Library and should be completed tomorrow.

Remember: for the duration of the Library re-carpeting project, computers are available in the Open Computer Center in Room 155.

Study space is available throughout the Bisdorf Building -- look especially for the tables and chairs set up in the new wing, or Phase III.

Library staff can be contacted in room 234. You can also return materials in room 234, and find Reserve materials (text books).

Why can't I use the Library?

The Alexandria Campus Library is currently undergoing significant work for a re-carpeting project.


(above) Over the weekend (!), our dedicated crew of movers loaded all the books into these yellow boxes.

(above) The Library Reference area and main seating area, with all the furniture and shelving (and books!) removed.

(above) Where did all the furniture go? It's all piled up in the Circulation area!

NOTE: Some Library services are available for the duration of this project in room 234.

Library Services in Room 234

Welcome to the Library's temporary new "home". While the Library is being completely recarpeted (which requires removal of all the furniture and the all the book stacks!), Library staff will relocate to Bisdorf Room 234, right across the hall, to provide services to students.


Beginning May 17, some Library services will be available in room 234 from 8.30am - 7.30pm Monday - Thursday and 8.30am - 5pm Fridays. The Library does not have weekend hours during the summer.

Services available in room 234 include: course reserves, research assistance, daily newspapers, resolving student holds & fines, and intercampus loan delivery.

Please note: during the recarpeting, for safety reasons, the Library is required to close to faculty and staff as well as students. The print collection of books and periodicals will not be available during this time.

NOVA students may borrow materials from any NOVA campus library with a NOVAcard.

Electronic resources, including e-books, are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week from the Library homepage. Research assistance is available online from the Ask a Librarian page.

Computers are available on campus in the Open Computer Center.

The carpeting throughout the Library has been in need of replacement for many years. We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to welcoming summer students back to the Library in the first week of June!

New Carpet

Student surveys said the Library looked "dated" and "shabby." We agree! So the Library is getting new carpet!

In order for the old carpet to be removed and the new carpet laid, the Library will CLOSE on Tuesday 11 May. For safety reasons, the Library will remain closed until the project is completed.

Beginning May 17, limited Library services (reserves, research assistance, hold removal, and intercampus loan pick up) will be available in Bisdorf Room 234 -- right across the hall from the Library's main entrance.

Check this space for updates. Or visit the Library Homepage. Or stop by Room 232 -- there will be signs posted on the front doors with new information as we have it.

Thanks for your patience.

We're looking forward to beautiful new carpet.

Students study early and late!

For the last week of classes and the week of final exams the Library opened 30 minutes early and stayed open an hour later.



Over 640 students used the Library earlier or later than normal term-time hours.

Study Early! Study Late!

Durnig the last week of classes and final exams the Alexanria Campus Library will observe extended hours. The Library will open 30 minutes early at 8am Monday - Friay and close 60 minutes late at 11pm Monday - Thursday.

Don't miss our popular Late Night study break!

Girls! And Resources! And Girls!

As part of our celebrations for National Library Week, we asked Library users what they liked most about the Alexandria Campus Library. Here's what they said:

Friendly staff * Well-kept study rooms with markers * I like your pencils * Faculty is very kind * Puzzles * Lots of excellent resources (books, articles, videos) * Pretty chill * Great teachers * Good for social life *Great study space * The [library] faculty is very kind and helpful * I just love it! * Great access to resources - online databases of journals &tc * You can meet lots of girls!

National Library Week at the Alexandria Campus

April 11 - 17 is National Library Week.



The Alexandria Campus Library launched National ibrary Week on April 6 with a presentation at the Honors Hour by Librarian and Faculty Emerita Mimi Gronlund on her recently-published biography of her father, “Supreme Court Justice Tom C. Clark: A Life of Service.” Clark served as U.S. Attorney General in the years immediately after World War II, and President Harry Truman appointed him to the Supreme Court where he served as an Associate Justice from 1949 to 1967. A large group gathered to hear Gronlund speak about her father’s career and her experience of writing the book, and any stayed to purchase a copy and have it signed by the author.

Gronlund was a librarian at the Alexandria Campus from 1976 to 1998. She was an active articipant on the Campus and in college life. She was also the recipient of the “Open Moment” fellowship, established in honor of Dean Cecil Shuler on his retirement. The fellowship provided the opportunity to begin her research at the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri.

The Library also asked Library users what they liked most about the Library. Answers ranged from "lots of excellent resources" to "great teachers" to "good place to meet girls."

Alexandria Campus Library: a little something for everyone!

Literary Cake -- Winner!

The Alexandria Library's very own Jane Maddan won the prize for "Most Beautiful Cake" in the Annandale Library's literary cakes contest. Jane's inspiration was Alice in Wonderland. Congratulations, Jane!

(when they cut the cake, were there cries of "Off with her head"?)

Book for a Buck: Book Sale Success

The Alexandria Campus Library's March Madness Book Sale took place on Wednesday 24 March. Library book sales have become much-anticipated campus events, with steady interest throughout the day. The "Y" was buzzing with students, faculty and staff scooping up the bargains (everything cost only $1.00). This semester's book sale raised over $260 for the Library.

Proceeds from the book sale support Library services for students, such as late-night snacks during final exams and National Library Week celebrations as well as Library collections.

Thank you for your support.

March Madness Book Sale

Everything's just $1.00!!

Everything Must Go!

It's Madness.

Join us for the Library's March Madness Book Sale Wednesday 24 March from 11am - 4pm.

Welcome Back

The Library resumed normal term-time hours on Monday March 15th after Spring Break.

It's that time of the year: term-paper time. If you need assistance doing research, using the Library's online or print resources, finding a computer or cracking citations, stop on by. We're here to help.

In other Library news, the puzzle is back! Welcome back and enjoy!

Spring Break

March 8 - 14 is NOVA's Spring Break. The Library will be open during Spring Break, keeping a modified schedule.

Monday March 8 - Wednesday March 10: 8.30am - 7.30 pm

Thursday 11 March: CLOSED

Friday 12 March: 8.30am - 5pm

Saturday 13 March: CLOSED

Research assistance & computer access will be available when the Library is open.

Enjoy the break!

Ragtime in the Library

In celebration of Black History Month, Alexandria Music Professor Harry Jacobson performed the music of Scott Joplin to a large and appreciative audience. Things looked a little different in the Library on Tues 23 February -- a piano appeared in the main reading room along with plenty of chairs. The concert was standing room only.

Read more about Scott Joplin with one of these titles:

Dancing to a Black Man's Tune. ML410 J75 C87 1994

Scott Joplin. ML410 J75 H34

Ragtime @ Your Library

The next Music in the Bisdorf event is scheduled for February 23 in the library and will work “in
concert” with the Campus’ African-American History Month celebrations. The featured faculty member will be Professor Harvey Jacobson who will perform selected piano pieces of the “King of Ragtime,” Scott Joplin. An early post-Constructionera African-American musician, Joplin is best known for composing “The Entertainer,” a staple among first-time piano students.

Back by popular demand!

You asked, and we heard you.

The very popular puzzle has returned to the Library. Find the puzzle opposite the Circulation Desk near the front doors.

So take a study break, take a rest, help finish the puzzle. And check back often, new puzzles are coming soon!

Spring 2010

Welcome back to Spring Term 2010. Classes resumed on 11 January and the Library is once again a busy place. Normal term-time hours also resumed (Mon - Thurs 8.30am - 10pm, Fri 8.30am - 5pm and Saturdays 9am - 4pm).

Need help doing research, finding that perfect article, or books on a topic? Stop by the Reference Desk and a librarian will be happy to help you.

Looking for the text book for your class? Ask at the Circulation/ Reserves desk -- the Library holds many current text books that can be used for 2 hours.

With instruction increasingly moving to online platforms like BlackBoard, FaceBook and websites, you may be looking for a computer. The Library has 40 computers available for student use (please be aware academic use takes priority). You can also access the wireless network (visit the IT Help Desk to find out how) or plug in at the wired carrelslocated on the upper level or on the main level behind the stacks.

Remember the Open Computer Center is available with more computers, color printing, a scanner and technical assistance.

You can also find places for individual and group study, quiet study, current magazines, international and national newspapers, and popular reading selections.

Have a great Spring Term!

Happy Christmas!

The Library staff wish the whole NOVA community a happy and healthy holiday.

Enjoy the break!

Extended Hours Serve 500

Between Dec 7 and Dec 18th the Library once again offered extended hours to accomodate students studying for finals exams or preparing final papers and projects. The Library opened half an hour early at 8am and closed an hour later at 11pm.

Nearly 500 students took advantage of the extended hours, visiting the Library before 8.30 or after 10pm. The Library was even busier during the daytime, when near-capacity crowds of over 200 students a time found places for solo study, group study, computer use, as well as borrowing books and textbooks.

Study-break snacks were also served to the late-night studiers. Over 100 cups of coffee, tea or cocoa were consumed over two weeks, along with countless cookies.

Library staff hope that the extended hours and study-break snacks helped to make final exams a little less stressful. Wishing everyone success at the end of term!

Time for Exams. More Library Study Time!

It's that time of the semester when final prjects, term paper and exams are upon us. In order to help NOVA students prepare for all this, the Library will once again offer extended hours.

Dec 7 - Dec 10 and Dec 14 - Dec 17 the Library will open at 8am and close at 11pm. On Fri Dec 11 and Dec 18 the Library will open at 8am and close at 5pm. that's 13 extra hours of study time!

In keeping with the Final Exam tradition snacks will be served in the evenings.

Top Google Searches for DC

Google has released it's year-end list of top searches by city.

DC's top ten make for interesting reading:

Washington, D.C.

1. fcps blackboard
2. national harbor
3. e street cinema
4. nova community college
5. wtop news
6. wmata
7. nationals baseball
8. dc restaurant week
9. washington sports club
10. leesburg outlets

(as NOVA students know, fcps blackboard refers to the online learning module BlackBoard).

Hint for #4: it's http://www.nvcc.edu/!

Flanders Fields

Nov 11th is Veterans Day (Remembrance Day in the rest of the English Speaking World) commemorating the Armistice which ended the hostilities of World War I on November 11th, 1918 ("on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month the guns in France fell silent").





The events and horrible human toll of WWI were commemorated in a poem by John McCrae:

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Take a moment to remember the fallen. Express appreciation for the work and sacrifices of veterans. Events will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on Nov 11. The Alexandria Campus will sponsor several events on Nov 12th.

Or read up on WWI with one of these books:

The First World War: A Very Short Introduction. D521 H645 2008

Eleventh Month, Eleventh Day, Eleventh Hour: Armistice Day, 1918, World War I and its Violent Conclusion. D523 P44 2004

(and if you're wondering what the deal with the "red flower" is, check out the Poppy Appeal).

Matt Todd elected VLA President!

Matt Todd (Collection Development Librarian at the Alexandria Campus Library) was elected Vice-President/ President Elect of the Virginia Library Association.

Results of the state-wide elections were announced at the General Session of the 2009 Virginia Library Association Conference in Williamsburg.

Matt is the first community college librarian to serve as President and is the youngest person ever elected. Matt's presidential term will begin in 2010.

Matt has been active in VLA for 10 years, having served on the Region V committee since 2001 and serving on the Executive Board as Treasurer in 2008-9.

Puzzled?

Alexandria students are taking a break from the rush of mid-terms and research papers to work on a puzzle:

Come by and help them out! We'll display the completed puzzle.

Got Research?

Need help completing your research for a term paper, research product, speech or presentation?

Confused about where to start?

The Library can help!

Visit the Library Homepage to access online books, magazine, newspaper & scholarly journal articles.

Stop by Bisdorf Room 232 and ask a librarian for research assistance.

Off-campus? Get in touch by phone, email or e-messaging.

You've got research. We've got help.

Student Newspaper Goes Online

Read the Student Voice online:

http://novafortnightly.com/

Fall Break

There will be no classes on Monday October 12 (Columbus Day) and Tuesday October 13.


The Library will be open on those days, with a slightly different schedule: the Library will open at 8.30am and close at 7.30pm.


Library resources are always available at www.nvcc.edu/library.

BOOK SALE -- TODAY!!

Support YOUR Library & get a great bargain at our Huge Fall Used Book Sale.

All day, at the "Y" near the cafeteria.

Hardcover $1.00

Paperback $0.50

Sit easy

The Library has added some new chairs for the computers in the Reference area.

Previous seating in this heavily-used area was old and considerably worn out -- not to mention not veryt comfortable!

The new chairs match the seating already in place in CyberSpace.

Future of Libraries?

Are these the 'new' librarians?



According to CNN, the Future of Libraries is going to a brave new world, a world distinguished by 'loud rooms', social networking, librarians with tattoos and piercings (and dressed like they came from the streets of Brooklyn!) and possibly no books!

If books are so endangered, why does the Alexandria Campus Library's circulation of printed books keep going up?

Hmmm...

Need a Textbook?

Students looking for the assigned textbook for their Alexandria Campus classes may find reserve copies available in the Library.

Textbook reserve provides students with limited access to course texts. Students may read or study from the textbooks here in the Library or make photocopies for their personal use.

A NOVACard Student ID is necessary to borrow textbooks. Most textbooks may be used in the Library only (they may not be taken out of the Library) and most have a 2-hour limit so as many people as possible can have a chance to access reserve material.

Please be aware that course reserves are very popular and in high demand -- hundreds of students make use of course reserves every day. Please be considerate of other students: do not write in, remove pages from, or otherwise damage reserved textbooks. In many cases the Library only has one copy of each book. Please also return reserve textbooks on time. Someone else is waiting!

Reserves carry a $2 per hour fine for late returns.

Students needing a personal copy of a textbook, or who need to take a textbook home, or who wish to use a textbook for more than 2 hours at a time should purchase textbooks from the campus Bookstore. Some scholarship money is availble to assist students who cannot afford to purchase textbooks. Contact the Dean of Students for more information.

Dead Kennedys

No, not these Dead Kennedys:

Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy died yesterday. To read more about the Kennedys, try

The Kennedys at War 1937 - 1945. E747 R46 2002

The Kennedys. AV E843 K4919x 1992

Road to Dallas: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy. E842.9 K25 2008

Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years. E841 T29 2007

Edward Moore Kennedy. February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009

Or, if you really are interested in the Dead Kennedys, try

Encyclopedia of Punk Music and Culture. ML102.R6 C64 2006

Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk. ML3534 .P624 2006

Punk: The Whole Story. ML3534 .P893 2006

Welcome Back!

Welcome to Fall Term 2009! The Library resumes term-time hours (8.30am - 10pm Mon - Thurs, 8.30 - 5 Fri and 9 - 4 Sat) and anticipates a lively beginning of the academic year.



Stop in to read today's newspapers, browse for a new book, find your text book, prepare for the Placement Tests, or say hello to your campus librarians.


Need a computer? Find the Open Computer Center in room 155. Need help registering for classes? Visit Student Services in room 194.


Welcome Back! We're here to help you succeed.

Where Is My Favorite Library Source?

In response to significant cuts to the library materials budget (over 40% reduction from 2007-8), it has been unfortunately necessary to cut some library resources.

Librarians from each campus collaborate to make collection decisions, analyzing use statistics and cost to make responsible choices about database subscriptions.

Each campus library also assesses print subscriptions and monograph acquisition priorities.

If you notice one of your favorite resources is no longer available, please contact your campus librarian to find out about alternatives.

The news isn’t all bad! The college still subscribes to over 150 online databases. Alexandria campus will continue to receive many print periodicals. And of course we are still buying books (expanding print book collections is a recurring request in library user surveys). As always, please feel free to make suggestions and give feedback about library collections.

Gearing up for Fall

Fall 2009 is almost upon us (classes begin Aug 24) and your Library is getting ready. This summer we shifted all 50,000 volumes of our circulating collection to make room for even more books! Which is a good thing, as new additions to the collection are being added every week.

The air-conditioning system was completely replaced -- after 3 months of no A-C in the Library, it's now nice and cool.

The old computers in the Reference Area were removed and replaced with 28 brand news ones.

Headphones are available in the specially marked bins (please return them when you're done!).

New study carrells have been added on the upper level, increasing the Library's available seating to over 250 seats.

New network drops have been added, increasing the internet availability to laptop users.

Library staff have been busy cleaning, sorting, organizing and preparing for the new semester. We hope to see YOU in the Library soon.

Where Did The Computers Go?

You may have noticed the computers in the middle of the Library are missing in action. What happened to the Library computers?!?

No, they haven't been kidnapped (computer-napped?).

The good news is the Library is getting NEW computers. Updated models should arrive soon -- with faster, more powerful computing all ready for the beginning of the new academic year.

To make room for the new computers, the old ones had to be moved out.

Computers are still available in CyberSpace (the partially enclosed spaced behind the magazine shelves) and the Open Computer Center is available in Room 155. The Open Computer Center (OCC) is the main computer lab on campus, complete with a very helpful staff of IT experts who are eager to help you with your technology needs. Also, the OCC has many more computers than the Library -- so be sure to pay them a visit!

Julie & Julia

Julie & Julia will soon make its debut in the DC metro area, based upon the book Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen TX649 P66 A3 2005:

If it inspires you to do some French cooking, you too can cook your way through Mastering the Art of French Cooking TX719 C454 2001

The film claims to be based on "2 true stories". If you're interested in Julia Child's true story, check out

Appetite for Life: The Biography of Julia Child. TX649 C47 F57 1997

Julia Child. TX649 C47 S58 2007

Julia's Kitchen Wisdom: Essential Techniques and Recipes from a Lifetime of Cooking. TX651 C523 2000

Chess Books

The Alexandria Campus Chess Club has donated a collection of books on chess to the Library. Have a read through these to turn your check into check-mate:

Amateur's Mind: Turning Chess Misconceptions into Chess Mastery. GV1449.5 S52 1999

Art of Attack in Chess. GV1445 V843 1998

Chess Exam and Training Guide. GV1451 K46 2004

Complete Chess Workout. GV1451 P34x 2007

How Good is your Chess? GV1451 K58 2005

How to Choose a Chess Move. GV1449.5 S65x 2005

Logical Chess Move by Move. GV1445 C473 1998

School of Chess Excellence. GV1445 D83x 2001

Secrets of the Russian Chess Masters. GV1449.5 A43 2003