During the last week of classes and final exams the Library served 201 students before 8.30am and 452 after 10.00pm for a total of over 650 students served during times the Library would normally be closed.
Extended hours are made possible by Library staff voluntarily re-adjusting their schedules to come early and stay late to keep the Library open for study and research and additional 19 hours.
9 gallons of lemonade, 80 bottles of water, and a seemingly endless supply of cookies, chips and snacks were consumed.
The Alexandria Library collection of over 90,000 items is supplemented by access to materials at the other five NVCC campuses. We also subscribe to over 200 electronic databases, with access to thousands of online journals. There are over 296,000 items in the total college collection. Find Us. Find It. Find Out.
Monday, May 11, 2015
Thursday, May 07, 2015
British Politics
The UK General Election was held today.
To follow the latest developments from newspapers around the world, visit the Library database page and click on LexisNexis, Factiva or Proquest to view full text newspaper articles from around the world.
Want to see what resources the Library provides for Political Science, or research a political topic in greater depth? Visit our Political Science Research Guide.
Not sure how the General Election works in the UK? The British Parliament has some answers.
Or just read a good book:
To follow the latest developments from newspapers around the world, visit the Library database page and click on LexisNexis, Factiva or Proquest to view full text newspaper articles from around the world.
Want to see what resources the Library provides for Political Science, or research a political topic in greater depth? Visit our Political Science Research Guide.
Not sure how the General Election works in the UK? The British Parliament has some answers.
Or just read a good book:
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Book Spine Poetry!
Celebrate National Poetry Month by creating poems with the titles on the spines of books from the Library collection:
Stack books to create a poem from the titles
Take a picture and send it to us through email mjerneydavis@nvcc.edu or Instagram NovaAlexandriaLibrary
Book Spine Poetry Contest in the Library!
First Prize is $100 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
2 second-prize $50 Cards also available!
Stack books to create a poem from the titles
Take a picture and send it to us through email mjerneydavis@nvcc.edu or Instagram NovaAlexandriaLibrary
Book Spine Poetry Contest in the Library!
First Prize is $100 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
2 second-prize $50 Cards also available!
Monday, April 27, 2015
Extended Hours Return!
Back by popular demand --
The Library will open half an hour early and close an hour late during the last week of classes and final exams week.
To keep the brain cells well-primed, lemonade, iced tea and a variety of snacks will be served around 10PM. Be sure to join us!
The Library will open half an hour early and close an hour late during the last week of classes and final exams week.
April 27th - April 30th the Library will open at 8AM and close at 11PM.
May 1st the Library will open at 8AM and close at 6PM.
May 4th - 7th the Library will be open from 8AM to 11PM.
May 8th will be 8AM - 6PM.
To keep the brain cells well-primed, lemonade, iced tea and a variety of snacks will be served around 10PM. Be sure to join us!
Good luck in Final Exams!!
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Go Caps! Go Nats! Go Wizards!
DC teams stormed to victory Tuesday night:
Washington Capitals defeat the Islanders 2-1 (in overtime).
Washington Nationals defeat the Cardinals 2-1 (in th
e 10th Inning!).
Washington Wizards defeat the Raptors 117-106.
TRIFECTA!!
Check out these titles to read up on DC's sports legacy:
Washington Capitals defeat the Islanders 2-1 (in overtime).
Washington Nationals defeat the Cardinals 2-1 (in th
e 10th Inning!).
Washington Wizards defeat the Raptors 117-106.
TRIFECTA!!
Check out these titles to read up on DC's sports legacy:
Red Rising: The Washington Capitals Story. GV848.W37 S73x 2012
National Pastime: Sports, Politics, and the Return of Baseball to Washington DC. GV863.W18 S87 2006
Thursday, April 16, 2015
How is Our Grass Growing?
71 days ago Library Staff planted aquatic grass in a specially designed growing tank in an effort to help save the Chesapeake Bay.
At the end of the semester, the thriving grass will be planted in a vulnerable area of the Bay.
To read more about efforts to save the Bay, visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
At the end of the semester, the thriving grass will be planted in a vulnerable area of the Bay.
To read more about efforts to save the Bay, visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Wednesday, March 04, 2015
YOUR Alexandria Campus Library: Now as Green as Grass
A curious phenomenon is afoot at YOUR Alexandria
Campus Library. While temperatures whip between bitterly cold and arctic outside,
things inside the library are growing more verdant by the minute. There is greenery
everywhere in the library, providing a refreshing contrast to the muddy grays
and browns outdoors.
![]() |
| Blerg |
A brightest green spot in our space is the aquatic
nursery for the wild celery the Alexandria Library is growing for the Chesapeake Bay. Our staff is now weeks into the project and our once minuscule grass shoots are going strong. Interested patrons can follow the progress of our plants via the library's Instagram.
![]() |
| Look at that growth! |
The display space along our circulating shelves has
also undergone a complete greening. Come explore the stacks and enjoy all the diverse shades of green in our collection. The sights will help you prepare for St. Patrick's Day, and the upcoming Vernal Equinox.
So come in from the drab and dreary winter, and enjoy the earliest hints of a warming season in YOUR Alexandria Campus Library.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Growing Grass in the Library
Not that kind of grass! The Alexandria Campus
Library is contributing to efforts to save the Chesapeake Bay by growing
aquatic grass:
(pictured: Library Specialists Kevin O’Hagan & Michelle Jerney-Davis and Professor Leslie Orzetti-Gollhofer)
What are we growing?
Vallisneria Americana or Wild Celery.
Wild Celery is a type of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) that grows in shallow water regions of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers.
Wild Celery is a type of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) that grows in shallow water regions of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers.
Why are we growing it?
The Chesapeake Bay needs saving!
The Chesapeake Bay needs saving!
Pollution, Agricultural Run-off, Sewage Treatment Plants,
and many other factors have devastated the underwater grasses in the Bay.
Underwater grasses are an essential part of the Bay clean-up
effort.
Underwater Grasses are in trouble.
Why is the grass important?
It cleans the water, clears excess nutrients, produces oxygen,
prevents erosion, and offers food and shelter to fish, shellfish, and waterfowl
– also acts as nursery for blue crabs.
Our grass
We’re participating in the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Grasses for the Masses Program.
We’re participating in the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Grasses for the Masses Program.
Our grass will grow here in the Library all semester, and
then get planted in the Potomac River as part of the larger effort to help Save
the Bay.
Follow grass on Instagram (By the way, you can follow the
library’s Instagram account on your pc: http://instagram.com/novaalexandrialibrary/
)
Friday, January 23, 2015
Fast Friday: Fight the Cold/Feel the Heat
Beloved readers, it is COLD outside, and with 8 more
weeks of winter to go it is sure to stay that way for a while. So what can a
person do to stay warm? YOUR Alexandria Campus Library has the answer: cuddle
up with a hot and steamy book. Our shelves are packed with hundreds of books,
on hundreds of titillating subjects, sure to throw off enough heat to get you
through this dark and frigid season.
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Behold: a small sampling of our red-hot titles
So stay warm out and come check out some of
our natural, renewable, and sizzling sources of warmth.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Throwback Thursday at YOUR Alexandria Campus Library: The Life (and Death) of Victoria
This Throwback Thursday YOUR Alexandria Campus Library is highlighting a biography just recently added to our collection, Victoria: A Life by A.N. Wilson. January 22nd happens to be the death day this enormously influential and long-ruling monarch, whose Empire spanned to length and breadth of the globe, and who was related by blood or marriage to nearly every royal house on the entire continent of Europe.
Victoria was a fascinating personality on an
individual level, but Wilson’s book explores how her reign over the British
Empire had political and cultural consequences that reverberate to this very
day. Any person who is interested in history, political geography, commerce,
international relations, fashion, or art will find something of interest in
this accessible biography.
So this Thursday, why not come into the library and
check out this or any of the many other books on the 19th century,
the British Empire, or “the Grandmother of Europe?”
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
New Books at YOUR Alexandria Library: Kick Off the Semester Edition
One of the most exciting parts of working at the Alexandria
Campus library is the steady stream of new books being added to our collection.
Here is a list of great new titles, curated by our collection acquisitions specialist, from our latest shipment of new books.
Written by a fanatic of
The Rolling Stones, author Bill Janovitz peels back the layers of time to reveal the
moments when Keith and Mick recorded what would be one of the greatest rock ‘n’
roll records of all time. Splitting a fifth of bourbon, Keith and Mick recorded
“Brown Sugar,” “You Got to Move,” and “Wild Horses” on an eight-track recorder without the aid of Autotune or computers. The three songs recorded in that session propelled Sticky Fingers, a triple-platinum album, to the top of the U.S. and the UK charts in 1971.
Written by an
accomplished foreign relations historian, David F. Schmitz, this book provides the reader
with the most current scholarship on Nixon’s foreign policy during the Vietnam
era. The author particularly focuses on how Nixon's policy of containment, undertaken by the president to protect American credibility, ironically contributed to America's feelings of failure and defeat in the post-war period.
Nineteen up and coming
writers document their journey through the process of writing their first novel. This instructive anthology allows readers to peer inside the unique working processes of real artists, and to glimpse how those writers navigated the highs and lows of creating original fiction.
Jessica Grogan, a
cultural historian, presents a detailed account of the rise and fall of the
humanistic psychology moment. This book outlines how Americans began to identify their anxieties, create identity, and locate purpose under the influence of new age thinkers of the late sixties and early seventies like Abraham Maslow, Rollo May, and Timothy Leary.
This coffee table book
is a filled with robust photographs capturing scenes at the center of the world’s most colorful revelries. Photojournalist Steve Davey describes himself as a festival junkie, and his energy, excitement, and zeal for capturing traditional celebrations is evident in this visually arresting work.
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Throwback Thursday at YOUR Alexandria Campus Library: MLK Day
![]() |
| Photo by William Carter |
Monday, January 19th Northern Virginia
Community College will be closed to commemorate the life and the work of a
great civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Though every state in the
union now honors King, the creation and coordination of the holiday itself was a long and hard fought battle that NOVA students had a part in.
![]() |
| Read the full editorial in the February, 1982 edition of The Collective |
This Throwback Thursday YOUR Alexandria Library wants
to honor the legacy of King by encouraging our users to join in the Sixth
Annual NOVA MLK Day of Service. Find more information about the service event hosted by the Alexandria campus by clicking here: http://blogs.nvcc.edu/novaserves/
.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Welcome to Spring 2015
![]() |
| Our friendly and fearless librarians |
Welcome
Welcome back to the first semester of 2015! Our
staff is thrilled to have students back on campus, and we’re celebrating the
return to the academic schedule with something truly warm and inviting.
![]() |
| Grab your cup in the library on Monday or Tuesday morning |
What
We Do
Returning students know that YOUR Alexandria campus
library is the perfect place to find the materials and services needed to
conduct research. New students should know that the Alexandria Campus Library
offers everyone access to study space, to computers and printers, to books and
articles, to reserve textbooks and materials, and to friendly information
experts eager to answer your questions.
![]() |
| Ask us about reserve materials |
What’s
New?
While you are in the library make sure to check out
our new books and displays. The start of a new year typically prompts people to
adopt new healthy habits and YOUR Alexandria Campus library is here to help. We
can help you maintain a sound mind and body with literature on study habits, on
how to incorporate exercise into your academic schedule, and how to build a
secure future with the right financial aid.
See
You Soon
We look forward to seeing you in YOUR Alexandria
library this spring.
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Extended Hours
The Alexandria Campus Library continued the popular tradition of offering extended hours during the last week of classes and final exams (Dec 3rd - Dec 16th). This semester nearly broke the all-time record for number of students served. Over 600 students used the library before 8.30am or after 10pm. Once again, along with our sponsoring partners in Student Activities, the Library offered "Stress Relief" week snacks at 10pm (100 bottles of Gatorade, and over 70 cups of coffee were consumed, plus cookies, nuts, fruit snacks and candy).
Extended hours are made possible by Library staff voluntarily re-arranging their schedules to offer this much-in-demand service.
Many thanks to the early birds and night owls (staff and students alike) who continue to make this event a success.
And congratulations to everyone who successfully completed exams! See you in Spring 2015!
Extended hours are made possible by Library staff voluntarily re-arranging their schedules to offer this much-in-demand service.
Many thanks to the early birds and night owls (staff and students alike) who continue to make this event a success.
And congratulations to everyone who successfully completed exams! See you in Spring 2015!
Friday, December 12, 2014
Fast Five Friday: Fight Finals Fatigue with Family Fun!
YOUR Alexandria Campus Library is celebrating the
end of the semester with some much needed whimsy and magic. After finals we
suggest coming into the library to check out some lighter fare from our feature
film collection. We have loads of family friendly classics, like those below, that will help your
relax and enjoy your break.
Rest up, make merry, and see you next semester!
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Throwback Thursday at YOUR Alexandria Campus Library: Walls of Clay
YOUR Alexandria Campus Library is the keeper and
promoter of a great many campus related artifacts. Some are flat and one dimensional,
but items like this original clay model of the Eastern Campus represent
Northern Virginia Community College’s life and evolution in color, texture, and
depth. It is amazing to think of all the ways, both large and small, that our
institution has changed in its nearly 50 years of existence.
If you are interested in seeing the future of the
college, make sure you monitor the progress of the Alexandria Campus’ new
building via the AL Campus "New" Academic Building Blog.
Monday, December 08, 2014
ACE Finals Near YOUR Alexandria Campus Library
Friday, December 05, 2014
Fast Friday: Mindless Fun for Study Addled Brains
There comes a point in every study session where not
a single new piece of information can be retained.
Honor your brain’s need for respite with a
little mindless comedy from YOUR Alexandria campus library. We have even done
the leg work for you, and mined our feature films collection for ludicrous comedy gold.
![]() |
| Like the book, improved with song and dance! |
![]() |
| We have Absolutely Everything from Absolutely Fabulous. You will absolutely love it, darling. |
![]() |
| Funny, and with just a wee smidgen of sadness |
![]() |
| Overflowing with lively comedy |
![]() |
| A mashup between a comedy of manners and slapstick: primstick? slapping of manners? |
![]() |
| "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." So take a study break. |
So come in, take a break, recharge, and then hit the
books again after watching these movies available to you from YOUR Alexandria Campus Library.
Thursday, December 04, 2014
Throwback Thursday at YOUR Alexandria Campus: Spirit of Finals Week Past
If student newspapers are any indication, the NOVA
Alexandria students of 1978 lead extremely similar lives to the those of students in
2014. Each group is ending the fall semester fretting about finals, and looking
forward to the holidays beyond.
![]() |
| A beloved former NOVA Alexandria English professor. Can you guess who? |
There are, however, some differences that can be detected in December
7th issue of the Alexandria campus student newspaper, The Collective. This edition features amazing hair and discussions of CB radio traffic. Click here to view the entire issue and travel back in time courtesy of the NOVA History Collections.
Wednesday, December 03, 2014
Study and Snack at YOUR Alexandria Campus Library
The campus is entering into the final weeks of
the semester and YOUR Alexandria Campus Library is a hub of activity with
students printing out final papers, pouring over notes, and preparing for final
exams. The Alexandria Campus Library, alongside other community partners, is
eager to help our busy scholars by hosting late night snack and study sessions
during our extended hours. Students can come into the library on the dates
listed below and help themselves to brain fuel.
![]() |
| Click on the picture above to enlarge. |
YOUR library staff also recommends that you check
out the other stress relief events taking place across the campus to stay fresh
and energized. Get organized, get kneaded, and craft your way to calm with ACE, GPS for Success, and the Student Life Office.
We wish everyone the best of luck on exams! Remember,
you can always stop by the library for last minute research and citation help.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)



























.jpg)





















