Dear Colleagues,

It is with great pleasure that I join you as your interim dean for Purdue University Libraries beginning this month – what an exciting time to be part of a center for knowledge at Purdue! We celebrated Dean Mullins’ retirement in such a fitting way and place in the new Wilmeth Active Learning Center, truly an innovative and engaging environment to support learning at all levels. So much has been accomplished by the Libraries, and the next phase will surely bring further creative approaches for connecting across campus and beyond. Some have called libraries the “intellectual commons” for their universities, and I believe that Purdue Libraries is that and more. My role is to help during the transition to the next phase of leadership and while there’s plenty on the to-do list for maintaining regular operations, I look forward to conversations with you about what the future can hold. I’ve observed during my time at Purdue that there is always the attitude of one brick higher, and it’s been evident in continually pushing for excellence in all that we do. This is a crossroads for the Libraries, so let’s continue the tradition of excellence and creativity to meet the next phase for us.

A bit about me – I’m dean of the Purdue Honors College and joined the university from Arizona State University in 2013 to help build Purdue’s first academic residential college. From our beginning, we have sought help from the Libraries across a range of needs as we’ve developed curriculum, support services, and research skill development. There are myriad dimensions in which Libraries support our students, faculty, and staff, and I intend to help others further recognize the vital role and services provided. To me, Libraries are an essential partner to accomplish goals in the academy.

I look forward to working with you, and learning more about the many aspects of the Libraries. Don’t hesitate to contact me and share your ideas and perspectives.

Boiler up!

This spring, we will be celebrating our colleagues’ contributions to the success of Purdue University Libraries, Press and Copyright Office. The 14th Annual Libraries’ Faculty/Staff Awards Luncheon will take place on Tuesday, March 27, from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. in the PMU South Ballroom. The One Book Higher posters and exhibits will be available for review and voting at 10 a.m. in the same location.

A few reminders:

1. All clerical/service/professional/administrative staff are eligible for the Dagnese Award. Nominations must come from within their respective employee group.
2. The Moriarty Award is given to a member of the Libraries faculty. Nominations must come from within their respective employee group. 
3. The Dean’s Awards are open to all Libraries employees and nominations can come from and for an employee in any group.
• a. The Dean’s Award for an individual will be given to recognize a continuing, sustained contribution to a special project or the advancement of the strategic plan of the Libraries.  Nominations can be for colleagues or can be self-nominations. All nominations must be signed.
• b. The Dean’s Team Award is given to recognize work that has advanced the Libraries, the Press, or Copyright Office in fulfilling our mission. Nominations can be for colleagues or can be self-nominations.
4. All nominations must be signed.

Think back over the accomplishments and milestones that have been reached in 2017, and nominate one or more of your colleagues who helped make this progress possible. There is no limit to the number of nominations you may submit. All Purdue Libraries, Purdue University Press and University Copyright Office employees, who meet the criteria, are eligible for the awards. This year the amount for each individual award is $1000. The team award is $1000 shared among the team members.

Last year’s awardees for the Dagnese and Moriarty Awards are not eligible to be nominated for those two awards this year. Lists of past years’ recipients can be found on the Libraries Intranet Awards page along with a link to the nomination form. The different criteria and eligibility for each award and nomination form can be found at this link on the intranet: https://intranet.lib.purdue.edu/display/HOME/Libraries+Awards

The deadline for receipt of applications is 5 p.m. Friday, February 9. Please submit your nomination(s) by email to Mandi Gramelspacher (mandig@purdue.edu).

On behalf of the Scholarship & Awards Committee, we are pleased to announce there are five (5)
awards/scholarships available this year. Supervisors and students will be receiving an email about the application process. Please encourage our student staff members to apply for the appropriate award and/or scholarship. The application deadline is February 9, 2018.

The PULSE Award
This award was created by the Purdue Libraries Circulation/Reserve Team in 2004. Initial funding was initiated through garage sales, a craft/bake sale and individual donations. In the first year, $1,445.80 was raised from 40 donors. Contributions continued to be added throughout the year with the goal of reaching the $20,000 amount necessary to endow the award. In 2004, Libraries Dean, Jim Mullins, led a fundraising challenge and agreed to match pledges from the Dean's Fund dollar for dollar. In 2005, endowment efforts were achieved with the efforts and contributions of Purdue graduates Mike and Judy Humnicky of California, who both spent their time at Purdue (1966-70) employed by the Libraries. The first two awards were presented in May 2004. This year, three (3) $1000 awards are available.

The Dorothy Newby McCaw Scholarship
In 2004, Dorothy Newby McCaw found a meaningful way to honor her friend: she endowed the Dorothy Newby McCaw Scholarship for Libraries Student Workers in honor of Emily R. Mobley, former Libraries Dean. McCaw established the scholarship in honor of Dean Mobley's retirement as a way to recognize her many accomplishments during the 12 years of her deanship. The scholarship fulfilled one of Mobley's goals as Dean — to recognize top student workers in the Libraries. The first scholarship was awarded in 2007. This year, one (1) $2500 scholarship is available.

The Dr. Albert Viton Scholarship
In 2006, Dr. Albert Viton, author and retired economist, endowed a scholarship to be awarded annually to a student employee from the Purdue University Press or the Libraries. His desire was that this scholarship would make a significant impact on students' lives and education while at Purdue. Viton became associated with the Press with the publication of his book, The International Sugar Agreements: Promise and Reality in 2004. The first scholarship was awarded in 2007. This year, one (1) $2500 scholarship is available.

Important Information
All student staff members should receive e-mail notification of this opportunity but please make sure they are aware of these awards and scholarships, and of the February 9 deadline. Supervisors, please be aware of your part of the application process and the deadline of February 16, 2018. Students will not be considered without your portion of the application process.

The URL for the information and applications is http://www.lib.purdue.edu/pulsescholar

Remind your student staff who are in their senior year they are eligible for the PULSE award if they meet the other criteria.

Committee members include: Becki Corbin, Chair, Frances Christman, Angie Ewing, Katherine Purple, Danielle Schiewer, Anna Subramaniam and Hal Kirkwood.

If you have questions, please contact Becki Corbin at rlcorbin@purdue.edu or 49-48144.

"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education." – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Since 2012, Purdue Libraries has participated in the campus-wide celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by creating displays honoring his legacy. The faculty and staff of Purdue University Libraries are proud to celebrate Diversity Awareness Week 2018 at Purdue University in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Exhibits in the Humanities, Social Science, and Education (HSSE) Library and the Hicks Undergraduate Library help commemorate Dr. King’s enduring influence. More information about this year’s events can be found at the MLK Commemorative Events site at https://diversity.purdue.edu/mlk/.

Teresa Koltzenburg’s  name was randomly drawn from all those who were SMILED upon in December. 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/

Recent updates to Hicks Undergraduate Library
By RaeLynn Boes

The Hicks Undergraduate Library service desk has been relocated nearer to the main entrance to improve service, visibility and access. On the left side of the photo (west) is the service point staffed by Hicks Undergraduate Library staff and student workers. On the right side (east) is the service point staffed by ITaP TLT Lab Assistants. We hope to have signage soon directing patrons appropriately. The Contemporary Literature section, formerly housed on the first floor of the HSSE Library, has been moved into the area vacated by the service desks. Other improvements include the addition of a wide format (poster) printer serviced by ITaP, a large touch screen monitor for students to view the USGS Topos store maps, and the addition of the MAPS collection, formerly located in EAPS, to the west end of the ground floor. Come visit and take a look for yourself!