October marked my ten year anniversary with the Libraries Business Office. It has been a very rewarding journey filled with a huge amount of change.

There have been many modifications to business processes since my arrival in the Libraries. The University had just implemented SAP when I came to the Libraries, which was a major undertaking. Since that time, we have implemented on-line staff evaluations, Ariba (purchasing), Concur (travel), Cognos (data warehouse), Kronos (electronic timekeeping), and many more business system changes. We will continue to see additional changes in the coming months as the Human Capital Management and Finance transformation projects are implemented. 

The people I have worked closely with over the past ten years have also changed numerous times. My direct supervisor has changed four times. More than nine business office staff have turned over. More recently, the Libraries Business Office transitioned operational activities to the business operations center, which changed our staffing and operations significantly. There have been at least seven changes in associate deans and just as many (or more) in director positions. I am so thankful I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing people in the Libraries.

In January 2016, I took on the Director of Financial Affairs responsibilities for the Graduate School and Engagement (including Conferences) in addition to my existing role in the Libraries. Each of these units have unique activities that I have been learning about over the last two years. Thankfully, when I took on those areas, I also gained new staff to help me. This expanded role has enabled me to grow in my knowledge of the University while allowing me to stay in the Libraries.

Everyone could write similar or more radical stories of change that have occurred over the last ten years. We will be going through another major change with the retirement of our dean, Jim Mullins. Many times, change is difficult and is accompanied with stress. However, it gives us the opportunity to rethink and reprioritize. It can also result in tremendous opportunity and growth if we approach it with the right attitude. I look forward to continuing this journey with you.

"Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out."  ~ John Wooden

The Libraries Research Council recently hosted the annual Purdue Libraries Celebrating Research & Scholarship event in the Purdue Memorial Union West Faculty Lounge. This event was open to all Libraries faculty and AP staff and provided them with the opportunity to share their ongoing or recent research projects with their colleagues. There were 27 different presentations that provided information on a variety of research projects.

The categories were grouped according to topics of Engagement and Emerging Opportunities and Scholarly Communication, plus other strategic directions. An informal luncheon provided the opportunity for colleagues to talk about possible collaborations, discuss methods for gathering and analyzing data, generate new research questions and share insights and resources.

Members of the Research Council include Scott Brandt, Bert Chapman, Jean-Pierre V. M. Hérubel, Pete Pascuzzi, Margaret Phillips, and Jane Yatcilla.

Nastasha Johnson presents, “The STEAM of IMPACT.” Comprehensive data collection and analysis recently began with funding by the Department of Education, First in the World grant, to summarize the work that has been done so far and the research questions and design of the IMPACT project.

The Purdue University Libraries will recognize the following staff members for their many years of dedicated service to Purdue and the Libraries at the Annual Faculty and Staff Recognition Event on December 1, 2-3:30 p.m. in STEW 278 and 279. New staff joining the Libraries in 2017 will also be recognized as well as 2017 retirees.

Purdue Libraries is hosting several study break events in Hicks Undergraduate Library, including therapy animals, popcorn bar, crafts and cookie decorating. All events are free and will be held in the Hicks Main Common Area. In addition to these events, we will have art relaxation stations, bubble wrap, and Lego building available around the library.

PREP WEEK
Tuesday, December 5 – Pet Partners Therapy Animals
Students will have the opportunity to mingle with therapy animals.
6:30-7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 6 – Therapy Dogs International
Students will have the opportunity to interact with therapy dogs.
6:30-7:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 7 – Craft Night & Popcorn Bar
Design your own ceramic mug and enjoy the popcorn bar.
6:30-8 p.m.

FINALS WEEK
Monday, December 11 – Craft Night & Popcorn Bar
Create your own stress ball and enjoy the popcorn bar.
6:30-8 p.m.

Tuesday, December 12 – Pet Partners Therapy Animals
Students will have the opportunity to relax and spend time with therapy animals.
6:30-7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 13 – Cookie Decorating
New this year, students can stop by and decorate sugar cookies.
6:30-8 p.m

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Nikki Johnson
Black Cultural Center Librarian

As a child, one of my favorite family and household activities was gathering around the television to watch our scheduled Thursday night sitcoms. One of which was the show A Different World, a spinoff of The Cosby Show in which Denise Huxtable left home after high school to pursue her journey in education at the Huxtable family’s beloved Hillman College. While we all huddled around the television screen to enjoy this culturally enlightened and illustrative program, I now realize that this warm and unified family activity is how my fascination with, and curiosity about life as a college student was encouraged and nurtured.

In the following years as I completed my educational goals and objectives, I held on to the affirmation that I was surely among those learners who would eagerly explore my education beyond high school graduation. However, what field of study and career aspirations I would engage in was pretty unclear and undetermined. All I was really certain of was that I wanted to be successful and count as an asset to my community.

After receiving much advice and encouragement from family members and friends, I decided that I was going to become a registered nurse, and I applied to an institution that offered the BSN. Nevertheless, I am not a registered nurse. My experiences in this environment showed me a few key points that would transform my ideas about my career aspirations:

1. Though I thoroughly enjoyed the “student” process (class, assignments, exams, learning, etc.), I enjoyed the autonomy of choosing how I was going to “student.”
2. My journey had to be significant to me FIRST, or else I would not appreciate the end results of my efforts.
3. In reference to the first point, as much as I loved to “student”, I should have the liberty to remain a lifelong “student” as long as I continued to grow, mature and develop within the process.

I found that allowing myself to have and embrace these realizations caused me not only to strengthen my appreciation for my “student” tag, but it also fueled my adoration and attachment to an environment of scholars, intellects, and progressive thinkers. I loved college! I welcomed and valued every element and detail of its lifestyle! And I was determined to find a way to remain connected to this way of life.

At this juncture, I recognized that I needed help exploring and evaluating my career options in higher education. I had declared a double major in Political Science and African & African American Studies. Within those studies I developed close mentor relationships with a few of my professors. One of them, Dr. Marci Bounds-Littlefield, showed me how to define and focus my interest in academia to determine how I could maintain my bond to my “student” identity.

After completing my Bachelor of Science degree at Indiana State University, and spending a few years working and living the adult life, Dr. Littlefield informed me of a graduate fellowship opportunity offered through Indiana State Library and the Indiana University School of Library and Information Science. The Indiana’s Librarians Leading in Diversity (I-LLID) project awarded 31 fellows with exceptional resources, the ability to examine the various areas of librarianship, and support to establish what type of library service translates best with their individual interests. I, of course, was elated to discover the career opportunities available within academic librarianship. And this is where it all made sense! This is how I was going to continually reside, grow, and flourish as a “student!” Though I did not always know that I would become a librarian, I was delighted to discover that it is exactly where my compass was always pointed.

My 11-year-old son and I live in Indianapolis, and we keep busy by engaging in his afterschool extra-curricular activities. I also enjoy listening to live music at venues within the city. That activity might range from attending a live concert to checking out a small band at a lounge.

I am excited for all of the blessings and enrichment that the Black Cultural Center and Purdue Libraries will foster as a member of this community, and I am eager to serve as a resource to all students, faculty and staff!

My office is located in the Black Cultural Center Library (BCC 219D), and I can be reached at john2270@purdue.edu or 49-43093.

Archives and Special Collections Open House and Reception
By Tracy Grimm

The Purdue Archives and Special Collections held a special Saturday Open House on November 18 to offer the public a rare weekend chance to see the "Missing You" Amelia Earhart exhibit before it closes on December 8. Visitors were able to test their observation skills with an exhibit scavenger hunt and earn exciting prizes such as Earth-shaped erasers and toy airplane gliders. Other interactive portions of the open house included a "Got Questions?" table staffed by student pilots from Purdue's Aviation Learning Community, Aviation Ambassadors, Purdue Pilots Inc., and the AAE graduate school. Visitors enjoyed bags of popcorn and watched rare film clips of Amelia Earhart public speeches in the Swaim Instruction room. Aviation themed coloring pages, word searches and a computer flight simulation game featuring the challenge of landing Amelia's Lockheed Electra safely was also available to visitors.