Stories

Ku! Ku! Kudios!
Bask in Our Positive Feedback from the NOVA Community

Welcome to NOVA - Part 1
Roxx Young inna house!

The World in Our Stacks
We Are the World

Welcome to NOVA - Part 2
Maddie - now the Librarian - is here!

Google's Big AI Adventure
Making Our Jobs Harder

Welcome to NOVA - Part 3
Abby - now the Librarian - is here!

Welcome to NOVA - Part 4
Can't have too many Maddies, really!

Scribble Scrawl
Summer Games

Vacant Full-Time Positions
Please share!

Committee Members, Meeting Days and Times
Who to Call

Ku! Ku! Kudios!

By Staff and the appreciative NOVA Community

At the end of the school year the NOVA Library staff deserves to take in the appreciative comments made by members of the NOVA Community for our year of hard work, well done. Please take a moment to fully absorb these compliments and plaudits. We are an excellent team and we deserve EVERY WORD! Even if the comment was directed to an individual - we can all appreciate it as if it was directed to us personally because each of us is contributing to these positive outcomes. Enjoy!

 

A student walked into the library, spotted me, came over and said, “I got an A on my presentation about Alice Walker! I blew the rest of my class away and I couldn’t have done it without your help!,” then turned around and walked out. I was tickled that he came in for the express purpose of letting me know. 😊 -Alexis

 

 

Best recent kudos I’ve received came from a student who did not know English well. She was struggling trying to print off her resume from her computer the 1st time and she needed help resetting her password the 2nd time she came into the library.

To make a long story short, when she came back into the library, she intentionally waited around for me to help her because she was so excited to tell me that she had gotten the job because of my help with her resume, and she really appreciated that I took my time showing her what to do, treated her like a person, and did not rush her through the process of learning. (mostly read/spoke through Google translate-which she did not know she had on her phone to help her translate!)

She wanted to bring me a food dish from her country, but I told her that wasn’t necessary and seeing her happy and succeeding was good enough for me! --Nadia

 

 

The best kudos I've gotten recently was when I ran into a student working at Food Lion. It was 10 o'clock at night, and I was on a mission for ice cream. The student, who I'm sure was tired after a long shift, flagged me down and told me how much they appreciated my help. They said their paper turned out much better than they expected and said they couldn't have done it without me. It was a nice random experience, and all because of a late-night ice cream run. – Russell

 

 

I got this kudo following a LibChat Ticket I responded to about citing sources: “thanks a lot for your interest. now i can cite the references properly thanks to your effort. I'm so glad to reach out to you. really i'm grateful to you. have a great day.” –Julie

 

 

Dear wonderful team,
Thank you so much for the outstanding work that you have done today in celebrating the mole day. With your help, we were able to make a fantastic event in celebrating the "Mole Day" at MA campus. We have had more than 100 students participated today. The students were very thrilled and encouraged to run all the activities. Dr. Chang and our colleagues from the other campuses were happy to come and show their support. They even asked me to join next year. This event could not have happened without each and every one of you!
You have all really shined today and we would be lucky if you helped out again next year. Thanks again for all your hard work and support!
Warms regards,
Amany

 

 

As we celebrate National Library Week (April 7-13), it's an opportune time to recognize the invaluable contributions of libraries and their dedicated staff members. Our library plays an essential role in our campus community, providing a haven for connection, learning, and engagement.
The Woodbridge Campus Library team -- comprised of Anne Beebe, Kerry Cotter, Russell Grooms, Stephanie Sharkey, and Karen Williams -- is at the forefront of fostering a vibrant intellectual environment. With their passion and expertise, they ensure that the library remains a welcoming space for students and faculty alike.
Libraries serve as vital resources for people in any stage of life. Whether you are seeking a new career path, conducting research, or simply looking for a place to unwind with a good novel, libraries offer a sanctuary for all.
As we commemorate National Library Week, it's crucial to shine a light on the remarkable efforts of our library staff. With their dedication and tireless commitment, they keep our library running smoothly, enriching our campus in countless ways.
The Woodbridge Campus Library stands as a beacon of knowledge and support. This National Library Week let's join together in celebrating our outstanding campus library team. --Dr. Richmond Hill

 

Welcome to NOVA - Part 1

By R. Young (She / They)

Roxx Young is our new Collection Development Librarian at the Woodbridge Campus. They recently answered a few questions as a big HELLO to NOVA Libraries.

What is the pet situation at your house?

None, at the moment, unfortunately! I’ve only been living in my current apartment for a few months, however I miss my fuzzy family members from when I lived with my parents, so maybe there’s a new critter in the cards for me soon! My parents have an adorable little fluffball named Zoey, whom I miss very much - a Shih-Tzu Poodle mix.

Other NOVA Library staff should definitely call on you when they need . . . ?

Well, my BA is in history, particularly European history but I love all of it! So, I would like to think that’s my specialty. I also love fantasy and science fiction and will gladly talk at length about them.

What is your superpower?

Wow, I’m not sure if I have one! I like to think I have lots of small talents. I play a guitar and bass and dabble in a little music production, but I’m by no means an expert. I like to cook and make cocktails, but I’m not master chef either! I just like to learn new things!

The World in Our Stacks

By J. Harold

This feature links items in the news to various books, authors, and subjects that our NOVA libraries own. Take a look at the ways the world shows up in our stacks! 

John Simmons Barth (May 27, 1930-April 2, 2024) was an American writer known for his postmodern and metafictional fiction. In addition to novels, he authored several books of short stores as well as books of essays. "Novelist wove literary fantasies, becoming a giant of postmodernism"--The Washington Post. The libraries have ten titles, six written by him and four about him.

Maryse Condé (February 11, 1934-April 2, 2024) was a novelist, critic, and playwright from Guadeloupe. Her writings explored the African diaspora that resulted from slavery and colonialism in the Caribbean. The novels, written in French, have been translated into several languages. She was the winner of several awards including the Grand Prix Littéraire de la Femme (1986), Prix de l'Académie française (1988), Prix Carbet de la Caraïbe (1997) as well as the New Academy Prize in Literature (2018). "Grane dame of Caribbean literature and chronicler of the Black diaspora"--The Washington Post. The libraries have five titles by her.

Christopher Durang (January 2, 1949-April 2, 2024) was an American playwright known for works of outrageous and absurd comedy often dealing with child abuse, Catholic dogma, culture, as well as homosexuality. His Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You brought him the Obie Award for Best Playwright in 1980. "Tony-winning playwright's gentle air belied the wit, absurdity of his work"--The Washington Post." The libraries have three titles containing his work.

Daniel Kahneman (March 5, 1934–March 27, 2024) was an Israeli-American cognitive scientist best-known for his work on the psychology of judgment and decision-making. He is also known for his work in behavioral economics, winning the 2002 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences with Vernon L. Smith. "Nobel-winning psychologist upended economics"--The Washington Post. The libraries have three titles, two by him and one that is an analysis of his well-known work Thinking, Fast and Slow.

Faith Ringgold (October 8, 1930–April 12, 2024) was an American painter, author, mixed media sculptor, performance artist, known for her narrative quilts. "Artist who explored Black life in painting, story quilts"--The Washington Post. The libraries have six titles by or about her, including her memoir We Flew Over the Bridge.

Welcome to NOVA - Part 2

By M. Quick

Maddie Quick is our new Collection Development Librarian at the Loudoun Campus. She recently answered a few questions as a NOVA-grown BRAND NEW SHINY LIBRARIAN.

What is the pet situation at your house?

Proud cat lady here! I have 3 beautiful tabbies: Nadine (AKA Weenie, green bean, etc.) who was rescued just before the pandemic. I love her and she just barely tolerates me. And then brother & sister duo, Egg & Poppy (formal names, Aegon & Popcorn), who I rescued as 4-week-old kittens in Fall 2022 – literal loves of my life and bane of Nadine’s existence.

Other NOVA Library staff should definitely call on you when they need . . . ?

Literally anything! I’m good with giving design & crafting advice, making a homemade loaf of sandwich bread, decluttering/organizing a space, and/or cleaning enthusiastically.

What is your superpower?

Being creative! I can do a lot with a little and I’m not afraid to try something new.

Google's Big AI Adventure

By L. Leon

Welcome to NOVA - Part 3

By A. Bricker

Abby Bricker is our new Public Services & Technology Librarian at the Alexandria Campus. She recently answered a few questions as another NOVA-grown BRAND NEW SHINY LIBRARIAN.

What is the pet situation at your house?

The pet situation in my house is known as Charlie. She is an almost 14 pound calico cat that loves snuggles and attention but also feels the need to express her feelings verbally, loudly, and repeatedly. She is confident that she is still the apex predator despite her inability to kill even bugs, which she will follow around if she even notices that they exist.

Other NOVA Library staff should definitely call on you when they need . . . ?

To tell someone about great food, especially in the area! One of the best things about living in northern Virginia is all of the amazing food here. I am always happy to hear about your favorite places and recommendations and I am just as happy to share mine.

What is your superpower?

I have the ability to park as far away from where I want to be as possible. Visiting the Annandale library? Parked so far away I got lost trying to find the building. Going to the mall for a specific store? Parked on the opposite side of the mall, confident that it was definitely not the same place I tried parking last time (it was). Visiting a friend in DC? Don’t even ask. If anyone finds a use for my superpower, please let me know as I have not figured it out yet.

Finally, I could not find a recent picture of only me that also showed my whole face, so everyone will have to suffer this cute couples picture my husband and I took while on vacation last winter break.

Welcome to NOVA - Part 4

By M. Hughes 

Maddie Hughes is our new P14 at the Manassas Campus. She's working on her MLS. We could have another NOVA-grown librarian soon!

What is the pet situation at your house?

The best way to describe my home is 'suburban zoo'. Living in the home are our four rescue cats. Rexy is 10, and we adopted three brothers (Hugo, Louis, and William) who are seven. We have always loved animals of all kinds, and during the pandemic we invested in building relationships with our furry and feathered neighbors. It started with leaving nuts out for squirrels, and one thing led to another and now we are also friendly with a local flock of crows, as well as some other birds. The squirrels like peanuts and almonds; while the crows LOVE raisins, egg yolks, and hard cheeses.

If we are on a three-day hike what should I bring to keep you going?

Outside of the basic necessities like first aid, the only must-have for a three-day hike would be ample snacks.

Which of your hobbies have the most relevance to library life?

My love of communication and learning are certainly relevant to library life. I hope to promote engagement and accessibility in every community I serve.

Scribble Scrawl

By N. Mobley

I hope you enjoyed the matching game!

That’s right, SUMMER officially starts in June and with that comes heading to the pool/beach, cook-outs, VACATIONS and World Ocean Day!

Enjoy putting together this puzzle featuring an occupant of the deep sea . . .

https://puzzel.org/en/jigsaw/play?p=-NtvjINt6RKJWtCsUdc4

Members, Etc.

A complete list of committees, members, and the dates and times of meetings is linked here. Please contact Liz Leon [ileon@nvcc.edu] to request corrections.

Verso

From the Stacks is published six times a year in February, April, June, August, October, and December, (mostly) on the second Tuesday of the month. Please contact Editor Liz Leon, Collection Development & Outreach Librarian, Manassas Campus to contribute an article or with ideas for regular features. Older issues live in the archives.

June contributors are Abby Bricker, Public Services & Technology Librarian, Alexandria Campus; Maddie Quick, Collection Development Librarian, Loudoun Campus; Roxx Young, Collection Development Librarian, Woodbridge Campus; Jim Harold, Library Specialist, Library Technical Services; Madison Hughes, Library Specialist, Manassas Campus; Liz Leon, Collection Development Librarian, Manassas Campus; Nadia Mobley, Circulation Specialist, Alexandria Campus; and Dean of the Library, Matt Todd.