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 VMI staff, faculty, cadets, librarians, and Linda’s family celebrated and congratulated Linda on her retirement.
Throughout her career Linda enthusiastically took on greater responsibilities and advanced to become Head of Technical Services in 1996. In 1989, she earned her BS degree in Library Science from James Madison University and her masters degree in library science from the University of North Carolina in 1995. A year later, she assumed the duties of Head of Technical Services. Linda has made numerous contributions to Preston Library, including significant work to move acquisitions to the library’s first online catalog in 1991 and later to supervise the migration of acquisitions and cataloging to a new online system in 2004. During her tenure Linda worked methodically and quietly behind the scenes–but with energy and efficiency. She is known for her cheerfulness and “can do” attitude. Whenever a historical question arises about ordering materials, the response is “ask Linda”. No matter how busy she is with multiple projects, she always puts those matters aside to give her attention to the needs of cadets and faculty. Numerous faculty have noted Linda’s conscientious helpfulness in locating and ordering books for our collections. In 2009, VMI officially recognized Linda’s contributions with a VMI Service Award. We wish Linda much happiness in her retirement and many thanks for all her wondeful work to Preston Library. More photos…here.
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!
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 National Women’s History Project (NWHP) worked to lobby Congress to expand the week into a month. In 1987, a Congressional Proclamation designated March as the “Women’s History Month.”
The theme selected for this year’s celebration is “Writing Women Back into History.” You will find a display of library books, CDs and DVDs in the Periodical Reading Room by and about women who were artists, engineers, scientists, warriors and much more.
When you visit the display in the Periodicals Room, you can see materials representing the variety of experiences that comprise Women’s History, from the letter writers in Revolutionary War times in Women’s Letters through to Laura Brodie’s account of the admission of the first female cadets at VMI in 1997. In between are the biographies of suffragist Susan B. Anthony; America’s first female doctor, Elizabeth Blackwell; pilot Amelia Earhart; anthropologists Margaret Mead and Mary Leakey, and Maria Stewart, America’s First Black Woman Political Writer.
The National Women’s History Project website is here, and their facebook page is here.
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 My Father. The letters were written by Styron to his father between 1943 and 1953. Each letter opens with “Dear Pop,” and provides a kind of autobiography of the young author’s activities and thoughts. In later years, Styron communicated increasingly by telephone so these letters are especially valuable in providing insight of the author’s formative ears.
A native of Newport News, author of Sophie’s Choice, The Confessions of Nat Turner, Lie Down in Darkness, A Tidewater Morning, and other celebrated works, William Styron will be remembered as one of the most important writers of the 20th century. Last month, Jim West’s book received a front page review by the Times Literary Supplement.
Copies of Letters to My Father were available for purchase at the program and for the author to sign. Dr. West provided an informative and engaging program that was enjoyed by cadets, faculty, and the public.
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, tea, and hot chocolate a night. We’re bringing it back! Put it on your calendar, December 12th, the return of the coffee break.
Coffee will be available at 8 p.m. (2000 military time) every evening beginning Saturday, 12 December through Saturday, 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 and tea and cocoa by the Friends of Preston Library.
Exam Hours:
Sat, 12/12 0800 – 2300
Sun, 12/13 1300 – 0200
Mon, 12/14 0800 – 0200
Tues, 12/15 0800 – 0200
Wed, 12/16 0800 – 0200
Thurs, 12/17 0800 – 0200
Fri, 12/18 0800 – 2300
Sat, 12/19 0800 – 2300
Sun, 12/20 1300 – 0200
Mon, 12/21 0800 – 1630
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. Please join us in welcoming Maj. Flanagan. We look forward to working with her.
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, teachers, and booksellers did not use Banned Books Week each year to teach the importance of our First Amendment rights.
If you are curious about the books that made the “Frequently Challenged Books” list, check out the American Library Association’s web site:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/index.cfm
And check out the display of banned books located in Preston Library’s lobby.
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 464-7607.
Interlibrary Loan–If we do not own an item you need, we can quickly obtain it from another library. There are no limits and no fees for this service. Logging on to the Interlibrary Loan system lets you place requests, check their status, and access documents received electronically. For more information, contact Dr. Megan Newman at 464-7570.
Library Hours–This link gives information about regular hours, as well as reduced hours during academic breaks and FTX.
Media Services–Media Services offers faculty training and consultation in the selection and use of multimedia software and hardware. Media equipment is also available for short-term loans for presentations. For more information, visit the Media Services page or contact Ms. Cathy Wells at 464-7567, or Maj. Michael Brickler at 464-7655.
Meeting Rooms–To reserve a room, please contact Ms. Brianna Page at 464-7228.
Off-Post Access–Allows you to use Preston Library’s subscription databases and other electronic resources from off-Post.
Ordering Materials–Each academic department is allocated a budget to order library materials, and we welcome your purchase requests. The Book Order Request Form and the Serials Request Form are available online. Also, each department receives Choice cards with reviews of new scholarly titles. Contact your department head to learn how Choice cards are managed in your department. For details, see our Collection Development Policy, or contact Ms. Linda Covington at 464-7574.
Reference and Instruction–Reference librarians offer one-on-one consultation to individuals and library instruction tailored to the needs of your classes. They are available to answer research and general questions as well as to demonstrate the use of print and online resources. Ask a Librarian provides reference assistance via Instant Messaging. For more information, contact Lt. Col. Janet Holly at 464-7571.
VIVA–Virtual Library of Virginia is a consortium of academic libraries in Virginia which purchases major electronic resources cooperatively and works to improve Interlibrary Loan between its members.
Well cadets, we’re in the home stretch. Exams start on Saturday so you know that means two things:
1. The library will be open late so you can get in some quality studying.
and…
2. The return of Preston Library’s Coffee Break!
Last December you came, you saw, you drank hundreds (literally, hundreds) of cups of coffee a night. So, we’re bringing it back! Put it on your calendar, May 1st, the return of the coffee break.
Coffee will be available starting at 8pm (20:00hrs for those of us on military time) every evening beginning Friday, May 1st, through Friday, May 8th. So grab your travel mug and head down to Preston Library this Friday night for the best study break on Post.
Coffee and supplies have been generously donated by the Friends of Preston Library.
Attention Cadets!
Do you like free pizza?
Do you want to help Preston Library improve its services and collections?
Do we have a great deal for you!
Preston Library’s online survey will be available until Thursday, 16 April. Fill out the survey, print the last page, write your name on it, and bring it to the library.
A drawing will be held on Friday , 17 April, and 4 lucky cadets will win 2 pizzas and a 2 liter bottle of soda from the PX.
What are you waiting for? Go take the survey.
Preston Library would like to thank Dining Services for generously donating this year’s survey prizes.
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 VMI staff, faculty, cadets, librarians, and Linda’s family celebrated and congratulated Linda on her retirement.