Oscars!

You won't find a red carpet in the Library, but you can read up on Oscar:

All About Oscar: The History and Politics of the Academy Awards. PN1993.92 .L47 2003

70 Years of Oscar: The Official History of the Academy Awards. PN1993.92 .O82 1999

American Musical Film Song Encyclopedia. REF ML102.M68 H57 1999

President's Day

February 22nd is the 277th anniversary of George Washington's birth. Celebrate by reading up on the First President.

The General and Mrs Washington: The Untold Story of a Marriage and a Revolution. E312.19 .C47 2007


Experiencing Mount Vernon: Eywitness Accounts. E312.5 .E97 2006


The George Washington Collection: Fine and Decorative Arts at Mount Vernon. NK535.W37 C33 2006


Realistic Visionary: A Portrait of George Washington. E312 .H54 2006


The first American army : the untold story of George Washington and the men behind America’s first fight for freedom . E259 .C43 2005

Who was America's Best President Ever?

Find out what 65 US Historians thought in

CSPAN's Presidential Leadership Survey

Black History Month

February is Black History Month. Although the Alexandria Campus Library collects and provides access to black history books every month, this month you may want to explore some of the Library's holdings on such diverse topics as Martin Lutehr King, the civil rights movement, Ida B Wells, Josephine Baker, the Harlem Renaissance, African Americans in American sporting life, African American achievement in Higher Education and more.



Also, check out some of the interesting Black History Month programs on the Alexandria Campus by visiting the Events Calendar.

Lincoln Exhibit at LoC

he Library of Congress has mounted a special exhibit of material from the Library's collection related to Abraham Lincoln. "With Malice Towards None", the exhibit celebrating the 20oth anniversary of Lincoln's birth. Also, stop by the campus Library to view our exhibit on Lincoln (and Darwin, who was also born in 1809).

Support Virginia Libraries

In these troubled economic times, it is more important than ever to sustain and ensure funding to Virginia's libraries. Did you know that public library use actually dramatically increases as jobs are lost and incomes compromised?

It is important to support these vital community institutions.

Thye Virginia Library Association (VLA) is committed to supporting the mission of all Virginia's Libraries. You can help by visiting the Grassroots Legislative Action Center and registering to make your voice in support of libraries heard by your legislators.

By registering on this page (click on "Take Action") you can communicate with your legislators directly. The software will automatically identify your legislators, and for advocacy issues will provide forms of communication to be sent directly to your legislators. You can compose your own message to your representatives or use the ones provided.

Take Action! Support Libraries!

MAKE -- magazine and tv

If you enjoy the Library's subscription to Make Magazine, you might also enjoy Make TV, now showing on PBS (WETA, chanel 26) on Saturdays.

Obama-mania

Can't get enough of the inauguration? Visit your campus Library!

and check out one of these titles:

Presidential Inaugurations F196 .B65 2001

Historical Atlas of US Presidential Elections REF G1201.F9 H5 2006

Who Counts? Election Reform in America JK526 2000 .W49636x 2006

Freedom is Not Enough: Black Voters, Black Candidates and American Presidential Politics. JK1924 .W343 2005

News from Around the World

Did you know the Library subscribes to a number of local, national, and international newspapers? Come into the Library to relax, catch up on the latest news, or keep informed with perspectives from around the world.

So come in, find a comforatble chair, and have a look through The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Sunday (London) Times, The Iran Times, El Pais, Indian Country, The Wall Street Journal and more!

New Reserve Fines!

Reserve materials (the majority of which are course textbooks) are among the most heavily used tiles in the Library. Reserve materials directly support classroom learning and curricular goals.

In addition, provision of course textbooks assures access for all students to even the most expensive course texts.

In order to ensure fair and equitable access to these materials, the College has adopted a new system of fines for Reserve Materials.

General Reserve items (material that can be taken out of the Library) will now incur a $2 per day fine every day an item is late.

2-Hour reserve material (materials that are timed Library-Use-Only or Closed Reserve) will be charged $2 per hour for every hour the item is late.

This fine system has been put in place to encourage prompt return of high-demand and high-use items to make sure that Reserve materials are readily available.

Happy 2009

Although classes have not yet begun, Your Library staff are busy getting ready for another great semester.

Spring 2009 will see some big changes in the Library -- particularly with new reserve fines.

Also don't miss new changes in the Library -- including our new, more visible Group Study Rooms, our new international newspaper stand & more (check this space for more information).

Library staff look forward to welcoming students for 2009 to support research needs, course text books, group and individual study, internet access, leisure reading and more.

Final Exams Finally Over

As exams wound down to an end, Library Extended Hours came to a successful close.

From Monday December 8th through Thursday December 18th, over 500 students before 8.30am and after 10pm. That's 500 students who were able to study outside of the Library's normal term-time hours. (record numbers of students packed the library during normal operating hours as well -- sometimes approaching every single available seat being filled).

In addition, the Library's now traditional Late Night Study Snacks were a bigger hit than ever before. Over 240 cups of coffee, tea and cocoa were consumed, as well as more than 12 boxes of cookies and lots and lots of chocolate to keep up the energy through late-night cramming.

Best of Luck to all exam-takers and best wishes for a Happy New Year! See you in Spring '09!

Study Early -- Study Late!!

Once again the Alexandria Campus Library will extend its hours for the last week of classes and exams.

Starting Monday 8 December through Thursday 18 December the Library will open half an hour early at 8am. Monday through Thursday the Library will close an hour later at 11pm.

Continuing what has become a Library Tradition, Late Night Snacks will also be served.

Semester hits high gear

It's that time in term when students begin to think about papers & final projects, conducting research, and preparing for upcoming finals.



Predicatably, the Alexandria Campus Library is busier than ever.




Students coming to library are studying independently...



...Using Group Study Rooms (there are now 5 group study rooms in the Library, available on a first-come, first-served basis. 4 of the rooms are appropriate for groups of 4 or fewer, while one is larger)...




...finding a comfortable place to read...






...checking out books (in record numbers)...




...using Reserve Materials (especially Text Books! did you know that Alexandria students account for almost half of the total college reserve use?)...





...using laptops (the Library supports wireless as well as wired laptop use)...


...and yes, even using Library computers (students generally experience at least some wait to find a vacant computer)...


...and just like at home, the Living Room is the scene of many a project...


What does Your Library have for you?

Happy Hat-o-ween from Your Library

Alexandria Librarians got into the spooky spirit for Halloween.

Little ghouls and goblins were welcomed into the Library on Thursday night, as the Student Business Association sponsored a campus Trick-or-Treat for local kids.

On Fri 31 October the Library Staff continued our annual tradition of 'Hat-o-ween' donning special headgear for the day.

Bruce (Two Face) gets the award for most committed. Jane brought a whiff of Hogwarts, and we had two baseball fans (Go Tribe! Matt scared everyone by putting away his tie and going casual).

NOVA named top tech savvy college

The Chronicle of Higher Education's "Wired Campus" feature reported on the to tech-smart community colleges. Based in part on online library capabilities, NOVA ranked in the top three colleges of its size:

October 27, 2008

Top Tech-Smart Community Colleges Get Ranked

The top tech-smart community colleges have been named by the Center for Digital Education and the American Association of Community Colleges. The center conducted a survey to highlight colleges that provide a high level of information-technology service to students and faculty. The survey examined colleges’ offerings in such areas as online admissions, student access to transcripts and grades, information security, campus-security alerts, and online-library capabilities.

Institutions were placed in three categories, based on the number of students enrolled in 2007. The top three winners in each category were:

7,500 or more students:
Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, Pa.
Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale, Va.
Florida Community College, Jacksonville, Fla.

3,000 to 7,500 students:
Laramie County Community College, Cheyenne, Wyo.
Darton College, Albany, Ga.
Tompkins Cortland Community College, Dryden, N.Y.

Fewer than 3,000 students:
Carl Sandburg College, Galesburg, Ill.
Central Wyoming College, Riverton, Wyo.
Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Worthington, Minn.

The center is a membership organization and a division of e.Republic a for-profit publishing and research group. —Josh Fischman

Aging Gracefully

Library Director Sylvia Rortvedt celebrated a milestone birthday.

Happy Birthday to Our Fearless Leader!!

Hot El Salvador

Alexandria Campus Library celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with a Hot Topics display of books about El Salvador.

The National Education Association says of National Hispanic Heritage Month:

"National Hispanic Heritage MonthSeptember 15 - October 15
Observed each year from September 15-October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month honors the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens who trace their ancestry to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Spanish-speaking countries of Central and South America.
Contrary to popular belief, the word Hispanic does not refer to race, but is an ethnic term for diverse peoples of many races and origins who hold in common the Spanish language."

To see more exciting displays, exhibits and events, visit the Library of Congress.

Constitution Day

Celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the US Constitution with a good book:


The genius of America : how the Constitution saved our country--and why it can again. KF4541 .L334x 2007

A more perfect constitution : 23 proposals to revitalize our Constitution and make America a fairer country . KF4550 .S185x 2007

The summer of 1787 : the men who invented the Constitution. KF4510 .S74 2007

Unruly Americans and the origins of the Constitution. KF4541 .H58 2007

America’s constitution : a biography. KF4541 .A87 2005

(above - the Library's 2008 Constitution Day display).

Or read about the restoration of Montpelier, the Virginia home of the Father of the Constitution, James Madison.

Stock Market Woes

Lehman Brothers fails. Stocks tumble. Wall Street turmoil.


Confused?

Read up:

Financial institutions, markets, and money. HG181 .K48 2008






The man who made Wall Street : Anthony J. Drexel and the rise of modern finance. HG2463.D66 R67 2001

Whoosh!!

Hurricane Ike made landfall this morning, bringing with it a 15 - 20 foot storm surge, widespread flooding and wind damage.

Ride out the storm season reading up on hurricanes & weather:

Storm world : hurricanes, politics, and the battle over global warming. QC944 .M66 2007

Hurricanes : a reference handbook. QC944 .F58 2006

Divine wind : the history and science of hurricanes. QC944 .E43 2005

Restless skies : the ultimate weather book. QC981 .D68x 2005

Extreme weather : a guide & record book. QC983 .B78 2004

Hurricanes and typhoons : past, present, and future. QC944 .H92 2004

Or check on the latest from the National Hurricane Center.