Elizabeth South

Elizabeth South

Celebrating Juneteenth

Celebrating Juneteenth

, , Library Resources
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Black Independence Day, Emancipation Day, or Jubilee Day, is a day that recognizes and celebrates the commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States and it takes place every year on June 19th. This is one of the oldest nationally celebrated commemorations on the emancipation of slaves, dating back to June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers led by Major Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas with the news that the war was over and that slavery was abolished. Even though Juneteenth has been celebrated in various ways and places across the U.S. for over a century, it wasn’t formally recognized as a federal holiday until President Biden signed Public Law 117-17, the … Continued
World Bee Day

World Bee Day

, , , Library Resources, Research
One of the most important aspects of getting food from the farm to the table is the necessity of bees to pollinate many of our crops. “Almost 90% of wild plants and 75% of leading crops depend on animal pollinations,” and bees are one of our most important pollinators (WWF-UK). In the US, bees pollinate approximately 130 different agricultural crops, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts, and add nearly 15 billion dollars in improved crop quality and yield. However, many bees are facing significant threats and extinction due to climate change, habitat loss, invasive plants, chemical pesticides, and disease and parasites. The U.S. honeybee population has declined by 60% since 1947 and the rusty patched bumblebee was the first bee to … Continued
Sustainability at IU East: Climate Teach-In and a World of Wonders

Sustainability at IU East: Climate Teach-In and a World of Wonders

, , outreach, Programs
Spring break is this week, and with spring comes a renewed energy to appreciate nature, as flowers and trees begin to bloom and butterflies, bees, and other insects return to our gardens. Warmer weather also signals a return to many events and days dedicated to protecting Earth’s natural resources and spreading awareness of the effects of climate change. To learn more about climate change and ways you can get involved in sustainability efforts, here are a few events happening at IU East and around the world that you can take part in.   Acknowledge and Participate in Earth Hour                 March 26th  8:30pm-9:30pm Earth Hour is a global movement that was started by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) in March … Continued
Fair Use: What is it?

Fair Use: What is it?

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To celebrate Fair Use Week (February 21-25, 2022) the IU East Campus Library is highlighting what fair use is and resources available that can help researchers determine if fair use applies to a given situation.  What is Fair Use? In US copyright law, fair use is the legal doctrine that allows brief excerpts of copyrighted material, under certain circumstances, to be quoted verbatim for purposes such as criticism, news reporting, teaching, and research, without the need for permission or payment from the copyright holder. Fair use is vitally important to creativity, teaching and scholarship, and innovation. It is a fundamental right, and thanks to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, it is considered by the Supreme Court to be a “first amendment … Continued
Open Educational Resources (OER): Adding Diversity and Inclusion to the Classroom

Open Educational Resources (OER): Adding Diversity and Inclusion to the Classroom

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day of reflection and inspiration. It has us thinking more closely about equity and inclusion in our work in the library, and in particular, how we can support classroom endeavors in this cause. One way we can do this is to support the use and development of Open Educational Resources. We often discuss how Open Educational Resources (OER) can be easily adapted to suit the needs of the students and the instructor and how they can be a more affordable (free!) option for students  in comparison to traditional textbooks. However, it is also important to highlight that because OER can be remixed, revised, and shared freely, they can be used as an agent … Continued