Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Libraries will Survive

Library staff from Central Rappahannock Regional Library (CRRL) respond to budget cuts with a little help from Gloria Gaynor:

Libraries Will Survive.



And these talented librarians are now famous, even appearing on the local news.



Friday, September 24, 2010

Will The Internet Kill Magazines?

Did instant coffee kill coffee?

The Magazine Publishers of America and Y&R Advertising want the world to know that reports of the death of the magazine industry have been exaggerated. Throughout the summer magazine and print ads attempt to correct misconceptions about magazine readership and the effect of the internet on magazine readership.
Under the catch-phrase "We Surf the Internet. We Swim in Magazines" the campaign is supported by several surprising metrics:

* Magazine readership has risen 4.3% over the past five years

* Adults 18-34 are avid magazine readers. They read more issues and spend more time per issue than their over-34 counterparts

* During the 12-year life of Google, magazine readership increased 11%
* Magazines outperform other media in driving positive shifts in purchase consideration/intent.

* People magazine reaches 45 million readers every week, topping the 22.7 million people who watched the 2009 finale of Fox's American Idol.
Visit the Alexandria Campus Library today and check out our collection of over 200 magazines.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Celebrate US Constitution Day

September 17th is US Constitution Day.

Celebrate by reading a good book about the US Constitution:

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

Constitution of the United States: Analysis and Interpretation. Reference--KF4527 .U54 1996

Lane, Eric. The Genius of America: How the Constitution Saved our Country and Why it Can Again. KF4541 .L334x 2007

Levy, Leonard. Original Intent and the Framer's Constitution. KF4550 .L48 1988

Lipsky, Seth. The Citizen's Constitution: An Annotated Guide. KF4550.Z9 L57 2009

Sunstein, Cass. A Constitution of Many Minds: Why the Founding Document Doesn't Mean what it Meant Before. KF4552 .S86 2009

Or watch a video:

The Amendments to the Constitution vols 1 - 20. DVD KF4557 A44x 2008

Or watch a video online: Amending the Constitution.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Textbooks are so expensive!!

Yes they are -- and we at the Alexandria Campus Library feel your pain!

To purchase textbooks, students should visit the campus Bookstore. Please note that textbooks are campus specific. Math classes at Alexandria do not use the same textbooks as math classes at Annandale.

A cheaper (free) alternative is to visit the Alexandria Campus Library to see if your professor has placed your textbook on Reserve.



What is Reserves and what do you need to know about using this collection? Here are some frequently asked questions and answers:

What is the Reserve Collection?

Reserves are course materials (usually text books) placed in the Library by the faculty or academic departments. They are available free of charge for currently enrolled students to use.

How can I use these materials?

Bring your current NOVACard to the circulation desk in room 232. You will need to know the course name and number of the course you are taking. It helps if you know the teacher's name as well.

How long can I keep reserve materials?

Because of extremely high demand (many, many students rely on reserve materials, especially textbooks) most textbooks can be used for two hours at a time. This gives other students a chance to use the materials.

Some reserve material can be checked out overnight, for three days, or one week.

Can I take reserve materials home?

In most cases you must use reserve materials in the library only. This ensures that the materials are secure and remain available for use by as many students as possible.

In some limited cases, some reserve materials may be taken home for a restricted amount of time.
Who decides if the reserve books can be taken home, or used for only 2 hours?

The teaching faculty.

What if the textbook for my course is not on reserve?

Speak to your professor, or let library staff know.

What if I do not return reserve items on time?

Shame on you! You should feel very bad! Other students -- just like you -- are waiting for these items. In addition, reserve materials carry a $2 per hour fine.