HLS Division IMPACTS INFORMATION LITERACY AND COLLECTION MANAGEMENT

For the third year, Marianne Stowell Bracke, associate professor, is co-instructor for AGR29400, Directed Readings in Agriculture, with College of Agriculture Associate Dean Marcos Fernandez. The course is a seminar intended to teach critical thinking skills, information evaluation, civil discourse and introduce students to social issues in science and agriculture. This semester the students are reading the book, Denialism: how irrational thinking hinders scientific progress, harms the planet, and threatens our lives by Michael Specter. Bracke is beginning preliminary research on the correlation between beliefs and experiences and students' ability to be critical evaluators of information. This will form her research agenda as she completes work as a fellow in the University's degree in a second discipline program.

Maribeth Slebodnik, associate professor, is one of several librarians actively involved in the University's IMPACT program for the past two years. The commitment to this program requires each librarian to attend frequent workshops and meetings with faculty selected to be participants in the re-design of courses. Slebodnik has acted as liaison for several courses in which information literacy activities are integrated into the class. This semester she is working with professors in the Departments of Nutrition Science and Food Science and co-teaching NUTR29700, Introduction to Honors Research. Maribeth also works individually with graduate students in the School of Nursing as they develop their literature search strategies for their prospective thesis.

Jane Yatcilla, associate professor, is co-teaching for the third year SCI36000, Great Issues in Science and Society, with Professor Buster Dinsmore. Another active and successful participant in the IMPACT program, Yatcilla is putting into practice some of the pedagogical techniques introduced in the workshops. This year instead of all the students reading the same journal article, she and Dinsmore have adopted the jigsaw technique where several different articles are assigned and part of the group discussion has students relating their articles to the others. They have also introduced the use of rubrics, a standard of performance for a defined population, in the writing assignments and are using a formal peer evaluation that results in a multiplier that can raise (or lower!) the points students earned through group assignments. Since spring 2011 she has also partnered with IMPACT instructors in mechanical engineering, computer science and computer graphics technology. This semester she is working with Dr. Yaman Kaakeh to re-design the therapeutics course for P3 (third professional year) pharmacy students.

Gretchen Stephens, associate professor, developed several LibGuides to support the veterinary technology program for on campus and distance learning. Guides to the e-books supporting this program and clinical decision making in the small and large animal clinics are some of our most frequently used guides.

Collection management projects are on-going or have been completed in all three division libraries. While not exactly information literacy, the projects will hopefully aid everyone by improving access to information which will be critically evaluated and applied to solve information needs.

• Ashley Reisert and Will Ferrall have inventoried the Purdue Agriculture Extension collection (approximately 8400 pieces) to determine exactly what we have available for current and future digitization.
• Victoria Thomas is working with me in reviewing the many incomplete monograph series for potential deselection.
• Allen Bol's efforts in removing and consolidating the Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Sciences (PNHS) journal collection resulted in the elimination of 2400 linear feet of shelving — enough space to add ten study carrels and additional table for student use.
• Tonya Wichterman and Marilyn Rogers are currently working on projects that will reduce the print collection footprint and provide more active learning space in the new physical arrangement of Veterinary Medical (VETM) collections.

CELEBRATING GIS DAY 2012

Purdue Libraries Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 2012 Day, Our Community Our Maps, was held on Nov. 14. Featured speaker Eric Kansa spoke to room filled audiences in the morning and afternoon sessions.

Approximately 170 attendees for the college program and 45 students with chaperons for the middle school program attended this year's events. The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Indiana support assisted with the middle school program with great success.

Other highlights included:

• Federal agencies, National Ocean and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) and Oak Ridge National Laboratories (ORNL), addressed student geospatial skills in two student-centered sessions.
• Indiana Geographic Information Council and Indiana State transportation provided sessions on state GIS resources and developments.
• Awards were given for best posters and lightning talks for graduate and undergraduate students.
• The firm ESRI at www.esri.com performed remote 3-d GIS awareness and exposure.
• Numerous members of faculty and staff participated in judging, and helping with the sessions and middle school program.
• Middle school kids participated in GIS geo-caching and learning about STEM careers and preparation needed to pursue those careers.

Participants listen to featured speaker Eric Kansa in one of the morning sessions.

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