Library Resources

Library Resources

On the Lookout for Fake News

On the Lookout for Fake News

, , Library Resources, Research
Did you hear that taurine can reverse the effects of tinnitus? Or that a man named Tom Ogle invented a carburetor that runs entirely on fuel vapors? Maybe you did, but hopefully you didn’t believe those stories – because they’re not true. Fake news is legion these days. According to Merrimack College professor Melissa Zimdars, fake news comes in one of four categories: 1 – Completely false news, with no factual basis 2 – News that is misleading or inaccurate 3 – News stories with attention grabbing headlines that may not have anything to do with their article’s content 4 – Satirical sites, whose content is meant to invoke humor And it’s not always easy to tell fake news from … Continued
Crunch Time

Crunch Time

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth, Research
So we’ve reached it at last – final exams time! Possibly the most stressful time of year for a student. You might be wondering how you can complete every paper, project, and presentation on your shoulders – particularly if you haven’t started your research yet. Well, the library’s here to help you keep your sanity, and get your resources quickly and efficiently. While it would have been better to start earlier, you’ll be glad to know that there are several things you can do to make this process easier, even at the last minute. You just have to focus on the most fruitful strategies and sources. First, don’t bite off more than you can chew. If you haven’t already picked … Continued
Top Ten IU East Library Resources, according to KT

Top Ten IU East Library Resources, according to KT

Library Resources
I’m a librarian. My job is to help people find the resources they need, whether it’s for a project, paper, speech, or simply for enjoyment. But that doesn’t mean I don’t entertain myself sometimes, too. I’ve provided here a list of my top ten favorite resources, which you might find useful, intriguing or fun as well. 10: IU East Children’s Library IU East has a diverse children’s section, with books ranging from classics to bilingual materials in Spanish and English. For education students, we have a variety of curriculum materials. Plus, any collection with Clifford the Big Red Dog must be worth exploring, right? 9: ILLiad The Campus Library has great resources but we don’t have everything. ILLiad, our Inter-Library … Continued
Looking for Your MUSE?

Looking for Your MUSE?

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
In the study of humanities and literature, there are a lot of standout databases. MLA International Bibliography, ProQuest Language and Literature, and JSTOR are all great databases that any English or humanities student is likely to have used. But there’s one newcomer amongst them that might be particularly useful to you as final papers and projects come due this semester. The Project MUSE Humanities Collection – provided jointly by the School of Humanities and Social Science and the Library – offers hundreds of thousands of articles and ebooks in topic areas across the humanities, from Creative Writing to History to Literature. There’s a strong international focus, too. And unlike most databases, it focuses on journals published by university presses and … Continued
Authority, accuracy, transparency and more: tips for being media literate

Authority, accuracy, transparency and more: tips for being media literate

, , Library Resources, Research
Misinformation, either accidentally or intentionally, is prevalent online and it’s up to you to decipher fact from fiction. The ability to analyze, assess, evaluate, create and act on media is called media literacy. Similar to books and websites, media can be “read” for its content and educational value. Any work of media – a YouTube video, a news article, an alternative health website – can be viewed critically, using a set of criteria that can help you decide whether or not to trust it. For example, let’s say you’re researching why leaves change color in the fall. You stumble across an article on a naturopathic site which claims that leaves change as a result of pollution. The article has an … Continued