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LIBRARIES CONTINUES EFFORTS TO ENGAGE KEY AUDIENCES |
BY SHANNON WALKER |
Summertime has quickly passed into a new fall semester and with increasing opportunities for Libraries to interact with students, faculty and help connect our audiences with key Libraries resources.
Echoing Beth McNeil’s article from the last edition of INSIDe, the Libraries truly have been more involved on campus than ever. Here are some of the events the Libraries have represented and/or will be participating in this fall:
- ISS WOW Info. Fair — Aug. 12-23 (Information Resource Fair for International Students)
- BGR/University Resource Fair — Aug. 18
- New Faculty Orientation Fair — Aug. 21
- Graduate Student Information Fair — Aug. 22
- University Information Tents — Aug. 25, 26
- LGBTQ Event/Resource Fair — Sept. 2
- Faculty/Staff Academic Advisors Resource Fair — Sept. 4
Also, mark your calendars for the following events at the end of the month:
- Hicks Welcome Back Celebration — Sept. 26; 4-7 p.m., Hicks Undergraduate Library (launch of “Why I Love Purdue Libraries” video contest); music, food, games, giveaways
- Homecoming — Sept. 27, 9-11 a.m., Memorial Mall; Highlights of key Libraries milestones/accomplishments; ALC promotion/awareness; PUP highlights
Another big milestone this fall has been the creation of a Libraries mobile website in conjunction with the University’s BoilerGuide mobile app. This website is live and has been integrated with the BoilerGuide app, so Libraries resources are available to all students, faculty and staff in a more comprehensive and streamlined way.
On the site, users will find the most highly utilized and basic Libraries links including: hours, databases, ask a librarian, quick tips and more. Once users go to the Libraries website on their mobile devices, they will be re-directed to the Libraries’ new, mobile-ready site: http://m.lib.purdue.edu/
This site was created by a collaborative team of Libraries staff including the web/IT team and the Libraries Web Steering Committee (WSC).
Thanks to all Libraries faculty and staff who collaborated on this project and helped to streamline our resources in an easier, more mobile-friendly manner for our users. There are also plans in the near future to customize the design of the current Libraries website, to offer a more mobile-friendly display.
Remember to check out the Libraries homepage for the latest news and announcements, including the latest developments on the Active Learning Center and Libraries strategic initiatives. |
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DUST BOWL EXHIBIT IN HICKS LIBRARY |
BY ANN O'DONNELL |
The Hicks Undergraduate Library is pleased to announce that we will be hosting a new exhibition this fall from the American Library Association titled, Dust, Drought, and Dreams Gone Dry from August 28-October 10. The exhibition and related programs will be available for all library visitors to learn about the Dust Bowl, one of the worst man-made ecological disasters in American history.
The exhibition recalls a tragic time in our history and explores its environmental and cultural consequences. Visitors will explore several thought-provoking questions: What caused fertile farms to turn to dust? How did people survive? What lessons can we learn? Audiences will explore this time period as the exhibition delves into the history and geography behind the Dust Bowl. It also delves into the human element through the words of the survivors themselves, showing what it was like to live through such a difficult time.
The exhibition was organized by the American Library Association Public Programs Office, the Oklahoma State University Library and the Mount Holyoke College Library. It was made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
Dust, Drought, and Dreams Gone Dry will be accompanied by a series of free library programs, including lectures and film screenings:
September 9, 7 p.m.*
The Dust Bowl: Causes and Consequences with Dr. R. Douglas Hurt, History Department Head
September 16, 7 p.m.*
Prelude to the Dust Bowl: Drought and Depression in the 1890s with Dr. Susan Curtis, professor of History
September 24, 7 p.m.*
The Politics of the Dust Bowl: Woody Guthrie and John Steinbeck with Dr. Harry Targ, professor of Political Science
September 25, 7 p.m.
Dust Bowl Women with Dr. Pamela Riney-Kehrberg, Chair, Iowa State University Department of History
October 1, 7 p.m.*
Sanora Babb: Whose Names are Unknown with Dr. Bill Mullen, professor of English and American Studies
October 8, 7 p.m.
The Plow that Broke the Plains — The Dust Bowl Documentary with Dr. Otto Doering, professor of Agriculture Economics
Each presentation will be held in Hicks Undergraduate Library, Room G980D. They are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
If you have any questions about the display or presentations, please contact Ann O’Donnell (atodonne@purdue.edu, 765-496-1498) or Emily Heitman (eheitman@purdue.edu, 765-494-6732). You can also visit our website: https://www.lib.purdue.edu/dustbowl
* Sections of the Ken Burns documentary, The Dust Bowl, will be aired during these presentations. |
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LIBRARIES PRESENT TO NEW STUDENTS AT BOILER GOLD RUSH |
BY CLARENCE MAYBEE |
This year an exciting new element was added to Boiler Gold Rush (BGR)! On the morning of Friday, August 22 the Libraries gave an hour-long presentation to new Purdue students about resources and services available in the Purdue Libraries. The Libraries’ talk was one of ten presentations to new students from various Purdue units that were organized by Student Success. Working with a group of librarians, Ashley Butler, Reference Coordinator in the Parrish Library, put together a PowerPoint that included several short videos of Purdue students who work at the Libraries. In each video a student talked about they how use the Libraries’ spaces, resources, or get help when they need it. Students who made videos include: Jesse Fuller, Chris Gibson, Shuo Li, Molly Waite, Alex Williams, Katie Williams, Rachel Williams and Xiao Yang.
Adding an element of fun, Ilana Stonebraker created a poll of Buzzfeed style questions that were peppered throughout the presentation. Students were asked things like, what they eat or drink to “fuel” their studying and what soundtrack best describes the last essay they wrote. Their answers determined what type of Boilermaker they are: a) sensitive, b) nonconformist, c) chill, or d) fierce! The “What type of Boilermaker are you?” quiz is available at https://www.qzzr.co/quiz/what-type-of-boilermaker-are-you.
To reach all the students the presentation was simultaneously delivered in five locations across campus. Groups ranging from 200 to 400 students met in Forney Hall (Ilana Stonebraker), Lily Hall (Maribeth Slebodnik), Smith Hall (Nastasha Johnson) and Fowler Hall (Catherine Fraser Riehle). The remaining students (about 3000) came together in the Elliott Hall of Music (Amy Van Epps and Clarence Maybee).
3000 students dancing in Elliott before the Libraries’ presentation. Photo by Amy Van Epps. |
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SUCCESSFUL STAFF TRANSITIONS |
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A note from Beth McNeil: Following the continued series about “Successful staff transitions,” INSIDe will include feature stories about staff throughout the Libraries who continue to take on new roles, duties and responsibilities as we move forward with implementing our Strategic Plan and meeting the needs of our users. If you'd like to share your experience, please contact Teresa Brown at tmabrown@purdue.edu.
RaeLynn Boes
HSSEB Division Operations Manager
In my nine years at Purdue Libraries, I’ve had seven different job titles and worked in six different combinations of libraries. I have met and learned from some of the best, and thoroughly enjoyed the challenges and the changes. When Linda Rose announced her retirement plans for May 9, 2014, my first thought was pure joy for her impending freedom, very quickly followed by an “uh-oh.” I had worked closely with Linda for a couple of years, and felt confident that I could cover many of her responsibilities until decisions were made and actions taken. Much of that confidence came from the knowledge that HSSE, Hicks and Parrish staff are a dedicated group that any manager would be fortunate to support. Covering all three libraries temporarily was a given, so doing the same for a much longer period of time made sense.
It was a saving grace to have the summer months to reacquaint myself with HSSE before the academic year began. Keeping up with three vibrant libraries is sure to be both exhausting and exhilarating and I consider myself extremely fortunate to have the people around me that I do. The first week of classes has been intense, and I am already so impressed with all the work that is being done on the front lines. Student workers are being hired and trained, course reserves are being processed, an absolute barrage of questions being answered, room reservations being processed and coordinated, libraries spaces tidied and cleaned, books and journals pulled, shelved and transferred, electronic resources updated and improved, classrooms supported, exhibits and displays going up, programs planned, and at the heart of it all: patrons welcomed and guided with a smile. My job has some new dimensions to it and the titles may change, but the purpose is really the same as that first day nine years ago. We’re here for the students and we’re good at it!
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LIBRARIES NEW STAFF |
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Michael Flierl
Information Literacy Instructional Designer
I am thrilled to join Purdue Libraries as an Information Literacy Instructional Designer focusing on the IMPACT program. Throughout my first month in West Lafayette I have experienced nothing but kind and dedicated professionals in and outside of the Libraries. I feel particularly lucky to be working with Clarence Maybee and all the talented librarians associated with IMPACT. It is my aim to continue Purdue Libraries’ tradition of excellence by helping faculty redesign courses that produce more student-centered learning and information literate students.
I hail from a land of ice and snow — Buffalo, New York. I first went to Lindenwood University outside St. Louis on a volleyball scholarship and then Marquette University to pursue an M.A. in Philosophy. It was at Marquette that I started to coach volleyball and teach philosophy. Helping an athlete develop a skill or guiding a student towards greater understanding of a difficult theory still brings me great joy. Next I attained my M.S. in Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois where I was given my first taste of academic librarianship as a Graduate Assistant in Grainger Engineering Library Information Center. While there I worked on a wide range of projects, though my proudest accomplishment is starting a workshop series dedicated to information literacy for undergraduate engineering students.
In my spare time I try to play or coach as much volleyball as I can. I also enjoy reading Sci-Fi novels and playing strategy games like chess and go.
I am very proud to be a part of the cutting edge Purdue University Libraries system. Please feel free to contact me at mflierl@purdue.edu, 496-0093, or stop by my office in the Hicks Library, Room G933. |
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CONSTITUTION DAY |
BY RAELYNN BOES |
Wednesday, September 17, is Purdue’s annual commemoration of Constitution Day and Libraries is again participating. We are asking for volunteers to staff the display, which will be in the Purdue Memorial Union Room 118 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Visitors to past Constitution Days from the University and the community have enjoyed the Libraries display which demonstrates the importance of freedom of speech by highlighting books that have been banned over the years. Shifts that need coverage are listed below. Please check with your supervisor for permission to participate and let me know when you are available rboes@purdue.edu. Thank you.
- 10-11 a.m.
- 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
- 12-1 p.m.
- 1-2 p.m.
- 2-3 p.m.
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AUGUST SMILE AWARD |
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Dianna Gilroy's name was randomly drawn from all those who were SMILED upon in August. 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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MAKING WAY FOR THE ALC |
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Demolition has begun for the construction of the Active Learning Center. The Engineering Administration building is slowly but surely coming down.
Built in 1928 and originally known as the Service and Stores Building, the Engineering Administration Building (ENAD) was renamed in 1962. That year, Purdue created the first computer science department in the United States and computer science classes were held in ENAD until 1967, when the department was moved to the Mathematical Sciences Building.
Did you know that the Nuclear Engineering Library and the Goss Collection were once housed in ENAD before they were moved into the current Engineering Library in Potter? Teresa Brown was a student worker and helped with the move of six engineering libraries into Potter in 1977. |
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