Worried about the National Debt?

Or are you having an unplanned "vacation" thanks to the government shut-down?

Why not read up on the National Debt, causes, potential solutions, and a range of views:

·         One Nation Under Debt: Hamilton, Jefferson, and the History of What We Owe (HJ8106 .W75x 2008)

·         The National Debt of the United States, 1941 to 2008 (HJ8119 .K45 2008)

·         The Big Lie: How Our Government Hoodwinked the Public, Emptied the S.S. Trust Fund and Caused the Great Economic Collapse (HJ2051 .S5752 2009)

·         Deficit: Why Should I Care? (HJ8119 .B87 2012)

·         White House Burning: the Founding Fathers, Our National Debt, and Why It Matters to You (HJ8101 .J64 2012)

·         A Nation of Takers: America's Entitlement Epidemic (HJ2051 .E27 2012)

·         Blame Welfare, Ignore Poverty and Inequality (HV95 .H257 2007)

·         Welfare (Opposing Viewpoints) (HV91 .W46632 2012)

·         The Politics of Policy Change: Welfare, Medicare, and Social Security Reform in the United States (HN65 .B423 2012)

·         The Health Care Reform Act (KF3605 .G65 2012)

·         Government Entitlements (HV95 .B78 2012)

·         The Parties Versus the People: How to Turn Republicans and Democrats into Americans (JK2265 .E38 2012)

·         The Second Civil War: How Extreme Partisanship has Paralyzed Washington and Polarized America (JK2261 .B84 2007)

·         A People's Guide to the Federal Budget (HJ2051 .P476 2012)

·         The Instant Economist: Everything You Need to Know About How the Economy Works (HB171 .T36 2012)

·         Government Spending (Opposing Viewpoints) (HJ7537 .G686 2013)

·         The Federal Budget (Opposing Viewpoints) (HJ2051 .F388 2010)

Fight Censorship. Read a Banned Book

September 21-28 is Banned Book Week.  The Library observed its commitment to freedom to read by displaying books that have been challenged in the last decade.

A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others. As such, they are a threat to freedom of speech and choice.

Fifty Shades Freed (2012)	Popular Reading
Twilight (2010)	Popular Reading
Arming America (Top 00-09)	HV8059 .B395 2000
Animal Farm (Classics)	PR6029.R8 A63X
1984 (Classics)	PR6029.R8 N49 2002
Golden Compass (Top 00-09)	PR6066.U44 G6x 2006
Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone (Top 00-09)	PR6068.O93 H371x 1998
The Satanic Verses (Classics)	PR6068.U757 S27 1989
Their Eyes Were Watching God (Classics)	PS3515.U789 T5 2006
Invisible Man (Classics)	PS3555.L625 I5353 1999
Grendel (Top 00-09)	PS3557.A712 G7 1989
Snow Falling on Cedars (Top 00-09)	PS3557.U846 S65 1994
To Kill a Mockingbird (2010)	PS3562.E353 T6 1999
Beloved (2012)	PS3563.O8749 B4 1998
Things They Carried	PS3565.B75 T48 2011
Slaughterhouse-Five (Top 00-09)	PS3572.O5 S638 2011
The Kite Runner (2012)	PS3608.O832 K58 2004b
The Lovely Bones (Top 00-09)	PS3619.E26 L68 2002

According to the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, there were 464 reported attempts to remove or restrict materials from schools and libraries in 2012 and more than 17,700 attempts since 1990, when the ALA began to record book challenges.

 

 

Snapshot Virginia

One Day in the Life of Virginia's Libraries:

239,560 books, movies and more were checked out

1,645 new customers received library cards

25,602 people used computers at their library

15,905 people came to their libraries for 550 free programs and classes

5,492 people used their libraries to host 644 meetings

3,350 people were helped by their libraries with outreach programs

1,779 hours were logged by library volunteers

21,966 research questions were answered

 

The stats and advocacy for Snapshot Virginia have been published at http://snapshotvirginia.org/ There you will find posters based on compelling statistics and heartfelt comments collected during this year's Snapshot.

Constitution Day: September 17th

The Alexandria Campus Library celebrates Constitution Day on September 17th.  Check out one of these titles to read up on America's founding document or test yourself with the Washington Post's  Constitutional Quiz.

Amar, Akhil Reed.  America's Constitution: A Biography.  KF4541 A87 2005 

Barnett, Randy.  Restoring the Lost Constitution.  KF4541 B313 2004

Bernstein, Richard.  Amending America.  KF4555 B47 1993

Busch, Andrew.  The Constitution on the Campaign Trail.  KF4552 B87 2007

Farber, Daniel.  Retained by the People: The "Silent" Ninth Amendment and the Constitutional Rights Americans Don't Know They Have.  KF4558 9th F37 2007

Holton, Woody.  Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution.  KF4541 H58 2007

Levy, Leonard.  Origins of the Bill of Rights.  KF4749 L488 1999

Lipsky, Seth.  The Citizen's Constitution.  KF4550 Z9 L67 2009

Sunstein, Cass.  A Constitution of Many Minds.  KF4552 S86 2009

Turning Points in World History: Creation of the US Constitution.  KF4541 C68 2003

Tushnet, Mark.  Why the Constitution Matters.  KF4550 T873 2010

Vile, John.  A Companion to the United States  Constitution and its Amendments.  KF4550 V55 1997

Go on a Blind Date!

well, a mystery date of a literary (or cinematographic) sort.

Take a chance on one of our "mystery selections" and take home a book or film from the library collection for a delightful surprise:

Farewell Marion!

The Alexandria Campus community wished a very fond farewell to Library Specialist Marion Mirehouse after 36 years of service to the College.

Marion's primary responsibilities lay with the print periodical collection (and all of the association upheaval with the increasing and ongoing transition to digital sources).  Throughout her career she was also active at the campus and college level with such organizations as the VCCA and the (various iterations of) the campus environmental/green/conservation committee.

The Library also benefitted from Marion's green thumb:  She was the horticultural genius behind the plant life that is so prominent in the reading rooms.

(above:  Marion, seated, with the current library staff).

Marion will be much missed by staff, faculty and students alike!

It's summer -- catch up on a good film!

The Library has recently collected a run of films from the Toronto International Film Festival.  Check out one of these foreign and independent film titles:

 

 

Alamar

AV PN1997.2 A42452627x 2010

 

Bad Day to Go Fishing

AV PN1997.2 M351352x 2010

 

Clandestine Childhood

AV PN1997.2 I6426735235x 2012

 

The Colors of the Mountain

AV PN1997.2 C6467473456x 2012

 

Come Undone

AV PN1997.2 C68478645x 2012

 

The Country Teacher

AV PN1997.2 V4656875x 2009

 

The Dynamiter

AV PN1997.2 D96265847x

 

Eldorado

AV PN1997.2 E43673x 2009

 

Foreign Letters

AV PN1997.2 F6745462548x

 

Found Memories

AV PN1997.2 H5726784764x 2012

 

Free Men

AV PN1997.2 H645664725x 2012

 

Gigante

AV PN1997.2 G542684x 2009

 

The Grocer’s Son

AV PN1997.2 F55734x 2008

 

Helena from the Wedding

AV PN1997.2 H454546247x

 

Hospitalité: Welcome to our house

AV PN1997.2 K366825x 2012

 

How I Ended This Summer

AV PN1997.2 K352529277x 2010

 

Illegal

AV PN1997.2 I4554425x 2011

 

In Love We Trust

AV PN1997.2 Z86968x 2009

 

Inch’Allah Dimanche

AV PN1997.2 I623435x 2002

 

Jaffa

AV PN1997.2 J33442x 2010

 

Karen Cries on the Bus

AV PN1997.2 K374623754x 2011

 

King of Devil’s Island

AV PN1997.2 K664462837x 2011

 

Little Sparrows

AV PN1997.2 L587727768x

 

The Piano in a Factory

AV PN1997.2 G35934756x 2011

 

A Screaming Man

AV PN1997.2 H6456642785x 2011

 

Storm

AV PN1997.2 S7576x 2010

 

The Trap

AV PN1997.2 K576753x 2008

 

Troubled Water

AV PN 1997.2 U896544x 2009

 

Under the Bombs

AV PN1997.2 S6687536x 2008

 

Vasermil

AV PN1997.2 V37847655x 2011

 

Viva Laldjérie

AV PN1997.2 V58952534x 2004

 

The Wind Journeys

AV PN1997.2 V51244738x 2010

 

 

 

 

Brighter Lights!!

You asked! 

In response to satisfaction and use surveys, students frequently requested more and better lighting in the Library.

We heard you!

Please excuse the noise and disruption as the campus electrician crew install new lights throughout the library.

Ramadan

Muslims begin the observation of the holy month of Ramadan at sunset today.

Read more about Ramadan and Islam with one of these titles:

Bakhtiar, Lalen.  Ramadan: Motivating Believers to Action.  BP186.4 R46 1995

Haddad, Yvonne.  Muslims in the West: from Sojourners to Citizens.  BP52.5 M885 2002

Hoyt-Goldsmith, Diane.  Celebrating Ramadan.  BP186.4 H69 2001

Robinson, Neal.  Islam: A Concise Introduction.  BP161.5 R59 1999

Shu'aib, Tajuddin.  Essentials of Ramadan: the Fasting Month.  BP186.4 S47x 1991

Zimmerman, Trayvon, and American Justice

As the Zimmerman trial proceeds, and the national media and American conscience debate race, justice and society, read up on the issues:

·         The Murder of Emmett Till, AV E185.61 .M973x 2004

·         Community Policing: A Police-Citizen Partnership, Michael Palmiotto, HV7936.C83 P353 2011

·         Crime Scene Investigation & Reconstruction (3^rd Ed.), Robert Ogle, Jr, HV8073 .O382 2012

·         Racial Profiling (Opposing Viewpoints), HV7936 .R3 R323 2009

·         Profiling and Criminal Justice in America, Jeffrey Bumgarner, HV9950 .B86 2004

·         In the Margins: Special Populations and American Justice, Reid Toth, Gordon Crews and Catherine Burton, KF9223 .I5 2008

·         Rights of the Accused, Michelle Lewis (Ed.), KF9618 .R543 2007

·         American Juries, Neil Vidmar and Valerie Hans, KF8972 .V56 2007

·         Criminal Procedure: Investigation, Wayne LaFave, Jerold Israel, Nancy King, and Orin Kerr, KF9619 .L348 2009

·         Criminal Procedure: Post-Investigation, LaFave et al, KF9619 .L344 2009

·         Law and Evidence: A Primer for Criminal Justice, Criminology, Law, and Legal Studies, Charles Nemeth, KF9660 .N46 2011

·         Psychology and Law, Andreas Kapardis, K487 .P75 K36 2010

Supreme Court

SCOTUS is busily handing down rulings & making news.  Whether it's voting rights, affirmative action or gay marriage, you can read up on the Supreme Court, study landmark cases and investigate the US Legal system with these titles:

 

 

Aaseng, Nathan.  Great Justices of the Supreme Court.  KF8744.A18 1992

Epstein, Lee and Kobylka, Joseph F.   The Supreme Court and Legal Change: Abortion and the death penalty.  KF8742.E67 1992

Greenberg, Jan Crawford.  Supreme Conflict: The inside story of the struggle for control of the United States Supreme Court.  KF8742.G74 2008

 

Hall,  Kermit L.   The Law of the Land: A history of the Supreme Court.  AV KF8742.H35 2003

Judicial Opinions: The Supreme Court justices.  AV KF8742.J836x 2007

Lazarus, Edward.  Closed Chambers: The first eyewitness account of the epic struggles inside the Supreme Court.  KF8742.L39 1998

 

Levy, Robert A. and Mellor, William.  The Dirty Dozen: How twelve Supreme Court cases radically expanded government and eroded freedom.  KF8742.L485 2009 

McCaffrey, Paul and Lynn M. Messina.  The Reference Shelf: The United States Supreme Court. KF8742.Z9 U55 2005

Nemacheck, Christine L.  Strategic Selection: Presidential nomination of Supreme Court justices from Herbert Hoover through George W. Bush.  KF8742.N46 2007

 

O’Connor, Sandra Day.  The Majesty of the Law: Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice.

KF8742.O274 2003

 

Opposing Viewpoints: The U.S. Supreme Court.  KF8742.U18 2010

Rehnquist, William H.  The Supreme Court.  KF8742.R47 2001

Schwartz, Bernard.  A History of the Supreme Court.  KF8742.S39 1993



NASA Selects 2013 Astronaut Candidate Class

Read up on NASA, the triumphs & tragedies,  the history of the space program, and all about extra-terrestrial exploration.

Bilefeld, Marjolin.  It Came from Outer Space. TL865.I83 2003

Dubbs, Chris.  Realizing Tomorrow: The Path to Private Spaceflight. TL790.D79 2011

Evans, Kim Masters. Space Exploration: Triumphs and Tragedies. TL789.8 .U5 S573x 2012

Furniss, Tim.  A History of Space Exploration and Its Future. TL788.5 .F868 2005

Gorn, Michael.  NASA: The Complete Illustrated History.  TL798.8 .U5 G67 2005

Mari, Christopher.  The Next Space Age.  TL790 N45 2008

NASA: A Retrospective (DVD).  AV TL521.312 N333x 2010

NASA (Opposing Viewpoints Series). TL521.312 .N333 2012

Smith, Cameron.  Emigrating Beyond Earth: Human Adaptation and Space Colonization. TL795.7 .S63 2012

Space Exploration. TL787.5 .S63 2005

Space Shuttle: The First 20 Years.  TL795.5 .S6147x 2002

Reach for the Clouds

Getting some summertime inspiration from the main Library reading room -- looking towards the new wing of the Bisdorf Building on a Monday afternoon.

Farewell intern Laura

Alexandria Campus Library Staff wished a fond farewell to Laura, our "Transition to Independence" intern who spent the Fall and Spring semester helping out in the Library.  Laura was especially helpful with our scanning/ archive project.