Happy Thanksgiving!

The faculty and staff of MEC Library are thankful for the many wonderful, hardworking students who make our jobs a pleasure every single day. Thank you!

Our hours for the week of the Thanksgiving holiday will be:

Monday, November 23: Open 8:30-8:30
Tuesday, November 24: Open 8:30-7:30
Wednesday, November 25: Open 8:30-12 noon
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday: CLOSED

Remember, we have lots of bestselling fiction and nonfiction titles if you'd like to do a little "fun" reading during the break. No long waiting lists like at the public libraries! :)

Have a wonderful and safe holiday!
MEC Library

Did you know?

D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier was an inspiration for David Baldacci's newest thriller, True Blue (available for check-out in MEC Library). More details from WTOP: http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1804980

Alert: don't use your thumb drives on NOVA campuses computers

A new virus has been detected on some college computers. To help minimize the spread of the virus, removeable drives (including thumb drives) should not be used on NOVA campus computers until further notice.

On the MEC, it is possible to upload your thumb drive files to your email account (sending the file as an attachment to yourself) using a Mac in the Open Computer Lab. You can then open the email at any campus PC and open the document from your email.

Please be aware that there is only one Mac available in the lab at this time, so any work you can do before coming to campus will probably save you some waiting time.

We'll keep you posted!

Lots of new bestsellers in the library...

(click to enlarge)

Here are the latest bestselling fiction and nonfiction titles available in the MEC Library (click on the titles to see reviews & ratings on Amazon.com):

Fiction:

A Gate at the Stairs, by Lorrie Moore
Grace Hammer, by Sara Stockbridge
Homer and Langley, by E.L. Doctorow
Juliet Naked, by Nick Hornby
Mama Dearest, by E. Lynn Harris
Nine Dragons, by Michael Connely
Say You're One of Them, by Uwem Akpan
That Old Cape Magic, by Richard Russo
Traveling with Pomegranates, by Sue Monk Kidd

Memoirs:

I Am the New Black, by Tracey Morgan
Manhood for Amateurs: The Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father, and Son, by Michael Chabon
Moonwalk, by Michael Jackson (orignally published in 1988, rereleased in October 2009)
Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin
True Compass: A Memoir, by Edward M. Kennedy

Other Nonfiction:

Cheating Death: The Doctors and Medical Miracles that Are Saving Lives Against All Odds, by Sanjay Gupta


To reserve any of these books, call the MEC Library at 703-822-6684. To suggest other books you'd like to see in the MEC Library, submit your suggestion here.

Reduced hours this Friday

Heads up- MEC Library will be open 10:30-5 this Friday, 10/30. You can sleep in a little before you study. ;)

Google has its place

Your professors probably use it all the time, just like you do. But when it comes to research for your papers and projects, they'll tell you that using a Web search engine isn't always a good idea. There are lots of good Web sites out there, but quite a few that aren't accurate, current, or authoritative.

Keep in mind: practically anyone can publish a Web page and make it look good, even if they don't know what they're talking about.

Plus, what you can find with Google can't compare to the millions of e-books and magazine, journal, and newspaper articles you can find in the library databases. The vast majority of these are not free to the general public, but for NOVA students, they are!

(want to use the databases, but not sure how? Call us and we can help: 703-822-6684)

But sometimes you do need or want some Web pages for an assignment. Over the next few weeks I'll be publishing some tips on how to make Google work for you.

Google Tip:

When it comes to academic research, some of the best info on the Web is published by educational institutions and the government. You can limit your search to certain domains by typing in your search, then site: (don't forget the colon!) and the domain (.edu, or .gov).

For information on nursing ethics published on college or university web pages:

For information on swine flu published on government web pages:

Come on in!

You've probably noticed the classroom in the back of the library. Whenever we're not using it for teaching, it's open to individual students and groups for study and group work.

Since MEC Library only has two group study rooms, the classroom is an excellent overflow area for groups to work together without disturbing the rest of the library (shutting the door is allowed).

It also gives individual students access to 26 extra computers and extra work space, which is great when the library is crowded.