Exploring New Roles and Services in e-Science and Data

BY SCOTT BRANDT
 

PILLAR: Robust Research & Scholarship Program

Scott BrandtOne of the nation’s largest funders of research, the National Science Foundation (NSF), recently decided that anyone doing research must have a plan for managing, and ultimately sharing, research outcomes. The basic idea is: publicly funded research should be made publicly available, and doing so may foster new collaborations, mash-ups and discoveries. Purdue University’s institutional approach to responding to the NSF data management plan “mandate” is built on several years of Libraries collaboration with faculty, Information Technology at Purdue (ITaP) and the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR).

During summer 2010, a Data Management Working Group (DMWG), co-led by the Libraries and ITaP was charged to come up with a response that addressed NSF’s concerns as well as the University’s strategic mission to provide “discovery with delivery.” The Group identified a three-pronged approach: partner to develop assistance in proposal submission in this area; analyze how the Data Curation Profile could be adapted for this specific purpose; and build a HUBzero-based unified point of ingest and discovery, to be integrated with a repository.

What of does all of this have to do with us? Strategically, this furthers a direction to explore and understand new and different roles, services and approaches in the area e-Science and data. Practically, we will be doing familiar activities with a new spin on them. What we will soon see is the need to expand our thinking about reference to help build and find resources for patrons about data repositories and metadata standards — anyone who has helped compile a bibliography or pointed someone to an online reference should be able to relate to and help out with that. We are already engaging in liaison activities to better assess information needs in e-Science and data — other activities may range from helping to transcribe Data Curation Profile interviews to ensuring online organization of, and access to, new resources. And we’ve already started integrating e-Science and data objectives into instruction — this will likely mean working on new online tutorial modules, helping to prepare handouts or presentations, or developing how-to guides. Helping people access and use information is what we’re all about.

 

From Master Mix to Farming Tips: 100 Years of Agricultural Extension

BY STEPHANIE SCHMITZ

PILLAR: New Relationships

This month, the Archives and Special Collections (ASC) celebrates not only Women’s History Month, but also the 100th anniversary of the passing of the Clore Act in 1911. The Clore Act helped established Purdue Extension, and required researchers within the Department of Agriculture to “extend” their knowledge to farming communities in rural areas across Indiana. 

In celebration of the centennial anniversary of the establishment of this important department, ASC has placed some historical gems on display which chronicle how Extension has unfolded over the course of time. Even if you’re not familiar with Extension and the myriad activities that comprise it, the items in the exhibit still provide insight into what it may have been like to be a resident of rural Indiana 100 years ago. It includes striking photographs uncovered in Extension Agent Reports dating from the 1920s; colorful and vividly illustrated Extension publications; brochures for courses on conducting farm business, growing fruit, using Indiana wheat and acclimating to life with electricity; and other writings and manuscripts which celebrate the achievements of four women who made significant contributions to Agricultural Extension through their affiliations with the School of Home Economics.

The exhibit illustrates the important role Purdue men and women have played in the success stories of Indiana farming communities, and will be on display until May 31.

Be sure to check out "What's Cooking?" for Extension-related recipes over the next few issues.

100 Years of Agricultural Extension exhibit with Wilma Kay and Eva Gobel

Wilma Kay, B.S. Home Economics 1939, and Eva Gobel, Dean Emerita Home Economics 1967-73, look over the display in ASC that highlights Gobel's 32 years at Purdue. Gobel is widely recognized as the founder of the Consumer and Family Sciences Extension programs in Indiana.

 

Introducing Visiting South African Librarian Sunette Steynberg

PILLAR: New Relationships

SUNETTE STEYNBERG

Sunette Steynberg visiting South African librarianQ. Where are you from?
A. Pretoria, South Africa. I was born in the Western Cape and grew up in the Strand, a small coastal town, about an hour from Cape Town. I still go there a few times a year to visit my parents and family. I studied at the University of Stellenbosch, at that time only lecturing in Afrikaans, my mother tongue.

Q. What university/library do you work in?
A. I work at the University of Pretoria, the largest residential university in South Africa. This university has approximately 63,500 students. Lectures are presented in both Afrikaans and English. I am working in the Faculty library for Engineering, Built Environment and IT, and also Natural and Agricultural sciences. These two faculties are being served by the same library. In total, we serve about 15,000 students.

Q. What is your job title?
A. Senior Information specialist (liaison librarian) for Mechanical and Aeronautical engineering; Electrical, Electronic and Computer engineering; Chemical and environmental engineering; Materials and metallurgical engineering; Mining engineering; and Chemistry.

Q. What do you enjoy most about your job and why?
A. Doing information literacy training and assisting researchers and students to get to the really hard to find resources. I love to see a student or researcher experience that ‘aha’ moment and know that I have contributed to it.

Q. How long have you worked in the libraries?
A. I worked one year in a government library, four years at the Council for Science and Industry Research library and 23 years at the University of Pretoria library services.

Q. What is one unforgettable experience that has happened to you or your coworkers while working in the library?
A. To me, it is very special to become part of research groups and experience the joy of their research breakthroughs. Eventually they start to see me as a member of their departments and invite me to their social functions — now, that I really like! From these interactions, I learned how to play ten pin bowling with a group of graduate students from the Institute of Applied Materials. I got to go to a nearby mining town by steam train with the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer engineering where we spent time visiting and playing table tennis. I just love these social spin offs that come from my work.

Q. What would you like to learn and see during your visit to the Purdue Libraries?
A. I would like to see how these libraries operate in general. I would also like to learn more about the training programs you have.

Q. Is this your first time to the United States?
A. Yes. The closest I have been previously, was when I visited Niagara Falls in Canada in 2009 and walked over the bridge to the US side.

Q. What’s your favorite book, Web site, movie or database?
A. Book: The Shack; Web site: Anything that has what I am currently looking for. Movie: Fiddler on the Roof; Database: Scopus.

Q. Coffee, tea, water or soft drink?
A. Orange juice and rooibos tea (which I brought along from South Africa because I was not sure that I would find it here).

Q. What do you like to do for fun?
A. Play tennis, go to a game reserve, bird watch, choir singing and travel.

Q. Feel free to include any information about yourself that you would like to share with the staff?
I am one of nine, very fortunate, South African librarians that were sent to the US on a grant by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The purpose is to gather as much information on research libraries as possible and go back and implement the knowledge we gained during our visits to the top research institutions of South Africa.

I am working out of the Engineering Library, Room B71. My office phone number is 494-2704. I currently do not have a Purdue e-mail address set up but you are welcome to contact me at sunette.steynberg@up.ac.za .  You will receive an ‘out of office reply’ but that is for the benefit of my UP clients. Please ignore it.

I would love to meet and talk to as many of you as possible in the five weeks I am here.  That would be March, 7-28 and April, 18-29.

 

Join us for Lunch Friday, Mar. 11 at 11:45 a.m. in the Union near Starbucks
All staff are invited to come and meet Sunette. Please buy or bring you own lunch. Let Charlotte Erdmann know if you plan to attend so that she can save enough tables.

 

Indiana Cartoons and Cartoonists Exhibit and Workshop

PILLAR: New Relationships

On Mar., 1 the Hicks Undergraduate library was host to local cartoonist Ryan Bidlack (BidS) as part of the recent Indiana Cartoons and Cartoonist exhibit. BidS is the creator of the downtown Lafayette comic “The Window” that features Sam and Maze, the cats he shares his apartment with. BidS talked about how he started the comic strip as an outlet for his creativity and a way to throw wise cracks to the world around him. He created interactive drawings in the windows as demonstrated in the photo below: Dawn Stahura in “Get a kiss from Maze.”

Dawn Stahura and cartoon drwing of Maze the cat by Ryan Bidlack.

Sam and Maze will return to the Hicks Undergraduate Library windows for the semester’s prep and finals weeks to bring a little comic relief to exam times.

 

Student Awards and Scholarships Deadline - March 11

Please remind your students about the Mar. 11 deadline.

Review criteria and instructions and apply online at: www.lib.purdue.edu/adv/pulsescholar

Supervisors make sure you have completed your part of the application process.

 

One Book Higher Reminder

To present a poster, contact Angie Ewing (aewing@purdue.edu) before Apr. 11.

 

Donate/Recycle Magazines

The Indiana Veteran’s Home is in need of your gently used magazines. Residents come from varied backgrounds and professions and have a wide range of ages. Candy Sheagley (HSSE) is willing to accept and deliver them to the Veteran’s Home. Please contact Candy at candy@purdue.edu if you are interested.

 

 

CONTENTS
  • From Master Mix to Farming Tips: 100 Years of Agricultural Extension
  • Introducing Visiting South African Librarian Sunette Steynberg
  • Indiana Cartoons and Cartoonist Exhibit and Workshop
  • Student Awards and Scholarships Deadline
  • One Book Higher Reminder
  • Donate/Recycle Magazines
  • Off the Shelf
  • Announcements
  • Libraries in the News
  • Libraries Staff A-Z
  • Connect with Purdue Libraries
  • What's Cooking?

 

OFF THE SHELF

Continuing Vacancies

To view all Purdue job postings visit the Purdue employment page. If you have additional questions, contact Michelle Conwell, 494-2899.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

From Master Mix to Farming Tips:
100 Years of Agricultural Extension
Exhibit
Archives and Special Collections
Mar. 3-May 31
HSSE 4th floor
STEW

LCSSAC Lunch and Learn
"FUN-damentals of Stress"
presented by WorkLife
Wed., Mar. 23
12-1 p.m.
HIKS B848
Click here to register

Libraries Distinguished
Lecture Series

featuring T. C. Boyle
Tues., Mar. 29
7 p.m.
Fowler Hall
STEW

All-Staff Meetings
Thurs., Apr. 7
1:30-3 p.m.
HIKS B848
or
Fri., Apr. 8
9-10:30 a.m.
HIKS B848

One Book Higher
Apr. 25
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
PMU North Ballroom

Annual Staff Recognition Luncheon
Apr. 25
11:45 a.m.
PMU North Ballroom

 

LIBRARIES IN THE NEWS

College of Technology Alumni Newsletter, Feb. 2011
CoT professors launch new aviation journal; published by Purdue University Press

Purdue Exponent, Feb. 25
Timeline shows black achievement; quotes Shauna Borger, pg. 5

Purdue Exponent, Mar. 4
Letters to the Editor: Noisy libraries frustrate student who seeks quiet; pg. 6

Purdue Today, Mar. 4
Did You Know?: Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-based Learning; published by Purdue University Press

UNS Press Release, Mar. 4
Spring lecture series focuses on diversity and inclusion; Purdue Libraries a co-sponsor

UNS Press Release, Mar. 8
Fiction novelist T. Coraghessan Boyle event scheduled for March 29

The Optimist, Mar. 9
Library dean announces retirement; Mark Tucker, former HSSE Head Librarian

 

LIBRARIES STAFF A-Z

Dean LingleyDEAN LINGLEY
Digital Collection Services
Head, Digital Collection Services

Q. What do you enjoy most about your job and why?
A. The pace of digital innovation is amazing right now, I think of the drinking from a fire hose with a little straw analogy. All of the possibilities and opportunities that are available in the information science world excite me. I enjoy challenges, learning new things and helping others learn new things.

Q. How long have you worked in the Libraries and at Purdue?
A. It will be 6 years in August.

Q. What is one unforgettable experience that has happened to you or your coworkers while working in the library?
A. First day on the job: A bat which was thought to be a toy, started flying.

Q. What’s your favorite book, Web site, movie or database?
A. Google Reader, it is how I drink from the fire hose with my straw.

Q. Coffee, tea, water or soft drink?
A. All of the above

Q. What do you like to do for fun?
A. Play with my three beautiful children

Q. Feel free to include any information about yourself that you would like to share with the staff?
A. I like to sing. I was in the Varsity Men’s Glee Club at the University of Illinois. Also, I met my wife in the trombone section!

 

CONNECT WITH PURDUE LIBRARIES

 

WHAT'S COOKING?

Master Mix Recipes from Purdue's Home Extension
Visit the Libraries Intranet site for this recipe.

Send recipes to Teresa Brown.

 

COPY DEADLINE

Copy for the Mar. 23 issue is due by Mar. 21. Send to Teresa Brown.