Webinars on Critical Thinking Assessment Instruments

BY SHARON WEINER

PILLAR: Information Literacy

The Libraries is co-sponsoring two free webinars with the Discovery Learning Research Center this spring. The topic is tools that assess critical thinking. Critical thinking is closely associated with information literacy. The webinar on the Critical Thinking Assessment Test (CAT) is scheduled for Tuesday, March 20 from noon-1:30 p.m. CAT was developed at Tennessee Tech University with partial funding from National Science Foundation. It assesses a broad range of skills through short essay responses about real world situations.

The webinar on the iSkills™ assessment will be held on Wednesday, April 4 from noon-1:30 p.m. iSkills™ was developed by ETS and measures applied information and communication (ICT) literacy through real-time, scenario-based tasks.

To register for these programs, click here.

You can view the webinar from your office or in the Discovery and Learning Research Center (DLRC) in Room 221.

PILLAR: Global Challenges

Purdue Libraries hosted fifteen South African university librarians on March 7.This year’s program, "Understanding the Context: U.S. Research Libraries" is part of a grant from the Carnegie Corporation to their universities to explore and engage with current issues and trends in the field. Their day was spent learning about Purdue Libraries with presentations and comments from the Dean, Scott Brandt, Hal Kirkwood, Michael Fosmire, Sammie Morris and Clarence Maybee. During lunch, they had the opportunity to informally discuss research projects and view poster presentations by several of our librarians and archivists. They toured the Roland G. Parrish Library and LearnLab, the Informed Learning Studio (ILS, POTR 141) and Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections Research Center.

Front Row (left to right): Lucky Xaba, Tertia Coetsee, Maria Seyffert, Shorba Harkhu, Vuyokazi Gontshi, Carol Dhlamini, Ingrid Thomson, Nomusa Bhengu and Jamie Luedtke, program coordinator.

Back Row (left to right): Yusuf Ras, Pieter du Plesis, Dilshaad Brey, Magdeline Moropane, Rachel Lewis, Deborah Martindale, and Susanna Scheepers.

Visiting librarian

Following their two weeks at the Mortenson Center, the South African librarians will each be going to a research library in the United States to spend one month. This year Purdue Libraries welcomes Tertia Coetsee, an information specialist for the Veterinary Faculty (School) at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Gretchen Stephens and Jane Yatcilla are serving as her hosts.

Coetsee is sharing office space in Veterinary Medical Library, Room 1133F. Contact her at 49-67774 or tcoetsee@purdue.edu.

PILLAR: Infrastructure

The newly renovated Roland G. Parrish Library of Management and Economics (PRSH) is open and bustling with activity, but the HSSEB division, in line with the Libraries strategic goals, is continuing to look at Libraries spaces to see how they can better fit the needs of today’s students. Here are some changes that we know lie ahead, as well as some for the more distant future:

• Building on the success of the IMPACT classroom, now in use in the lower level of Hicks Undergraduate Library (HIKS), the current location of the Contemporary Literature collection (HIKS G950) and the Digital Learning Collaboratory (HIKS B853) will both be transformed into IMPACT classrooms. Like their predecessor, LearnLab, the classrooms will have round tables, up-to-date technology and a network printer.
• G950 will accommodate 72 students and have a raised floor to house data and power lines. Each round table will have a work station. Designed as a “scale up” classroom, the lectern will be in the center of the classroom with eight 70” and two 55” flat panel displays. G950 will have easy access to UnderGrounds coffee shop and the space between the two will have additional round tables and a work station. In response to student feedback, UnderGrounds is being eyed for updating, and the café, classroom and connecting area are being planned as a 24-7 space.
• B853, currently the Digital Learning Collaboratory (DLC), will accommodate 90 students and be similar in terms of technology to the Hicks Learning Studio (B848) with three pods of 15 round tables and three projectors. The group study rooms along the wall will remain and tables for student study are planned.
• The Contemporary Literature collection will be moved to the Humanities, Social Sciences and Education Library’s (HSSE) main level in the area in front of the elevator where part of the reference collection is currently shelved.
• To make room for the Contemporary Literature, the HSSE reference collection will be scaled down by 50%.
• The Norton reference area in Hicks is currently being explored for an update that will complement the other changes in the building.

Wendy Kelly retires after 30 years

WENDY KELLY
Reference assistant
John W. Hicks Undergraduate Library

Q. What do you enjoy most about your job and why?
A. First of all, my coworkers with whom I have worked with over the years and especially the current group. We work as a team; each of us knows something about the other’s job and can help out when needed. Along with reference service at the Hicks desk, I also take part in the Digital Reference service. I enjoy the hunt for the answer to a request and helping the patron find their resources and at the same time enriching my knowledge.

Q. How long have you worked in the Libraries and at Purdue?
A. For 30 years and some months I’ve been with the Libraries. I started full time in the late 70s in the Humanities, Social Science and Education bibliographer’s unit under the direction of Kathleen McCullough and Lazlo Kovacs. In 1984, I wanted to return as a student at Purdue to get my B.A. so for a couple of years I worked nights and weekends in the old Psychology library at student wages. In 1986, I was hired into the Cataloging Department as a copy cataloger. After nine plus years there, I switched to the public side of the desk and have been at the John W. Hicks Undergraduate Library until now. So for 30 years and some months I’ve been both a Libraries full time staff member and a few years as a student staff member.

Q. What is one unforgettable experience that has happened to you or your coworkers while working in the library?
A. In 1997, at UGRL’s annual custodian appreciation breakfast, John and Swifty Hicks came and had breakfast with all of us. When we had finish with the eats, Dr. Hicks thanked all the staff and custodians and then put on his baseball cap… and recited “Casey at the Bat” as only he could. That was a treat!

And also it seemed someone was always trying to get a certain librarian from UGRL to perform his famous creative dance at the annual Spring Fling, and when the committee called him to perform, he didn’t know what they were talking about, imagine that.

Q. What do you plan to do after your retirement?
A. Do you need to ask! RELAX, at least for a couple of months which will include a camping trip to the Florida Keys and then there are all the house tasks that have been put off for too long, but the stack of books that I’ve been waiting to savor will be first on the list. And I’ve already been recruited by the Print and Poster Exchange chairperson to help with the October campus poster event, so I will continue to be around.

One Book Higher deadline reminder

PILLAR: Infrastructure

A reminder to all staff that the deadline for poster/display submissions for One Book Higher (OBH) is April 4. To present a poster, email the following information to Angie Ewing:

1. Title of poster
2. Presenter(s)
3. Estimated cost if supplies are needed
4. If you will need electricity; an electrical outlet.
5. If you will need a table or display stand

The same deadline applies to ordering supplies. Supplies for posters will be ordered through your area designated supply coordinator, indicating they are for OBH.

Vote for the best poster in these categories:
Most interactive
Made me laugh out loud (LOL)
Most creative
Most innovative idea
Most scholarly
Best furthers strategic plan
Viewer's Choice

NOTE: One poster is eligible to win multiple categories.

The dean will present award certificates to the winners during lunch.

Please contact a member of the OBH committee if you have any questions: Angie Ewing, Lil Conarroe, Sharon Sturgeon, Connie Farris and Allen Bol.

Libraries celebrate Women's History Month

Women’s Archives honors Amelia Earhart’s Step-Granddaughter

Sally Putnam Chapman, the granddaughter of Amelia Earhart's husband, George Putnam, was honored with the inaugural Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Archives Award, on March 1.

In 2002, Sally Putnam Chapman, the granddaughter of Amelia Earhart's husband, George Putnam, donated 492 items belonging to the famed aviator and her grandfather. Those acquisitions made Purdue's collection the largest, most comprehensive repository of materials relating to the life and career of Earhart, at more than 5,000 items.

The donation to archives along with the authoring of her book, "Whistled Like a Bird: The Untold Story of Dorothy Putnam, George Putnam and Amelia Earhart" completed a personal story that had never been told before. For the first time people were able to see Amelia and George as married couple.  Sally chose to give the remaining memorabilia to Purdue over other renowned museums, to fulfill what her grandfather would have done.

The George Palmer Putnam Collection of Amelia Earhart Papers, has allowed students and scholars to rediscover some of the most personal aspects of an American icon. The world can celebrate Amelia Earhart's life as a pioneer who championed discovery and as an educator who challenged her students to raise their sights as high as possible and to soar on the wings of their dreams.

WADC meets to strategize priorities

Purdue Libraries’ Women’s Archives Development Council (WADC) held its annual meeting March 1. The Council reported on last year’s progress, which included inventorying, describing and preserving the Janice Voss papers, Faith Wayne Pearson papers, Eva Goble papers, Dorothy Stratton papers, Helen Schleman papers, Marylu McEwan papers and the League of Women Voters records. The Council meets on an annual basis to advocate for the Women’s Archives and raise monetary and donor support for the Women’s Archives. The collecting focus for 2012-2016 will be on women in the military and women in science and engineering.

About Women’s Archives:
The Susan Bulkeley Butler Women’s Archives was established in 2006 as a means of documenting the pioneering women who helped shape Purdue and Indiana history. The Purdue Archives and Special Collections unit actively acquires the papers of women affiliated with Purdue or Indiana. Of special interest are the papers of women who have succeeded in largely male-dominated professions such as engineering, technology, science, and management. The Women’s Archives enables researchers and the Purdue community to rediscover the contributions of women by highlighting their achievements throughout history.

About the Women’s Archives Development Council:
The Women’s Archives Development Council supports and promotes the Women’s Archives, including helping expand the collections relating to the lives of Purdue alumnae and faculty, and students and strengthening the financial base of support for the archives, serving as advocates for the Women’s Archives activities, and sponsoring projects to achieve these goals.

Front Row (left to right): Sandy Howarth, Susan Bulkeley Butler, Betty Nelson, Tamara Morse, Judy Herd, Carol Murrel and Roberta Gleiter

Back row (left to right): Stephanie Schmitz, Sammie Morris, Susan Erler and Priscilla Gerde.

Photo provided by John Underwood

Libraries building bridges at Purdue's annual Road School

PILLAR: Scholarly Communication

At Purdue’s annual Road School conference, March 6-8, Purdue ePubs, Purdue University Press, Libraries Digital Initiatives and Archives and Special Collections worked together to utilize the expertise of the crowd to identify unknown bridges from the Granville Thompson photograph collection, which was digitized for inclusion in Libraries e-Archives and the Indiana Memory Project. The Indiana State Library funded the Institute of Museum and Library Services grant.

The information table garnered tremendous interest during the conference resulting in several leads to validate the bridges identities. There were also numerous requests for access to the images to present to commissioners, engineers, and other members of the Road School community that could not attend the conference. The slides will be available, along with the other Road School 2012 conference presentations, in the Purdue ePubs Repository, www.purdue.edu/epubs, as the bridges continue to be identified.

The entire digitized collection can be found in eArchives and the Indiana Bridges website is set to go live in April. Look for more information in a future edition of INSIDe.

Research Grants awarded to Libraries faculty

PILLAR: Global Challenges

These most recent research proposals were reviewed by Research Council and approved for research support.

Hal Kirkwood, presentation “Multi-functional redesign of the Library's physical space for improved student learning and interaction” at the International Internet Librarian Conference in London UK, Oct. 30-31.

Vicki Killion, poster “The Digitization of Indiana Farmer (1851-1917): Can the Agricultural Past influence the Present?” at the United States Agricultural Information Network biennial meeting in Minneapolis, MN, April 2012.

Jeremy Garritano, presentation “Using LibGuides to enhance large‐enrollment chemistry lab courses,” at the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) Spring National Meeting in San Diego, CA, March 2012.

Sue Ward, presentation “Purdue Libraries success with patron-driven acquisitions,” at the 10th Nordic Resource Sharing, Reference and Collection Management Conference in Reykjavik, Iceland, Oct. 3-5.

Marianne Bracke, two presentations and a panel “Creating Meaningful Information Literacy Assignments for Introductory Agriculture Courses,” “Data Under Construction: Data Profiling for a Water Quality Lab” and “Information Literacy, The Canopy View: How to See the Forest and the Trees,” at the United States Agricultural Information Network biennial meeting in Minneapolis, MN, April 2012.