As you walk around the new Thomas S. and Harvey D. Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC) it is easy to take in the beautiful building and note at how well used it is already. One thing that is not as apparent, however, is that it takes a lot of people to get a building like this up and running. In addition to the sheer size of the building (164,082 SF), there is the fact that it is a completely new type of building combining library space with active learning classrooms.

In order to keep all the “moving parts” synchronized, in January of 2017, we implemented the first of its kind, multi-departmental, WALC Building Operations Task Force. This task force invited members of any department that had a piece of the project, to meet face-to-face monthly and share progress and plans as well as talk about challenges and work out conflicts. In all, 16 departments sent representatives to these meetings. There, we hashed out everything from hours, to room responsibilities, to cleaning schedules and every other issue we could anticipate.

A huge thank you to everyone who participated. There is no way we could have opened such a major building with as relatively few problems without the team effort and collaborative spirit shown by all members of the task force. A special shout out to goes to Jacinda Laymon for doing a great job taking very detailed meeting minutes, and to Dan Rotello for keeping the home fires burning by coordinating PLF’s daily activities. Thank you to:

David Miskin, Building Services
Chantel Levesque-Bristol, Center for Instructional Excellence (CIE)
Laura Fritz, Center for Instructional Excellence (CIE)
Debra Felix, Center for Instructional Excellence (CIE)
Kristine Hoggatt, IT Infrastructure Services
Sara Coapstick, IT Infrastructure Service
Byron Reed, ITaP
Phil Knobloch, ITaP
Joe Freeman, ITaP
Carmen Buck, Materials Management and Distribution Center (MMDC)
Vicki Killion, Libraries
Heather Oakley, Libraries Business Office
Amy Storms, Libraries Business Office
Candy Scott, Libraries Facilities (PLF)
Jacinda Laymon, Libraries Facilities (PLF)
Dan Yeoman, Libraries Facilities (PLF)
Lisa Purvis, Libraries Instruction and Digital Programs
Loribeth Hettinger, Purdue Card Office
Greg Minner, Purdue Dining & Catering
Thomas Coleman, Purdue Dining & Catering
Wanda Woodhams, Purdue Dining & Catering
Josie Galloway, Registrar’s Office
Jerry Ross, Registrar’s Office
Carol Horan, Registrar’s Office
Kim Rechkemmer, Space Management
Jaylene Nichols, Space Management
Michael Cheesman, Turner Construction
Rustin Meister, University Facilities
Rob Barr, Zones
Patrick Jewell, Zones (Apologies if I missed anyone!)

On August 29, the Libraries Seminar Committee hosted a presentation by Dr. Andrew Whitworth, Director of Teaching Strategy for the Manchester Institute of Education and the University of Manchester. Dr. Whitworth’s presentation “Xenophilia: The Love of Difference is Essential for Information Literacy” argued that a diversification and openness to different perspectives can positively influence learning through engagement with information. Drawing from theories of learning, networking, technology, and more, Dr. Whitworth described how xenophilia — a love and openness to difference — can help people broker between different information landscapes to learn and take action. He proposed that educators develop their teaching around the principle of xenophilia, where students encounter and navigate different perspectives of information landscapes, in order to help them learn through dialog.

Following the presentation, Dr. Whitworth facilitated two workshops introducing participants to a concept mapping process to uncover different perspectives on an institutional issue. In the first workshop, participants engaged with different types of maps to uncover how we rely on and interpret maps, as well as how they can be powerful tools for helping us make sense of our own information landscapes. In the second workshop, participants put these ideas into practice using Ketso, a specific mapping tool. In small groups, participants collectively discussed and mapped out the goals, assets, challenges, and strategies related to how the new Wilmeth Active Learning Center will change our activities as librarians.

Monday, September 18, 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.-2 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 notify Beth Moore at moore658@purdue.edu when you are available. Thank you.

Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award Winner Joseph Ellis, one of the nation's leading scholars of American history, talked of the meaning of the "Washington Crossing the Delaware" painting in his presentation as part of the Purdue Presidential Lecture Series, hosted by Purdue University President Mitch Daniels.

The painting, by the late nationally acclaimed portrait artist Robert Bruce Williams, is an authorized copy of the 1851 painting by Emmanuel Leutze and was unveiled in the Reading Room of the Wilmeth Active Learning Center, home to the Library of Engineering and Science at #Purdue.

Trevor Burrows
Library Assistant
HSSE

I am excited to join the Purdue University Libraries team as a Library Assistant in HSSE. In addition to working at the iDesk, I will help maintain our reference serials and offer support for various faculty projects. Over the past year, I had the pleasure of working as a Graduate and Student Assistant in the Karnes Archives and Special Collection,s where I enjoyed both processing collections and providing patrons with reference assistance. I truly look forward to contributing to HSSE and the Libraries in this new role.

Much of my time is currently dedicated to completing a PhD in History here at Purdue, but I am also an avid reader, a music lover and a general nerd for all things related to the humanities and the arts. You can reach me at dburrows@purdue.edu, or by phone at 49-45406.

Joseph Cress
Building Assistant
Libraries Facilities

Greetings, all! I am ecstatic to join this new team full of many wonderful people. I have been located in West Lafayette since first attending Purdue in 2009. Originally an engineer, I left Purdue after four years as it was not the right fit for me at the time. During my time away, I worked in both retail (Follett’s Bookstore) and food service (Dairy Queen); it is quite possible you may have already met me from one of these two places! The skillset which I have procured while working for many cumulative years in customer service, I hope to apply here at the Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC). This fall marks the beginning of this new job as one of the two building assistants that will be burning the midnight oil for you all from midnight to 8 a.m.

Outside of work here at the WALC, I will be mainly focusing on my studies, after being readmitted back into Purdue as an undergraduate in Management. I am currently in my junior year with an expected graduation in the spring of 2019. In the small time not consumed by work or school, I will be on my computer playing League of Legends or watching streamers on Twitch. Also of note, I play a card game called Magic: The Gathering, and will actually plan vacations going to tournaments around the country. As with many enthusiasts, if you have any questions on these topics, I’d be more than willing answer any and all questions.

I am located at the WALC information desk on weekends, and can be reached at jcress@purdue.edu, or by phone at 609-417-6280.

Melissa Waterworth’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, administration 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/

Class in the WALC

Derrek Staley, project engineer for the Thomas S. and Harvey D. Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC) at Purdue University, was a guest lecturer in the BCM 100 class. Derrek is a 2015 graduate of Purdue University and works for Turner Construction, the management agency overseeing the construction of the WALC and adjoining plaza that surrounds the building. The class is taught by Patricia Morgan, School of Construction and Management Technology, and takes place in Room 1019 of the WALC.