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UPDATES FROM THE BUSINESS OFFICE |
| BY HEATHER OAKLEY |
 There are many changes currently taking place in Business Services. The changes being implemented are designed to automate and streamline processes, which has been identified as a priority from the University administration. I wanted to highlight a few of the major projects that are occurring right now.
Travel System
Purdue has begun a transformation of the travel process from a paper based manual process into an electronic authorization, booking and expense system. As a result, some business practices will be changed or discontinued. Over the last six months, colleges and units have been deploying this new travel system, Concur, into their areas. Concur will be coming to the Libraries soon. Training will be provided for those of you impacted (travelers and their delegates) in the coming weeks.
Timekeeping System
An enterprise time redesign project is underway. This project will change the way non-exempt employees record time and supervisors approve time in the future. Some of the objectives of the project are to eliminate paper processes, standardize processes as appropriate and eliminate manual time entry and calculation of overtime and other business rules. Currently, there is parallel testing going on (a few units are running payroll through our existing program and through the new system at the same time). As long as everything goes well, the next step is to have a few areas start piloting the system. The next step after that would be rolling out the system more broadly. As of now, no official timeline for rollout has been established.
Purchasing System
The University is in the process of implementing Ariba as Purdue’s purchasing system. Ariba provides a set of cloud-based tools and technologies that allow for efficient and effective requisitioning, ordering, receiving and invoice reconciliation. This implementation is part of the overall procurement process transformation whose goals are to deliver cost savings and cost avoidance; create an environment for excellent internal customer service and collaboration and procurement risk management; enable major process efficiencies and automation; and position the University as a leader in procurement effectiveness. Although many changes have already occurred in the procurement transformation, the procure-to-pay portion is scheduled to happen sometime this fall.
The business office appreciates your support as we implement these new procedures. Please let me know if you have questions at 49-42895 or hoakley@purdue.edu. |
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ALMA PROJECT UPDATE |
| BY GEORGE STACHOKAS |
 Purdue University Libraries successfully launched Alma on May 16 but the formal Implementation Phase continues into July. Members of the Alma Project Team are still busy testing functionality in acquisitions, resource management, fulfillment (circulation), analytics, as well as electronic resources management. Our launch went very smoothly thanks to our hard working staff and we have not encountered any problems that would prevent Libraries personnel from using Alma for their routine work. Like any new system, however, there are bugs. We are working with Ex Libris to troubleshoot these problems and request enhancements. Significant improvements in analytics and electronic resources management are anticipated during the coming year that should improve many aspects of service.
Please note the following future milestones in our ongoing Alma implementation:
- The Support Phase of the Alma Project begins in July 2013. Alma Project Team structures at Purdue and Ex Libris will be phased out. For Libraries personnel, this will mean no more functional testing calls and other routine Project meetings, but functionality testing and ad hoc meetings will continue as needed.
- Alma training for selectors will be available in late July 2013. Selectors will receive individual login information and training in how to use relevant tools in Alma acquisitions and analytics for their work.
- More Primo training will be available by August 2013 to highlight new and interesting features in Primo as well as provide a refresher on basic functionality.
- FootPrints will be reconfigured to improve the reporting and tracking of problems with Alma (ongoing).
- Ex Libris will improve the overall functionality of Alma according to their Master Roadmap Plan for 2013/2014. Notable features should include UNIMARC support, Hybrid Cataloging Network, Overlap Analysis, Collection Analysis Tools, Core and Enhanced DAM Features, Enhanced Selection Workflows, Copyright Control, Enhanced Course Reserves, KPIs and Dashboards, Benchmark Analytics and Collaborative Network Analytics.
Please contact Paul Bracke at pbracke@purdue.edu or me at gstachok@purdue.edu if you have any questions about Alma implementation. |
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HICKS RENOVATION UPDATE |
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The Hicks Library is in full renovation mode. To create a more open feel and allow staff to have a more private office space, the service desks as they were have been removed and will be replaced by a single, easily relocated desk on the east end of the floor where ITaP and library staff will both be present. This new configuration will better meet the needs of library visitors who will often be using technology when they visit the space but may also need guidance in accessing Libraries resources. Watch for more updates as the renovation continues.
The iDesk and staff workroom area before demolition.
The iDesk and staff workroom area after demolition.
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MAY'S SMILE AWARD |
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 Ann O'Donnell's name was randomly drawn from all those who were SMILED upon in May. She received a $25 Von's Book Shop gift certificate.
All faculty, administrators and staff are invited to send a note of appreciation for a kindness or thoughtfulness given, assistance provided to or by a Libraries, Press or Copyright Office colleague.
To learn more about how to participate in our SMILE Program, please visit and bookmark this page on the Libraries Intranet: http://intranet.lib.purdue.edu/display/HR/SMILE+Program |
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LIBRARIES STAFF A-Z |
 Kristen Twardowski
Library Assistant IV
Hicks and Parrish Libraries
Q. What do you enjoy most about your job and why?
A. Facilitating student research and coordinating events in HSSEB have given me the opportunity to work with a wide variety of people at Purdue. Not only do I get to experience the many aspects of the Purdue community, but I have the opportunity to tag along to events like the NAECC’s Winter Storytelling Symposium.
Q. How long have you worked in the Libraries and at Purdue?
A. I first began at Purdue on a particularly cold and rainy February day in 2012. Luckily the warm welcome given by the Libraries faculty and staff more than made up for the weather.
Q. What is one unforgettable experience that has happened to you or your coworkers while working in the library?
A. Ann O’Donnell and I recently worked to bring the ALA’s Lincoln Exhibit to the Hicks Undergraduate Library. After I finished setting up the portion of the exhibit containing a seven foot tall rendition of Lincoln’s head, an international student asked me who that strange man in the picture was. The question was a good reminder of the relativity of the past and emphasized that despite the prevalence of technology, the physical space of libraries continually inspires patrons to discover and learn.
Q. What is your favorite book, website, movie or database?
A. Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev. Given the proper incentive, I recite ridiculously long sections of it. This skill makes me a riot at parties.
Q. Coffee, tea, water or soft drink?
A. As anyone who has worked with me in the mornings knows, coffee and I have a very close relationship. After I have jealously protected and fed my caffeine addiction, I move on to water, my second love.
Q. What do you like to do for fun?
A. I can typically be found running with wolves, reading far too much about history, humming off-key, and pretending I know how to dance. When I was finishing my undergraduate degree many moons ago, I interned at Wolf Park, the wolf research and education facility in Battle Ground, and now that I am back in the area I volunteer there. In addition to its wolves, coyotes and bison, the Park currently has three utterly precocious and terribly adorable fox kits who were born to be heartbreakers. You should definitely visit them if you can.
Q. Feel free to include any information about yourself that you would like to share with the staff.
A. I feel compelled to use proper grammar and spelling in text messages. I have no doubt this quirk stems from my magnificent failure in my third grade spelling bee. The word was “popular.” I have repressed how seven-year-old me decided to spell it. |
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LEARNING: Libraries faculty lead
in information literacy and learning space implementation, research and scholarship.
SCHOLARLY COMMUNICATION: Libraries facilitate and enhance the continuum of the scholarly communication process.
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.