Elizabeth South

Elizabeth South

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
Streaming Films for Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Streaming Films for Sexual Assault Awareness Month

, , outreach, Programs
Sexual assault can be an uncomfortable topic for many to approach and talk about, even for those who haven’t experienced sexual assault first hand. Documentaries and films can be an informative and insightful way to explore the topic of sexual assault, but visual reenactments and first-person accounts of such experiences can be difficult for anyone, especially survivors. These films can be bleak; showcasing ingrained rape culture among various institutions and communities, the struggles of obtaining justice or evidence, and even the reality of facing backlash, retaliation, or bullying over reporting these instances. However, these films can also highlight the strength and resilience of survivors and provide helpful information on how to spot the signs of sexual harassment and assault, how … Continued
Awareness and Celebration of LGBTQ+ Community

Awareness and Celebration of LGBTQ+ Community

, , , , , Library Resources, outreach
International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is March 31st, 2020. It is a day to celebrate transgender people, their contributions to society, as well as raise awareness of the discrimination they face worldwide. The Indiana University East Campus Library is a dedicated Safe Space and our librarians and staff participate in regular training and professional development, such as Safe Zone, to better serve those members of the community who identify as LGBTQ+. This past month, IU East librarians Beth South and KT Lowe had the opportunity to attend the National Association of Social Workers 3rd Annual Conference on Serving Sexual & Gender Minority (GSM) populations. This conference was hosted by NASW’s Indiana Chapter Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.  … Continued
There’s an OER For That: Looking at Affordable Learning Options

There’s an OER For That: Looking at Affordable Learning Options

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With the success of our Scholar’s Book Fair last week, we received some feedback from faculty that the OER (Open Education Resources) and IU Pressbooks stations were two of the most valuable topics covered during the event. And with OER Week coming up in less than a month (March 2-6), it is a good time to discuss in more detail what an OER is and how can IU Pressbooks contribute to OER creation. What is an OER? Open Educational Resources (OER) are any teaching, learning, and research resources (textbooks, syllabi, courseware, assessments, lesson plans, test questions, etc.) that are freely available and shared under an intellectual property license that allow others to download, reuse, adapt, edit, retain, and redistribute the … Continued