Library Web News

Visit the Environmental Justice Resource Center to Learn More About Northwest Indiana's Anti-Pollution Efforts

The Environmental Justice Resource Center opened six months ago on the second floor (Room 232) of the IU Northwest Library. The Center is a result of a partnership between IU Northwest and area environmental organizations such as the Grand Calumet Task Force. The majority of funding for the Center is made possible by the Community/University Partnership Grants Program of the EPA's Office of Environmental Justice. While not a legal clinic, the Center will help cities like East Chicago, Gary and Hammond educate residents about pollution in their communities. At the new Resource Center, IU Northwest faculty, students and people from the Northwest Indiana region can learn about local environmental hazards as well as determine air and water quality on their block with other local and national areas.

The Center provides an extensive collection of books, periodicals, government publications, statistical resources, environmental CD-ROMS, legal sources, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping and a subject file of local news articles. The Center has also recently created web pages which features information on related groups, institutions and businesses as well a subject listing of related Internet sites. In addition to making federal resources available, the Center will connect local groups with national agencies investigating similar environmental concerns. For further information, contact Tim Sutherland at 219-981-5612 or by .

Steve McShane and Ron Cohen Publish New Book on the History of the South Shore Railroad

Archivist Steve McShane and IU Northwest History Professor Ron Cohen co-edited the new book, Moonlight in Duneland: The Illustrated Story of the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad published by Indiana University Press. An Indiana University Press publication announcement provides the following description about the book:

"The South Shore Line has reflected the triumphs and misfortunes of the Calumet Region throughout the twentieth century. For its first two decades, it survived good times and bad until its landmark purchase by Samuel Insull's Midland Utilities in 1925. Insull launched an aggressive marketing campaign producing booklets, movies and in particular a set of colorful, artistic posters, which attracted many from Illinois to Northwest Indiana's steel mills and sand dunes. Moonlight in Duneland tells the story of that poster campaign through the reproduction of more than forty known surviving posters and other advertising items from the 1920's to the 1970's, along with original art by Dale Fleming and Mitchell A. Markovitz.

While Moonlight in Duneland pays tribute to eras gone by, it also debuts a new period of growth in Northwest Indiana pride and development. Sponsored by the Northwest Indiana Forum, new poster art has been commissioned to advertise the many wonders of the area. Several of those images grace the pages of this book..."

• October 25 - Borders Books & Music - Highland, Indiana
• November 15 - The Book Bag - Valparaiso, Indiana
• November 19 - Indiana University Northwest - Gary, Indiana
• December 5 - Barnes & Noble - Mishawaka, Indiana

For specific times, check the IU Northwest Library Web Page Events Calendar.

Navigate the Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe from IU Northwest Campus Computers

The IU Northwest Library recently subscribed to Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, a new web-based service that provides access to over 12,500 sources covering general, business, government, financial, legal and legislative news. Over 9.5 million documents are added per week. This new service is not designed to replace programs provided to law schools or necessarily those in effect for para-legal programs. IU Northwest subscribes to Academic Universe as part of a consortium agreement between Lexis-Nexis and I and other CIC universities (e.g. the Big Ten and University of Chicago consortium). Please note: Because of licensing restrictions, this service is only available from IU Northwest campus computers (i.e. from the library, computer labs and faculty and staff offices).

To access Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, go to web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/. Academic Universe's main menu features the following 18 categories:

After choosing a particular category, that database provides the user with a search screen to perform a keyword search. It also provides extensive instructions on field descriptions specific to that category as well as detailed general search tips. For additional information on how to access and search Academic Universe, consult the Lexis-Nexis Help Pages. If you have further questions regarding this database, email , Library News Web Editor.