March Madness

is here.





Check out How March Became Madness: How the NCAA Tournament Became the Greatest Sporting Event in America. GV885.49 N37 E56 2006

The Case for Books

Is the age of the printed book coming to an end? If history is any guide, notes Harvard University Library director Darnton, not any time soon. In this collection of previously published essays, an unashamed apology for the printed word, Darnton, an eloquent writer and one of the world's foremost historians of the book, offers a fascinating history of our literary past and a penetrating look at the disruptive forces shaping the future of publishing. Almost no topic is untouched, from the role of libraries to metadata, the print traditions of Europe, piracy old and new, Darnton's own forays into digital initiatives and the efficacy—even the beauty—of our changing literary landscape over centuries of development. This book clearly has a main character, however—Google. The search giant appears often. While the individual essays are brief, in sum, the book offers a deep dive into the evolution of the written and published word. Darnton offers little cover from the winds of change, but for book lovers and publishing professionals he offers the comfort that comes from understanding the past, and hope, as he places the Internet among a litany of disruptive innovations the book has survived. Publisher's Weekly. (Oct. 27)

Check it out today: Z116 A2 D37 2010

Network Upgrade Nears Completion

Over spring break, the campus undertook a major network upgrade. During this process, internet services, printing, copying, phones, and library circulation services were unavailable on the Library's main level.



Some Library services, inlcuding reference, online research, reserves, and circulation services were available in the Library classroom (room 327) throughout spring break.

The upgrade included running new cables through the public spaces and offices in the Library, including in the 2-story reading area -- requiring the Big Ladder (above).

The Library will re-open, with normal hours, on Monday 14 March.

Spring Break!!

It's almost that time. NOVA will observe Spring Break from 7 March - 13 March.

During that time, the Library will be open from 8.30am - 5.00pm.

The campus will also undertake a scheduled network upgrade during that time. Copying, printing, telephone, and the internet will be unavailable on the main level of the Library. Library services and computer access will be available in room 327.

Library Thief Sentenced to 15 Years!

It turns out Librarians aren't fibbing when they tell patrons the Library Police might come and get them if they don't return their books. The Library Police will definitely come to get you if you check out books with the intention of selling them for profit:

"A Baltimore woman will spend a year in prison for withdrawing thousands of dollars in library books and reselling them.

Evelyn Whye, 53, obtained a Prince George's County library card and went to work. In December 2008, she spent three days hitting various libraries, and she wasn't looking for Dr. Seuss. Whye was after expensive text books, the kind that can break a college student's bank account."

Read the whole story from NBC4: Book Closed on Maryland Library Thief.

(the Library Police!)

Scott Turow wants to protect America's Libraries

Writing in the Huffington Post, author (and president of the Author's Guild) warns against funding cuts to public libraries as state and municipal governments struggle to close large budget gaps:

"Those governments are cutting everywhere they can and public libraries nationwide have been one of the biggest and least deserved losers in the process.

Widespread public access to knowledge, like public education, is one of the pillars of our democracy, a guarantee that we can maintain a well-informed citizenry.

But libraries seem to be losing out in the funding battles, due, in part, to the mistaken belief that they are somehow anachronistic in an age when so many Americans have instant computer access to information through the Internet. This is, frankly, a let-them-eat-cake-attitude that threatens to destroy a network of public assets that remains critical in our country."

Contact your legislator and tell them not to be a Marie Antoinette!

Ask a Librarian -- on your iPhone

Did you know there is a librarian waiting to answer YOUR question -- 24 hours per day?

Just visit the Ask a Librarian page and scroll down to LRC Live to begin chatting privately to a librarian.

iPhone users can download a direct link to their phones and add LRC Live as an app.

Great for research emergencies!

More face-to-face, less face-to-screen?

Professor Sharon Marshall, of St John's College, reflects on the uses -- and abuses -- of BlackBoard in the 21st Century college learning environment (in the Chronicle of Higher Education).

She observes:

"My ideal class—students sitting in a circle, or around a seminar table if we're really lucky, discussing, reading aloud, exchanging hard copies of student papers—had become, in a sense, a figure of nostalgia. It was something I did with students "back in the day."

Gradually it became clear that, given the choice, most students preferred to live online, rather than engage with actual humans in a classroom, even when there was a seeming sense of community or camaraderie among classmates. Being online all the time had become learned behavior that was hard to give up, even for only 55 minutes."

And asks:

"Because technology plays such a huge role in our lives when we are not in school, is it really necessary that we duplicate those experiences and environments when we actually have the opportunity to connect in more direct and immediate ways in a synchronous classroom?"

And concludes:

"The flip side of technophobia is the kind of unexamined technophilia that welcomes everything new and different, whether or not it improves life or teaching, or the lives of students and teachers. I want to find a place, a stance, somewhere in between, a both/and strategy that allows my students and me to, dare I say it, extract the best of both worlds."




Do we have the balance right?

Google does art

Google announced today that it would take its popular street view indoors, making the collections of 17 prestigious galleries available for view online. The art will be digitized through the "gigapixel" process, allowing for extraordinary zoom.



Don't want to wait for Google? Or can't find your favorite painting (or sculpture or print or drawing) -- try ARTStor. the Library's subscription database of online art images. ARTStor provides download capability as well as background information, history, provenance source and rights.

Libraries -- good government contact!

“Libraries are rare common ground on the fractious map of democracy, a place where traditional ideas of bootstrap self-improvement meet liberal ideas of open access and equal opportunity. Few encounters with local government - a labyrinth of red tape, taxes, frustration and long lines under fluorescent lights - feel so good as an afternoon in a well-run library.”

- from the January 23rd Washington Post.

Fight Hunger

Help the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) group defeat the cycle of hunger.

SIFE is an international non-profit organization in which 39 countries are involved (577 universities and colleges in the United States).

SIFE students apply business concepts to develop community outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need. Let's take the action to defeat the cycle of hunger!

NVCC SIFE Team registered for the 2010-2011 Let's Can Hunger Challenge, co-sponsored by Campbell Soup Company and SIFE USA. Goal: SIFE team must be expended to obtain 5,000 lbs+ (2,268 kg+) imperishable cans.

Purpose: 1. Raise hunger awareness; 2. Translate awareness to action in the form of urgent hunger relief; 3. Empower those in need to defeat the cycle of hunger

How to participate: Drop off cans and other non-perishable items in our “Can the Hunger” box in your division’s reception area or at the Student Activities Office (AA Room 134). The SIFE Team’s “Can the Hunger” food drive will run through early April.

Want more information on hunger, its causes and solutions? Check out one of these books:

Hunger: A modern History. HC260 P6 P47 2007

World Hunger. HC79 F3 W65 2007

Hunger: An Unnatural History. HN8 R88 2005

Odd socks!

One Library patron seems to be one sock short -- since the sock below was returned to the Library in the back cover of a book!



Anybody missing a sock?

Martin Luther King, Jr

Please note that the College will be closed on Monday January 17th in observation of Martin Luther King Day.

Why not check out one of the Library's books on Dr King:

Hodgson, Geoffrey. Martin Luther King. E185.97 K5 H565x 2010

Risen, Clay. A Nation on Fire: America in the Wake of the King Assassination. HV6477 R57 2009

Roads to Memphis DVD E185.97 K5 R5833x 2010

Sunquist, Eric. King's Dream. E185.97 K5 S864 2009

Spring Term 2011

Welcome to NOVA's Spring Semester!!

The Alexandria Campus Library is here to helpNOVA students succeed and thrive in spring semester classes.

Stop by the Library to see if your textbooks or course materials are available for FREE checkout on Reserve. Need help finding your way around the Library's print and electronic resources? Visit our Animated Demos page. Check out our online resources to search hundreds of databases and thousands of online newspapers, magazines and scholarly journals. Or search the Library Catalog to find books in the College's 250,000-volume print collection. In the Library, we can help you Cite Sources, find individual or group study space, use a computer for reserach and printing, and evaluate free web resources.






Have questions about the Library's services and resources? Check out or FAQ.

Or to ask a Librarian a question, stop by room 232 in the Bisdorf Building, or contact us by phone, email or online.

We're here to help! Stop by today!

Happy 2011

Happy New Year from the Alexandria Campus Library!!

Although Spring Semester classes do not begin until January 10th, the campus is open to provide registration assistance, financial aid advice, and help preparing for the upcoming term. Beat the crowds and buy your books now! Or visit the Library to see if your text book is available on Reserve (free, free, free!!).

Please note Library hours for the week of 3 - 7 January are:

Monday 3 January - Thursday 6 January: 8.30am - 7.30pm

Friday 7 January: 8.30am - 5.00pm

Alexandria Campus Closes for Winter Break

Exams are over!!

The Alexandria Campus, including the Library, will be closed from 23 Dec - 2 Jan.

Have a Happy Holiday, a Merry Christmas, a pleasant break and a safe New Year,

from all your friends at the Alexandria Campus Library.

Extended Hours

The Library once again observed extended hours for the last week of classes and final exams. Nearly 500 students studied before 8.30am and after 10pm.
And many thanks to the Student Government Association for providing a selection of healthy snacks!

Happy Holidays!!

The Alexandria Campus Library would like to wish you all a very Happy Holiday break!

And Good Luck in Exams!

(above: the tree at the circulation desk)

(above: the village over the reshelviong area)

(above: snowmen (and snow-women!) visit the CD collection)

(above: the Librarians' office, decorated)

Open EARLY - Open LATE

The Alexandria Campus Library continues its tradition of keeping extended hours for the last week of classes and final exams, opening half an hour early each morning and staying open an hour later each evening.

From Dec 6 - Dec 9 and Dec 13 - Dec 16

the Library will be open from

8.00am - 11.pm

STUDY EARLY -- STUDY LATE

Students will find access to the inetrnet, printing, the campus wireless network, photocopying, group and individual study, reserve items, research assistance, as well as access to the entire Library print and online collection.

In addition, Late Night Study Breaks are served around 10pm on nights when the Library is open late.

Need a Textbook? Rent one!

From the Alexandria Campus Book Store:

Beginning in January, 2011, the campus bookstores at NOVA will begin renting textbooks.
This innovative textbook rental program will allow students to rent their textbooks for less than 50% of the cost of purchasing a new printed textbook. Plus, as an added convenience, students will be able to rent their books either in the store or from the store’s website www.nvcc.bncollege.com
Other program features include:

Students can pay the rental fees using any form of tender currently accepted by the bookstore (excluding PayPal) – including student financial aid and campus debit cards. (Note: For security purposes, a valid credit card must also be provided regardless of the tender used for the rental fee.)

Students can highlight or mark the rented books just as they would if they purchased a book and planned to sell it back to the bookstore.

Students can convert their rental to a purchase during the first two weeks of class.

The rental period is for the duration of the term/semester. Books are due back by the last day of finals. Students can return books in person or mail them to the bookstore.

Courtesy emails will go out as the end of the term/semester approaches reminding students to return their books. Books not returned (or returned in unusable condition) will be subject to replacement and processing fees.

Most Textbooks used for classes at the Alexandria Campus can also be borrowed, free of charge, from the Reserve Collection at the Alexandria Campus Library.

Note that most Reserve items are available for a 2-hour loan, and carry a $2/ hour fnie for late returns.

Veterans Day

Celebrate Veterans Day by reading a good book at the Library, or visit our Hot Topics display on America's Military and Veterans.

November 11th is also known as Rememberance Day in Britain, Canada, and Australia -- marking the armistice that ended World War I on 11-11-1918.

Newark, Tim. Camouflage. UG449 N43 2007

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

Students and Faculty love Library Instruction!

How much to NOVA students love to come to the Library to learn about research and Library sources?

They love it so much they brought Reference and Instruction Librarian Anne Anderson flowers!

Melanie McKee's ESL 52 class visited the Library with a special surprise.

Over 10,000 served

As of 1 November 2010, over 10,000 people have visited the Alexandria Campus Blog -- with more than 16,000 page views.


Thanks for reading!

Hail to the Chief

Matt Todd, librarian at the Alexandria Campus, assumed the Presidency of the Virginia Library Association at the Annual Conference in Portsmouth, VA. The gavel was passed at the second general session on Friday 22 October.

(above: Matt Todd receioving the gavel from out-going President John Moorman)

Library staff at the Alexandria Campus marked the occasion with a few decorations in Matt's (oval?) office:

Virginia Library Association Conference

The Virginia Library Association holds its Annual Conference in Portsmouth on October 21-22.


Highlights include:


* Offers something for everyone - at a reasonable cost!
* Ballroom dancing at the social - including free lessons!
* Grand opening of Exhibits to feature Porte Towne Magic Jazz Band (comprised of Portsmouth students!)
* Jefferson Cup Luncheon (Award Recipient TBA)
*Special screening of "Hollywood Librarian"
*VLACRL's "Conference within a Conference"

See you there!

Library Use Continues to Grow

Recent statistics from the Virginia Community College System shows healthy use and steady growth in Library resources across the Commonwealth's Community College Libraries:

A few numbers:

1,141,491 -- number of searches made in the online Library catalog

1,596,834 -- number of connections to VCCS e-resources

2,513,890 -- number of full-text articles downloaded

Use of e-resources has increased by over 70% in three years.

Some more stats to ponder:

At the Alexandria Campus regulalry circulates nearly 1/3 (33%) of the college total. Use of circulating books at the Alexandria campus is increasing.

Alexandria Campus Library - on the Nightly News

Fox 5 came to the Alexandria Campus as part of its coverage of the White House Community College Summit. Cameras rolled in the Library.



Reference and Instruction Librarian Anne Anderson (above) was caught in action -- teaching research skills to an ESL 42 class. Don't miss her at 1:24 and again at 2:00 on the video. Professors Brian Delaney and Jill Biden, as well as Dean Jimmie McClellen also make appearances.

Community College Summit at the White House

"In the East Room of the White House today, a collection of college presidents, business leaders, philanthropists, and others will discuss how community colleges can help meet the job-training and education needs of the nation's evolving work force. They will discuss the critical role these institutions will have to play if the nation is to achieve President Obama's goal of leading the world with the highest proportion of college graduates by 2020.
A crowd of about 150 is expected to attend the event, the first-ever White House Summit on Community Colleges, which is scheduled to last about three hours. President Obama is scheduled to make remarks, as is Jill Biden, a community-college instructor and the summit's lead organizer." -- from the Chronicle of Higher Education (read more from on-campus).

(photo from the Washington Post).

And from the Washington Post: "Obama put Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, in charge of the summit. She has taught English at community colleges for the past 17 years of her three decades as an educator. She still teaches twice a week at a community college not far from the White House and often says these schools are America's best-kept secret."

Watch the opening session on C-SPAN.

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.

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.

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.

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.

eBooks and eVideos

Faculty, staff and students returning for Fall 2010 may notice a change on the Library Homepage. The page now includes a link "EBOOKS & EVIDEOS" which provides direct access to the Library's large and growing collection of full-text online books and streaming video.

E-book offerings include reference titles like encyclopedias, dictionaries and career guidance information as well as monograph titles in science, nursing, information technology, literature and history.

E-videos include PBS, Annanberg and streaming videos on demand, covering a range of academic subjects. Streaming video can be shown in class, watched on a personal computer or embedded in BlackBoard courses. Teaching faculty should visit the Faculty Resources page to find out how.

Questions about online books or videos can be directed to your campus libraries or directed through one of the Library's online "Ask a Librarian" options.

Older Magazines & Journals: Now Online!

Library staff have been busy this summer removing many years' worth of old paper magazines and journals from the library stacks. Previous editions of magazines and journals that the Library subscribes to can be accessed online from on or off-campus. Select one of the databases (like Proquest of Academic Search Complete) to find an article, or click on the button that says "Click here for a list of all our full text magazines, journals and newspapers" to find a specific title.

(above: old periodicals and storage boxes are removed from the upper level).

The Library will continue to maintain limited runs of periodical back-files for browsing.

Space saved in the periodical section will be used to add student seating, study space and carrels suitable for use with laptop computers.

The Yellow Boxes Are Following Me!

Collection Development Librarian Matt Todd paid a visit to his alma mater, the University of Exeter in England. Taking a tour of the university library, Matt was suprised to discover the building in the midst of a renovation and the book stacks crowded with yellow boxes:

These appear to be the exact same yellow crates that held the collection of the Alexandria Campus Library during the recent recarpeting (see below for pictures and descriptions of the Library carpeting and asbestos abatement project).

The Beautiful Game

World Cup Fever has come to the Alexandria Campus.



Stop by any one of several TV monitors in the corridors showing the matches.


Or come by the Library to read what Vanity Fair, Sports Illustrated, and the daily national and weekly world newspapers (such as the Sunday Times or El Pais) have to say.

Library Opens for Business

New Carpet. New Chairs. No Asbestos.

Summer hours:

Mon - Thurs 8.30am - 9.00pm

Fri 8.30am - 5.00 pm

Sat & Sun closed

And We're Back

The Library re-opened today -- most library services resume as normal.

New carpet, new chairs!

We Didn't Learn This in Graduate School!

Usually when librarians talk about "weeding" and "pruning" they are referring to withdrawing or removing books, periodicals or other materials from the collection.

But Sylvia Rortvedt (Associate Director) and Matt Todd (Collection Development Librarian) did some actual foliage pruning today during some serious indoor gardening. Above: Matt pruning the Norfolk Pine in the main reading area.

(It finally happened! The re-carpeting project drove Matt and Sylvia up a tree)