Author Archives: mdilwort

Author Archives: mdilwort

One with Words

One with Words

Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
Today is a fun anniversary for anyone of the etymological persuasion – on December 21st, 1913, the first modern crossword puzzle was created by Alfred Wynne for the New York World. Crosswords are ubiquitous. Whole books are published full of them. The New York Times prints one every day. And over the break, you might just curl up with one. Of course, the more education, experience, and cultural awareness you have, the better you are at solving crossword puzzles. But no one knows every answer. Libraries have always had lots of great resources to help any puzzle solver. Standbys include an encyclopedia set like the Encyclopedia Britannica, and an exhaustive dictionary like the Oxford English Dictionary. Having newspapers for current … Continued
Putting It All Into Practice

Putting It All Into Practice

Matt Dilworth
It’s finally finished! All your hard work paid off, and another semester is completed. Another milestone in your path to graduation, as an articulate, thoughtful, educated person with the knowledge, skills and attitudes for a productive life. But what you’ve learned isn’t behind you. Your classwork isn’t just a set of hoops to jump through – now, you can put that critical thinking into action. There are things in need of critical examination all around you. How is it that both a gecko and a woman with a 1960’s haircut can claim that they can save you more than the other one on car insurance? Can both of them be telling the truth, in certain situations? Or can you believe … Continued
If It Weren’t For the Last Minute…

If It Weren’t For the Last Minute…

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth, Research
So it’s upon us – Finals Week and the end of the semester. You might be feeling overwhelmed as everything comes due all at once. And that feeling is only made worse if you don’t have your research done. True, it would have been better to get it done earlier. There would have been more options available to you. But it’s not too late, and there’s plenty you can do to ensure that you have a great final paper. Presuming you already have your topic in mind, you’ll want books and articles to support your argument. If you’re doing this the night before it’s due, Interlibrary Loan is no longer an option and the library might already be closed. If … Continued
Peace Studies

Peace Studies

Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
Peace studies is a growing movement in higher education, with new programs and courses being created in colleges across the country. Perhaps you’re enrolled in one, or interested in viewing something in another class through the lens of peace studies. Fortunately, the library has plenty of information for you, whether you are interested in learning about the peace movement, the lives of specific nonviolence and peace leaders, or getting involved yourself. Starting with social science databases like SocIndex, ProQuest Social Science, or Opposing Viewpoints, we can obtain articles both scholarly and popular. When it comes to books, we have plenty – from print titles like The Strategy of Peace by John F. Kennedy, Peace and Power: Building Communities for the … Continued
Preparing for the road ahead…

Preparing for the road ahead…

, , outreach, Programs
By Nancy Schlichte, undergraduate service engagement scholar The Early College Students from Dennis Intermediate School, Hibberd, and Test Intermediate schools in Richmond are preparing for the road ahead by participating in a career exploration program. Thanks to the Paul Kriese Service Engagement Scholarship, and in coordination with the Early College Director, Dr. Jackie Schlichte, I have the opportunity to facilitate the career exploration program with the seventy-five participating students. When we first began discussing career options, the top choices for careers were those that were known to make a lot of money. While the students agreed money is a good motivator, they also determined it was more important to have a job you enjoy doing! By using the “Drive of … Continued