Spring Semester Includes a Variety of Library Events and New Opportunities

BY JIM MULLINS

2009 – Can it really be almost ten years since we welcomed the new millennium? Remember Y2K? The fear that computers, world-wide, would shut down, turning off power grids and grounding airplanes? We weren’t sure our own desktops would boot-up on January 1, 2000! Well, just as we then faced some real (or imagined) challenges for 2000; 2009 portends some real (hopefully some imagined) challenges as well.

At Purdue we are not immune to the impact of the world-wide financial turndown. However, we are benefited by Purdue’s fairly conservative financial environment, one that does not stretch its resources during good times, so when times change, the impact is less. That said, this year will be one of changing expectations and strategic goals for Purdue and the Libraries. 

Although we will have some challenges (managing the information resource budget; the hold on filling faculty and staff positions), there are also some real opportunities and celebrations ahead for us this year as well. This month we will shelve our first books using the Library of Congress classification scheme. This change from Dewey Decimal will allow quicker and more efficient shelving of new materials. In addition, the selection of YBP as our sole approval book vendor will streamline selection and reduce duplication of effort.

During February we will identify the strategic goals that will be acted upon by the Libraries in support of the University Strategic Plan. Resources, human and financial, will focus on achieving these strategic goals during this year. 

In April we will celebrate our beautiful new Virginia Kelly Karnes Center for Archives and Special Collections. In the Fall we will see the first phase of the Management and Economics Library renovation completed. 

In April we will have our annual staff appreciation luncheon and “One Book Higher” celebration. I encourage everyone to think of nominating colleagues for the Moriarty, Dagnese, and Dean’s Awards. It is always a highlight of the year when we honor and recognize the outstanding contributions of several of our colleagues through the Moriarty, Dagnese, and Dean’s awards.

So join with me in accepting and responding to the opportunities and meeting the challenges of 2009. It will likely be a year we never forget!

In Memoriam

JOHN PINZELIK
Mr. Pinzelik, professor emeritus, was the Chemistry librarian for 35 years, retiring in 1993.

John took great pride in offering exemplary service to library patrons, was well respected by his Chemistry department colleagues, and served as a mentor to Purdue's library staff.

BRENDA WITTENMYER
Mrs. Wittenmyer was a library clerk in the Libraries interlibrary loan department for 17 years and was on long term disability.

Brenda was a dedicated staff member who enjoyed working with others and liked the challenge of being able to meet a patron’s request.

If you wish to contribute to the Libraries in their memory please contact Pat Wilson.

To kick off the school year, here's an INSIDE look at how one staff member prepares for the students' return to campus.

I have worked in the Siegesmund Engineering Library for 7 ½ years and have been the Circulation Supervisor a little over three years. I normally have between 13 and 17 student workers who I train and supervise over the course of the semester.

Student Staff
There are several things I need to do to prepare for them to start a new semester. First of all I figure out how many student hours I have and how many students I will need. If I need any new students, I will send a “Request for Student Employees” form to the HR office letting them know how many students I will need. They will then send me the students to interview and subsequently, hire.

Since I do not see the students until the first day of the semester, I put a free sign-up for the first week. During the week I will get the students’ class schedules and make a work schedule for the entire semester. After I know all the students I am hiring, I will then make time card labels for them. I make notes about any changes I have made while they were gone and post it on the wall so there are no surprises.

Patrons
As far as getting ready for patrons to start a new semester, we really don’t consider the break to be any different from the rest of the year. Things don’t slow down as much as one would think. Reserves slow down, but there are a lot more obscure questions and problems with ID’s and so forth during breaks. Because we still serve patrons during the breaks, this allows for a smooth transition into the new semester.

Library Services
We made quite a few changes during winter break this year. We are combining the Reference Desk and the Circulation Desk to have one service point. This desk will now be called the Information Desk. It will provide for one-stop shopping, so to speak. One reference person and one circulation student will be manning this desk at most times. Our reference collection was moved in front of the Information Desk so the reference staff is closer and can see when patrons need help.

Over the break we finished shifting all the books on our Mezzanine to make room for the new Library of Congress books. We also made space for these books in our Reading Room. New signs were made and hung to let patrons know of any changes we have made.

Through the generous donations of Purdue Libraries supporters, two $2,500 merit-based scholarships and two $500 awards are being offered to recognize and reward well-rounded, top undergraduate students who are working in the Purdue University Libraries or Press.

The Albert Viton Scholarship in the amount of $2,500 was endowed by the late Dr. Viton, an author and retired economist, to honor a student employee working for the Press or the Libraries. He became associated with the Purdue Press with the publication of his book, The International Sugar Agreements: Promise and Reality, in 2004.

The Dorothy Newby McCaw Scholarship in the amount of $2,500 was endowed in honor of Emily Mobley, retired Dean of Libraries. Mrs. McCaw wanted to recognize students who were working their way through college and honor Dean Mobley for her fifteen years of dedication to the Libraries.

The PULSE Award (Purdue University Libraries Student Employee Award) was started and funded primarily by the faculty and staff of the Libraries to reward their top undergraduate student employees. Two awards of $500 each are offered to well-deserving student employees.

Students are encouraged to apply for these scholarships/awards, provided they meet the appropriate qualifications. Please see http://www.lib.purdue.edu/adv/pulsescholar for details about criteria and instructions for applying. A link will also be posted on the Libraries homepage in the News & Announcements section.

The Libraries Safety Committee was formed in January of 2007, with a representative from each library/department. The goal of this committee, at the direction of the Dean, and under the guidance of Nancy Hewison and Brad Heiss, is indemnification for the Purdue Libraries.

The purpose is twofold, with safety of the library staff being the top priority. The second purpose is to move the financial burden of fines levied for safety violations from the Libraries to the University.  

Each library representative completed the Designated Trained Individual (DTI) orientation program, presented by Radiological and Environmental Management (REM), and is now recognized as a work area Right-to-Know Coordinator and DTI in Purdue University’s Hazard Communication Program. The orientation included information on the principles and practices of hazard communication, material safety data sheets, chemical inventory requirements, container labeling requirements, and employee information and training requirements.

Kristi Evans, Occupational Safety Specialist, REM, attends most meetings, joined occasionally by Stephanie Rainey, Environmental Technician, REM. They provide training, information and support to the libraries safety committee.

Each representative has worked long and hard collecting the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) sheets for products used in their area, provided PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) training for their co-workers, Conducted Employee Right-to-Know training (exposure information to products), and compiled a Safety Notebook for their area. The notebook is an OSHA requirement and must be accessible upon request at OSHA inspections.

Kristi and Stephanie have conducted a walk-through of areas, with advice on what must be corrected, and conducted final REM safety inspections for those areas that have completed the LONG list of certification requirements, four to date.

Certain areas of training must be conducted yearly, and apply to all staff, including student workers.

• Do you know who your Safety Committee Representative is?
• Have you received PPE training?
• Do you know where the Safety Notebook for your area is kept and what it contains?

The committee needs the support and of all supervisors and staff members to provide a safe working environment!

Please contact any member with your concerns or questions: Dianna Deputy (chair), Lil Conarroe (vice chair), Sharon Sturgeon (secretary), Rae Lynn Boes, Rebecca Corbin, Jim Derringer, Kristina Evans (REM), Connie Farris, Donna Ferrel, Theresa Hoefer, Monica Kirkwood, Dot Lanzalotto, Ruth Long, Dania Remaly, Marilyn Rogers, Linda Rose, Kay Schurr, Cheryl Smith, Cindy Smith, Terry Wade.

UnderGrounds Installs New Doors

After much anticipation the glass doors to UnderGrounds were installed during the semester break!

New Coffee Shop Hours
Monday - Thursday, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, Closed
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Buy 9 coffee/espresso drinks and get the 10th 16oz. FREE!
Good only at PMU dining services, serving Seattle's Beat Coffee.

The study area is open 24 hours and is available for meetings

Happy new year!!!

Jeremy Garritano (CHEM) reports that WLFI is starting a new segment called Living Green with 18 that will highlight regional efforts toward green living and sustainability. The web site for Living Green with 18, including video clips and other green tidbits, is http://www.wlfi.com/subindex/living_green.

Michael Fosmire (PHYS/ENGR) wonders whether there are enough gardeners in the Libraries to support a springtime seed swap. Respond to the Green Tambourine at jkinkus@purdue.edu and indicate whether you would like to get seeds, get rid of seeds, or both! I’ll report on the results in the next column.

Continue to send your green tips for the office or home to Jane Kinkus at jkinkus@purdue.edu .

Brown Bag Seminars for February 2009

Brown Bag Seminars are held the first and third Wednesdays of the month from Noon - 1:00 p.m. in the HSSE Conference Room.

February 4, 2009
"Persistence"
with Suchit Subhas & Michael Witt

February 18, 2009
E-Archives: History on Your Desktop"
with Jan Addison & Carl Snow

February 26, 2009
"Who's Got the Most Annual Reports to Shareholders?
Harvard or Stanford? How Does Purdue Compare?"
with Judy Nixon

For a complete list visit the Libraries intranet, http://intranet.lib.purdue.edu/display/LFC/seminar.