PURDUE LIBRARIES AND WEB ACCESSIBILITY

Providing access to information is central to the mission of the Purdue Libraries, and a key aspect of this is providing equal access to scholarly and learning resources to members of the Purdue community. For many users with disabilities, however, equal access to these resources is simply impossible without us paying attention to web accessibility. It is therefore critical that we take web accessibility seriously and provide access to our online collections and services equally to all members of the Purdue community. Web accessibility is not just a professional obligation, however, it is also a legal one. There are a number of laws governing accessibility issues, and there has been an uptick in the number of lawsuits based on web accessibility issues in recent years. With web accessibility an important issue from a professional and a legal point of view, I’d like to provide more information on web accessibility and what it means for the Purdue University Libraries.

What is Web Accessibility?
An important place to start is by defining what we mean by web accessibility. Web accessibility is the set of practices necessary to make sure that content delivered via the Web is usable by everyone, regardless of the devices or browsers they are using for access. This certainly includes webpages, but also other types of content such as PDFs, Word and Powerpoint documents, and multimedia content.

Web accessibility is more formally defined by the W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. According to WCAG 2.0, web content must be perceivable, operable, and understandable to all users, and must use standard technologies that will enable the content to be viewed with current and future reading technologies.

What is happening at the Purdue Libraries with Web Accessibility?
Since Purdue introduced its Web Accessibility Standards in 2010, we have been working to make sure that Purdue University Libraries web content meets these standards. While most of our content does, we still have more work to do. We will be making efforts to make multimedia content more accessible by doing things like providing alternatives to Flash and captioning videos. We will also be proactively monitoring the site in the future using Compliance Sheriff. After a recent pilot, which included Libraries participation, the campus will be offering Compliance Sheriff as a service to help monitor compliance with WCAG 2.0 standards. As we identify accessibility issues, we will be working with individuals across the Libraries to address them. We will also be discussing accessibility issues with respect to the Libraries’ online collections with staff from Purdue’s Disability Resource Center in an upcoming joint meeting of the Information Resources Council (IRC) and Web Steering Committee (WSC).

Where can I learn more?
If you’d like to learn more about Web Accessibility, I’ve included a number of links below with more information. If you have questions or questions about your web content, please submit a Footprints ticket.

General Information from Purdue – http://www.purdue.edu/webaccessibility/
Purdue Web Accessibility Policy – http://www.purdue.edu/policies/information-technology/viic1.html
WCAG 2.0 Checklist – http://webaim.org/standards/wcag/checklist
Compliance Sheriff (for checking compliance) – http://wave.webaim.org
Association of Research Libraries Accessibility Toolkit – http://accessibility.arl.org/
PDF Accessibility – http://webaim.org/techniques/acrobat/converting
Word Accessibility – http://www.purdue.edu/webaccessibility/documents/
Tips_Creating_Accessible_Online_Documents.pdf
Flash Accessibility – http://webaim.org/techniques/flash/

2014 LIBRARIES DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES AND DISCOVERY LECTURE SERIES, DISCOVERY PARK

Andrew Yang is the Founder and CEO of Venture for America, a fellowship program that places top college graduates in start-ups for two years in low-cost U.S. cities to generate job growth and train the next generation of entrepreneurs. He has appeared on CNBC, Morning Joe, Fox News, TIME, Techcrunch, the Wall St. Journal and many other media outlets. Yang was named a Champion of Change by the White House for his work with Venture for America and one of Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business.” He is a graduate of Columbia Law and Brown University. Yang’s first book, “Smart People Should Build Things,” was published by Harper Business in early 2014.

Yang’s lecture, “Smart People Should Build Things,” will touch on the current landscape and where college graduates tend to end up, both geographically and by sector.

This twelfth lecture in the series is made possible by major funding to the Libraries from the estate of Anna M. Akeley and is co-sponsored with the Discovery Lecture Series.

Purdue University Libraries Distinguished Lecture Series and
Discovery Lecture Series, Discovery Park presents
Andrew Yang
Monday, October 20, 2014
7 p.m.
Fowler Hall
Stewart Center
Free and open to the public

A book sale by University Bookstore and signing will follow the lecture.

NEW LIBRARIES STUDENT COMPETITIONS

“Why I Love Purdue Libraries” Video Contest
In conjunction with the Hicks Renovation Celebration, Purdue University Libraries is launched its second annual "Why I Love Purdue Libraries Video Contest," on September 26, with a top award of $400 to be announced on November 1.

The contest is open to all current, enrolled Purdue University students from Friday, Sept. 26th to Friday, Oct. 24th at midnight. All eligible video entries must be 1 to 3 minutes in length and follow the complete rules and guidelines for the contest. Finalists will be selected by Purdue Libraries Undergraduate Student Libraries Advisory Council (USLAC) and winners will be selected by the Libraries Dean's Council from those finalists.

Contest finalists and/or award winners will be featured on Purdue Libraries website and communications channels and all awards will be distributed through Purdue University Financial Aid Division.
Complete Rules and Guidelines

2013 Winning Videos
First Place: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9HBXM7Ja38&feature=youtu.be
Second Place: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHgTmj6RkDQ&feature=youtu.be
Third Place: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7Q0hRGxqrFBOHRrSGpIOTdNS1E/edit?usp=dri...

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Parrish Library Case Competition

In order to bring attention to exemplary information literate students inside and outside of Krannert, the Parrish Library is excited to host a fall case competition. Students compete presenting solutions using business information. This case competition is open to all undergraduate students regardless of major. Teams should be 4-5 students. At least one student should have taken MGMT 175, and one of the students needs to be freshmen or sophomore level. This case competition is intended to be a “lower division” case competition. First prize: $500; Second prize: $300; Third prize: $100.
More information: https://www.lib.purdue.edu/parrishcasecompetition

• Call outs: October 9 Krannert Auditorium 6-7 p.m. and October 16 Krannert Auditorium 7-8 p.m.
• Teams Form/Final Sign up and Case Presentation: October 17 Krannert Drawing Room
• First Round Memos Due: October 21 (Submitted online)
• Final Presentations: October 24 (Krannert Auditorium, Open to Public)

SUCCESS STARTS HERE, LIVE UNITED

The 2014 Purdue United Way annual campaign kicked off on September 11 with an overall goal of raising $755,000. By now, you should have received an envelope from your team leader. Please take a moment to complete and return the form even if you choose not to give. Once you have completed and returned your form (either to your team leader or by dropping it in campus mail to Dauch Alumni Center), feel free to ask your team leader for this year’s poster.

As the Libraries’ Senior Chair this year, I have recruited several team captains to assist in our efforts for the campaign. We attended training this past summer where we learned more about the agencies positively affected by the United Way of Greater Lafayette. This year, the campaign is focused on education which is something I think we all can get behind. We also met Jamie and Jamie. They illustrate why education and in particular early childhood education is so important to our community. To learn more about the campaign, meet Jamie and Jamie, or to follow the goal progress of the University please visit www.purdue.edu/unitedway.

I sincerely hope you will give to this worthy cause. As you are completing your form, if you have any questions, please let me or your team leader know. And please be sure to return your card even if you choose not to give. The goal is to have all cards returned by November 13.

Finally, thank you to my helpful volunteers: Shannon Walker, junior chair; team leaders: Carole Tolley, Brenda Meagher, Sharon Sturgeon, Pat Miller, Allen Bol, Mary Sego and Emily Heitman.

WELCOME BACK STUDENTS

The celebration marking the completion of the renovation of the main floor of the Hicks Undergraduate Library and to welcome back our students to a new year was an obvious success! Students combined eating, picking up mementos, and actually studying while the DJ played music from current times and from times long gone (anyone for the Mamas and the Papas?). The final renovation of the main floor of Hicks was accomplished through support from the campus facilities award office, the Provost and the Esther Ellis Norton Fund and the collaborative efforts of RaeLynn Boes, Tomalee Doan, Brad Heiss, Dale White and Nancy Hewison.

Thank you to everyone who worked to make this event possible including Becky Bunch, Shannon Walker, Elaine Bahler, Teresa Brown and Connie Farris. Of course, we could not have done this without the professional services of our facility project manager Ron Reehling and interior designer Melinda McGee.

A short program was held in which Provost Deba Dutta, Bobby Haddix, Purdue Student Government President, and RaeLynn Boes spoke. This was also the kick-off for the 2nd Annual “Why I Love Purdue Libraries” video contest.

LCSSAC FALL PICNIC ENJOYED BY ALL

A big thank you to everyone that had a chance to attend the Fall Picnic last night! The weather was perfect and a good time was had by all! Special thanks to Dean Mullins for providing the hamburgers and hot dogs and to everyone else that pitched in to help make this picnic a success! The crossword puzzle and key have been added to the Libraries Intranet.

Photos by Frances Christman and Angie Ewing.

SEPTEMBER SMILE AWARD

Matt Riehle's name was randomly drawn from all those who were SMILED upon in August. He 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

THANK YOU

Thank you to all who have made the last 15 years such an interesting and rewarding experience for me. Special thanks to Jim, Nancy, Beth and Paul who interrupted their business meeting to attend my farewell reception.

I’ve had quite a variety of jobs in my time (Physician’s Assistant, Doctor of Chiropractic, paralegal, instructor at Ivy Tech and scads of temporary jobs) but no job has had the amount of variety that I enjoyed here! Years ago I was accused of being a perpetual student (like Flynn Carsen in the Librarian movies LOL), because I was in school off and on from 1968-1984. Maybe that’s why I became so comfortable in the University environment — I know I will miss it as well as all the people I have worked with.

As most of you know, my plans include lots of travel around the USA, and of course reading everything I can get my hands on. I hope to gain some proficiency with the guitar I’ve been fooling around with for over a year, and maybe even get back to some crocheting. I also hope to get a travel blog going and will be sure to forward the address as a way to share my experiences and keep in touch.

MAKING WAY FOR THE ALC

The Engineering Administration Building (ENAD) is gone and demolition has begun on the old Heating and Power Plant-North.

Constructed in 1924, the Heating and Power Plant-North (HPN) was built to meet the growing demand for power on the West Lafayette campus. When functional, the power plant had a boiler room, generator room, rooms on the ground floor and a 15-by-250-foot smokestack. The plant used four batteries of two boilers each, a 75,000-gallon water tank and a 30-foot switchboard among other equipment to provide heat and electricity to the campus. The power plant was retired in 1991 after a new boiler was added to Wade Utility Plant at the southern edge of campus. The smokestack was demolished in 1992.