Latest Posts

Latest Posts

Getting Textbooks

Getting Textbooks

, Frances Yates, Matt Dilworth, Reserves
One common question we get in the library, especially near the beginning of a semester, is: “Do you have my textbook?” Like many academic libraries, we have some textbooks on the shelves, but not a lot, and usually older editions.  The cost and quantity of texts needed for every class is prohibitive for libraries. And even if purchased, the first student in the door would get to check out the book and keep it for long enough that it likely wouldn’t be available for others in the class. We do, however, have a system for books to be in the library on our “reserves” shelf.  That has the benefit of letting a lot of students use it in a short … Continued
Graphic Novels

Graphic Novels

, , Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
One type of literature I’ve always been fascinated with is comic art.  In fact, I even considered becoming a comic book artist before I decided to become a librarian.  IU East has a modest collection of graphic novels – some famous, like Persepolis and Barefoot Gen.  Some aren’t, and I’d like to tell you a bit about a few of them. We3 by Grant Morrison (PN6727.M677 2005), describes a trio of animals – a dog, a cat, and a rabbit – that have been converted by the army into efficient living weapons for combat situations too dangerous for humans.  But a visit by a bureaucrat unnerved by their rudimentary language and sentience orders them destroyed.  A scientist, unwilling to see … Continued
Jazz It Up

Jazz It Up

Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
Music scholars at IU East now have an exciting new tool!  Over 300 original Starr-Gennett music recordings from the 1920s in a number of genres have been digitized and made available for listening.  The recordings were digitized at IU Bloomington’s Archive of Traditional Music, and were funded by a LSTA grant. The resources can be used in the library by IU student and outside scholar alike.  We have headphones available at the front desk, in the event that you don’t have your own.  We’ve prepared step-by-step instructions to help you access them quickly and easily. Starr-Gennett has been a big part of Richmond’s local history, and is internationally significant for helping popularize jazz as a music genre.  Many artists like … Continued
ALA Conference Recap

ALA Conference Recap

Matt Dilworth
The American Library Association’s annual conference was held in Washington, D.C. last weekend.  26,000 librarians from all over the country converged to discuss the pressing issues of libraries and information access.  This was the first time I had attended, and I was amazed at the scale and breadth of opportunities and challenges facing librarians today. There were numerous breakout sessions, panel discussions, and presentations there, including poster sessions.  In fact, out of 120 poster sessions offered at the conference, IU East was privileged to offer three of them.  I got to present the library’s action figure tour (on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IENKivi3pEg).  About a hundred people came by to look at the dolls and hear how and why we made it.  … Continued
Let a Web 2.0 Tool increase your success in searching!

Let a Web 2.0 Tool increase your success in searching!

, Computers, Sue McFadden 0 Comments
Have you heard of the Campus Library Toolbar? This exciting tool is incredible.  Want to go to Oncourse?  You’re there!  Need access to OneStart?  Click and select.  Does the schedule of classes get lost in the shuffle?  Just point and click!  Include the value-added links to Campus Library resources and services and you have a Web 2.0 Tool designed to enhance your IU East experience.  It is easy to use – no addresses to remember or bookmarks to find.   This toolbar installs in Firefox or Internet Explorer web browsers and lets you find IU East related resources. Go quickly to Oncourse, OneStart, or the IU Knowledge Base. Obtain quick access to library articles, resources, and information.  Enter your search … Continued