Events

Cadets, it’s the home stretch.  Exams start Wednesday, December 14.  This means two things: coffee

1. The library will be open late (hours below) so you can get in some quality studying.

and…

2. The return of Preston Library’s Coffee Service!

Coffee, tea and hot chocolate will be available at 2000 every evening beginning Tuesday, 13 December through Tuesday, 20 December.  Grab your books, mugs, and go to Preston Library for the best study break on Post.

Coffee has been generously donated by Aramark.

Fall 2011 Exam Hours:

Tuesday, Dec. 13 – Friday, Dec. 16  0800-0200
Saturday, Dec. 17                   0800-2300
Sunday, Dec. 18                     1300-0200
Monday, Dec. 19 - Tuesday Dec. 20   0800-0200
Wednesday, Dec. 21                  0800-1630
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Celebrate Banned Books Week!

by Lt. Col. Holly on September 26, 2011

in Events

Preston Library is celebrating “Banned Books Week” from 24 September to 1 October.  This annual event celebrates our freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment.

The American Library Association monitors the attempts made by individuals and groups to have books removed from library shelves and classrooms.  Books that were banned at one time in the United States are as follows:

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

You can find these books in Preston Library.  Check out the display in the “Class of 1969 Memorial Room.”

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Cadet Charles A. Ransom, '01

We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of CPT Charles A. Ransom on April 27, 2011. Charles was one of eight American NATO International Security Assistance Force service members who died following a shooting incident at the Afghan Air Force compound in Kabul.

We got to know Charles as a library assistant during his 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Class years. He was as an outstanding young man as one could wish–polite, honorable, cheerful, and bright. Charles had such a pleasant manner that one always enjoyed his presence. He exemplified the finest of what we expect in a VMI cadet.

During his four years at VMI, Captain Ransom, a computer science major, served on the General Committee as vice president of the Class of 2001.  He was also a cadet corporal, platoon sergeant, and Rat Challenge corporal.

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Cadets, it’s the home stretch.  Exams start Wednesday.  This means two things: coffee

1. The library will be open late (hours below) so you can get in some quality studying.

and…

2. The return of Preston Library’s Coffee Break!

Coffee, tea and hot chocolate will be available at 2000 every evening beginning Tuesday, 3 May through Tuesday, 10 May.  Grab your books, mugs, and go to Preston Library for the best study break on Post.

Coffee has been generously donated by Aramark.

Spring 2011 Exam Hours:

Tuesday, May 3 – Friday, May 6   0800-0200
Saturday, May 7                  0800-2300
Sunday, May 8                    1300-0200
Monday, May 9 - Tuesday May 10   0800-0200
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The Friends of Preston Library in concert with the VMI Academic Speakers Program featured a program with Allan Gurganus, Monday, April 18 at 1100 in the Turman Room of Preston Library. Mr. Gurganus read from his novel-in-progress, The Erotic History of a Country Baptist Church. A sizable audience of Friends members, cadets, and faculty attended the reading. Following the reading, Mr. Gurganus answered cadets and other audience questions about the selection he read and his writing in general. Mr. Gurganus’ book is about half-finished and he enjoyed the opportunity to read it before an audience. Mr. Gurganus became nationally known with the publication of his best-selling novel, Oldest Confederate Widow Tells All.

Among the most esteemed contemporary Southern writers, he has been called “the rightful heir to [William] Faulkner and [Eudora] Welty” and “a Mark Twain for our age.” Among his major awards are a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship and induction into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Refreshments will be served.

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Col. Samdahl presents Cadet Grant, '14 with his winnings.

Our winner of the $150 Amazon Gift Card is Cadet Donald Grant, ’14. Congratulations! Many thanks to all cadets who participated in our library survey. Your input helps us make the library a better place. Survey results can be viewed here.

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Col. Muir makes a point.

The Friends of Preston Library hosted its spring program, Friday, April 8, at 3:00 p.m., in the Turman Room of Preston Library. Our featured speaker was

Col. Muir and FPL Chairman Eric Osborne

Col. Malcolm Muir. Col. Muir spoke on “‘Why Should We Have a Navy at All’?: Drawdown, Service Rivalries, and the Atomic Bomb in the Post-World War II Era.”

 

 

Col. Muir gave an engaging talk and highlighted the situation of the U S military after WW2–its enormous size, massive drawdown, and the resultant inter-service fights for priority and resources. Following the presentation, members of the audience asked a number of interesting questions.

Col. Muir holds the George J. Collins, Sr., Chair of Military History at VMI and heads the John A. Adams ’71 Center for Military History and Strategic Analysis. A recognized authority of military history, Col. Muir is an engaging speaker who has written on numerous areas of military history, especially the Cold War and naval warfare.

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Cadets! Win a $150 Amazon Gift Card! How?

Take the survey here.  The survey ends this Friday, March 25 @ 1630 so don’t delay.

To be eligible to win simply follow the instructions at the end of the survey. Good luck!

This survey gives you the opportunity to help us make Preston Library a better place for you. Give us your insight!

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Cadets, it’s the home stretch.  Exams start Monday.  This means two things: coffee

1. The library will be open late (see below hours schedule) so you can get in some quality studying.

and…

2. The return of Preston Library’s Coffee Break!

Coffee, tea and hot chocolate will be available at 8 p.m. (2000 military time) every evening beginning Sunday, 12 December through Sunday, 19th December.  So grab your books, mugs, and head over to Preston Library for the best study break on Post.

Coffee has been generously donated by Aramark.

Exam Hours:

Saturday, December 11 0800-2300
Sunday, December 12 1300-0200
Mon., December 13 – Fri., December 17 0800-0200
Saturday, December 18 0800-2300
Sunday, December 19 1300-0200
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Time Change

by Col. Samdahl on October 30, 2010

in Events,Hours

Tick, tock. Remember to change your clock. We fall back from DST on Sunday, Nov. 7. Set your clock back 1 hour. Good news: one more hour of zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

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The Friends of Preston Library 2010 Fall Program

October 20, 2010

The Friends of Preston Library hosted its fall program, Friday, October 29 at 3:00 p.m., in the Turman Room of Preston Library. Lisa Tracy gave the program,  ”Charles E. Kilbourne: Architect of Corregidor.” Lisa’s presentation traced her grandfather’s early career in the Philippines where he won the Congressional Medal of Honor at the battle of [...]

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Have you read a banned book lately?

September 28, 2010

In Preston Library’s Periodicals Room you’ll find a display in honor of Banned Books Week. This week marks the 29th year that Americans have been celebrating the freedom to read.  Each year many books are challenged as being objectionable by individuals and groups who ask for them to be removed by public and school libraries [...]

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Linda Covington Retirement Reception

May 5, 2010

Preston Library celebrated the retirement of Linda Covington, Head of Technical Services, on April 29. Linda worked in Preston Library for 42 years. Gen. Peay presented Linda with a VMI Achievement Award and Col. Samdahl commented on Linda’s contributions to Preston Library and presented her with gifts from the library staff. A large number of [...]

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Live! From Preston Library, it’s Saturday Night!

April 13, 2010

Back by popular demand, it’s Saturday Night Live at the Library! We’ll be open until 2300 each Saturday night from now until the end of exams – April 17 and 24 and May 1 and 8. No reruns, opening monologue, or music guests–just a good place to study and finish the semester strong!

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National Women’s History Month

March 5, 2010

In March 2010, we are celebrating 30 years of recognition of women’s historic contributions to the growth and strength of our Nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways.  It was President Jimmy Carter who issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 8, 1980 as the first National Women’s History Week.  Later the [...]

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The Friends of Preston Library 2010 Spring Program

February 15, 2010

The Friends of Preston Library in concert with the VMI Honors Program hosted a program Wednesday, 3 March 2010 at 5 p.m. in the Turman Room of Preston Library featuring James L. W. West, III. Dr. West is the Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of English at Pennsylvania State University. He discussed his book on William Styron, Letters to [...]

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Coffee, tea, hot chocolate–the Sequel!

December 10, 2009

Cadets, it’s the home stretch.  Exams start Monday.  This means two things: 1. The library will be open late (see below hours schedule) so you can get in some quality studying. and… 2. The return of Preston Library’s Coffee Break! Last December and May you came, you saw, you drank hundreds of cups of coffee, [...]

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New Reference Librarian

October 15, 2009

We are delighted to welcome Maj. Accacia Flanagan to Preston Library. She joins our Reference Department along with Lt. Col. Janet Holly. Maj. Flanagan recently received her master’s degree in library science from Simmons College. Her B.A. degree is from Smith College. Prior to coming to VMI she worked at the Schlesinger Library at Harvard University. [...]

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2009 Banned Books Week

September 29, 2009

Celebrate YOUR Freedom to read and right to choose your book during Banned Books Week, September 3 to October 3. Most of the books featured during Banned Books Week were not banned due to the efforts of librarians who fought to keep them in their collections.  Just imagine how many more books might be challenged—and possibly banned or restricted—if librarians, [...]

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Welcome New Faculty!

August 20, 2009

Circulation–Generous loan policies facilitate your academic endeavors. For details, see Circulation Information for Faculty or contact Lt. Col. Susan Hastings at 464-7607. Course Reserves–Course Reserves includes print, audio-visual, and electronic materials, selected by faculty for use in their classes. See detailed information about Submitting Materials for Course Reserves or contact Lt. Col. Susan Hastings at [...]

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Coffee Time!

April 28, 2009

Preston Library presents the return of the Exam Week coffee break!

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Take the Survey Win Some Pizza!

April 14, 2009

Cadets! Help the library to improve, take our survey. You could win free pizzas.

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Spring 2009 Meeting

March 10, 2009

VMI’s Gottwald Visiting Professor of Leadership and Ethics, Dr. Lewis Sorley, will discuss “Adventures in Research” with the Friends of Preston. The lecture is free and open to the public.

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Fall 2008 Program

March 10, 2009

Garrett Peck, ’90, shares his new book, Prohibition Hangover, with the Friends of Preston Library.

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2008 Frances W. Camper Award Winner

March 10, 2009

The Frances W. Camper Award recognizes a cadet assistant who has demonstrated excellence in leadership, service and commitment to Preston Library.

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Spring 2008 Meeting

March 10, 2009

Author and alumnus, William Crisp, ’63, shares his latest novel with the Friends of Preston.

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Friends Recognize Terry Davis, ’53

March 10, 2009

The Friends of Preston Library thank Terry Davis, ’53, for his generous support of the Library.

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Fall 2007 Meeting

March 10, 2009

VMI Museum Director, Col. Keith Gibson ’77, discusses the life, and works of Moses Ezekiel.

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2007 Frances W. Camper Award Winner

March 10, 2009

The Frances W. Camper Award recognizes a cadet assistant who has demonstrated excellence in leadership, service and commitment to Preston Library.

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Fifth Annual Authors’ Colloquium

March 10, 2009

The Friends of Preston Library held its Fifth Annual Authors’ Colloquium on Thursday, February 22, 2007, in the Turman Room. Authors participating in the forum were Jenny Siler, Frank Grizzard, Phil Hirsh, and Lisa Tracy.

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