Challenge for the Future

BY JUDY SCHUMAKER

It is with a sense of both happiness and sadness that I write this column during my last week of employment with Purdue University Libraries — happiness to be taking on the challenges as the advancement director for the new College of Health and Human Sciences and sadness to be leaving the Libraries after 9 ½ years of trial and error, hard work, successes, friendships and good fun.

I came from the College of Liberal Arts in 2001 with a great respect for libraries and a love of books. I also came with the impression that the Libraries would be a great place to work — lots of friendly colleagues and loyal donors. Prior to my hiring in my interview presentation, one of the faculty members posed the final, seminal question, “If someone asked you, ‘Why should anyone give money to the Libraries,’ what would you tell them?”

I must have given the answer they liked. It was the question that launched my career in Libraries and the one that framed my quest for learning about academic research libraries. Within that question, is the heart of the issue: why are Libraries important to the students and faculty … what value do we bring to the University … where do our responsibilities lie in the community and in the state of Indiana … what role do we play in the complex network of academic research libraries and globally … why do we matter?

Being able to articulate responses to these questions has provided the context for developing key messages to communicate about the Libraries through the years. It has also provided the framework for building the many wonderful friendships that have helped the Libraries advance towards accomplishing the 10-year vision set forth under Jim’s leadership. These relationships blossomed to create such visionary projects as the W. Wayne Booker Chair in Information Literacy, the renovation of the Archives and Special Collections, the renovation of the Management and Economics Library, and now in the early stages of the Boiler STEAM Commons.

Behind all these successes are relationships with people — people outside the University who have a love for Purdue and the resources to make it happen, and people within the Libraries who have a passion for what they do. The dean and other faculty and staff who have worked together in reaching out to donors share in the success of bringing these achievements to our Libraries.

I give special kudos go to the Advancement Office staff. Pat Wilson, administrative assistant, who has been with me for almost eight years; Teresa Brown, who is responsible for the bi-weekly communication, INSIDE;  Elaine Bahler, secretary, event planner and designer; Kate Kester, marketing associate and newest addition to our staff; and finally, Grant Flora, writer and on contract to us from Marketing and Media. They are some of the hardest-working, most dedicated-to-excellence, and passionate-about-the-Libraries people I know. You can count on them to continue our successful marketing and fundraising programs.

As I move on to the College of Health and Human Sciences next week, I ask you all to continue to ask yourselves the question, “Why are Libraries important … and what value do I bring?” It is the question that will continue to pay off in big and small ways, no matter what job you do for the Libraries.

Thank you all for your friendship. I wish you success as you continue the good work of the Purdue University Libraries!

PILLARS: Campuswide Information Literacy, New Relationships with Disciplinary Faculty, Robust Research and Scholarship, and Robust Local Collections

This spring many staff and faculty throughout Academic Affairs will take on new responsibilities and roles, both in support of our strategic directions and in response to changes in staffing. One major change is a transition to division-wide operations coordinators in the Division of Physical Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PSET) and the Division of Health and Life Sciences (HLS). This change provides more consistency in supervision across the divisions and will allow faculty members to devote more time to areas of strategic emphasis, such as information literacy and e-research (e-data, e-science, data curation, etc). 

HLS changes
In February Monica Kirkwood will transition into the role of Operations Coordinator for HLS, expanding her previous role of Life Sciences Operations Coordinator. Staff in the Veterinary Medical and Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Sciences Libraries will report to Kirkwood. Jane Yatcilla begins a new role in HLS, as a liaison in the health and life sciences. She will spend half her time in HLS this spring and transition fully to HLS in July.

Humanities, Social Sciences, Education and Business (HSSEB) changes
Beginning this month, Teresa Balser will split her workday between Management and Economics Library (MEL) and Hicks Undergraduate Library. At the end of the semester MEL will close temporarily for phase 3 renovation. MEL staff will move to other locations during the temporary closing. Changes in liaison areas include Stewart Saunders assuming liaison responsibilities to Mathematics and Statistics. John Fritch will begin to serve as liaison to Sociology.

PSET Changes
Amanda Gill will serve as Operations Coordinator for PSET, expanding her previous role of Engineering Operations Coordinator. PSET will move to a staffing model of 1.5 FTE for Chemistry, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS), Mathematical Sciences (MATH) and Physics (PHYS) and 1.0 FTE at Aviation Technology (AVTE). Dania Remaly and Jim Derringer will both work half-time at AVTE; Chemistry – Sharon Sturgeon and Becky Hunt (.5FTE); EAS – Terry Wade and Donna Slone (.5FTE); MATH – Angie Ewing and Derringer (.5FTE); and PHYS – Lil Conarroe and Slone (.5FTE). Remaly will also work half-time at Engineering and Hunt will continue to work half-time in Collection Management. As noted above, Yatcilla will move from PSET to HLS this spring, and will work with Saunders (Mathematics and Statistics) and Michael Witt (Computer Science) to transfer liaison areas. Later this spring Megan Sapp Nelson will take on responsibility as liaison to Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.

Circulation Services/Hicks Repository (HKRP) changes
Staff members in Circulation Services and HKRP are now working together as one combined unit in HKRP with cross-training so that staff can assist with responsibilities in both areas. They have also begun working at service desks in the libraries: Dot Lanzalotto is assisting at Archives and Special Collections, LIFE, and HSSE; Lu Ann Gooden and Dacia Wiesler are working shifts at HSSE.

PILLAR: Infrastructure

December Meeting

• Jessie Morefield agreed to serve as chair for 2011 and Shauna Borger will serve as co-chair/secretary moving to the chair role in 2012.
• Representatives for the Purdue University Libraries Student Award (PULSE)/Scholarship committee will be Amanda Gill and Shauna Borger.
• Minutes from December’s meeting are posted on the intranet.
• The April 18 meeting will be lunch with Libraries Dean, Jim Mullins.

Wanted:
LAPSAC is looking for three AP/Management Professional staff to be on an executive committee. Please look for the upcoming announcement via e-mail to the LAPSAC member’s list serve. A ballot will be held to determine the winners of the three open positions.

More details will follow in the e-mail.

Please contact Jessie Morefield with questions.

Archives and Special Collections Hosts Purdue Convocations Exhibit

Guiding Principles #3: Define Libraries by relationships, not locations

Presented in collaboration with Purdue Libraries and Purdue Convocations, Purdue Archives and Special Collections will host the exhibition, “Setting the Stage for Success: Celebrating 25 years of the Friends of Convocations” Jan. 10-Feb. 26.

In celebration of the Friends of Convocations 25th Anniversary, the exhibition will showcase a timeline of performances including head shots, posters, programs, and artist memorabilia from some of the most beloved artists and speakers to grace the Purdue stages such as Joshua Bell, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Bill Cosby and more.

The exhibition, which is free and open to the public, will be on display in the Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections Research Center on the fourth floor of the HSSE Library in Stewart Center. The exhibit will be open from 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. weekdays, as well as prior to select season performances. Groups wanting to schedule a tour may call 765-494-2839.

http://www.purdue.edu/convocations/friends.php

KUDOS Purdue Libraries

Guiding Principles #4: Provide excellent customer service

Thank you for the assistance the Purdue Libraries provided me. I was recently at Purdue conducting research on railroad history for an article I am writing. Over the course of my research, I have been in contact with several different libraries and none of them have given me as courteous, professional and prompt service as Purdue. I would especially like to single out Dot Lanzalotto of the Hicks Repository for commendation. She went out of her way to make my time as productive and enjoyable as possible. She was extremely courteous and considerate. She brought out several requested volumes so that I could begin working while she found the rest of the books I was looking for. She even offered me an orange when she noticed I had not taken a break for lunch. I can't tell you how grateful I am for the consideration shown by the Purdue Libraries. Thank you once again!

Sincerely,
Chris Zahrt, Purdue alumnus