KT Lowe

KT Lowe

The Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice

, Other
On Saturday, December 21st at 4:19 AM, the winter solstice will usher in the season of Winter.  Along with snow, lower temperatures and less daylight, however, the winter solstice also brings wonder, traditions and atmospheric changes that have inspired and connected humans for millennia.  Take a look at some of the phenomena that accompanies the solstice. The word solstice comes from two Latin words meaning “sun stoppage” because the amount of daylight is shorter or longer than usual.  In winter, the sun is closer to the earth, a phenomenon known as perihelion, but the angle that the sun’s rays reach the earth make them less warming.  Hence, the seasons are dependent on the sun’s position relative to the earth.  The … Continued
November is National Scholarship Month

November is National Scholarship Month

, , outreach, Website
Paying for college can feel daunting.  Thankfully, there are a number of ways to fund a college education, and scholarships are one of the best available options.  Not only are scholarships a form of free money, but there are thousands of them available that can assist every kind of student in virtually every subject.  Scholarships can offset other forms of financial aid, so if you are a student who is taking out loans to fund your education, a scholarship can reduce the amount you borrow, meaning you owe less in student loans in the long run. Automatic Scholarships Some IU East scholarships are applied at the time of your admission.  Depending on your date of enrollment, your GPA and your … Continued
A little dose of presidential trivia

A little dose of presidential trivia

, , , Library Resources
Election season is the best season, even more than pumpkin spice latte season, football season or spider season   Imagine raking leaves, drinking hot apple cider, munching on donuts and getting ready to participate in democracy – it’s one of the great American fall traditions.  Here are a handful of fun facts to take to the polls. Who was the only president to serve two nonconsecutive terms? In 1888, the unpopular Democratic president Grover Cleveland lost to his Republican challenger Benjamin Harrison (incidentally, Harrison was also the last president to wear a beard.)  The election proved contentious, with Harrison losing the popular vote but winning the electoral college. While Harrison was a decent speechmaker and had a firm grip on policy … Continued
Banned Books Week: An FAQ

Banned Books Week: An FAQ

, outreach
From September 22 to September 28, the IU East Campus Library will be celebrating Banned Books Week, a recognition of the freedom to read.  Since 1982, the America Library Association has maintained a list of the most banned or challenged books in the US.  This blog compiles a list of commonly asked questions, providing responses and links to resources. What is a book ban? According to PEN America, a book ban can be defined as “any action taken against a book based on its content and as a result of parent or community challenges, administrative decisions, or in response to direct or threatened action by lawmakers or other governmental officials, that leads to a previously accessible book being either completely … Continued
A guide to political (mis)information

A guide to political (mis)information

, , Uncategorized
During any election season, voters are bombarded with messages regarding candidates, policies and the potential outcomes of a particular candidate’s victory.  Yet much of that messaging is distributed as lower-quality information, sometimes fact-free in its entirety.  Voting is an incredibly important duty for American citizens, and that means it’s doubly important to know how to find good quality information.  This is a guide to help locate facts and navigate the current political information environment. Memes are horrible sources of information Goofy cat pictures.  Images of celebrities saying or writing things they might not in a real-world situation.  Dogs in glasses.  These things seem harmless, but they’re not.  Why are memes so bad?  As defined by Richard Dawkins, memes are units … Continued