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RESEARCH AND INFORMATION LITERACY |
| BY SHARON WEINER |
 The concept of information literacy can trace its existence back to the 1800s. Teaching people how to find and use information is a long-established role for librarians. But, how do we know which instructional methods work the best, and under what circumstances? What are the most effective ways to communicate about information literacy to a campus community? How do we help students to transfer their knowledge about information literacy from academic work to their personal and work lives? Good research studies could help to answer these questions. But, like many important topics in education, there is relatively little research funding available in comparison with fields like medicine and other sciences. Another issue is that many librarians do not have the opportunity to take research methods courses or conduct research while pursuing a master's degree.
The Purdue Libraries are addressing the need for more and better research in several ways.
Professional development
"Practice into Research, Research into Practice" (www.purdue.edu/jetpack) is a self-directed online program designed for practicing librarians who want to enhance their knowledge of research methods. I developed this last year in collaboration with Dr. Penny Beile, associate director, Libraries Information Services and Scholarly Communications, University of Central Florida (UCF) and Dr. John Weiner, adjunct professor of Nursing (Bioinformatics), Vanderbilt University. The program is available at Purdue and UCF and will be openly available (once some technical issues are resolved).
Information literacy research studies
Information literacy research studies are being conducted by Purdue Libraries faculty. By formally studying the situations and problems we encounter in our practice, we will help to build a body of evidence and strengthen the literature. Our Libraries faculty engage in research and scholarship and there are a number of research projects occurring in the Libraries related to information literacy. One example is a multi-institution project to develop information-intensive internships and clinical experiences for students in business and the health sciences. This builds on existing research that indicates that employers find employees lacking in information literacy, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Perhaps these experiential learning environments are places where students can transfer what they learned about finding and using information to real workplace situations. This could increase their competitiveness in a tight job market.
Information Literacy Research Symposium.
This symposium has now become an anticipated annual event! We are the only university whose Libraries regularly host information literacy researchers. We invite researchers who are well-known, as well as new researchers. It is a good way to take valuable existing research and consider how to apply it to our practice. |
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LIBRARIES WORKSHOP REACHES OUT TO CAMPUS FACULTY |
The Libraries and the Office of the Vice President for Research offered a Data Management Plan (DMP) workshop for campus, on Thursday, Jan. 31. These plans are now required with many grant proposals to describe what data is being created, how it will be described and where it will be made available to others.
 This workshop discussed background on data management plans, described areas that are typically addressed in a DMP, identified resources and tools that can help develop DMPs, and presented a demo on the Purdue University Research Repository (PURR). PURR is our institutional platform which supports collaboration, publishing, discover and preservation of data. Eighteen people participated to learn and ask questions about DMPs in this workshop led by Jake Carlson and Courtney Matthews.
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RESOURCE SERVICES IMPROVES WORKSPACE |
| BY PATTY GLASSON AND DIANA GROVE |
Metadata Services (MS) and Digital Collections Services (DCS) share Room 364, on the third floor of Stewart Center, where everyone works with Voyager in some capacity. DCS keeps Voyager running smoothly and MS creates metadata for electronic, digital and print collections.
 Over winter break we got an office makeover, courtesy of the hardworking staff in Auxiliary Services and George Stachokas, our fearless leader, who braved the wilds of the attic to find updated divider panels and new/old furniture for our cubicles. The result was a few days of dusty disorder followed by a lot of smiling faces, as demonstrated here by Connie Smith as she prepares to tattle tape a truck of newly-cataloged books. Her physical processing area was rearranged for efficiency, although so far we have been unable to locate in the attic the big-screen TV and recliner she requested to complete the furnishings.
In Acquisitions, Room 170, on the first floor of Stewart Center, office partition walls were installed in an effort to reduced noise and improve office aesthetics. Kathy Garner's work space was greatly improved as it became an office space providing her with a work area with greater privacy, reduced noise and fewer interruptions.
 "I wish to express my appreciation in Stachokas' initiative to provide me with a quieter and more private working environment. The wall placed around my work station has reduced the noise and activity level that was distracting. Also with the top glass layer, I do not feel closed in. I feel I am more productive with fewer interruptions," said Kathy Garner.
Auxiliary Services staff was professional with the installation and communicated very well to help meet the office configuration needs. The space is now more efficient and has greater potential to be utilized in a productive manner. |
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LINCOLN: THE CONSTITUTION AND THE CIVIL WAR EXHIBIT |
 On February 20, the Hicks Undergraduate Library will be hosting, "Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War," which explores the constitutional issues surrounding slavery, the secession of Southern states and civil liberties. The traveling exhibition was organized by the National Constitution Center and the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office and made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Composed of informative panels featuring photographic reproductions of original documents, including a draft of Lincoln's first inaugural speech, the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment. The exhibit will be on display through April 5.
The Hicks Undergraduate Library is also sponsoring a series of four presentations in connection with the exhibition:
"The Constitutional Aspects of Lincoln and the Emancipation"
Thursday, Feb. 21
7 p.m.
Hicks G980D
Presenter: Brian Dirck, professor of History, Anderson University
"Lincoln, Blacks, and Colonization in the Tropics: Racism or Misguided Philanthropy?"
Monday, Mar. 4
7 p.m.
Hicks G980D
Presenter: Robert May, professor of History, Purdue University
"Lincoln: Martial Law and Public Dissent"
Monday, Mar. 18
7 p.m.
Hicks G980D
Presenter: Yvonne Pitts, professor of History, Purdue University
"Lincoln: Building the Nation-State in the Face of a Divisive South"
Tuesday, Mar. 26
7 p.m.
Hicks G980D
Presenter: Toby Lauterbach, graduate student of Political Science, Purdue University
All presentations are open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
If you have any questions about the display or presentations, please contact Ann O'Donnell at atodonne@purdue.edu or 49-61498, or Kristen Twardowski at ktwardow@purdue.edu or 49-42958.
Photo Copyright 2009 – Alusiv, Inc. |
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JANUARY'S SMILE AWARD |
 Rachel Moore's name was drawn from all those who were SMILED upon in January. She received a $25 Von's Book Shop gift certificate.
All faculty, administrators and staff are invited to send a note of appreciation for a kindness or thoughtfulness given, assistance provided to or by a Libraries, Press or Copyright Office colleague.
To learn more about how to participate in our SMILE Program, please visit, and bookmark, this page on the Libraries Intranet: http://intranet.lib.purdue.edu/display/HR/SMILE+Program |
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LIBRARIES STAFF A-Z |
 Constance J. Smith (Connie)
Library Assistant
Metadata Services Unit
Q. What do you enjoy most about your job and why?
A. The variety, and the fact that some of it is physical, not just always sitting at a computer.
Q. How long have you worked in the Libraries and at Purdue?
A. 42 years, all in this department and all at Purdue.
Q. What is one unforgettable experience that has happened to you or your coworkers while working in the library?
A. Probably the GIANT COCKROACH that we found in our office when we were on the second floor! Someone said that they came from the attic. He was a BIG GUY with feelers at least 6 inches long! Someone put a trash can upside down over him and later someone else (very courageous) squashed him, ugh, gross! Never saw another one after that though.
Q. What is your favorite book, website, movie or database?
A. Since I don't have a computer at home, my favorite all time book is "Christy" by Katharine Marshall, I think I've almost memorized it. Movie, probably any of John Wayne's western movies.
Q. Coffee, tea, water or soft drink?
A. Definitely soft drink, PEPSI please.
Q. What do you like to do for fun?
A. I love to clown with my clown ministry friends. We do a variety of really fun things and some serious stuff too. We clown at nursing homes, hospitals and charity events. We also have a group of ladies that we work with at the Women's Prison in Indianapolis (gives us lots to think about and count our blessings) where we enjoy the ladies' sense of humor and occasionally steal skit ideas from them.
Q. Feel free to include any information about yourself that you would like to share with the staff?
A. I have learned a great deal and enjoyed meeting new people through the organizations I've done volunteer work for over the years, including Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Lafayette Urban Ministry and the Smiles Unlimited Clown Ministry group. For several years I have done a summer camp with fellow clown members and friends. I've worked both with 8-10 year-old groups of boys and girls and most years wanted to bring all of my kids home with me! (Or, maybe I was just anxious to get home!) I still run into some of the kids from time to time and there are several I keep in touch with through letters or phone calls. A couple of my kids have come back years later to be camp counselors. Camp is a really special experience for all of them and it's great to see them come and give back and enjoy the experience of camp as a counselor. |
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