The Medical Education Campus Library Blog

2011-04-06T12:23:00.004-04:00

World Health Day April 7, 2011 http://www.who.int/world-health-day/en/ Antimicrobial resistance: no action today no cure tomorrow We live in an era of medical breakthroughs with new wonder drugs available to treat conditions that a few decades ago, or even a few years ago in the case of HIV/AIDS, would have proved fatal. For World Health Day 2011, WHO will launch a worldwide campaign to safeguard these medicines for future generations. Antimicrobial resistance and its global spread threaten the continued effectiveness of many medicines used today to treat the sick, while at the same time it risks jeopardizing important advances being made against major infectious killers.

Flamingo for Breast Cancer Awareness

2010-10-20T08:59:00.005-04:00

The library proudly displays the Phi Theta Kappa flamingo for breast cancer research!

More bestsellers in MEC Library

2010-10-15T12:20:00.002-04:00

To reserve any of these books, please stop by MEC Library or call the front desk at (703) 822-6684. Remember to check out our Facebook page for more MEC Library news!

Nonfiction:

(click to enlarge photo)

Fiction:

(click to enlarge photo)

New bestsellers in the library

2010-08-27T16:42:00.009-04:00

Here are the latest bestselling fiction and nonfiction titles available in the MEC Library. Get the most popular books on campus, without the waiting lists you'll find at the public library!

If you'd like to reserve a title, please call the MEC Library at (703) 822-6684.

Fiction:

(click to enlarge picture)

Nonfiction:

(click to enlarge picture)

Follow us on Facebook!

2010-08-21T13:55:00.004-04:00

This blog will be updated when we have a lot to say, but for the day-to-day news of MEC Library, please check our Facebook page.

Free to a good home

2010-06-09T12:44:00.004-04:00

Each summer the MEC Library does an extensive "weeding" project to purge older materials and to determine what new books and DVDs to buy. Anything we decide to get rid of is placed on a freebie cart near the group study rooms.

Stop by and take a look- if you see something you want, it's yours!

Books will be added to the cart on a regular basis, so check back frequently.

New LCDs in the group study rooms

2010-05-26T18:09:00.005-04:00

Brand-new 40" LCD screens are now available in the group study rooms at MEC Library. Each is connected to a new computer, DVD player, and VCR. There is also a cable attached to the wall that connects to most laptops. The display is big enough for everyone in your study group to see the screen!

Group study rooms are for groups of two to six and can be reserved up to a week in advance. Call the front desk at 703-822-6684 to make a reservation.

Oh, the places you'll go!

2010-05-12T17:07:00.004-04:00

You did it, you did it!

CONGRATULATIONS, MEC GRADUATES!!

Librarians Michelle Hinkle and Beth DeAngelo will see you at commencement on Sunday. MEC Library is proud of each and every one of you!

New bestsellers in the library

2010-05-07T13:38:00.005-04:00

Just in time for summer! Stop by and get a "fun" book for a change. :)

Call MEC Library to reserve any of these titles: (703) 822-6684

It's National Library Week!

2010-04-14T18:44:00.003-04:00

April 11-17 is National Library Week. MEC Library will be celebrating YOU, our wonderful students, faculty, and staff, with a breakfast this Friday morning, April 16. Please join us in front of MEC Library for some coffee, tea, and delicious treats starting at 9:30 a.m.

NOVA in the news...

2010-04-12T09:45:00.004-04:00

NOVA was featured in a Washington Post Magazine article titled "The Alternative: Younger students give community college a second look".

"As the economy continues to falter, job losses rack up and
families' savings dwindle, more students who saw themselves going directly from
high school to a four-year institution are instead carving a path to their local
community college."

LAST REMINDER: FILL OUT THE LIBRARY'S SURVEY TODAY

2010-04-01T12:58:00.007-04:00

Take a minute of your time and let us know how we are doing. Just go to the NOVA libraries' homepage and click on this link: http://www.nvcc.edu/library. Weigh in on topics such as whether we are helping you with your assignments and how we are serving you from off-campus. It will only take a minute!

Late Opening Friday March 26

2010-03-25T08:59:00.003-04:00

NOTICE

The library will open late on Friday March 26.

Our hours will be 10:30 - 5:00.

Help us out- complete the 2010 Library Survey!

2010-03-24T13:38:00.002-04:00

Attention MEC students, faculty, and staff: it is time once again for the annual NOVA Libraries survey.

Your feedback on this survey is important to us. We do read every response and comment submitted, and we use your feedback to improve library services. MEC Library is the smallest campus, so we typically receive the smallest number of responses on this survey. Let's try to give the bigger campuses a run for their money!

Access the brief survey here:

Students

Faculty & Staff

Reminder

2010-03-19T14:17:00.001-04:00

Yes, it's gorgeous outside! But if you need to get some studying or research done this weekend, MEC Library will be open 9-1 on Saturday.

Marcus Engel to speak at MEC on April 1

2010-03-10T15:15:00.005-05:00

"Work overload, constantly changing policies, increasing bureaucratic regulations. These are just a few of the challenges health care providers face every day; challenges that limit the ability to provide excellent patient care.

After being blinded and suffering catastrophic injuries at the hands of a drunk driver, Marcus Engel witnessed health care from the other end of the stethoscope. Through 300 hours of reconstructive facial surgery, and years of hospitalization, rehab and recovery, Marcus experienced first hand the good, the bad and the ugly of patient care.

Marcus’ insights will give health care providers new and essential strategies to rediscover the magic and compassion between caregiver and patient."

Marcus Engel will host two interactive speaking sessions at the MEC on
Thursday, April 1, 2010
(12-1pm) and (4-5pm)

In order to prepare for his visit, signed copies of Marcus’ book The Other End of the Stethoscope (30 copies) will be given away each day. Those who sign up to participate in one of the sessions will be entered into the drawing. You must be present to win.

Drawings take place on:
Monday and Wednesday (March 1st and 3rd), 12-1pm
Friday (March 5th) 11am-12pm
on the 1st floor of MEC, Student Activities Suite.

Spring Break Hours

2010-03-06T10:32:00.002-05:00

Saturday, March 6:
9 a.m. -1 p.m.

Monday - Friday, March 8-12:
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday, March 13:
CLOSED

Printing? Bring your patience...

2010-03-05T09:13:00.003-05:00

Printing on campus is working, but slowly at times. Some undetermined issues are sometimes causing a two to five minute delay in print jobs showing up at the print station. Please know that we have people working on this issue, and it will be resolved as soon as possible.

We do apologize for the inconvenience. If you're planning to print on campus, please bring both your NOVA Card and a little extra patience. :)

MEC Job Expo on Thursday!

2010-03-03T12:59:00.002-05:00

MEC JOB EXPO- THURSDAY, MARCH 4th- 10:00am-3:30pm

On Thursday, March 4th, from 10:00am-3:30pm, area employers will be on campus (1st floor) to recruit MEC students for their organizations.

Below is a current list of participating organizations and their websites:

-Arlington County Fire Department- www.arlingtonva.us
-CRAssociates, Inc.- www.crassoc.com
-Culpeper Public Schools- www.culpeperschools.org
-District of Columbia National Guard- www.dcnationalguard.com
-Greenspring, Erickson Retirement Community- www.ericksonliving.com
-INOVA Health System- www.inova.com
-Medical Facilities of America- www.lifeworksrehab.com
-Medical Reserve Corps, Northern Virginia Region- www.vamrc.org
-Navy Medicine- www.navy.mil
-National Rehabilitation Hospital- www.nrhrehab.org
-Prince William County Department of Fire & Rescue- www.pwcgov.org/fire
-Rehab Management- www.rehabmanagement.com
-Spring Hills Mount Vernon- www.spring-hills.com
-The Jackson Clinics- www.thejacksonclinics.com
-Virginia Hospital Center- www.virginiahospitalcenter.com

Need some help preparing a resume?
Check out the NetLibrary e-book collection for e-books on writing resumes and cover letters (to use from home, you must first create a NetLibrary account from an on-campus computer, OR call MEC Library and we can easily create one for you: 703-822-6684)

Welcome, Nathan!

2010-02-26T10:22:00.005-05:00

You may have noticed a new face at the reference desk in MEC Library. Nathan Mueller joined our team in January. You can find him helping students with questions, checking out books, teaching library skills classes, and keeping up with the library's computers.

Nathan's arrival allowed us to go back to our regular operating hours, which had been cut due to a staff shortage. We know everyone is happy about that. :)

If you see Nathan in the library, please welcome him to the MEC!

New bestsellers in the library

2010-02-17T20:09:00.004-05:00

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:

Basketball Jones, by E. Lynn Harris
Be Careful What You Pray For, by Kimberla Lawson Roby
Big Girls Do Cry, by Carl Weber
Lacuna, by Barbara Kingsolver
Noah's Compass, by Anne Tyler
Too Much Money, by Dominick Dunne
Total Eclipse of the Heart, by Zane
The Unnamed, by Joshua Ferris

Memoirs:

Happy: A Memoir, by Alex Lemon

Other Nonfiction:

The Rise and Fall of Confidential , by Henry E. Scott
Too Big to Fail, by Andrew Ross Sorkin

Give us a call if you'd like to reserve any of these titles, or if you'd like to suggest one: (703) 822-6684

President's Day

2010-02-15T10:28:00.000-05:00

Yes- the college and MEC Library are OPEN today! The library is open 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Reduced hours today

2010-01-29T08:54:00.001-05:00

Reminder: we'll be open from 10:30-5 on Friday, January 29.

Extra study space!

2010-01-27T15:02:00.006-05:00

Have you seen MEC library when it seems to be filled to capacity? All the computers up front are taken, the study carrels are full, and the two group study rooms are already booked for the entire day.

Even when we seem to be full, there is often extra space (and 26 computers!) available in the library classroom, at the back of the library. When the classroom isn't being used for teaching, it's open to students. It's an especially good space for groups- just shut the door and work away without worrying about bothering others. Several groups can share the room (no reservations needed), and it's also open to individual students.

MEC Library will be open this Saturday

2010-01-15T10:49:00.004-05:00

Hard core studiers take note: despite the holiday weekend, MEC Library will be open this Saturday, January 16th from 9-1.

We will be closed on Monday, January 18th, along with the rest of the college. Enjoy your day off!

Happy New Year

2010-01-04T09:07:00.009-05:00

Happy New Year! We at MEC Library hope our students got to enjoy a little relaxation during the winter break. We're back this week if you need a quiet place to study before classes start!

Best wishes for a healthy and successful 2010.

Special Pre-Spring Semester Hours:

Monday, 1/4: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 1/5: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wed, 1/6 - Friday, 1/8: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, 1/9: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Spring Semester:
(January 11 - May 10)

Monday - Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

x

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-23T10:16:00.002-05:00

We dug ourselves out of the snow just in time for the winter holidays. Have a happy and safe vacation, and we'll see you in the New Year!

MEC Library Holiday Hours:

Wednesday, December 23:
Open 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

December 24 - January 3:
CLOSED
(Please note: the MEC will be locked down during this time, and will not reopen until 6 a.m. on January 3rd)

Monday, January 4 - Friday, January 8:
Open 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday, January 9:
Open 10 - 2

Monday, January 11:
Resume regular hours:

Monday - Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Still studying for exams?

2009-12-16T15:47:00.003-05:00

The MEC Library is still offering extended hours for the rest of the week:

Wednesday, 12/16: Open 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, 12/17: Open 8 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Friday, 12/18: Open 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Snacks available at 7 p.m. each evening!

Gratitude

2009-12-11T09:32:00.004-05:00

MEC Library has done a little decorating for the holidays, and once again we've made our popular gratitude journals available to students, faculty, and staff. Please stop by and make a note about what you're thankful for this holiday season.

MEC Library Boasts New Overdrive Brochure

2009-12-09T12:33:00.005-05:00

Are you puzzled about how to check out and download Overdrive audiobooks? Puzzle no more. The MEC Library has the solution: a simple, step-by-step brochure on how to browse, check out, and download to your PC or mobile device. Don’t wait a minute longer to join the mobile revolution. Stop by the library’s front desk for a copy and you’re on your way to mobile access!

Extended library hours for exams

2009-12-02T16:30:00.007-05:00

In the coming weeks, MEC Library will open earlier and close later on selected days to help our students get in as much study time as possible. Come one, come all!

Super bonus hours will be offered on these days:

Thursday, December 10: 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 12: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Monday, December 14: 8 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 16: 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 17: 8 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Friday, December 18: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Good luck on exams, students. You can do it!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-20T10:58:00.003-05:00

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?

2009-11-06T13:05:00.003-05:00

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

2009-11-04T11:27:00.004-05:00

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...

2009-11-02T10:39:00.006-05:00

(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

2009-10-29T11:36:00.001-04:00

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

2009-10-28T14:46:00.010-04:00

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!

2009-10-26T12:33:00.010-04:00

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.

New bestsellers in the library...

2009-09-28T12:23:00.003-04:00

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):

Intervention, by Robin Cook
The Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown
Resurrecting Midnight, by Eric Jerome Dickey
South of Broad, by Pat Conroy
Twenties Girl, by Sophie Kinsella

Call MEC Library at (703) 822-6684 to reserve any of these titles. Happy reading!

MEC Library will be closed on Saturdays

2009-09-25T11:16:00.002-04:00

MEC Library will be open regular hours this Saturday, September 26, from 9-1. After this weekend, we will be closed on Saturdays for the foreseeable future.

We hope to resume Saturday hours as soon as possible, and will keep you posted.

Alert! Don't park in the Sears parking lot at Springfield Mall

2009-09-16T13:02:00.002-04:00

Some students have been parking in the Sears parking lot at Springfield Mall, then walking to the Medical Education Campus for class. PLEASE NOTE- Sears began towing this week!

Labor Day Weekend

2009-09-04T09:09:00.001-04:00

Don't forget- MEC Library will be closed from Saturday through Monday in observance of the Labor Day holiday. See you on Tuesday!

Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses

2009-09-02T19:35:00.004-04:00

Attention Nursing students: did you know that the Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses is available as an e-book through the NOVA Libraries? You can use it from home- no check-out required!

To find it:
1) Go to the NOVA Libraries website: http://www.nvcc.edu/library
2) Mouse over the Books & More box in the middle of the screen, revealing a small menu. Click on E-books.
3) Select Stat!Ref (if you're off campus, log in with your myNOVA username & password)
4) Select the Titles tab to see all the books in the collection
5) Click on Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses.

Does the library have my textbook?

2009-08-29T11:07:00.004-04:00

A frequent question we hear from students is, "Does the library have textbooks?"

The answer? Sometimes!

The MEC Library typically doesn't purchase textbooks. However, professors sometimes give us copies of textbooks for the library's reserves shelves.

What are the "reserves"?
Books, DVDs, copies of articles, and even skulls (yes, skulls!) are put on reserve by the library staff or your professors so that they are always available for students use while the library is open. Reserves items are kept on the shelves behind the front desk, and are not allowed to leave the library.

How do I know if my textbook is on reserve?
Your professor might tell you, or the information might be in your syllabus. If you're not sure, you can always stop by or give us a call at (703) 822-6684, and we'll check for you.

How do I use something that's on reserve?
Bring your NOVACard to the library's front desk and ask for the item you want (remember, we have many, many things on the reserves shelves, so bring as much information about the item as possible so we can find what you're looking for). We check the item out to you, you use it in the library and return it to the front desk before you leave. Easy!

New Hours for the Fall Semester

2009-08-24T09:46:00.003-04:00

Welcome back for the Fall semester!
The MEC Library hours will be:

Mondays:
8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Tuesdays & Wednesdays:
8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Thursdays:
8:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Fridays:
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturdays:
9 - 1

Reduced Hours

2009-08-10T09:11:00.003-04:00

MEC Library will operate under reduced hours during the break between the summer and fall semesters.

Weekdays
Monday, August 10 - Friday, August 21
Open 8:30 - 5

New bestsellers in the library...

2009-08-05T18:32:00.004-04:00

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:

Best Friends Forever, by Jennifer Weiner
The Blue Notebook, by James Levine
The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder, by Rebecca Wells
The Neighbor, by Lisa Gardner
Roadside Crosses, by Jeffrey Deaver
Sisters and Husbands, by Connie Briscoe

Nonfiction:

Blue Collar, Blue Scrubs: the Making of a Surgeon, by Michael Collins
The End of Overeating, by David Kessler

Call MEC Library at (703) 822-6684 to reserve any of these titles. Enjoy your summer reading!

Library Research Orientation for NUR Students

2009-07-22T14:40:00.006-04:00

First-year Nursing students are required to attend a library research orientation. The MEC librarians taught several classes in June, and there are five more scheduled for late August/early September. There are both in-person and online options, but don't delay- space is limited and one class is already full!

Many NUR students have already had a library research class as part of SDV 101. However, the classes we teach for NUR are more advanced and will cover the specialized health & nursing research tools that will help you be successful with your nursing papers and projects.

For more information, see Blackboard or contact the Nursing department. For those who have already taken a research class, is there anything we could do differently to make the classes more helpful?

Cool numbers for a hot day

2009-07-07T19:12:00.007-04:00

Shortly after noon on July 8, comes the moment that can be called 12:34:56 7/8/9.

10 Reasons to Pick a Community College

2009-07-01T19:11:00.004-04:00

10 Reasons to Pick a Community College, by Lynn F. Jacobs and Jeremy S. Hyman

"With family budgets now under the microscope, community colleges have become attractive alternatives to the more expensive four-year colleges and universities. There are many reasons that nearly half of American undergraduates choose to start their higher education in a community college. Here are the top 10..."

President Obama at the Annandale Campus today!

2009-07-01T12:31:00.005-04:00

President Obama will be at the Annandale Campus today, hosting a town hall meeting on health care reform. For more information, and to find out how to participate in the meeting via Facebook and Twitter, see the White House blog.

According to the blog:

We'll not only be monitoring all of those conversations closely during the
event and looking for ways to incorporate your feedback into the conversation,
but following up after the event in the coming days to get to as many questions
as possible from the ones the President couldn't get to, and to address
follow-up questions to his answers there.

Make your commute more interesting with audiobooks!

2009-06-26T15:23:00.003-04:00

Travelling for the holidays? Long flight? Are you spending way too much time travelling between work, school, and clinicals? Why not download an audiobook from NOVA's OverDrive and make the time fly? Find fiction and nonfiction, classics and bestsellers. Now compatible with most Apple devices, including iPod, iPod Touch, and iPhone! (for a list of compatible devices, click here.)

By the way- Overdrive has music and videos, too!

To use Overdrive Audiobooks:

- Go to www.nvcc.edu/library

- Mouse over Books & More, and click on eBooks

- Select Overdrive Audiobooks

- From the Getting Started sidebar (far left), click on the Quick Start Guide

- Download and install your free software (remember, off-campus computers only)

- Check-out, download and enjoy!

- Log in using your VCCS username and password (the same one you use for MyNOVA, Blackboard, and PeopleSoft)

New bestsellers in the library...

2009-06-24T14:54:00.003-04:00

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:

Dark Places, by Gillian Flynn

Dead and Gone, by Charlaine Harris

My Father's Tears, by John Updike

Shanghai Girls, by Lisa See

Swimsuit, by James Patterson

Wicked Prey, by John Sanford

Nonfiction:

Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist, by Michael J. Fox

The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite, by David Kessler, MD

The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women and a Forty-Year Friendship, by Jeffrey Zaslow

Resilience, by Elizabeth Edwards

Call MEC Library at (703) 822-6684 to reserve any of these titles. Enjoy your summer reading!

Tips for Success: Take advantage of delivery service from all seven NOVA libraries!

2009-06-12T15:15:00.009-04:00

Don't forget- as a student or faculty/staff member at NOVA, you can request books from any NOVA campus library and have them delivered to whichever campus is most convenient for you.

To request books or DVDs/videos:

1) Simply do a search in the online library catalog, leaving the drop-down menu under Select College on Northern Virginia CC. This tells the catalog to search all seven NOVA libraries.

2) When you see the book you want, look at the Campus column, and click on the link for the campus that owns the book:

3) On the next screen, click on the link that says Request this item.

4) You will be prompted to log in. Use the same username and password that you use for myNOVA.

5) Be sure to select the campus to which the item(s) should be sent:

It usually takes 2-3 business days for items to make it from one campus to another. Don't forget to bring your NOVACard for check-out. Books can be returned to any NOVA library.

New bestsellers in the libray...

2009-05-27T14:50:00.003-04:00

Reading for fun? It may seem like an impossibility during the fall and spring semesters, but summer is here and it's time to relax a little. Stop by and check out the newest arrivals!

(call MEC Library at (703) 822-6684 to place a hold on any of these titles)

Haiku Stu!

2009-05-22T12:55:00.004-04:00

Congrats to Stu Nickerson, MEC Nursing student, for winning the 2009 National Library Week Haiku Contest! MEC Library was pleased to present him with a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card. We received many great entries- check back in the coming days for more Haiku poetry from your fellow students.

Stu's winning haiku:

Quiet study room

Peaceful place to focus on

Things I need to know

Educational Support Services Dean Ruth Stanton
presents Stu Nickerson with his Barnes & Noble gift card.

Reduced Hours

2009-05-11T11:37:00.003-04:00

The MEC Library will offer reduced hours for the week between Spring semester and Summer semester:

Monday, May 11 - Thursday, May 14
Open 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Friday, May 15
CLOSED

The easiest scholarship application ever!

2009-05-06T20:05:00.001-04:00

Are you looking for scholarships or other financial support to help with your college costs?

Create your personal account at the Virginia Education Wizard (www.VaWizard.org) – and you could be eligible for one of two full-year scholarships at Virginia’s Community Colleges and more. Virginia’s Community Colleges are offering the scholarships – as well as financial rewards to cover single courses or textbooks – to encourage you to sign up for the Wizard and make a smart step in planning your future. And if you’re interested in more scholarship opportunities, the Wizard’s easily searchable database features more than 800 other scholarships.

Any student who creates an account over the next few months - or has created an account to date – will be eligible for the financial awards, funded by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education.

About the Wizard

If you haven’t visited the site yet, the Wizard brings together all the information you need to plan your career and college – all at your fingertips. The Wizard guides you from finding a career to earning the right job credentials or preparing for continued education:

Careers: You can take Interest and Values assessments to find careers that match your interests. You also can explore a specific job and get real-time details about the demand for those jobs and local salaries.
Programs and Majors: The Wizard details programs across Virginia’s Community Colleges, including majors and careers. You can investigate courses offered across the state – or just those at your nearest campus.
Paying for College: You can find out what you can expect to pay at different colleges, then get estimates on how much financial assistance you might receive. The site also details scholarships available solely for community college students.
Transfer: The Wizard outlines pathways to four-year degrees, including guaranteed admission to 25 Virginia institutions. The tool plans, tracks and prompts necessary steps for easy transfers.

Swine Flu: New resources available

2009-05-04T10:46:00.009-04:00

Information on swine flu is available online from a variety of reliable sources. CABI, a non-profit science-based development and information organization, has created a Swine Flu Dashboard, pulling together up-to-the-minute swine flu information from several important sources.

Some of the sources included:

Centers for Disease Control
World Health Organization
Health Map: Global Disease Alert Map (see how swine flu is spreading)
CABI
Google Insights (who's been searching for swine flu information?)

On May 1st, CABI announced that they are currently providing free access to their Global Health database, to assist in the effort to study and prevent the spread of swine flu.

From CABI's May 1 news release:

In a fast changing sequence of events that has led to the rapid escalation of
concern from WHO, and the reaction of national governments in considering their
response to a possible influenza pandemic, release of the database is designed
to give urgently needed support to those who need it most: scientists, medical
professionals and health authorities investigating the causes and treatments of
the disease and linkages to past outbreaks.
Influenza researchers urgently need to be able to refer back to previous
scientific work in this area to understand the behaviour of previous strains of
the virus and to research effective mechanisms for handling earlier
outbreaks.
The Global Health database brings together global knowledge on every aspect
of influenza since 1910. The knowledge it contains could provide a key weapon in
health researchers' response in understanding and controlling the virus.

THE WORLD IS FLAT

2009-04-29T08:35:00.008-04:00

By Thomas L. Friedman

One of the themes in The World is Flat is the concept of the knowledge worker. While what a carpenter has to sell can only be purchased by one person at a time, what a software writer or drug inventor sells can be sold to many, many people all over the world at the same time.

Check it out today at the MEC Library!

MEC Library: Open later and later

2009-04-24T16:42:00.005-04:00

Later Hours of Operation:

Monday - Thursday: 8:30 am - 8:30 pm

Friday: 8:30 am - 5 pm
Saturday: 9 - 1

Extended Hours for Exam Week:

Tuesday, May 5: 8:30 am to 10:00pm
Wednesday, May 6: 8:30 am to 10:00pm

The library has resumed regular hours, which means that we’re open until 8:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The addition of our new part-time librarian, Michelle Hinkle, has made that possible. Ms. Hinkle will be doing reference and instruction, so stop by the desk and say hello if you haven’t had a chance to meet her yet.

MEC Library will also stay open until 10 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5th and Wednesday, May 6th to support our students who are preparing for final exams. We know you’re tired, students, but keep it up! Graduation day is almost here!

do you haiku?

2009-04-17T11:03:00.004-04:00

Win fifty dollars
Can be used in MEC bookstore
Write your haiku now!

You still have a chance to enter the MEC Library National Library Week Haiku contest.

If you would like to enter but cannot come to campus, please email your entry to librarian Beth DeAngelo. Please include the following in your email:

Haiku poem
First and last name
College email address
Your major
Can we publish your name and haiku on the MEC Library blog and Facebook page?

Good luck!

Need help paying for textbooks?

2009-04-10T15:08:00.009-04:00

Do you haiku? Write a haiku about MEC Library and you might win a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card that can be used in the campus bookstore!

National Library Week 2009 is April 12-18, and this year's theme is Worlds Connect @ Your Library. To celebrate, we're sponsoring a haiku poetry contest. Simply write a haiku about the role MEC Library plays in your world. Funny or serious, it's up to you!

To Enter:

Students can fill out an entry form in the MEC Library from April 13-18. You may enter more than once. A panel of three judges from the MEC will pick the winner.

Not sure how to write a haiku?
Haiku is a form of 3-line Japanese poetry that follows this format:

5 syllables

7 syllables

5 syllables

For example:

The MEC Library
Full of many big, fat books
I read all night long

::::

Important question!
To the reference desk I go
“Where is the bathroom?”

::::

Look how many things
The library has online!
3 a.m. research

::::

Many study aids
Books, DVDs, even skulls
Man, I love this place!

Questions? Call MEC Library at (703) 822-6684

Speak Up!

2009-04-08T15:26:00.005-04:00

Now is your chance to tell us what you think. Do you love your campus librarians? Do you think your library needs more group study rooms? What can we do better? YOUR VOICE COUNTS.

Please participate in the annual NOVA Libraries survey- it's online and easier than ever!

Students: click here

Faculty & Staff: click here

New bestsellers in the library...

2009-03-30T10:47:00.004-04:00

Our bestsellers continue to be very popular in the MEC Library. Here are the latest fiction and nonfiction titles available (click on the titles to see reviews & ratings on Amazon.com):

Fiction:

Addition, by Toni Jordan

The Best of Everything, by Kimberla Lawson Roby

A Darker Place, by Jack Higgins

Everyone is Beautiful, by Katherine Center

Fool, by Christopher Moore

Heart and Soul, by Maeve Binchy

Up to No Good, by Carl Weber

While My Sister Sleeps, by Barbara Delinsky

Nonfiction:

Little Pink House: A True Story of Defiance and Courage, by Jeff Benedict

What Would Google Do?, by Jeff Jarvis

Yankee Years, by Joe Torre

10 Degrees of Reckoning: The True Story of a Family's Love and the Will to Survive, by Hester Rumberg

Want to reserve one for pick-up? Call the MEC Library at (703) 822-6684

FIND IT: Medical images, videos, and animations online

2009-03-25T12:16:00.006-04:00

Nursing and allied health students at the MEC frequently ask our librarians where they can find medical images and videos to support what they're learning in class and clinical. Librarian Beth DeAngelo has created a new Best of the Web page that gathers media-rich websites for nursing and allied health in one location. Types of resources available include:

* Images

* Videos

* Animations

* Interactive tutorials

* Recorded lectures by medical professionals

* Footage of surgeries and procedures

* and more

To get there:

Visit the NOVA Libraries website
Click on Websites
Click on Best of the Web
Click on Nursing and Allied Health
Click on Core Resources
Select Media: Medical images, videos, & tutorials online

The page is a work in progress and will be added to and organized over the next several weeks. Please email Beth DeAngelo if you would like to suggest a website for inclusion.

New Best of the Web page directs students to online resouces for nursing and allied health-related images, videos, and other media types.

FIND IT: Beyond the written word

2009-03-20T14:04:00.013-04:00

Reading is great, but it's not the only way to get nursing and allied health-related information.

On Thursday, The Kojo Nnamdi Show of public radio station WAMU 88.5 did a segment called Children's Dental Care: A Public Health Crisis? (click to listen)

"It's been two years since a Prince George's County boy died after a tooth
abscess became a more serious infection. His case was rare, but dentists say
that tooth decay is the most common childhood disease -- far more common than
ailments like asthma. We'll explore the state of dental health in our region and
what's being done to alert parents to this little-discussed public health issue."

For many MEC students, the Health Reference Center Academic library database is a favorite when it comes to locating articles from journals, magazines, and newspapers, but there's more than meets the eye! Did you know that you can also use it to access transcripts and audio from all National Public Radio (NPR) programs, including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Day to Day?

Besides NPR audio material, you'll also find other podcasts & transcripts from sources like New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, and The Lancet. There are also videos of live surgeries.

To find all this, visit Health Reference Center Academic (NOVA students, faculty and staff can log in from off-campus using a myNOVA username and password), do a search for your topic of interest, and click on the Multimedia tab on your results list:

Go Green Day: TODAY

2009-03-16T09:15:00.007-04:00

GO GREEN DAY

TODAY @ MEC: March 16th, 2009

9:30am - 3:30pm

1st Floor

PTK will be hosting Go Green Day at the Medical Campus, promoting several recycling initiatives:

- Collection of old, used cell phones- regardless of condition (phones will go to Cell Phones for Soldiers and to the Battered Women's Shelter)

- Collection of home printer cartridges (old, new, or used- to be sent to charities)

- Tree sale: $5.00 each

- MEC Memory Garden: volunteers are needed to tend to the garden, which was planted last year. Pull weeds, add soil, etc.

- Campus Clean-Up Contest: the greatest number of cigarette butts picked up and turned in will win a $25 Visa Gift Card!

Have you read this?

Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution, and How it Can Renew America.

The MEC Library has a copy of this as part of our popular bestseller program. Author Thomas L. Friedman is a Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist. Check it out today!

Virginia Education Wizard Unveiled

2009-03-13T12:51:00.009-04:00

Senator Mark Warner visited the Medical Education Campus today to help unveil the new Virginia Education Wizard.

Visit the Wizard and allow Ginny, the online guide, walk you through the features. You'll find a one-stop, online resource that helps students get started with their college experiences and find careers that work for them. It provides information and tools for:

· Assessments

Let the Wizard recommend career options that match your interests.

· Career paths

Learn about the education and training requirements for different careers, find out which professionals are in high demand, and see what current jobs are paying in Virginia.

· College curriculum

Explore curriculums at a campus near you, and see which classes you need to take in order to qualify for a guaranteed transfer agreements with four-year colleges and universities.

· Financial aid and college costs

Answer a few questions about your finances and see what type of financial aid you can expect to get.

If you're already a NOVA student, you can log into the Wizard with your myNOVA username and password. Newcomers can create a username and password for free. Visit the MEC Library for more career preparation resources.

Spring Break

2009-03-06T15:24:00.002-05:00

MEC LIBRARY SPRING BREAK HOURS:

Monday, March 9 - Friday, March 13
Open 8:30 - 5

Saturday, March 14
CLOSED

MEC Job Expo!

2009-03-04T12:02:00.002-05:00

Today at MEC until 4:00 pm... the following organizations are participating:

· Greenspring – www.erickson.com
· HCR Manor Care- www.hcrmanorcare.com
· Inova Health System- www.inova.org/careers
· Jackson Clinics- www.thejacksonclinics.com
· Maxim Healthcare Services- www.maximstaffing.com
· National Rehabilitation Hospital- www.nrhrehab.org/careers
· NOVA Mental Health Institute- www.nvmhi.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov
· Prince William Fire & Rescue- www.pwcgov.org/fire
· Prince William Hospital- www.pwhs.org
· Quest Diagnostics- www.questdiagnostics.com
· STG International- www.stginternational.com
· Virginia Hospital Center- www.virginiahospitalcenter.org
· Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical (JTF CapMed): www.jtfcapmed.mil/default.asp
-DeWitt Community Hospital, Ft Belvoir
-Walter Reed Army Medical Center, DC
-National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda

For resources on careers, job hunting, resume writing, and interviewing, visit the MEC Library.

MEC Gets Greener

2009-02-20T12:03:00.006-05:00

Good news!

Solid waste disposal at Annandale Campus and the MEC is now being serviced by Fairfax County, which means that we are now a part of their recycling program. Please use the rectangular recycling containers located throughout the MEC. There are separate containers for cans, newspaper, plastic, and glass.

MEC Library also has a large blue recycling bin for paper, located near the inside copier.

MEC Library is on Facebook!

2009-02-13T15:28:00.006-05:00

Any registered Facebook user can become a fan and interact with our page. We'll be adding more content soon, so become a fan today to receive updates and leave comments. Click here to visit our page.

Question:

If I become a fan of MEC Library on Facebook, can the administrators of the MEC Library page see my profile?

Answer:

No. From Facebook Pages Q&A:

"Pages cannot see the profiles of their fans. They can only see the profile photo and name of each of their fans. In addition, Pages do not receive a News Feed with information about what their fans are up to. Pages can communicate with their fans through updates in your Inbox, but they never gain access to your personal information."

NEW FINES

2009-01-08T14:30:00.007-05:00

NOTICE:
Beginning January 2009
NEW FINES
for
1-WEEK
Reserve Books
$2 per day

Advanced Library Research Strategies

2009-01-07T15:55:00.009-05:00

Attention all 2nd-year Nursing students! The MEC library will be holding sessions on "Advanced Library Research Strategies" during the month of January. This is extremely beneficial for those taking NUR 254.

The sessions will be held:

January 15th at 12:00pm in room 341
January 21st at 7:00pm on eNOVA
January 22nd at 2:00pm in room 341

To sign up for a session:

1. Go to www.nvcc.edu/medical/meclibrary/2ndsignup/login.htm.
2. Scroll down to First time sign up? Click here to create a login name and password.
3. Choose your session and click Submit and click on Sign Out.

Please visit the MEC library (room 341) or call us at (703) 822-6684 if you have any questions.

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-08T09:15:00.010-05:00

Winter Break Hours:

Monday, Dec. 22 - 8:30-5:00
Tuesday, Dec. 23 - 8:30 - 5:00

Wednesday, Dec. 24 - Sunday, January 4 - CLOSED

Monday Jan. 5 & Wednesday thru Friday - 8:30 - 5

NEW: Tuesday, January 6- Open 1-5

Saturday, January 10 - 10:00 - 2:00

Audiobooks: Listen up!

2008-12-05T11:47:00.007-05:00

Travelling for the holidays? Road trip? Long flight? Download audiobooks, music and videos for free from your library to your personal computer, MP3 player (for a list of compatible devices, click here) or burn selected titles to CDs.

(downloads available to off-campus computers only)

From off-campus:

- Go to www.nvcc.edu/library
- Scroll over Books & More
- Click on eBooks
- Select Overdrive Audiobooks
- From the Getting Started sidebar (far left) click on the Quick Start Guide

Download and install your free software (remember, off-campus computers only)

Check-out, download and enjoy!

- Sign-in using your VCCS username and password (the same one you use for MyNOVA, Blackboard, and PeopleSoft)

- Enjoy! If you've tried our Overdrive Audiobooks service, please leave a comment and let us know what you think.

2008-11-19T13:53:00.017-05:00

Thanksgiving Hours

Nov 24 - Monday - 8:30-8:o0
Nov 25 - Tuesday - 8:30-7:30

Nov 26 - Wednesday - CLOSED

Nov 27 - Thursday - CLOSED

Nov 28 - Friday - CLOSED
Nov 29 - Saturday - CLOSED

International Education Week 2008

2008-11-08T11:20:00.015-05:00

Let us enrich ourselves with our mutual differences. -Paul Valery, poet and philosopher (1871-1945)

http://iew.state.gov/ has officially been launched, and includes promotional materials, an interactive quiz, and opportunities to post and view planned events around the world.

Are you smarter than an 8th grader?

Take the quiz... http://iew.state.gov/quiz.cfm

Nursing as a Profession

2008-10-28T12:53:00.004-04:00

Go here for help writing your paper...

http://www.nvcc.edu/medical/meclibrary/nursing/profession.htm

Your Vote Will Make History

2008-10-09T18:51:00.014-04:00

NOVEMBER 4, 2008

Did you know that there are 3 candidates for president?

http://www.lwv.org/AM/Template.cfm?Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=12078

VIRGINIA VOTER’S INFORMATION
http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Election_Information/Index.html

Special Library Hours

2008-10-06T10:03:00.013-04:00

Monday October 13

8:30 - 5:00
Tuesday October 14

8:30 – 5:00

Advanced Library Research Strategies

2008-09-05T16:02:00.002-04:00

ATTENTION ALL 2ND YEAR NURSING STUDENTS!
The Library will provide instruction on "Advanced Library Research Strategies" (which will be extremely beneficial for students taking NUR 254 this semester).

Dates and times are:

Thursday, September 25th: 1:00pm and 2:30pm
Thursday, October 2nd: 1:00pm and 2:30pm

Students can sign up by going to www.nvcc.edu/medical/meclibrary and click on the link under "Services." Each student will have to create his or her own account to sign up.

Changes to library hours

2008-08-12T11:43:00.004-04:00

Summer classes are over, and Fall classes don't start until August 25. During the break, the library will be open 8:30-5 Monday through Friday, with a couple of exceptions:

Tuesday, August 12 - Friday, August 22:

Open 8:30-5

(CLOSED Saturday, August 16)

Wednesday, August 20:

Open 1-5
(campus meeting taking place in a.m.)

Saturday, August 23:

Open 10-2 (for registration)

On August 25, we'll begin our Fall Semester hours:

Mondays & Thursdays:
8:30 a.m. - 8 p.m

Tuesdays & Wednesdays:
8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Saturdays:
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Randy Pausch: The Last Lecture

2008-07-30T19:47:00.004-04:00

Many of you have probably heard of Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University who was diagnosed last August with pancreatic cancer. He died Friday, July 25, 2008 at his home in Virginia Beach.

Pausch achieved fame after delivering his "Last Lecture" to a packed hall at Carnegie Mellon. It is common for professors to be asked to give a last lecture, in which they imagine that they are near death and must impart all essential information to their students in one last delivery. Soon after agreeing to deliver a last lecture, Pausch received his terminal diagnosis.

A video of his lecture swept across the Internet and made Pausch an Internet sensation. His best selling book, The Last Lecture, is available for check-out at the MEC Library.

To view Pausch's speech on YouTube, click here.

Pardon our dust!

2008-07-29T11:34:00.001-04:00

Things will be a bit noisy and crowded in the MEC Library this week. Additional shelving is being installed in several locations. We apologize for the disruption but hope you'll agree that the finished product will be worth it! The new shelving will allow us to spread out our books and journals so they're not so crowded.

Library closings

2008-07-23T14:20:00.000-04:00

The MEC Library will be CLOSED:

Thursday, July 24 from 11:30 - 1:00

Friday, July 25 from 2:00 - 4:00

Library Orientations for Nursing Students

2008-07-14T12:33:00.001-04:00

Completing a library orientation is MANDATORY for incoming nursing students. All sign-ups are done online. Incoming NUR students should have received instructions and additional information about this requirement in the mail.

Nine sessions will be offered in the MEC library, and two sessions will be offered online via Centra (eNova). Before you sign up for an online session, please check to make sure you have all the required equipment (listed on the sign-up page), including a microphone and speakers.

The dates and times of the training are below. Be sure to sign up early, as space is limited!

(Click to enlarge)

Please call the MEC Library at (703) 822-2099 if you have any questions.

New Arrivals!

2008-06-26T12:45:00.000-04:00

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:

The Beach House, by Jane Green

Bright Shiny Morning, by James Frey

Child 44, by Tom Rob Smith

The Last Patriot, by Brad Thor

Love the One You're With, by Emily Giffin

My Sister, My Love: The Intimate Story of Sklyer Rampike, by Joyce Carol Oates

One in a Million, by Kimberla Lawson Roby

Oxygen: A Novel, by Carol Cassella

The Plague of Doves, by Louise Erdrich

Rogue, by Danielle Steel

Skeletons at the Feast, by Chris Bohjalian

This Charming Man, by Marian Keyes

Where Are You Now? by Mary Higgins Clark

Nonfiction:

American Son: My Story, by Oscar De La Hoya

Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You, by Sam Gosling

This Land is Their Land: Reports from a Divided Nation, by Barbara Ehrenreich

The Well-Adjusted Dog: Dr. Dodman's Seven Steps to Lifelong Health and Happiness for Your Best Friend, by Nicholas H. Dodman

When You Are Engulfed in Flames, by Dave Sedaris

A Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father, by Augusten Burroughs

To suggest a title, please leave a comment.

Introducing Maureen Hage

2008-06-11T16:20:00.000-04:00

MEC Library is happy to introduce our new Library Specialist, Maureen Hage. She may look familiar to some of you- Maureen graduated with honors from NOVA’s Health Information Technology program in 2003 and has been an adjunct HIT instructor at MEC since 2004. Among the courses she has taught are CPT-4, ICD-9, Advanced Coding and Reimbursement, Medical terminology, Introduction to Pathology, Fundamentals of Health Information Systems, and Legal Aspects.

She joined the MEC library in May and we’re thrilled to have her.

Maureen will cover Interlibrary Loan, technology issues, circulation, and reference, among other things. Stop by and say hello!

Are you ready for Office 2007?

2008-06-02T14:34:00.000-04:00

Office 2007 is here... are you ready? If not, the Medical Campus Open Computer Lab can help.

Office 2007 brought a brand-new look to Word, PowerPoint, Access, and Excel. The Office 2003 menus and toolbars that you're used to have been completely redesigned in the 2007 version, all part of an effort to make the features of each program easier to find and use.

The "Ribbon" in 2007 Microsoft Word

While the new designs have lots of great features, many are finding it helpful to have an overview of the changes.

The Open Computer Lab (next door to the library) is offering Office 2007 training over the next two months. Classes are free and open to NOVA students, faculty, and staff. To sign up, please email MEC computer lab Trainer/Instructor Nobel Bhuiyan at mebhuiyan@nvcc.edu or call (703) 822-6671.

Office 2007 Summer Training Schedule:
(each session lasts approximately 1 ½ hours and will take place in the library classroom, Room 341)

Monday, June 30, 2008- 10:00 a.m.
PowerPoint & Access

Monday, July 7, 2008- 10:00 a.m.
Word & Excel

Friday, July 18, 2008- 10:00 a.m.
PowerPoint & Access

Additional classes covering basics in both Office 2003 and Office 2007 will be held in the fall- schedule to be announced.

New Arrivals!

2008-05-30T11:33:00.000-04:00

Here are the latest arrivals of best-selling fiction and nonfiction (click the title links to see reviews on Amazon.com):

Fiction:

Belong to Me, by Marisa De Los Santos

Hold Tight, by Harlan Coben

Small Favor (the Dresden Files, Book 10), by Jim Butcher

Nonfiction:

Home: A Memoir of My Early Years, by Julie Andrews

The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch

Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope, by Don & Susie Van Ryn

New printers in MEC Library!

2008-05-28T19:38:00.000-04:00

If you've been in MEC Library lately, you've probably noticed the new black & white printer- it's bigger and faster and should help speed things along when we've got lots of students trying to print at the same time.

We also have a brand-new color printer. Color printing can be done from any computer in the library and costs 40 cents per page. The Open Computer Lab next door also offers color printing for the same price.

As always, you must have money on either your NovaCard or a Guest Card to print on any NOVA campus. At MEC you can use the machine outside the library to add cash to your card (bills only, no change given), or visit the Business Office during their hours of operation if you wish to put money on your card using credit or debit.

Latest Library Additions

2008-05-28T19:32:00.001-04:00

The June edition of Latest Library Additions is up on the website- check in to see the newest books and DVDs in the MEC Library.

http://www.nvcc.edu/medical/meclibrary/additions.htm

Time for a break!

2008-05-12T12:05:00.000-04:00

Exams are over- congratulations to all the May 2008 MEC graduates!

The library will follow an abbreviated schedule for the week of May 12 - 16:

Monday, May 12: Open 2:00 - 5:00 (staff training)

Tuesday, May 13 - Friday, May 16: Open 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Survey says?

2008-05-06T14:19:00.000-04:00

In April the NOVA libraries conducted their annual survey on library services. Hundreds of students, faculty, and staff completed online and paper surveys to let us know what we do well and where we could stand to improve. Here's a brief summary of some of the responses.

Not suprisingly, 91% percent of respondents said they use the library for studying. Research, Blackboard access, and email are the other most common activities.

Considering most students use MEC Library for studying, what do they think of the study environment?

About 52% considered it to be excellent, with other votes for "very good", "good", "fair", and "poor":

So what are some of the common complaints about the study environment in our library?

"Many ringing cell phones and loud students."
"Sometimes the noise level is a bit much from people walking in and out and not being courteous of those studying."
"Sometimes fellow students chat too loudly."
"You need more quiet study areas."

Groups also want more space. Here are some of the comments regarding the library's group study rooms:

"I wish there were more than just two reserved rooms."
"I wish we had more study rooms available..."
"[Rooms are] not always available when needed."

The survey also asked for suggestions on how the library can improve its services. Here are some of them, with some feedback from MEC librarian Beth DeAngelo:

"Remove some desk[s] in the quiet study are to make a little space between desks and each other."
I definitely understand the desire to have a little space! There are times when every desk in the quiet study room is in use and we would like for as many people as possible to have access to it.

"The MEC library has a quiet room and when studying there is a lot of noise coming from the hallway leading to the nursing office. If people walking in the hallway could be alerted to the fact that students are studying right on the other side of the wall, it would make a big difference."

Good suggestion. We have tried to spread the word about keeping quiet in the hallways and will continue to work on informing everyone of this issue. I hope posting this comment will help.

"I'd like more instruction in how to connect and search the online databases from home; sometimes I have trouble getting beyond just getting a list of references instead of articles."
It can be frustrating when you're trying to locate full-text articles and all you seem to find is citations and abstracts! If you have difficulty with this, please contact the library- we can walk you through it. We have over 200 databases at NOVA, so chances are that we may be able to find the article you need.
If we've helped you search and we still can't find the full-text of an article you really need, we do have an Interlibrary Loan service (ILL), through which we can get many articles and books from libraries across the country. However, since it can take anywhere from 3 days to several weeks for these items to arrive, ILL should be used as a last resort.
"Purchase more audio visual for programs of study, i.e. respiratory therapy, dental, and radiology videos to enhance learning."
We know that many MEC students use audiovisual materials to enhance learning. Over the past year we've been focusing on beefing up our collection of videos and DVDs, and the new purchases continue to trickle in on a daily basis. We always welcome purchase suggestions from faculty and students, so don't hesitate to let us know if there's something you'd recommend. If it seems like a good fit for our collection and we have enough money in the budget, we might buy it!

"I would like to see a larger audio collection for people to use while driving, etc."
You're in luck. Soon the NOVA libraries will have a subscription to a digital media service called OverDrive, which will allow our faculty, staff, and students to use their NOVACard barcodes to download audiobooks. Once you've downloaded a book, you will have different options, depending on the digital rights set by the publisher. Some options include burning the book to CD, transfering it to a portable device (such as a MP3 player), or printing the book.
The OverDrive audiobooks will focus on popular reading and bestsellers. Stay tuned for more details.
"I feel that students are always studying and would greatly benefit from the library being open later M-Thurs at least. The medical campus classes are very demanding and if the library would stay open until 9 or 10 this would be great."
The library has been operating under reduced hours for the past several months due to a staff shortage. We are once again fully staffed and on May 19 will return to our regular hours:
Monday - Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
(note that in the summers, MEC Library is closed on Saturdays)

More new bestsellers in the library...

2008-04-25T16:25:00.000-04:00

Here are the latest arrivals of best-selling fiction and nonfiction (click the title links to see reviews on Amazon.com):

Fiction:

Certain Girls, by Jennifer Weiner
The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted: And Other Small Acts of Liberation, by Elizabeth Berg
Miracle at Speedy Motors (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series), by Alexander McCall Smith
Pleasure, by Eric Jerome Dickey
Sundays at Tiffany's, by James Patterson
The Ten-Year Nap, by Meg Wolitzer
The Whole Truth, by David Baldacci

Nonfiction:

Maya Angelou: A Glorious Celebration, by Marcia Ann Gillespie
The Road to Wealth, by Suze Orman
The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments, by George Johnson

National Library Week!

2008-04-16T13:57:00.001-04:00

Join the circle of knowledge! April 13-19 is National Library Week. The Medical Campus Library is celebrating the week with two key events.

First up is a contest. Remember all those celebrity READ posters that you've seen hanging in libraries across the country? The MEC library is now featuring six Medical Campus celebrities on their own READ posters. Come on in to the library, use the clues to match the names to the correct posters, and you will be entered into a drawing for a Barnes & Noble gift card that can be used in the campus bookstore.

To see a slideshow of last year's posters, visit the MEC Library webpage.

The second event is a breakfast that will be held Thursday morning, April 17. This is just our way of saying how much we appreciate all our MEC library users (we've seen you studying for hours in the quiet study room!). Come by for some coffee, tea, and treats and take a well-deserved break.

Libraries play an important role not just at the MEC, but in society. Did you know that there is a Library Bill of Rights? This document affirms that libraries work to advocate for and protect intellectual freedom, which is your right to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction.

Without restriction. That's a right that shouldn't be taken for granted, considering there are many people in the world who are denied intellectual freedom.

So join us during National Library Week and celebrate your right to read, listen, watch, and learn. There's a lot of information out there, and your librarians will help you find it.

Bestsellers now in MEC Library!

2008-03-31T16:52:00.000-04:00

The MEC Library is pleased to announce that we are now offering selected best-selling fiction and nonfiction books for check-out! Thanks to our participation in a book-leasing program, MEC Library can lease the newest, most popular titles each month, then send them back when the excitement has died down.

Books currently available are displayed in the library. Simply bring in your NOVACard, choose the book you want, and it's yours for three weeks.

We'll be getting new titles every month, so keep checking back!

Here are a few of the new arrivals. Click on the titles to see summaries and reviews on Amazon.com:

Fiction:

Appeal by John Grisham

Duma Key by Stephen King

Something on the Side by Carl Weber

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Christ the Lord: Road to Cana by Anne Rice

Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella

Lush Life by Richard Price

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

Nonfiction:

Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography by Andrew Morton

The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places on Earth by Eric Weiner

I am America (And So Can You) by Stephen Colbert

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan

This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War by Drew Gilpin Faust

If you'd like to suggest a bestseller, please leave a comment on this post.

E-books: Search and read library books from home!

2008-02-25T15:33:00.000-05:00

Did you know that the NOVA libraries have several collection of e-books? And there's more good news for nursing and allied health students- out of NOVA's fifteen e-books collections, three of them are dedicated to nursing and allied health:

Also of interest is the Gale Virtual Reference Library, which has the following encyclopedias (among others):

Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine
Encyclopedia of Cancer
Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders
Encyclopedia of Medicine
Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health

What are e-books?

E-books, also known as electronic books, are books that can be accessed electronically via the Internet. NOVA's e-book collections are provided by different companies, so each one will look and operate a bit differently.

How are they used?

Important fact: even though you'll use the Internet to access NOVA's e-books, they are not freely available to everyone in the world. NOVA pays a lot of money for them, so our e-books are only for NOVA students, faculty, and staff. If you're off-campus, you'll have to log in using your NovaConnect username and password.

In most of the e-book collections, you can read the book online from cover to virtual cover, or you can do a search for just the information that's relevant to your topic. In most cases you can search across a whole collection of books at one time.

Once you find the information you need, many e-book collections will allow you to print and email sections to yourself... within reason. Obviously, it's against copyright law to print out or email an entire book, so pick and choose wisely!

Some e-books even have dictionaries incorporated. Stat!Ref, for example, has Stedman's Medical Dictionary. Don't understand a word? In Stat!Ref you can simply highlight it, click on Stedman's Look-Up, and voila, a definition appears.

Stay Tuned!

In future posts we'll explore each of these nursing and allied health e-book collections a bit more. As always, if you need assistance, feel free to call the MEC Library at (703) 822-6684. We're always happy to help.