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Showing posts from 2011

Love Your Library! Video Contest Winner

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Congratulations to Thomas Cudé, the Love Your Library! video contest winner. Thomas's wonderful video, titled "Path of a Student," demonstrates how the library can help you with papers and other other assignments. Music is provided by the orchestra, Two Steps from Hell. The library would also like to thank the other participants for a job well done. Special thanks goes to Theodore Pappas who earned an honorable mention for his entry. Enjoy! And remember, when you need to tame that beast, just come see us!

Happy Holidays from the Library!

We believe that there's no greater gift than a book. So give a gift to yourself this holiday season by checking out one or two. And remember, you'll have tons of free time over break. Don't let work, family and other obligations keep you from a good book! May we suggest the following? Starbucks can help with more than just a caffeine fix in How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else by Michael Gill. Not every disaster is natural according to The End: Natural Disasters, Manmade Catastrophes, and the Future of Human Survival by Marq De Villiers. The holidays can be a lonely, sad time for some. Learn how loneliness affects your health and how to overcome this cultural phenomenon in The Lonely American: Drifting Apart in the Twenty-First Century by Jacqueline Olds. Correlations? Data sets? Do numbers ever lie? They do according to Damned Lies and Statistics: Untangling Numbers from the Media, Politicians, and Activists by Joel Best. Ra

Beat math anxiety. With chocolate.

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Does math give you the heebie jeebies? If it does, then you may suffer from math anxiety. But you don't have to! You can learn how to beat it. Come to the library for our Math Chocolate Therapy sessions on November 30th at college hour (12:20-1:15 p.m.) and again at 6 to 7 p.m. Coffee, chocolate, tips to slay math anxiety, puzzles, and prizes. No math knowledge required! Image courtesy of Flickr user Pillowhead Designs

Thanksgiving break

The library (and the College) will be closed Wednesday, November 23 through Sunday, November 27 for Thanksgiving break. If you need assistance while we are closed, contact LRCLive , a 24 hr, 7 day-a-week chat reference service. If you're in desperate need of a library, the University of Virginia Library System is open except for Thursday and James Madison Regional Libraries are closed Thursday and Friday. Have a great Thanksgiving! And we'll see you back next Monday.

Love Your Library! Video Contest -- deadline extended

Good news! The deadline to submit an entry to the Love Your Library! Video Contest has been extended to Monday, December 5, 2011 at 5 p.m. Many of you expressed interest in participating but said you were short on time. Here’s hoping the extra couple of weeks help! So muster all your creative juices and spend some time exploring your inner Spielberg. We’re looking for fun videos that explore how students use the library and why it’s helpful. Just think of it as the ultimate promotional video made by students like you. Remember, the winning video receives $500.00! May the best video win!

Join a focus group and be heard!

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The library is conducting two focus groups this week. The faculty/staff will meet on Thursday, November 17 at noon (Library Study Room E); the student focus group will be Friday, November 18 at 12:30 p.m. (Library Study Room A). Please consider joining us on the appropriate day and sharing your thoughts and opinions on the library. And don't forget to come hungry! Pizza, chocolate and drinks will be provided. We will be discussing the following three topics: What services can be improved upon? What services would you like to see in the near future? If a new student services building were built, and consequently a new library, what would it look like? The library values your opinions. We strive for excellence, but we can only improve with your help. Email Crystal Newell at cnewell@pvcc.edu if you're interested, or just drop in on one of the sessions. See you later this week! Image courtesy of Emma Innocenti (www.flickr.com)

Books and more!

New books are being churned out all the time at the Jessup Library! There is definitely a music theme this go-around with titles like these. From Pieces to Weight: Once Upon a Time in Southside Queens by 50 Cent 50 x 50: 50 Cent in His Own Words by 50 Cent Decoded by Jay-Z Lady Gaga: Behind the Fame by Emily Herbert Bob Marley: The Untold Story by Chris Salewicz Just Kids by Patti Smith The Pop! Revolution: How an Unlikely Concatenation of Artists, Aficionados, Businessmen, Collectors, Critics, Curators, Dealers, and Hangers-on Radically Transformed the Art World by Alice Goldfarb Marquis The World Series may be over, but we have plenty of baseball books to keep you satisfied until next season. The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood Steinbrenner: The Last Lion of Baseball Sox and the City: A Fan's Love Affair with the White Sox from the Heartbreak of '67 to the Wizards of Oz Red Sox Nation: An Unexpurgated History of the Boston Red Sox Do you

We need your feedback!

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We need volunteers! Please consider volunteering for a focus group about the library. We want to know how we're doing, what we can do better and what you'd like to see in the future. Times are to be determined based on your availability but pizza, dessert and drinks will be provided. If you are interested, please contact Crystal Newell at cnewell@pvcc.edu or 434.961.5308 before November 7, 2011.

Love Your Library! Video Contest

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Get creative; think big! Submit an entry to the Love Your Library! Video Contest for a chance to win $500.00! The library is looking for the ultimate promotional video made by students like you. Let your creative side run wild as you demonstrate how awesome using the library is. Remember, you only have two weeks left to submit an entry. The deadline is Friday, November 4. May the best video win!

Films on Demand now available!

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The library is pleased to announce its newest addition: Films on Demand , a streaming video database. This wonderful new resource offers videos in the subject areas of Health & Medicine and Guidance & Counseling, and there is so much from which to choose! Take a look at the videos on human anatomy and physiology, nutrition, diseases and disorders, drug use, child abuse, academic success, sex education...the list just goes on and on. A link to this resource may be found on the library’s Web page. From the library’s home page, click Online Videos . The link to Films on Demand is located near the top. All the videos are accessible both on and off campus, just be sure your computer meets the minimum technical requirements and that you have high speed Internet access. For more information about the technical requirements click here . We hope you take advantage of this wonderful resource. If you should encounter any issues, please let us know. Happy viewing!

Fall break

The library will, in fact, be open on Monday and Tuesday of next week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Normal hours will resume on Wednesday. Stop by and study for a while. It should be a lot more quiet than usual. In the mean time, have a great weekend!

New books by the dozens!

The library is pleased to announce its newest group of books available for check out! May we suggest the following? Everyone needs a little assistance being present (and mindful) and couldn't everyone be a little happier? Try Happiness: Essential Mindfulness Practices and You are here: discovering the magic of the present moment by Thich Nhat Hanh We have a plethora of sports titles for the aficionado. Awesome Bill from Dawsonville: My Life in NASCAR by Bill Elliott Jeff Gordon: Racing Back to the Front, My Memoir by Jeff Gordon Endgame: Bobby Fischer's Remarkable Rise and Fall -- From America's Brightest Prodigy to the Edge of Madness by Frank Brady The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron by Howard Bryant Curveball: The Remarkable Story of Toni Stone, the First Woman to Play Professional Baseball in the Negro League by Martha Ackmann Dynasty: The New York Yankee, 1949-1964 by Peter Golenbock Only the Strong Survive: The Odyssey of Allen Iverson by Larry Platt Many of

Banned Books Week

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Photo courtesy of the American Library Association Join the library in celebrating Banned Books Week! This event celebrates the ability to read what we choose and the First Amendment. According to the ALA, "Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States" (http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/index.cfm). Check out this video from Mooresville Public Library that further explains Banned Books Week. Books that we all know and love are frequently challenged for a variety of reasons. Most often people challenge books that they consider to be inappropriate for children, contain stories about or references to homosexuality, reference or infer witchcraft and/or contain violence. Take a look at the recently challenged or banned books and judge for yourself. The library challenges you to stand up f

Fall into a good book!

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Have you noticed how wonderful the weather's been the last few days? Finally, after many months of hot, humid days we're experiencing cooler temperatures, refreshing breezes and crisp mornings. I don't know about you, but there's something about fall that just screams hot tea, a cozy blanket and a good book. So curl up on the sofa this weekend with one of these: The extraordinary power of the brain and its ability to perceive and understand sensual input is explored in See What I'm saying: The Extraordinary Powers of Our Five Senses by Lawrence D. Rosenblum. Okay, admit it! You procrastinate...badly. Learn how to overcome this proclivity in The Procrastinator's Guide to Getting Things Done by Monica Ramirez Basco. "Please" and "thank you" are great, but according to Lucinda Holdforth, they are also necessary for the functioning of society. Why Manners Matter: The Case for Civilized Behavior in a Barbarous World . Strength and courage abound

In memory of the events of 9/11

The nation will gather to remember and commemorate the tenth anniversary of 9/11 on Sunday. The dedication of the 9/11 Memorial and opening of the 9/11 Museum , both of which are located in the footprints of the twin towers, extend much needed solace and hope to the families of the victims and the nation. (Animations of the new memorial are available here .) These two monuments are incredible feats of engineering prowess (see "Engineering Ground Zero" , a NOVA program set to air on September 7, 2011) and are magnificent tributes to the men, women and children who died in the September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993 attacks. The skill and mastery required to rebuild, especially within the short time frame, are incredible, but the architects, engineers and workers met the challenge. Their dedication extends from their love for their families, New York City and the country. Charlottesville will commemorate locally at the nTelos Wireless Pavilion. The ceremony will begin at 4:30

Welcome back students and faculty--hello books!

Hello everyone, and welcome back to the beginning of a brilliant semester. The library staff has missed you during those long, hot summer days. In celebration of your return, we have--what else--new books! Appetizing literary aperitifs abound, stop by and take a look! What's more stressful than starting school (for both you and your child)? Help your little one manage this transition. Take a look at The Mindful Child: How to Help Your Kid Manage Stress and Become Happier, Kinder, and More Compassionate by Susan Kaiser Greenland. Travel the world and through history in Myths of the World: the Illustrated Treasury of the World's Greatest Stories by Tony Allan, a compilation of the world's most intriguing legends. Samir Selmanovic argues against the egocentricities of religion in hopes of bringing God back to the forefront in It's Really All About God: Reflections of a Muslim Atheist Jewish Christian China's importance is growing every day. Bronson Perc

Published scholar -- part 2

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PVCC is pleased to announce Anita Showers', Manager of Marketing & Media Relations, new book: Gardens of the Spirit: The History of the Gardens at the Bahá'í Holy Places in Haifa and 'Akká, Israel . This stunning expository delves into the history of the gardens and terraces at the Bahá'í Holy Places in Haifa and 'Akká, Israel, where the founder of Bahá'í faith is buried. The gardens follow the Persian tradition and their layout symbolizes tenets of the Bahá'í faith. Beautiful black-and-white and color photographs accompany the story, making this a wonderful conversation piece. Please congratulate Anita on her achievement, and note that this book is available now for check out. We look forward to seeing everyone soon!

Published scholar

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Colum Leckey, PVCC's own Associate Professor of History, recently published his first book: Patrons of Enlightenment: The Free Economic Society in Eighteenth-Century Russia . In this book, Professor Leckey explores the St. Petersburg Free Economic Society, a conglomeration of citizens from different social classes organized under the auspices of Catherine the Great. The society sought to enlighten the Russian citizenry in the ways of scientific agriculture and promote the cultural Westernization of Russia. This important body became the starting point for public organizations throughout the nineteenth century. Please take a moment to stop by and check out this wonderful contribution to scholarship. And don't forget to congratulate Professor Leckey on this momentous achievement.

ALERT -- Closing!

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Keep in mind that the library will be closed Tuesday, Aug. 16 for Convocation Week meetings. We re-open at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 17. E-mail reference@pvcc.edu for immediate assistance. Have a great day!

Do a little light reading between classes!

We know you're here on campus registering for classes, so why not stop by the library while you're at it and check out some of our awesome new books. Just because classes aren't in session, doesn't mean we're not hard at work. So, here's a few tasty morsels to tempt your pre-fall taste buds. Learn the history, evolution and clinical applications of self-esteem in Self-Esteem Across the Lifespan: Issues and Interventions , edited by Mary H. Two steps forward, one step back? In Living Dolls: The Return of Sexism , Natasha Walter argues that the hard-won battles of feminism are being undermined by today's society. Eloquent writing is a learned art. Learn to appreciate the written word in How to Write a Sentence by Stanley Fish. Pet Food Politics: The Chihuahua in the Coal Mine by Marion Nestle explores the world of food safety. Find out the connection between cat food and what you eat. Learn the history of sugar, a seemingly innocuous food with

Hours

The library will be open until 8:30 p.m. this evening. However, beginning tomorrow, August 2, our hours change to 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. The college is still closed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Our hours for the following two weeks will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Normal semester hours will resume on the first day of classes, August 22.

Hot reads for a hot summer day!

It's hot! It's so hot that there's not much else to do but stay inside and read. With that in mind, may we suggest some of the following? If learning the origins of everyday items like cough drops, crossword puzzles and chopsticks excites you, then you may be looking for An Uncommon History of Common Things by Bethanne Patrick and John Thompson. Trailblazers, heralds of modern society or depraved and wild -- you be the judge after reading Flapper: A Madcap Story of Sex, Style, Celebrity, and the Women Who Made America Modern by Joshua Zeitz. You are what you eat, so you better be well informed. Try: Food, Inc.: How Industrial Food Is Making Us Sicker, Fatter and Poorer -- and What You Can Do About It , edited by Karl Weber. Pay homage to the man who brought Chinese martial arts to the forefront: Bruce Lee: Fighting Spirit: A Biography by Bruce Thomas. Adultery, thievery and favoritism. No, we're not talking about the newest drama on television, we're talking abou

A Midsummer Treat!

The summer semester is flying by and with it the opportunity to relax on the beach with a good book. The library is offering plenty of good reads for just such an opportunity. So don't let summer pass you by! For starters try (for all the new books, go to the new books list ): The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee by Sarah Silverman Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale The Increment: A Novel by David Ignatius The Left Hand of Darkness Ursula K. LeGuin Life by Keith Richards No Second Chance by Harlan Coben The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin Seven Mile Beach by Tom Gilling Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess Tuff: A Novel by Paul Beatty This intriguing book debates the influences on intelligence from genetics to race to culture: Intelligence and How to Get It: Why Schools and Cultures Count by Richard Nisbett. To continue the bullying theme (a serious problem for many young students) from the last new books list, check out Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Cult

Memorial Day!

The library will be closed on Monday, May 30 even though CLASSES ARE IN SESSION. Have a wonderful, safe and fun-filled Memorial Day as you celebrate responsibly.

Books, books and more books!

Gear up for the summer with some great new books from the library. Here are just a few to tease your taste buds! Work -- everyone does it. Sometimes it's enjoyable; sometimes it's exhausting. Explore the various aspects of this time-consuming activity with Alain De Botton's The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work . You think math is scary? Only if you're a zombie, according to The Calculus Diaries: How Math Can Help You Lose Weight, Win in Vegas, and Survive a Zombie Apocalypse by Jennifer Ouellette. Admit it, you'd be lost without your GPS. Now you can find out why: You Are Here: Why We Can Find Our Way to the Moon but Get Lost in the Mall by Colin Ellard. Thought provoking answers to one of life's more interesting studies of motion: Why Don't Jumbo Jets Flap Their Wings?: Flying Animals, Flying Machines, and How They Are Different by David E. Alexander. Big fan of graphic novels? Try The Eternal Smile: Three Stories by Gene Luen Yang. Summer might be the mo

Library Hours

The library will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday this week. Summer hours wwill begin on Monday, May 23. Have a great week!

Graduation Day -- Friday, May 13

The library, along with all other offices at PVCC, will close at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 13 for graduation. Graduation services will be held at John Paul Jones arena this year -- so don't forget! We also wish all our soon-to-be gradutes success! For the rest of you -- see you in the summer!

Bon voyage!

As the semester draws to a close and transfer decisions are announced (congratulations to everyone who was accepted to their college of choice), the library would like to make an announcement of its own -- we have a brand-new batch of highly-engaging and summer-ready books! With all of your new-found free time, consider spending a moment or two reading the following: 3rd Degree by James Patterson American Wife: A Novel by Curtis Sittenfeld The Anthologist by Nicholson Baker Bone by Bone by Carol O'Connell Eaters of the Dead: The Manuscript of Ibn Fadlan Relating His Experiences with the Northmen in A.D. 922 by Michael Crichton Fault Line: A Novel by Barry Eisler Shadow Tag Louise Erdrich Vaudeville! by Gaetan Soucy The Wasted Vigil by Nadeem Aslam If you're a history buff, then what about: The Attack on Pearl Harbor by Laurie Collier Hillstrom Medievalism: The Middle Ages in Modern England by Michael Alexander The Tudors: The Complete Story of England's Most Noto

Math Anxiety Week @ the Jessup Library

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Do you feel nervous before a math test, or does your mind just go blank? Do you feel that math is not for you, that you don't have the "math gene" or that you're a hopeless case? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may be suffering from math anxiety, a common condition that causes people to have negative reactions towards mathematics. Fear not, help is at hand! The Jessup Library invites you to visit us during our Math Anxiety Week (April 18 - 22). During this week you will have the opportunity to meet the math faculty, as well as the Learning Center math tutors examine some fun books about math play math-related games learn some math tricks, such as speed calculations learn how to banish math anxiety from your mind learn what career doors math opens for you Besides all of the above, we have two special events: On April 18, during College Hour (12:20 - 1:15 p.m.) and again at 6:30 p.m. we will have a Chocolate Math Therapy session. Come munch choco

Book a Librarian!

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Image courtesy of Chris . Attention students! Is research getting you down? Would you like to take your skills to the next level? Then check out the Jessup Library's "Book a Librarian" program! The program offers one-hour, small-group workshops designed to focus on specific areas of need: Citation styles (MLA, APA, etc.) Power Boolean searching Web site evaluation Plagiarism: what it is and how to avoid it How to use specific databases (ARTStor, APA PsycNET, Factiva, etc.) Primary vs. secondary sources (in science, literature, and history) How to chase citations and footnotes How to find statistics How to use print reference works How do you book a librarian? Find 3 or more friends to form a group (Note: minimum number of students is 3, and maximum number is 8). Contact the library at reference@pvcc.edu, or by phone at 434.961.5309. The program is currently only available from 1 to 7 p.m., Monday - Thursday. Please book your workshop 48 hours or more in advance. Workshop

Virginia Festival of the Book

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The Virginia Festival of the Book , a program of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, is March 16-20, 2011. This annual event celebrates all things book and encourages reading and literacy. Each day offers a full menu of both free and ticketed events. Anita Showers, Manager of Marketing and Media Relations, will discuss her book, Gardens of the Spirit , on March 17 at 6 p.m. William Allard , most famous for his work as a National Geographic photographer, speaks at 8 p.m. the same evening. Both events will be held in the Dickinson Building. Please take a look at the schedule for more information. This exciting week is just too good to pass up, so take advantage of this opportunity while there's a slight lull in activity. Enjoy!

Spring Break Reads

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Spring break is next week; my how time flies! Before you jet off to a tropical destination (or to your job to earn extra money), take a look at a few of our newer books. Overwhelmed, underpaid and overworked? Typical college student, right? It's hard to do well and succeed in college with so much to do (and so little time). Learn some new strategies with: College Success Simplified by Enid Leonard How to Win at College: Simple Rules for Success from Star Students by Cal Newport Navigating Your Freshman Year: How to Make the Leap to College Life and Land on Your Feet Motivation and Learning Strategies for College Success: A Self-Management Approach by Myron H. Dembo Does your dog or cat ever look at you knowingly? He or she may be more intelligent than you think. Check out why in The Smartest Animals on the Planet by Sarah Till Boysen. Honey bees are vital to the success of our crops. That's why so much research lately has been devoted to the decline of honey bee population