Purdue Libraries Partnering with Ex Libris to Build "Next Generation" Library Framework

By PAUL BRACKE

Purdue Libraries will be joining Boston College, the Princeton University Library, and K.U. Leuven in Belgium, in collaboration with Ex Libris Group to develop a Unified Resource Management (URM) framework — a “next-generation framework for library management services.”

The project was announced in July of this year with the original set of development partners. Purdue recently approved the contract for the project and will be joining in collaboration soon.

From Ex Libris’s initial announcement:
“The 21st century is seeing libraries and research institutions exploring new approaches to managing their resources and providing services. Ex Libris is responding to the changing needs with URM, a next-generation platform that supports the unified management of back-office library operations—selection, acquisition, cataloging, management, and fulfillment—for the full spectrum of library materials, regardless of format or location. URM will enable libraries to implement more streamlined workflows, to integrate the library more fully with campus systems, and to leverage Web 2.0 and community features necessary for working in more collaborative ways. Economic realities have increasingly encouraged libraries to seek new forms of sharing at the network level. A centralized system for managing metadata along with a data-services environment will provide new ways of creating, managing, and sharing metadata and other types of information that is common to all libraries.

Purdue Libraries’ participation in this project supports the "Robust Local Collections" pillar of the strategic plan, and will have implications for the Libraries’ e-science efforts. The project will be overseen by Paul Bracke, associate dean for Digital Programs and Information Access. More information on this collaboration will be coming throughout the year.

For more information on Ex Libris Group, visit http://www.exlibrisgroup.com/.

Digital Resources Librarian: Bill Corya's Retirement and Rebecca Richardson's Transition

As you may know, for the past four years Bill Corya has been participating in Purdue’s voluntary early retirement program (VEPR). This December 2009, Bill will move into full retirement, retiring after more than 40 years with Purdue Libraries. Bill has very graciously extended his VEPR twice now at the Libraries' request, to help cover the important work of licensing electronic resources. December marks five years for Bill in this position, which is the time limit for being in VEPR status.  

While some aspects of licensing are straightforward, during the past year it has become clear that managing the increasing number of electronic resources grows more and more complicated each day. Rebecca Richardson has been assisting with some collections-related projects during the past year, both as preparation for the Google project last fall and, more specifically, to fill in during Bill’s leave earlier this summer. In the spirit of the Libraries efforts to re-engage existing staff and rethink our roles in light of our goals and strategic planning, we have asked Rebecca to transition into the role of digital resources librarian. This new role specifically supports our strategic planning pillars of “Infrastructure” and “Robust Local Collections.”

Beginning October 1, Rebecca will work with Bill half-time to learn more about the daily aspects of digital resources, and will continue half-time in her current role in staff development. When Bill retires fully in December 2009, Rebecca will move full-time to digital resources. 

This is not a new position, but is instead a revision of Rebecca’s current A/P position description. Because funding from Bill’s position was part of the recovery of funds needed for our Supplies and Equipment (S&E) budget, when Bill retires his faculty line (and the salary funds currently attributed to it) will no longer exist. We have approval from Purdue’s central Human Resources to revise Rebecca’s current position description to one working with digital resources, licensing, and usage statistics. 

Our commitment to staff development continues. We will be assessing our options for managing staff development in the next few months. If you have suggestions for the next stage of staff development for Purdue Libraries, please contact Nancy Hewison. 

Libraries Distinguished Lecture Series Speaker, Moira Gunn

Moira Gunn, host of NPR's TechNation and Purdue alumna, discusses the future of information and how global information systems will evolve in the next 10-20 years at the Libraries Distinguished Lecture Series on September 14, 2009. Dr. Gunn was the 7th speaker in the series, which began in 2005.

In early August, I sent information to Libraries Faculty and A/P staff about Purdue’s participation in a CIC environmental scan on scholarly communication practices among our faculty, and earlier this month I shared that Purdue is definitely participating in this project. All CIC schools, with the exception of Ohio State University and the University of Chicago, are participating.

The goal of this project is to develop a better idea of faculty publishing practices to inform the CIC provosts and faculty leaders about these issues. This is particularly relevant as CIC institutions determine whether to recommend or support open access mandates such as those recently passed by Harvard and MIT.

The scan is based on work already underway at the University of Minnesota Libraries and will take place in two parts.

The CIC lead library directors are making a presentation to Faculty Governance Leaders in November, and have set a date for December 15 for participating libraries to complete Part 1 of the scan. This is an extension of the original timeframe, which had Part 1 occurring through September-October. The deadline for Part 2 completion is March 15, 2010.

Mark Newton and Sue Ward are helping to lead this project for Purdue. We will be providing more information about this project, particularly those with liaison responsibilities to academic departments, as specific procedures are finalized. This is an important initiative for Purdue and the CIC institutions, and it will help us advance our strategic pillars of “Robust Research and Scholarship Program” and “Robust Local Collections.”

Engineering Library Celebrates IEEE 125 Years

The Engineering Library staff hosted a 125th anniversary celebration of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), which included comments from Dean of Libraries Jim Mullins, Dean of Engineering Leah Jamieson, and others. Sandy Galloway designed the above display case in the lobby of the Potter Engineering building for the event.

Kudos to Archives and Special Collections for Homecoming Programs

Archives and Special Collections Provides Information for Purdue Documentary
Derek and Jamar Productions from New York relied on a wealth of information in photographs, yearbooks, etc. from Archives and Special Collections to produce a film on the history of black student life at Purdue. The film, Black Purdue, was sponsored by the Purdue Black Alumni Organization and will make its debut on Friday, October 2, 2009 inLoeb Playhouse at 9:00 p.m. The release is open to the public and there is a $5 admission charge. To preview the movie trailer click here.

Patron Expresses Thanks to Staff
The Digital Reference desk received a request from a patron who was then referred to Archives and Special Collections where Susan Calvert successfully completed the follow-up: 

“A reunion of all living cheerleaders will be held at Homecoming this year. Of the 425 living cheerleaders, we have located all but one. I have tried the Alumni Association, team mate interviews, internet searches, Debris searches and have found nothing. Is it possible that he might appear in a Freshman Register?”

After some searching Susan was able to locate whom she thought might be the right person and forwarded that information back to the patron.

“Two days after you found his entry in the Freshman Register, I spoke with him from his home. We have now found every living Purdue cheerleader. Thank you very much for your help in accomplishing this task! I will be thanking the library staff in my Homecoming presentation to the cheerleaders.”

The patron is in the process of documenting his research, which he plans to share with Archives and Special collections upon its completion.

Thanks to Charlotte Erdmann for alerting me that Living Green: the Missing Manual by Nancy Conner has recently been added to the Safari full-text database. In addition to the major portion of the book that provides a good resource to possible home lifestyle changes, there are also chapters dealing with greening the workplace. These link the book to my goal of focusing this column on workplace possibilities.

The book, called ‘manual’ is for the already convinced, just as any other manual is written for one who already had chosen a brand. There are only summary details of arguments for change, and statistics given don’t always clearly reference the source. Still, there is a wealth of cross referencing to web sites with active links, and these links provide more depth. The book’s strength is the abundance of practical and creative suggestions for behavior change.

In the “Greening the Workplace” section, Connor recognizes varied responsibilities of potential actors and provides both actions possible to all workers and actions that need to be  requested  from decision makers—and the nudge to request them.

The “Green Business Travel” section contains specific business suggestions and also links back to the personal green travel section for items applicable to both. Conner tells how to recognize green travel agent certification and gives links to sites listing and evaluating green hotels and hybrid car rentals.

This book, part of the Missing Manual Series, is also a sample of what an e-book can be. It is easily navigated, meeting needs of both linear readers and those who pursue a topic deep into link after link. Readers can follow an idea through frequent links, but also get back to the main document through a constant link to the table of contents. Links I tried that went to outside sites opened in a second tab so that I could easily return to the primary site.

MEL Staff Highlights Features of New Learn Lab

Tomalee Doan shares the vision for the MEL renovation and latest teaching technology for the Learn Lab with open house attendees on September 21, 2009. Hal Kirkwood demonstrates how some of the features of the Learn Lab can be used for classroom instruction, like the smart boards that are available in three locations throughout the lab.

LCSSAC to Host Fall Lunch & Learn

LCSSAC'S Lunch & Learn Series will feature event coordinator Anthony Cawdron. He is responsible for coordinating more than 200 events each year for President Córdova at Westwood.

Lunch & Learn Series
featuring
Anthony Cawdron
"Eat, Drink & Be Wary: Business and Social Etiquette"
Monday, October 26
Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Corporate Study Room
MEL

Please visit the Libraries intranet for more information and to register for this event. Please bring your lunch and enjoy this presentation. Anthony is known for his informative classes and British wit.

Purdue Press Introduces New Director to Libraries Staff and Celebrates Its New Location on Campus

Purdue Press staff hosted an Open House to introduce Charles Watkinson, director, and their staff to the Libraries and show off their new campus location in Stewart Center. Charles talks with Michael Fosmire during the morning celebration.