Author Archives: mdilwort

Author Archives: mdilwort

Love the Open: Data and Folklore

Love the Open: Data and Folklore

February is the month of “love” and besides Valentine’s Day, researchers and scholars can share their love of data and folklore. International Love Data Week (Feb. 12-16, 2024) and Wiki Loves Folklore (Feb. 1-March 31, 2024) share a common goal. Beth South, the IU East Access Services librarian, explains in this blog about various open access efforts. Beth’s work includes promoting open education and navigating copyright law. She is currently participating in the Creative Commons Certificate Program, focused on advancing open knowledge building and sharing while adhering to copyright law. The Creative Commons started as a non-profit in 2001, and by 2002, created a set of open licenses that allowed content creators and researchers world-wide to openly share their work … Continued
Spotlight on local Black history

Spotlight on local Black history

With its history as a hub for the automotive, recording and agricultural industries, Richmond can boast a rich tradition of Black historical movers and shakers.  Since Black History Month takes place every February, this month is an excellent time to become better acquainted with Black contributions to local businesses, culture and history. The IU East Campus Library and its archives can help assist in retelling the stories of Black pioneers who helped shape Richmond. In 2005 and 2006, IU East students collected oral histories from Black Richmond residents.  As the finding aid for this collection explains, these interviews span several topics ranging from segregation and prejudice to careers and family and offer a fascinating snapshot of life in Richmond.  These … Continued
On your mark, Get set, Research!

On your mark, Get set, Research!

Excited to explore an array of trusted resources and dependable databases? Be sure to hit that ‘Like’ button on the IU East Campus Library’s Facebook page! We regularly feature highlights from our NEW A-Z index, and here are some of our recent favorites. In search of comprehensive reports on current and trending issues? Look no further than the CQ Researcher database, providing in-depth analyses across a wide spectrum of topics, from impartial coverage of health and social trends to criminal justice, international affairs, education, technology, the economy, and more. Explore these fundamental aspects of academic research with the AM Research Methods database. Within this repository, you’ll find two key sections: Learning Tools and Case Studies. The Learning Tools is comprised of scholarly interviews and practical … Continued
Digging Into Research

Digging Into Research

Learning the principles of good research is a key component of digital fluency, and the freedom that comes with it.  This requires expertise beyond the skills obtained with commercial search engines like Google or Bing.  In conducting scholarly research, it is best to start with repositories of vetted information like academic databases and datasets.  Often these seem more complex to use than free search tools, but their robustness allows for more and richer information than a tool designed to help you find a time for a movie or sporting event, or a place on a map. The library offers a guide to research using these tools, describing what you can find and how you can best find it.  These techniques … Continued
Creating Accessible Digital Content

Creating Accessible Digital Content

This past summer, the Department of Justice released notice of proposed rulemaking for digital accessibility of state and local government entities that would require the adoption of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1, Level AA as the technical standard for web content. This proposed rule is expected to take effect as early as summer of 2024, in which all Indiana University websites, digital content, and applications are expected to comply (although there are exceptions). Accessibility should be a concern for everyone involved in teaching and learning, not just web designers, learning technology consultants, or accessibility coordinators. If you are a content creator of any kind, whether student or faculty, you should check out our 2020 blog post on Accessibility … Continued