reference databases

reference databases

Historical Perspectives

Historical Perspectives

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
It is said that ‘victors write the history books’ – that the dominant group shapes the historical narrative and record, flattering itself and distorting or excluding (intentionally or otherwise) the perspectives of any other groups. And often, this is true. An excellent example is World War II – not only are there no significant advocates of the Nazi or Imperial Japanese causes, but the contributions of the United States have been made to eclipse or replace those of our allies. Recent films such as U-571 and Monuments Men replace heroic British figures with Americans, and American battles like the D-Day invasion are remembered while pivotal Soviet engagements like the battle of Stalingrad are ignored or downplayed. And while sometimes this … Continued
Asian Pacific American Heritage

Asian Pacific American Heritage

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, jointly sponsored by the Library of Congress, the National Archives and Records Administration, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Gallery of Art, the National Park Service, the Smithsonian Institution, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to honor and showcase the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America’s history. Lots of these institutions, and others, offer resources and activities online. The Library of Congress offers lesson plans and classroom activities, as well as an extensive video and multimedia collection. Websites like Asian Nation offer tools, statistics, infographics, and more. The IU East Campus Library offers a multitude of high-quality scholarly resources. Databases like the Asian Studies eBook Collection offer … Continued
One People One Sky

One People One Sky

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth, Research
April is Global Astronomy Month, sponsored by Astronomers Without Borders, a group dedicated to strengthening the bonds between nations by looking outward together. Their motto is “One People, One Sky”, and they focus on practical astronomy that you can participate with in your back yard over more esoteric theories. Astronomy is one of the most viscerally compelling of the sciences, because any child can understand its scope and grandeur just by looking up at the night sky; of getting excited at being able to identify a constellation like the Big Dipper. Perhaps you were inspired by Neil deGrasse Tyson, Maria Mitchell, or Stephen Hawking. Perhaps you took an astronomy class thinking it would be an easy grade, and were unexpectedly … Continued
Pi for All

Pi for All

, , Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
Today is Pi Day, a math holiday started in 1988 honoring the irrational number and mathematical constant at the core of understanding circles. March 14th was selected because of the first three digits of π – but mathematicians, of course, can develop even more finely tuned numeric symmetry. Most casual observers of π Day treat themselves to a piece of their favorite pie and discuss mathematics with their friends. But you’re undoubtedly reading this because you care about research. And the library is eager to help. You might not think of using the library for math studies. After all, if you’re just doing equations and using formulae, what else would you need? But mathematics education benefits from research and scholarly … Continued
Wilier Than a Coyote

Wilier Than a Coyote

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
Wile E. Coyote gave many of us inadvertent lessons in science in his endless quest to dine on delicious roadrunner. The hazards of poorly understood physics (what goes up must come down), where you should stand during an experiment, and humorous cautions on not using proper safety precautions were all hallmarks of his schemes. Professors even occasionally use his misadventures in class, to illustrate their points. But when it comes to your research, you probably want something a little more… rigorous (and less prone to catastrophic failure and personal injury). Fortunately, the worst you risk in the library is an occasional paper cut. We have lots of high-quality databases for science (listed here) that can supply you with the current … Continued