Jessup Journal

The Thanksgiving break is only a few days away (insert an angelic chorus here). If you're planning to relax over a good book in the aftermath of the Thanksgiving feast, the library has you covered. We have over two hundred new books, and there's definitely something here that will take your mind off your postprandial nausea. Start your browsing with our recommendations below. Alexandra Robbins explores the troubles and triumphs of medicine’s unsung heroes in The Nurses: A Year of Secrets, Drama, and Miracles with the Heroes of the Hospital . She uses the real-life stories of four women — from a first-year nurse to a former narcotics addict — to give readers a glimpse of life behind the Employees Only door, examining everything from dealing with burnout to saving a life. Have you ever wondered who invented beds, or which came first: the toilet seat or toilet paper? Greg Jenner digs through Egyptian tombs and Victorian sewers to bring you the answers in this romp through the

The One Book Program presented two speakers in October: Professor Justin Wert (October 21), and Dr.  Lundy Pentz (October 28).  Both talks were well attended and provided two different views on The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.   Professor Wert's talk, entitled The Life of Henrietta Lacks: Black Community and Black Lives Matter, dealt with the sense of community that surrounded Lacks and her family, the ties between the individuals in her network, and the active support that individuals in that network gave to each other. We also learned about the migration from rural Virginia to urban Maryland, specifically Baltimore, and how black society changed because of this. Professor Wert teaches English Composition I and II, Survey of American Literature I and II, and Survey of African American Literature I and II.  To see a video recording of Professor Wert's talk, please click here.  Dr. Lundy Pentz retired from Mary Baldwin College after decades of teaching bio

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Last Thursday the PVCC Jessup Library hosted the One Book “Extract Your Own DNA Activity.” For one afternoon, the Library Teaching Room was transformed into the “Library Laboratory” where 13 students decked out in rubber gloves and safety goggles carefully followed instructions to isolate strands of DNA from their own cheek cells. The participants of the One Book DNA Activity represented by their DNA samples! The activity was well-attended and much-enjoyed, and by its end nearly all of the participants had been able to successfully extract a small sample of their own DNA. Students came face-to-face with a piece of their personal genetic blueprint, and each was able to take home the results of his or her DNA extraction. Participants also received a free One Book tote bag. The simple experiment utilized common supplies and ingredients, such as table salt, food coloring, and rubbing alcohol. If you would like to try the experiment yourself, you can find directions and a how-to vi

It's that time of the semester again: there are new books here at the library, and we've got recommendations from nearly every subject in the Library of Congress classification system. Whether you’re interested in philosophy or military science, we’re sure to have a book here that will pique your interest. Discover how to make your habits work for you in Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin. In Performing Under Pressure: The Science of Doing Your Best When It Matters Most , author Hendrie Weisinger argues that pressure is always detrimental to performance — but there are ways to lessen its effects. Mequilibrium: 14 Days to Cooler, Calmer, and Happier by Jan Bruce, tackles daily stress management — not through eradication, but by the simple act of changing your response. Yuval N. Harari explores humankind from a variety of perspectives — from the biological to the economic — in Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind . Kara Cooney tell

Welcome back! It's the start of a new school year, and it's exciting to see lots of students back on campus and studying in the library. We wanted to remind you of a few policies that you may or may not have known about! Your student ID is now required for checking out materials. This is a new policy starting this fall and is part of a college-wide initiative to encourage all PVCC personnel to carry their IDs with them. This is for your safety, and the library policy is to protect you from unauthorized users checking out materials on your account. Classes will be using the renovated library classroom.   We are very excited about our new library classroom that has a lot more seating space for students to work! However, this room will continue to double as a classroom when professors bring their students to the library. We will always post a sign indicating the times that these classes will be arriving each day, so you can plan accordingly. As long as no classes are in there

In preparation for the launch of a new interface, the EBL ebook database will not be available on Tuesday, September 15 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (EDT).  So, some of the ebooks in our library catalog will not work during this time.  

HeLa cells ( Pixabay.com ) This semester we are launching PVCC’s second annual One Book Project ! On Club Day (next Tuesday) free copies of this year’s book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, will be available at the One Book table while supplies last! The book tells the true story of an African American woman from Virginia who lost her life to cancer in 1951 but gained immortality through a perpetuating cell line that revolutionized medical research.  Henrietta’s story explores many topics, including medical ethics, the study of genetics, cancer, the discrimination of the Jim Crow era, and the persistence of socio-economic inequalities. You can learn about these issues and more in the latest library showcase (now in its new location in the Library Teaching Room!) Here are a few highlights from the display: The disease that took Henrietta’s life has plagued humanity for thousands of years. The history of cancer from ancient days to modern time

The summer semester is over, and our two week grace period until the fall has begun. What are your plans? We hope they include dropping by the library to visit. We've got quite a few new books, and a whole list of recommendations. Take a trip around the globe with our latest fiction. The City of Devi by Manil Suri explores the tumultuous streets of Mumbai through Sarita and Jaz, strangers searching a city in turmoil for the lovers they have lost. The Seventh Day by Yu Hua traverses contemporary China through the eyes of Yang Fei, a man who spends his first seven days in the afterworld revisiting his old life and the people he loved. NoViolet Bulawayo examines the "sacrifices and mixed rewards of assimilating" in We Need New Names , a story that begins with ten-year-old Darling, an adventurous girl who leaves Zimbabwe for suburban America, only to discover that the American Dream is no closer, or easier, to grasp. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie explores simi

It's summertime again, and here at the library, we've got new books for you. Drop by to discover something that will complement every aspect of your summer, whether you're looking for a beach read, some staycation company, or a book to relax with between classes or after work. Here are a few suggestions to get you started. If you've been following Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series, check out the latest installment, City of Heavenly Fire . You can find the rest of the series in our  catalog . If historical fantasy and time traveling are more your speed, check out Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series: Drums of Autumn , The Fiery Cross , A Breath of Snow and Ashes , An Echo in the Bone , and Written in My Own Heart’s Blood . You can also find the first three books in our  catalog . We also have an array of standalone novels. In the mood for young adult (YA) books? Check out Paper Towns by John Green. Want some historical fiction? Explore 20th-century A

The end of the semester is fast approaching! With exams in the rear-view mirror, will you be looking for a great vacation read or an entertaining book to fill a lazy summer afternoon? The latest showcase at the Jessup Library features summer reading suggestions of all genres: mystery, science fiction, humor, thrillers, nonfiction, romance, YA fiction, and more! Are you fascinated by a suspenseful storyline full of twists and turns? Then try The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, Hollow City by Ransom Riggs, or The Circle by Dave Eggers. For a real life mystery you might like The Riddle of the Labyrinth by Margalit Fox. Catch up on the books that inspired recent popular films, like Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History by Antonio J. Mendez and Matt Baglio, or The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. If nonfiction is more your cup of tea, the summer is a perfect time to check out new releases like Shock