Elizabeth South

Elizabeth South

Social Justice, Fair Use, and MOM: Top 3 Takeaways from Open Education Conference 2020

Social Justice, Fair Use, and MOM: Top 3 Takeaways from Open Education Conference 2020

, , Research
This year’s 17th Open Education Conference in November convened virtually for the first time. Participants from all over the world met to focus on OER (Open Educational Resources). IU East Campus Librarian Beth South attended, to learn about topics such as collaborative OER projects, using OER to advance social justice initiatives, responding to Covid-19, and challenges of OER. Networking opportunities included virtual teatime, yoga, story circles, and a coordinated game night with rounds of trivia and a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. The February 2020 Campus Library blog “There’s an OER For That,” explained OER, the difference between OER and Open Access, and where OER resources can be found. In her role as an OER advocate, librarian, and faculty member, Beth … Continued
International Resources for International Education Week

International Resources for International Education Week

, , , Library Resources, Research
International Education Week (Nov. 16-20, 2020) is a joint initiative of the US Department of State and the US Department of Education designed to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. In honor of International Education Week, the IU East Library wants to highlight some of the databases available that support study abroad programs, international exchange, and cross cultural research. We have databases that focus specifically on a particular country or on travel and culture in general and they are organized as such below. Almost all these databases predominantly feature primary source resources, such as travel diaries, newspapers, photographs, brochures, government records, guidebooks, videos, and more. Worldwide Culture, Music, Food One of the best things about traveling is … Continued
Ask the (IU East) Archivist 2020

Ask the (IU East) Archivist 2020

, , Library Resources, Library Services
October is American Archives Month and Wednesday, October 7th is #AskAnArchivist Day. To celebrate, here is a list of popular and common questions IU East Archivist Beth South is asked about the Indiana University East Archives. What is the IU East Archives? The mission of the Indiana University East Campus Archives is to collect, organize, preserve, and provide access to print and electronic resources that document the history and continuing activities of Indiana University East faculty, staff, students, alumni and benefactors. With our collecting focused specifically on the IU East organization, the IU East Campus Archives is known as an institutional repository. What is the oldest item in your collection? Not exactly our oldest collection (more on that later), but … Continued
Celebrating the Constitution and Your Right to Vote

Celebrating the Constitution and Your Right to Vote

, , Programs
September 17, 1787 – Thirty-nine of our founding fathers, delegates of the Constitutional Convention, signed and put into effect the United States Constitution. The Constitution outlines the “checks and balances” of our three branches of government: Judicial, Executive, and Legislative. That was 233 years ago, and we continue to celebrate that achievement with Constitution Day on September 17, 2020. The celebration first started in 1940, as the “I Am an American Day,” based on a resolution passed by Congress and President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was observed on the third Sunday in May. In 1952, the name was changed to “Constitution Day” and moved to September 17th, to reflect the date it was originally signed back in 1787. In 2004, … Continued
Accessibility for online content

Accessibility for online content

, , outreach, Website
As courses and conferences continue to move online due to the Covid-19 pandemic, now is the time to ensure online content meets accessibility standards.  Whether creating a word document, PowerPoint presentation, digital exhibit, website, eBooks, etc., accessibility is essential. Accessibility design can be described as “focus[ing] on users with physical or invisible disabilities like low vision, blind, or ADHD,” and “on enabling users with disabilities to perceive, interact, understand, and navigate products” (Bruschi, para. 3). Other factors, such as age, language, or technological challenges are also things to consider.  Below are a few tips and tools to keep in mind when creating your next virtual presentation, online course, or research paper. Things to consider: A lot of the tips below … Continued