Information Literacy and Public Policy

BY SHARON WEINER

PILLAR: Learning

Sharon WeinerI would like to tell you about an initiative designed to raise the visibility of information literacy in the policy arena. In academic libraries, we tend to think of information literacy as something that will help students get better grades for course projects. But it is also about helping students develop good habits and ways of thinking in relation to information. These habits should extend beyond a single course, beyond graduation and into their work lives and personal lives.

Policy makers are people who make decisions that affect many people and allocate funds for purposes such as education and training. So it’s important to draw their attention to information literacy. Employers report that people are entering the workforce unprepared for the continuous learning required to be competitive. Many students do not have an understanding of how to find credible information and use it for papers, presentations and personal decision-making. Policy makers need to be aware of information literacy so that they can include it in educational reform efforts and workforce training initiatives.

The Information Literacy Proclamation project
President Barack Obama and Governor Deval Patrick (Massachusetts) issued proclamations that declared October to be Information Literacy Month. Last fall, in my role as VP of the National Forum on Information Literacy (NFIL), I began contacting information literacy advocates in each state and U.S. territory to encourage them to draft requests for proclamations and submit them to their governors’ offices. So far, Massachusetts, New York and Missouri have already issued proclamations (http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/J5103-2011) and 25 other states and one territory are working on them. Indiana submitted one to Governor Daniels and we are waiting to hear his decision. Credo Reference is committed to information literacy and will be working with NFIL to promote this campaign. Once a state has a proclamation, people can develop programming to celebrate October. For more information, go to http://infolit.org/2012-information-literacy-campaign/.

 

Successful staff transitions

PILLAR: Infrastructure

Jill Stair 2012Jill Stair
Library Assistant
Digital Programs and Information Access — Acquisitions

Twenty years ago I applied and was hired into the Libraries as a Library Clerk III doing monograph maintenance under the supervision of Sue Long and Linda Prather. My job was to change shelf list cards in the main card catalog, update and enter call numbers into Northwestern Online Total Integrated System (NOTIS) and enter records into the Microenhancer to update the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC).

In February 1994, an opportunity to advance to a Library Clerk IV became available in Monograph Acquisition. I applied, was hired and began reporting to Diana Grove. I would search and import bibliographic records from OCLC for book orders, gift materials and government documents. The job sounds simple, but there were quite a few steps and guidelines involved.

In 1998, Libraries moved from NOTIS to Voyager, and with that came change and lots of it! The most significant change was not only searching and importing bibliographic records, but also creating purchase orders for all materials. I also had the responsibility of processing approval plans, standing orders and was briefly introduced to electronic resource processing. Through the years we streamlined several of the monograph acquisition workflows. It was challenging to not only order and process materials as quickly as possible for our patrons’ needs, but to also keep the financial aspect in mind.

In 2009, the Monographs and Serials units merged into one Acquisitions unit. At this time, with staff changes, parts of the electronic resource processing became Acquisitions’ responsibility. I became more involved with these processes and was introduced to SFX, which is the program used to manage the access for our electronic subscriptions. I worked very hard to learn SFX as well as how its functionality impacted Acquisitions processes and patron access. My hard work was noticed and I was promoted to Library Assistant V in 2010.

Currently I am still learning the best way to handle our information on electronic journal subscriptions and packages. Along with this challenge, I am also very active in the testing of ExLibris’ new system, Alma. I help others in Acquisitions with testing their workflows, as well as testing electronic resource processing.

It was fun to go down memory lane and recall some of the trials and many triumphs I’ve been a part of in the last 20 years and I am proud and excited to be part of the changes yet to come for the Libraries.

If you'd like to share your Libraries experience, please contact Teresa Brown at tmabrown@purdue.edu.

 

New Staff

PILLAR: Infrastructure

Ilana Barnes 2012Ilana Barnes
Assistant Professor of Library Science
Business Information Specialist
Parrish Library of Management and Economics

I joined Purdue University Libraries in May as a Business Information Specialist in the Parrish Library of Management and Economics. I am embarrassingly excited to work here as this is my first librarian position so there is always so much to learn all the time.

I am originally from Seattle (Lake Forest Park) and graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in History with a minor in American Indian Studies. After a year working in such diverse positions as government contracting at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), recruiting for the Girl Scouts and shelving for two library systems, I decided to go back to school to get a Master of Science in Information from the University of Michigan. There I double-specialized in Preservation of Information and Library/Information Services. While at Michigan I had the chance to work in the Kresge Business Library as a circulation supervisor and reference assistant where I became very passionate about business information. I also get very excited about data and worked at the Clark Library for Maps, Government Information and Data Services. In this position I worked closest with the Spatial and Numeric Data area reference area.

I’m a seven-time participant in National Novel Writing Month, an event every November where people all around the world each write a 50,000 word novel in a month. Every year I pick a different genre (Science Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Adventure) and this year I am writing a Fantasy novel, which will be different as I never really read fantasy as a kid beyond Harry Potter, so recommendations are welcome. I also like hiking, soccer and searching for the perfect chocolate milk. I am also an avid tweeter (@librarianilana).

My office is located in Room 331 on the third floor of the Krannert building above the Parrish Library. You can reach me at ibarnes@purdue.edu or at 49-46243. I’m excited to meet everyone.

 

Kelley Kimm 2012Kelley Kimm
Production Editor
Purdue University Press

I began working in the Purdue University Press offices on April 16 as a Production Editor for both the Press and the Joint Transportation Research Program (JTRP). The JTRP position is jointly funded by Purdue University Press and JTRP through a grant from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT). So far I have been working on technical reports and the inaugural Indiana Interstate Mobility Report for JTRP, and “A Better Way to Build: The Story of the Pankow Companies” for the Press. I am excited to be learning to typeset using Adobe InDesign, and greatly appreciate the much needed tutelage I am receiving from my colleagues!

My background is varied. I graduated from California State University, Fullerton, completed the Teacher Education program at the University of California, Irvine (then taught seventh grade for short time) and eventually earned a Specialized Certificate in Copyediting from the University of California, San Diego. I worked as a Book Production Editor at Elsevier Health Sciences in St. Louis for a number of years and then life took me to Las Vegas (where everyday people actually do live!). Originally from Terre Haute, I came back to Indiana to spend time with my super fun family. When I’m not with them, I enjoy practicing yoga, exploring new places and ideas and serving as a hospice volunteer.

You can find me in the offices of the Purdue University Press (STEW 370), or reach me at kkimm@purdue.edu, or 49-48024.

 

Dean Rhoades 2012Dean Rhoades
Reference Coordinator
Parrish Library of Management

I began as Reference Coordinator for the Parrish Library on April 25. Some of my duties include providing reference assistance and user services to patrons, updating and maintaining the Parrish FAQ and website, assisting patrons with and supporting operations of learning space technology and providing digital reference services including implementing a Parrish chat room within QuestionPoint.

I am from North Carolina and graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a BA in history. I worked at UNC in the Manuscripts Department as a public services assistant; the Archives and Special Collections at UNC Greensboro as an archives technician, webmaster, and digitization assistant; and most recently at Greensboro College in acquisitions and cataloging.

I enjoyed playing drums in my high school drum corps and, until moving to Indiana, sang baritone in my church choir. Current interests include photography, which has served as my "on the side" job for the past few years. I also enjoy working with just about any type of canine and I am an active volunteer at Wolf Park in Battle Ground.

I can be reached in the Parrish staff office at 49-66859 or drhoade@purdue.edu and my office hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

 

UBorrow wins award

PILLAR: Scholarly Communication

The Rethinking Resource Sharing Initiative announced that the winner of the Rethinking Resource Sharing (RRS) 2012 Innovation Award is UBorrow, a project of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC).

This award honors individuals or institutions for changes they have made to improve users’ access to information through resource sharing in their library, consortium, state or country. The CIC was recognized for its innovative contribution to resource sharing during the Rethinking Resource Sharing Policies Committee Program at ALA Annual in Anaheim.

Purdue Libraries belongs to this consortium and introduced UBorrow to Purdue this spring as announced in the May 30 issue of INSIDe.

To learn more about this award visit: http://wp.me/pT6ms-B9.

 

Libraries Staff A-Z

PILLAR: Infrastructure

Laurie Sadler 2012Laurie Sadler
Circulation Services Manager
Academic Affairs

Q. What do you enjoy most about your job and why?
A. Variety — every day is different. There is always something new to learn and/or a new problem to solve.

Q. How long have you worked in the Libraries and at Purdue?
A. I started working for the Libraries in September 2005 but have been at Purdue since April 1996.

Q. What is one unforgettable experience that has happened to you or your coworkers while working in the library?
A. My most unforgettable experience while working for the Libraries was getting my passport to attend meetings in Leuven, Belgium for URM (Alma). At the end of the meeting I was able to fly to Sweden to visit my family.

Q. What’s your favorite book, website, movie or database?
A. “Great Expectations.”

Q. Coffee, tea, water or soft drink?
A. Coffee and tea.

Q. What do you like to do for fun?
A. I like to garden, cook and spend time with my family. I also have recently discovered that I enjoy shopping at Jungle Jim’s and Ikea after my recent vacation to Cincinnati.

Q. Feel free to include any information about yourself that you would like to share with the staff?
A. Our house is very active with two boys (at home), two dogs, two cats and one husband. My sons are Preston (25, he has his own place), Kendall (22, attending Purdue) and Doug II (13 end of July). Tyson and Penelope are our two Jack Russell’s and Walter and Oliver are the cats. My husband (Doug I) and I own a used car lot in Wolcott that keeps him very busy.

 

 

 

 

CONTENTS
  • Information Literacy and Public Policy
  • Successful staff transitions
  • Libraries new staff
  • UBorrow wins award
  • Libraries Staff A-Z
  • Off the Shelf
  • Service Anniversaries
  • Thank you
  • Events
  • Publications and Presentations
  • Redesign: Attaining Purdue University Publications
  • Libraries in the News
  • What's Cooking?

 

OFF THE SHELF

New Listing

  • Library Assistant IV, Patron Service Coordinator (Clerical) (Look for posting 7/16)

Continuing Vacancies

New Staff

  • George Stachokas, Head Resource Services (7/2/12)
  • Dianna Gilroy, Production Editor-Shofar (7/2/12)
  • Tracy Grimm, Flight Archivist-Barron Hilton (7/10/12)

To view all Purdue job postings visit the Purdue employment page. If you have additional questions, contact Julie Hillgrove, 494-2903.

 

SERVICE ANNIVERSARIES

Heather Oakley is celebrating 15 years at Purdue.

Dan Yeoman is celebrating 15 years at Purdue.

 

THANK YOU

I will be short just two weeks from being with the Purdue Libraries for four years. I remember getting the call from Tom Haworth offering me the position, it made my day! I have enjoyed working here very much and have made many lasting friendships.

You never knew from day-to-day what would happen. One moment the phone would ring and I would be helping a young man trying to get flowers delivered to his girlfriend to having a Purdue pennant that had been in space delivered to my desk. I even had the opportunity to arrange for the use of and then escort President Cordóva to one of our conference rooms.

I am looking forward to the new challenges and opportunities in my new position in Central Human Resources in Freehafer. Purdue University is a wonderful place to work and the Libraries will always hold a special place for me. I will miss working with everyone here. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Linda Foster

 

EVENTS

Herbert C. Brown: A Nobel Laureate's Life and Legacy
Archives and Special Collections
June 4-August 24
HSSE 4th floor
STEW

Purdue Day at the Indiana State Fair
August 10

Information Literacy Research Symposium
Featuring Dr. Christine Bruce
August 13
1-5 p.m.
More information forthcoming

Libraries Distinguished Lecture Series
Featuring Vijay V. Vaitheeswaran
"Need, Speed and Greed: Welcome to the Innovation Economy"
October 18
7 p.m.
Fowler Hall
STEW
Free and open to the public

Purdue Farmer’s Market
Thursdays, May 3-October 25
10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Centennial Mall

Lafayette Farmers Market
Saturdays, May 5-October 27
7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Fifth Street at Main and Columbia
Lafayette

Sagamore West Farmers Market
Wednesdays from May 2-October 31
3-6:30 p.m.
Cumberland Park on Salisbury Street
West Lafayette

 

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Michael Witt. "Databib: An Online Bibliography of Research Data Repositories." ACRL Digital Curation Interest Group, ALA Annual Conference, Anaheim, California, June 23.

 

REDESIGN: ObtainING PURDUE UNIVERSITY PUBLICATIONS

Purdue’s Office of Marketing and Media has created a Web form to obtain campus-wide materials, making it easier to access the most recent versions of publications as well as online versions where available. Make sure to bookmark https://marketing.purdue.edu/
Toolkit/Publications
.

Other design elements/marketing site: S:\Marketing and http://intranet.lib.purdue.edu/
display/ADV/Marketing

If you have any questions, no matter how small, about the redesign elements, please contact Libraries Marketing Associate, Kate Kester at kkester@purdue.edu or 49-69610. If you have a question, more than likely, someone else does.

 

LIBRARIES IN THE NEWS

Purdue Today, June 28
UBorrow increases access to and availability of books

“One life: Amelia Earhart” at National Portrait Gallery

New Search Marks Earhart Anniversary

www.jconline.com, July 5
Book documents life of Kirby Risk family

 

WHAT'S COOKING?

How to prepare fresh sweet corn without those pesky corn silks
Visit the Libraries Intranet

 

COPY DEADLINE

Copy for the July 25 issue is due by July 23. Send to tmabrown@purdue.edu