Author Archives: mdilwort

Author Archives: mdilwort

Ghost of Christmas (Research) Past

Ghost of Christmas (Research) Past

Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
Christmas 1776 found the Continental army at its lowest point.  After losing New York, the American Revolutionary army had fled across New Jersey and into Pennsylvania.  They were underfed and ill-equipped, and had proven vastly inferior to British troops in almost every way.  Washington himself wrote “I think the game is pretty near up.”  That evening, General George Washington led his famous crossing, taking men across the Delaware river to attack the Hessian fortification in Trenton, New Jersey.  This involved a nine mile march through freezing cold (some soldiers didn’t even have boots).  The battle was a complete success, eliminating the garrison, capturing valuable supplies and cannons, and proving that American soldiers could actually defeat regular army troops.  The battle … Continued
Native American Heritage

Native American Heritage

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
November is Native American Heritage Month, founded in 1990 by Public Law 101-343.  It’s a great time to learn about the rich and incredibly diverse history of our continent’s first citizens.   The first and foremost of our resources are databases.  These include American Indian History Online, which lets you search by region, tribe, person, event, or topic, and includes maps, pictures, documentary videos, and primary sources. Another is Early Encounters in North America: Peoples, Cultures, and the Environment which covers written accounts of interactions between Europeans and Native Americans (fifteenth to nineteenth century). It can be searched by year, location, personal and cultural event, nationality and kinship, flora and fauna, images, or environmental features.   And, of course, we’ve got … Continued
Veterans Day

Veterans Day

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
On this Veterans Day, IU East joins the nation in pausing to thank our brave soldiers, from generations past and present, for their service and courage under fire.  But of course, we are especially proud of those students and employees of our own university who have defended us.  And we want to give back to you – whether it’s through the Student Veterans Organization or striving to be classed as a Military Friendly School, IU East hopes to pay back a portion of what you’ve given us.   But perhaps there is no better way to honor someone than to understand them.  Perhaps you’ll want to write a term paper on a military conflict.  Perhaps you’ll want to learn about … Continued
Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
October is national Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Statistics show that as many as one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes, so very few of us will escape facing this disease in either ourselves or in someone we care about.   When dealing with a life-changing thing like cancer, you’re likely to have questions.  Perhaps you’re looking for medical information.  Or perhaps you’re looking for information on how to cope or help a loved one through it.   As always, the library is ready with books and ebooks, such as Saving Women’s Lives: Strategies for Improving Breast Cancer Detection and Diagnosis, the Breast Cancer Sourcebook, or Taking Charge of Breast Cancer.    Our databases are … Continued
Streaming Video You Can Use

Streaming Video You Can Use

Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
We all enjoy using YouTube and other streaming video sites like it.  It’s a great source for amusing movies of cats or music videos or kids waving sticks around like they’re in a Star Wars film.  But wouldn’t it be great if this powerful tool could be used for your classes?  Well, you’re in luck.  IU East subscribes to hundreds of high quality academic streaming videos that you can use as sources for your papers, in oral presentations, or just to learn.  First, go into IUCAT at http://www.iucat.iu.edu.  Click ‘Guest Access’.  Then, on the right side of the screen, click ‘DVD/Video Search’.  On the main part of the screen, put a check in the box for ‘streaming’ (it defaults to … Continued