Author Archives: mdilwort

Author Archives: mdilwort

The Power of Pollinators

The Power of Pollinators

, outreach
As we enter the summer season, pollination of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and trees is still occurring. We often think of spring being the season of planting and pollinating, but summer plays an important role too. June is National Pollinator Month and in 2023 we celebrate National Pollinator Week from June 19th-25th. This is an annual event held on the third week of June that highlights the wildlife responsible for helping our food grow and promotes the importance of pollinator health and ways humans can help.   Who are our pollinators? Lots of animals and insects pollinate, not just bees and butterflies. Some examples: Birds! Did you know that over 900 species of birds pollinate? Especially hummingbirds, who are essential pollinators … Continued
A brief history of Gennett Records

A brief history of Gennett Records

, , , outreach
The empty tower that looms over Whitewater Gorge in Richmond, Indiana is the last vestige of what was once a highly influential American recording label.  While never very profitable, Gennett Records holds a number of distinctions important to the development of American music.  It was here, in Richmond, that some of the first jazz recordings were made, and a series of other important performers, from Wilbur Sweatman to Guy Lombardo to Gene Autry, waxed their music in the cramped, overheated studio built just off the railroad tracks. Gennett Records was founded in 1917 and named after Henry Gennett, then the president of the Starr Piano Company.  In 1915, Starr Piano started building phonograph machines to compete with models such as … Continued
New Interface for a Major Research Tool

New Interface for a Major Research Tool

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth, Website
The easiest way to begin searching for research materials at IU East is to start typing in the blank labelled “Search EBSCO (Articles)” on the library’s home page.  This search blank is a meta-search, which means that it looks through many of the library’s databases simultaneously.  Most research at IU East starts here. The software behind this is called the EBSCO Discovery Service, and it is getting a facelift.  The search interface will change, and some of the features and buttons are moving around.  Some new features are being added.  The clean-looking search blank continues to put some of the most popular filters right there with it (for example, restricting just to things that have full text immediately available, or … Continued
Mental Health – free resources and a free t-shirt

Mental Health – free resources and a free t-shirt

, , Library Resources, outreach
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the theme this year is ‘Look Around, Look Within’.  ‘Around’ includes the environment – neighborhood, social circle, family, and workplace – while ‘within’ refers both to introspection, and to a candid appraisal of one’s personal risk factors like genetic makeup.  These influences work together to help or hurt one’s mental well-being.  About one in five Americans deals with mental health issues at some point in their life, and the last few years have offered unprecedented stress on all segments of society, exacerbating the problem. Many national groups and government organizations are offering resources, including Mental Health America with a downloadable ‘toolkit’ of information, posters, and DIY tools; the National Institutes of Health which … Continued
Alternatives to ‘No Mow May’

Alternatives to ‘No Mow May’

, outreach
Spring is in full swing, and many insects, animals, and plants are now active and roaming or growing in your yard. You may also have heard of the “No Mow May” movement from the news, social media, or eco focused organizations. Not mowing for a full month sounds like a nice idea, but it can also lead to a few problems (Damiano, 2023). Abstaining from mowing for only one month out of the mowing season can create confusion for insects and essential pollinators by providing food and shelter for a month, but then taking that shelter and food source away once mowing commences again in June. Insects may have short lifespans, but many have long memories and colony insects communicate … Continued