Did you know, you can get research assistance via Zoom? Our appointments are currently virtual due to Covid-19, but we are still able to help you choose your topic, define your thesis statement, and identify great search terms! If you are not familiar with how to use Zoom, we have tutorials and directions available. Zoom sessions allow you to follow along via screen share, similar to our in-person sessions. There are several call-in options for voice communication or you can use your computer or phone’s default microphone. If you need help finding sources, make a Research Help Appointment!
Zoom appointments can be made via the Get Help! Page on the library.
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Sherrod Library Anti-Racism Guide |
Eradicating racism requires understanding how systems of power and privilege operate in society. To learn more, take a look at this list of resources, available at Sherrod Library.
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Book Review by Sara Maeve Whisnant
Kindred by Octavia Butler
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Published in 1979, Octavia Butler’s (1947 - 2006) Kindred, is an exploration in power dynamics, intersectionality, and the horrors of slavery through the eyes of a young Black woman from the 1970s. Dana is a writer living in California with her husband, who is pulled through time and space from the West Coast to Maryland in the early 19th century. There Dana is moved to save the life of a young boy with whom she has a spiritual connection. This young boy is Rufus, the son of an enslaver. Over the next several weeks in Dana’s time she is called back to Rufus at various points in his life. Each time she visits she hopes that her words and her actions prevent him from becoming the cruel image of his father.
The main motivation for the action in this story is fear and overcoming that fear. Dana fears for her safety, for those around her, as well as the effects living in the 19th century has on her emotional and mental wellbeing. Dana as a character admits several times that she is more fearful than, and therefore not as strong as, her ancestors who lived as enslaved persons in Maryland. Each time Dana is forced to live in the past, she becomes more resolved to reclaim her freedom. This is related to the idea of “home.” What makes a home and how do we reckon with the ill-feelings when our home is not safe? Though Dana is the main character, Rufus has the most character development. Butler seems to have done this on purpose through the temporal anomaly that allows Rufus to age but Dana to appear immortal. This type of character, specifically that of a Black woman whose main purpose is to provide comfort, redemption, or safety to a White counterpart, is seen often in the media. In Kindred, Butler rejects that character type. The book itself is similar to slave narratives of the past, it is written in the first person, sections are devoted to significant events, and it is fairly short. The ultimate goal of the novel is freedom. Butler also briefly touches on the aftermath and guilt that comes with that freedom. Ultimately the end of the novel seemed rushed, as though the characters themselves were in a hurry to put their thoughts to paper. Though Butler wrote the novel in the 1970s, many of the trials Dana, and those around her, her face are echoed in current events.
Recently, Kindred was adapted as a graphic novel. Both the original and graphic novel are available at Sherrod Library online. One of Butler’s other popular science fiction novels, The Parable of the Sower (1993), reached the New York Times best seller list earlier this month (September 2020). Later this month, Antebellum, a movie loosely inspired by Kindred will premiere on streaming services and in theatres. For those interested in science fiction written with a diverse voice, or those interested in the movie or graphic novel, I would suggest you read this book.
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Library 101: "How To Library" Beginner Research Series |
Open to all campus, workshops in this series will be held via Zoom at 12 p.m. beginning September 2 through October 7. This overview of the essential steps of beginning research will take you through the process. Whether you’re new to research or a seasoned information explorer, the “How-To” Library Academic Research Series has something for you! We’ll cover it all, from assignment to literature review! Check out our series below, you can come to one, a few, or all!
Registration is required.
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LIBRARY AMBASSADORS MOVE ONLINE |
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Tired of assigning research papers only to see a reference list full of unreliable web sources? Send your students to see our library ambassadors. Library ambassadors are trained undergraduates who work for the library providing research help to their peers. Think of ambassadors as research tutors, who can help your students navigate the library’s databases and resources to find quality, credible information for their research papers and projects. This academic year all ambassadors are deployed online in open Zoom rooms. Students needing research help can visit the library ambassador webpage (https://libraries.etsu.edu/use/libraryambassadors) and click on the links to drop in to a virtual help session.
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“Saving Bucs”: Open and Affordable Course Materials Workshop
Open Educational Resources (OER) and Affordable course materials can reduce the cost of education for students and provide innovative ways for instructors to deliver learning materials. Come to this online workshop to discover how you can integrate OER and Affordable course materials into your courses. You will also learn about the upcoming Open and Affordable Awards and how to apply. The workshop, presented by Ashley Sergiadis (Sherrod Library) and Phil Smith (Center for Teaching Excellence), will be offered twice this semester. Registration is required.
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SHERROD LIBRARY AWARD WINNERS! |
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Rebecca Tolley, Research and Instruction Coordinator and Professor, is the 2020 winner of the Faculty Award. |
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Our first every Team Award goes to the ASKUS team of Jeri Paddock, Tim Whitehead, Carolyn Bond, Thomas Hilton, Eric Doepel, and Kyle Mason. |
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