Mandi Moning

Mandi Moning

American Indian History Databases

American Indian History Databases

Researching American Indian History? The library has some great primary and secondary resources to help you in your quest! If you’re new to the subject and need an overview of some possible topics, American Indian History Online is a great place to start. From the database homepage, click “Events and Topics” to explore overviews of themes such as American Indians in the American Revolution (see “Wars and Rebellions”) or employment and labor in the ancient Americas (see “Economics, Trade, and Labor”). This database provides you with an encyclopedic overview of a variety of topics, biographies of prominent individuals, images, maps, and some supplementary primary sources. Once you have a basic understanding of your chosen topic, try exploring secondary resources with … Continued
Why should YOU care?

Why should YOU care?

Why should you join the American Democracy Project and IU East in celebrating Constitution Week? During this time in a presidential election year, we are bombarded with ads on the television and radio, and endless talking heads with conflicting perspectives on the news. It can be difficult and time-consuming to follow the issues. One can feel so overwhelmed with everyday life that voting does not make it onto a list of priorities. Yet voting truly does have a direct effect on our everyday lives. The politicians you vote into office make decisions about your taxes, your health benefits, your schooling, transportation…virtually every aspect of your life is touched by the decision-makers that you elect. Understanding the tumultuous history of voting … Continued
A truly good book teaches me better than to read it

A truly good book teaches me better than to read it

“A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down, and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting.” ~ Henry David Thoreau   The Library of Congress is currently housing an exhibit titled “Books that Shaped America.” These books ( http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2012/12-123.html) “shaped Americans’ views of the world and the world’s views of America.” While the list is not meant to signify the greatest works of American literature, they do provide a glimpse of our history, culture, and ideals. Working in a library, I naturally have a profound admiration for books and the effects they can have on an individual’s life. I encourage you to take … Continued
Cure for AIDS?

Cure for AIDS?

At the 2012 International AIDS Conference in late July, researchers discussed a potential cure for HIV. We have already made great strides in developing medication that can help to suppress the virus, but it’s hard to imagine we could be so close to curing a virus that has plagued mankind for decades. Does this breakthrough of modern science grab your attention? Interested in following the story of AIDS research as scientists work to uncover the secrets of this potential cure? Good news! The Library has many databases that can assist you in your quest! I have three recommendations for progressively more in-depth research into the topic: 1. You may want to start with a basic overview of the virus. Just … Continued
Endings and Beginnings

Endings and Beginnings

The month of July saw some ups and downs in the scientific community: on July 4, we heard about the discovery of the Higgs boson particle which the New York Times described as “one of the longest, most expensive searches in the history of science.”1  Then, on July 23, we heard of the sad death of astronaut Sally Ride. Perhaps you’ve studied Physics or Astronomy here at IU East and have a firm understanding of the implications of these events. In that case, you may just want to catch up on the news surrounding such events using our Newspaper Source database. You might also search Biography in Context or American Women’s History Online for information on Sally’s life and the … Continued