After 40 years in the Purdue Libraries, it is time for me to write my final chapter. When I took on the role as the circulation clerk in the Life Sciences Library on January 11, 1978, I figured it would be for a few years and then I would settle in to staying at home to raise a family. Little did I know I would be saying my final farewells 40 years later, and what a journey it has been!
I’ve worked under the direction of Libraries Director, Joseph Dagnese; the first Libraries dean, Emily Mobley; and our most recent dean, Jim Mullins. I’ve worked for several librarians including Ed Posey, Ruth Ahl, Barbara Pinzelik, Martha Bailey, Carl Snow, Dana Smith, Judy Pask, and Scott Mandernack. Other supervisors have included Steve Hutton, Pat Canganelli, Tom Haworth, Judy Schumaker, Sandy Howarth, Rachel Schurz, Kayla Gregory Portillo, Kate Kester, Shannon Walker and Teresa Koltzenburg. And, so many coworkers – Linda Underhill, Dick McIntyre, MaryAnne Eldridge, Alice Moore, Cindy Cross, Karen Mosson, Max Logsdon, Ceola Friday, Dot Lanzalotto, Karen Erikson, Darlene Lemen, Nancy Karner, Brad Heiss, Dan Yeoman, Pat Wilson, Becky Bunch, Elaine Bahler, Ashley Hutchcraft, and so many others.
I was here for the merger of six engineering libraries into the Siegesmund Engineering Library, the grand opening of the John W. Hicks Undergraduate Library, the opening of the Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections Research Center, the major renovation and dedication of the Roland G. Parrish Library of Management and Economics, and the recent dedication of the Thomas S. and Harvey D. Wilmeth Active Learning Center and Library of Engineering and Science. I participated and witnessed the merger of several libraries into other libraries, automation of the Libraries, and said farewell to many coworkers.
The uniqueness of my job allowed me the opportunity to photograph every staff member and meet and greet many of you into the Libraries. I was able to attend some very rewarding Libraries sponsored events and meet some very interesting people including Purdue astronauts Eugene Cernan, Jerry Ross, Janice Voss and Roy Bridges; authors Amy Tan, James Hansen, Michael Beschloss; astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson; Nobel Prize winners Ei-ichi Negishi and Akira Suzuki; and women who have made a major impact on Purdue University and the Susan Bulkeley Butler Women's Archives including Sally Putnam Chapman, Betty Nelson, Susan Bulkeley Butler, Marylu McEwen, Betty Nelson, Tamara Morse and Sally Watlington.
I have been honored to share the stories of the Libraries for the last 25 years through the publication of 536 issues of INSIDe. Your dedication to making the Libraries an engaging and successful learning experience for Purdue students and staff have been rewarding and made me proud to be associated with all of you.
Thank you to each of you for making my journey with the Libraries challenging, educational, interesting, and most importantly, fun! And, special thanks to my co-workers, Elaine Bahler, Ashley Hutchcraft and Teresa Koltzenburg for their understanding, compassion, and friendships. I could not have asked for better partners to share this journey with. It has been a journey worth living and sharing and I am thankful and ever grateful. Boiler Up! |