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UNIVERSITY PRESS WEEK AND THE CRAFT BEER INDUSTRY |
| BY CHARLES WATKINSON |
 In 1978, President Jimmy Carter (a Purdue Press author) established University Press Week "to honor the important role of university presses in advancing and preserving knowledge." In the same year, he also signed a bill into law that made the home brewing of beer legal in the United States and thus created the foundations for the craft beer industry.
This year sees the re-launch of University Press Week, Nov. 11-17, in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Association of American University Presses (http://www.universitypressweek.org). It seems a fitting time to reflect on how those two seemingly unrelated landmarks of the Carter Presidency, home brewing and supporting university press publication, actually have much in common. An emphasis on process, a commitment to experimentation and the celebration of regional diversity seem to be three particular areas of connection.
Process: Craft brewers and university press publishers have both evolved a complex process designed to improve the raw materials to create intoxicating final products. For university presses, that involves selecting the best manuscripts through the expertise of outside peer reviewers and editorial boards; then processing these using editorial and design expertise; before packaging and marketing the finished products to ensure maximum consumption.
Experimentation: Whereas big commercial operations tend to stick to well-tried and tested crowd-pleasers like lite beers, both craft brewers and university press publishers are proud to be experimenters. The Lafayette Brewing Company's specialty ales may not always hit the spot, but they give a chance for drinkers to experience new tastes and experiences. When Purdue Press takes a risk on a first-time academic author or publishes in a new interdisciplinary subject area, we know that the monograph may not sell enough copies to cover its costs. It sometimes takes a while to acquire a taste.
Regional diversity: The 100 members of the Association of American University Presses are spread across North America with the most commercial publishers clustered around New York and Los Angeles. Presses like Purdue try to publish books and journals that advance the reputation and impact of their host institutions and their home states. But in the same way as the best Hoosier beers can be bought in any state, the Press prides itself on a local roots, global reach approach.
In a recent study of the beer market, it remains the case that domestic light beer remains dominant, but interest in the unique styles and flavor profiles of craft beer is surging. University presses play a similar role in ensuring that academic publishing is not monopolized by commercial interests but continues to promote independent viewpoints. To sample some unexpected tastes this week, visit universitypressweek.org and click on some of more than 100 Fine Print titles selected by AAUP members to showcase their favorite books. To get a sense of the impact of presses, check out the University Press Mapping Project at the same site.
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CELEBRATING RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP 2012 |
 For the fifth straight year, the Purdue Libraries Research Council hosted Celebrating Research and Scholarship (CR&S) on Nov. 12. This event is planned to showcase research in all its phases, from the early spark of an idea to a funded grant proposal and everything in between. It's a great opportunity to learn what our colleagues are working on and to generate new research ideas and collaborations. It's always amazing to see the breadth of what is being accomplished! Topics this year included data and information literacy, GIS and patron driven acquisition.
This year's CR&S showcased 29 abstracts — the largest number so far! A tight timeframe was necessary to present them all in two hours and Scott Brandt kept the presenters moving at a fast clip. Lunch provided opportunities for questions and deeper discussion of the presentations. The Research Council subcommittee for CR&S was Ilana Barnes, Megan Sapp Nelson and Maribeth Slebodnik.
Slides, abstracts and breakout notes from the 2012 CR&S and its predecessors can be found on the Libraries Intranet at http://intranet.lib.purdue.edu/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=34308126.
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COLLABORATIVE RE-ALIGNMENT OF SPACES IN THE AVIATION TECHNOLOGY LIBRARY |
| BY DANIA REMALY |
 Three years ago, Purdue's Aviation Technology department became the first collegiate program to offer an entry level jet pilot rating. When the head of the new Phenom 100 Program, Christopher Carrier, needed to find a training space for his students, the Aviation Technology Library embraced the opportunity to meet the new needs of the department. Purdue Professional Flight students from AT 395 Turbine Flight Sim Lab classes needed a place to view specialized Phenom 100 and Garmin Prodigy Software before they advanced to full simulator training. The software allows students to depart and land from a simulated airport, set their destination, altitude and use autopilot.
The library's generous study room which comfortably accommodated 8-10 patrons has been updated with paint, a white board and furniture provided by the Libraries and the department provided a Dell workstation with dual monitors loaded with specific Phenom and Garmin software. A large poster mounted to the wall of room with the Phenom main instrument panel, left and right consoles and control yokes allows students to do low-tech simulations as well.
This collaborative project has been quite successful in meeting new needs for our primary users in the Aviation Technology Library. The library's extended hours allow students more flexibility in putting in their practice time and the integration of important resources in the library makes it an even more attractive destination for students for their out of class learning.
In the photo above Kyle Wagoner, a student in AT 354 Turbine Flight Operations, is using the Phenom Training Room in the Aviation Technology Library.
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SMILE PROGRAM'S FIRST RECIPIENT |
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 Jim Mullins hands Jim Derringer a $25 Von's Book Shop gift certificate after Jim D's name was randomly drawn from those who were SMILED upon in October!
We look forward to the SMILE program growing with more staff, faculty and administrators sending and receiving this special note of appreciation for a kindness or thoughtfulness given, assistance provided to or by a Libraries, Press or Copyright Office colleague.
For more information and the process to send a SMILE please go to http://intranet.lib.purdue.edu/display/HR/SMILE+Program.
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LIBRARIES NEW STAFF |
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 Benjamin Dewayne Branch
Sloan Foundation CLIR/DLF Postdoctoral Data Curation Fellow
I received my bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina A&T State University in 1994, a master's degree in Computer Science in 1996 and a doctorate degree from North Carolina State University in Educational Research and Policy Analysis in 2009. In the doctorate program, I specialized in geographical information systems (GIS) and obtained a minor and certificate in GIS. Such work included fundamental earth science modeling and some 3-dimensional modeling. I also obtained formal training in hierarchal linear modeling, which requires large volumes of data sets.
I have a 10-year career in the telecommunications industry/networking that includes working with Lockheed Martin, IBM, WorldCom and Cisco Systems. I also have had extensive earth science professional development through participation in the Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success in Earth System Science program since 2006, where I completed this program and obtained several formal and informal mentors to aid in my professional development via involvement at the American Geophysical Fall and Joint Assembly Spring conferences. Such an exposure has provided insight into the scholarly world and its expectation.
My 2009 dissertation, "A Study of Educator's Perceptions of Spatial Thinking," has laid the basis for new interdisciplinary considerations and efforts. I taught at Elizabeth City State University and was an outreach facilitator for the Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing Education and Research. I taught a course in C++ and introduction to computing and worked in earth science research with undergraduates.
Presently, I am a Post Doctorate Research Associate at the University of Oklahoma for the Center of Spatial Analysis and Geoinformatics. My focus is GIS and meteorology synergy, informatics educational pipeline support, and GIS education and next generation concepts. My focus is to advance STEM outcomes in terms of Earth Science and Space Informatics Education. In addition, I teach introductory GIS courses here for the Center of Spatial Analysis.
At Purdue University Libraries, I serve as the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) GIS and Data Curation Fellow, which is funded by the Sloan Foundation. This fellowship will allow me to explore and learn about the role libraries and library science play in the critical need to manage and access massive amounts of digital data. My responsibilities include campus GIS support and data curation research and I will be working on advancing campus GIS capacity, data curation profiling and K-12 spatial collaborations.
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LIBRARIES STAFF A-Z |
Candy Sheagley
Collection Maintenance and Periodical Assistant
Humanities, Social Science and Education
Q. What do you enjoy most about your job and why?
A. I like working with the students …they are amazing! I also like working special projects. For example the three-year barcoding project of the attic collection; solving problems and library mysteries; and finding a treasure from time to time.
Q. How long have you worked in the Libraries and at Purdue?
A. I started working in HSSE Library in Feb. 1980.
Q. What is one unforgettable experience that has happened to you or your coworkers while working in the library?
A. I have seen it all — from streakers in the stacks, bats in the attic (literally) and some pretty impressive water events.
Q. What is your favorite book, website, movie or database?
A. So many movies so little time! Some of my favorites include How Green was my Valley, Top Gun, The Quiet Man, Dirty Dancing, Christmas in Connecticut, Thin Man series, Charlie Chan and on and on. Books — anything by James Lee Burke.
Q. Coffee, tea, water or soft drink?
A. Coffee, lots and lots, all day long and the last cup right before bed!
Q. What do you like to do for fun?
A. Gardening. I am a Tippecanoe County Master Gardener. I like being outdoors at anytime in any weather (love walking at night when it's snowing). I enjoy collecting and reading cookbooks and baking, using some of the hundreds of cookbooks I own. I was a body builder for years and still enjoy lifting weights for exercise and spending time with my friend John.
Q. Feel free to include any information about yourself that you would like to share with the staff?
A. I have four house cats, Polka Dot, Willy (a special needs feline), Scarlett and Briggs. For over 10 years I have also cared for three semi feral cats, Reese, Ms. Kitty and Bart. They live in the garden and each has a new dog house for this winter. There never is a dull moment or a spare dollar! I have an extensive collection of garden bowling balls, 60+ and counting, that everyone enjoys finding in unexpected places during gardening season (storing them during the winter is a feat!). |
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GLOBAL CHALLENGES: Libraries faculty lead in international initiatives in information literacy, e-science, information access and data management and collaborate on Purdue's global initiatives.