Library Resources

Library Resources

Children’s Reading

Children’s Reading

, , , books, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth, outreach
With summer reading programs at many nearby public libraries in full swing (for example, those at Morrisson Reeves, Centerville, and New Castle), parents are on the lookout for lots of quality books for their children to read.  Many local reading programs have a space exploration theme this year, and our library holds many relevant titles, in addition to any other topic of interest to a young reader. The main purpose of the IU East Library’s expansive juvenile collection is instructional – it supports education, child development, and psychology majors in learning how to teach and understand children.  But this focus, different from a public library’s emphasis on the most popular material, makes it a treasure trove of unique books that … Continued
The magic of abracadabra

The magic of abracadabra

, , , Library Resources, Uncategorized
We’ve all seen it –  a magician in a top hat waves his wand and says the magic word Abracadabra.  Poof!  A rabbit appears!  A watch is restored to perfect condition after being smashed to bits!  The woman who was sawed in two is now whole again!  Wonders are associated with this word, but what does it really mean? Abracadabra began its life as a healing spell.  It’s been traced as far back as the third century CE, when physician Quintus Serenus Sammonicus (better known as Serenus) wrote the treatise Liber Medicinalis.  This book documented, in Latin verse, numerous cures for common ailments, including the proper use of Abracadabra. The proper use of abracadabra as a healing spell. First, a … Continued
The Persistence of Memory

The Persistence of Memory

, , , , Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
“Do you want to take a picture?” “Oh, I’m sure we’ll remember it.” Have you ever heard an exchange like that?  We have a tendency to take memory for granted; to assume that what we want of our past will be accessible later on.  That is true whether the memories are personal – the first words of a new baby, perhaps – or societal, such as memory of a major cultural shift or shared triumph or tragedy.  Memories (whether personal or recounted for us in books, museums, and memorials) preserve learning and heritage and culture.  Lives are defined by it.  Even blockbuster popular entertainment like the television show Game of Thrones have recently paused the action long enough to contemplate … Continued
Archives Update: New Projects, New Faces

Archives Update: New Projects, New Faces

, , , , Library Resources, Student Workers
To celebrate the IU Bicentennial we wanted to share some exciting updates about both on-going and new IU East Archives projects! Media Collections Online First, all the audio-visual material that was housed in the archives and sent to Bloomington for the Media Digitization and Preservation Initiative (MDPI Project) are now back and they have been digitized. We are working on moving them into IU’s Media Collection Online (MCO), which is the campus wide platform for all of IU’s digitized AV material. We are building collections and pushing them from Dark Avalon, which is a read-only, restricted access site to MCO. If you know we have something in the archives, such as a Starr Gennett recording or an oral history interview … Continued
The End Has Come

The End Has Come

, , Library Resources
The end of the semester is upon us!  If you have last-minute research needs, we are here to assist. Perhaps an article you selected earlier in the semester doesn’t quite fit the way you thought it would, or you need one or two more sources to elucidate on some point.  Your Campus Library has many tools to assist you. These include on-site books and ebooks and full text articles in databases.  You may have special restrictions on the material you choose – for example, that it be peer reviewed (most databases can limit to solely this type of article), or that it be primary – that is, created by a participant in the event described.  Fortunately, a lot of primary … Continued