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January 27th, 2025
In honor of Black History Month, Purdue Libraries and the Black Cultural Center invites you to attend a lecture by Sheryll Cashin titled, “Residential caste: How West Lafayette can transcend segregation and opportunity hoarding” on Wednesday, February 19, 10:30–11:30 AM in STEW 202.
About the lecture
How does a community with a history of segregation and disenfranchisement move forward to heal, repair, and transform?
West Lafayette is not different from other cities where Black migrants landed. As a professor of law at Georgetown University, Cashin has experience applying her theories to the particulars of multiple communities, with examples of hope, transformation, and repair from other cities. Repair requires building a multiracial coalition that supports policies that include and lift up vulnerable people. Dismantling and repairing residential caste requires perfecting local mulitracial democracy, or what W. E. B. DuBois called abolition democracy.
About Sheryll Cashin
Author of works centered around race relations and inequality in America, Sheryll Cashin is a professor of law at Georgetown University. Her latest book “White Space, Black Hood: Opportunity Hoarding and Segregation in the Age of Inequality” published in September 2021 shows how the government created “ghettos” and affluent white space and entrenched a system of American residential caste that is the linchpin of U.S. inequality, while issuing a call for abolition.
Cashin is an active member of the Poverty and Race Research Action Council; worked in the Clinton White House as an advisor on urban and economic policy, particularly concerning community development in inner-city neighborhoods; and served as a law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. She was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, where her parents were political activists, and currently resides in Washington, D.C., with her husband and two sons.
View her website to learn more about Cashin and her work.
Filed under: general, News and AnnouncementsSeptember 27th, 2024
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.—Purdue University Archives and Special Collections (ASC) is pleased to announce the digitization of paper transcripts used by Neil Armstrong for his public addresses and select speeches. The nearly 500 transcripts—totaling 7,700 pages—were generously donated by his wife, Carol Armstrong, in 2011. The speeches are available for public viewing, text-searchable, and accessible on Purdue’s online archives platform, e-Archives.
The speeches are annotated by Armstrong with comments, quips, and jokes, or with arrows in the margins suggesting changes to word or phrase order. Jo Otremba, Barron Hilton Archivist for Flight and Space Exploration and clinical assistant professor at Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies, said Armstrong frequently added information that provides readers with additional context of the speech.
“He often added notes on the speeches sharing the date and location the speech was given, which is an interesting feature for the readers to consider,” Otremba said.
Some of the most notable speeches were given at Purdue University events such as the dedication of Grissom and Chaffee Halls and Armstrong’s acceptance of an honorary doctorate degree in 1970. The halls are named after two Purdue astronauts who both lost their lives in a NASA pre-launch fire at Cape Kennedy in 1967—the late Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom, one of the original NASA Project Mercury astronauts and the second American to fly in space, and Roger B. Chaffee, a Navy pilot and NASA astronaut.
The Neil Armstrong papers continue to be one of the most accessed collections for research requests and instructional usage through ASC. Increasing ease of access to the archival collection through digitization has been a goal since the acquisition of the speeches in 2011. Work to digitize the speeches, funded by the Purdue Research Foundation and Carol Armstrong, began in 2022. The digitization process itself is lengthy and requires that each speech be described, vetted for third-party copyright, and uploaded to e-Archives.
“This project highlights the continuous effort required to make these resources accessible, and it’s wonderful to celebrate the speeches’ public availability through our e-Archives,” said Otremba.
Building this digital collection would not have been achieved without the detailed and steady collaboration between ASC’s Otremba; graduate assistant Camryn Beeman; Neal Harmeyer, Archivist for Digital Collections and Initiatives, Interim Head of Archives and Special Collections, and clinical associate professor; Sammie Morris, former Head of Archives and Special Collections and former director of the Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections Research Center; and members of Purdue Libraries’ Digital Programs team—Cliff Harrison, operations manager; M Lewis, digital collections photography assistant; and Samuel Wilson, digitization project assistant.
Purdue University Archives and Special Collections
Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, housed within Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies, aims to support the discovery, learning, and engagement goals of Purdue University by identifying, collecting, preserving, and making available research records and papers of enduring value created or received by the university and its employees.
To learn more, visit lib.purdue.edu/spcol.
Filed under: Archives and Special Collections, general, News and AnnouncementsDecember 18th, 2025
Students looking for a comfortable and convenient place to study on the Purdue University in Indianapolis location are increasingly turning to the Purdue Student Center Library, located on the second floor of the Student Center (SCPI). The space has quickly become a favorite destination for those seeking a welcoming environment that supports both focused individual work and collaborative projects.
Open from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM during weekdays, the library is designed to meet a wide range of study needs throughout the day. Whether students are stopping in between classes or settling in for a longer study session, they will find a space that works for them.
A space designed for every kind of study
One of the strengths of the Student Center Library is its variety of seating and workspaces. Visitors can choose from:
In addition, the Student Center offers several reservable study rooms, managed outside of Purdue Libraries, but conveniently located on the first floor—ideal for group discussions or presentation practice. Students can reserve a room on the Purdue Memorial Union website.
Library services
The Student Center Library provides all the same services offered at other Purdue Libraries locations, making it a convenient one-stop resource for students on the Indianapolis campus.
Beginning this spring semester, the library will take on an even more important role:
A growing collection
Although the library’s print collection is currently small, it continues to expand and is supplemented by the Purdue Libraries digital collection. At present, it includes materials that support Cornerstone classes, and plans are in place to continue building the collection in ways that meet the evolving needs of Purdue Indianapolis students and faculty.
The Purdue Student Center Library is a convenient, flexible, and welcoming study environment for the entire campus community. Students are encouraged to stop by, explore the space, and see how it can support their success throughout the semester and beyond.
Filed under: general, News and AnnouncementsDecember 18th, 2025
Purdue Libraries is proud to share that two of its spaces were recognized in The Exponent’s recent Readers’ Choice rankings of campus study spaces. The Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC) was voted the #1 study space on campus, while Hicks Library earned the #3 spot.
These honors highlight the essential role Purdue Libraries plays in supporting student learning and success. From flexible, technology-rich environments to quiet areas for focused work, WALC and Hicks Library continue to meet the diverse needs of the Purdue community. The rankings reflect not only the quality of the facilities, but also the dedication of the library faculty and staff who work each day to create welcoming, supportive spaces for students.
Purdue Libraries extends its thanks to everyone whose efforts contribute to making these study spaces places students value, trust, and return to again and again.
To learn more about the rankings, readers are encouraged to explore the Readers’ Choice issue of The Exponent.
Filed under: general, News and AnnouncementsDecember 18th, 2025
Visitors to the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education (HSSE) Library in Stewart Center will now find a new book display honoring Purdue’s authors next to the Cornerstone Reading Room. The collection, drawn from titles featured during the recent “A Celebration of Books Fall 2025” event, is available for both browsing and checkout, offering a window into the wide-ranging scholarship produced across campus.
Each book in the display carries a distinctive “Purdue Authored Book” sticker on its cover and spine, making it easy to identify books written by Purdue faculty and staff. More than 100 authors are represented, with publications spanning engineering, education, computer science, liberal arts, technology, and the social sciences.
Those stopping by the HSSE Library are encouraged to browse the collection—and perhaps discover their next great read authored right here at Purdue.
To learn more about the December 2025 event, visit our blog.
Filed under: general, News and AnnouncementsDecember 9th, 2025
The Eli Lilly Case Competition is a longstanding component of the Intro to Management and Information Strategies course (MGMT 110) and is organized in collaboration with Libraries assistant professors Zoe Mayhook and Annette Bochenek, Eli Lilly and Company, and the Larsen Leaders Academy Executive Board.
In MGMT 110, students focus on the development of their academic and professional goals while building and sharpening their information-gathering skills by developing systematic methods for finding, evaluating, and presenting information. The Larsen Leaders Academy offers high-achieving business students a community of like-minded peers and professionals dedicated to fostering their natural aptitudes and encouraging their success.
The case competition presents a complex pharmaceutical investment case that requires students to conduct comprehensive business research, including analyzing company financials, evaluating patents and regulatory environments, assessing scientific risks, and examining industry and competitive landscapes and market and consumer profiles. It includes two rounds: an initial virtual presentation round, followed by an in-person, final round for the top six teams. This year, 13 teams competed, six advanced to the final round, and three teams earned top placements.
The teams that earned top placements include:
1st Place:
2nd Place:
3rd Place:
As a member of the 3rd place team, Rafe Cultrara reflected on his experience and said, “Competing in the Eli Lilly Case Competition showed me how strong business decisions depend on high-quality data and well-supported assumptions. As the finance lead, I had to turn uncertainty about the drugs and the market into a clear valuation, which challenged me to think more critically about how information, risk, and strategy come together in real-world decision-making.”
Information literacy is a key component of this case competition. Very little data or information is provided, and students must fill in the gaps with research and informed assumptions. This requires students to spend time locating different types of business information, synthesizing and analyzing their findings, and using that information to make evidence-based decisions and recommendations.
Also reflecting on his experience participating in the competition, first-place team member John Harrell said, “Participating in the Eli Lilly Case Competition was a unique experience that challenged our team to evaluate each potential drug through careful research and informed judgment. With limited information provided, we had to get creative, synthesizing scientific data, assessing market and financial factors, and weighing the risks and benefits of each decision. This experience strengthened our ability to locate and analyze complex information, think critically, and collaborate toward a strategic, evidence-based recommendation.”
A special thank you to Katarina Nikolovski, Hannah Cohen, Maggie Viewegh, Brynna Walthers, Preston Holb, Jorge Alonso Guerrero, Yana Petrova, and Riley Garrison at Eli Lilly and Company for their contributions to this event. We are proud of all the students who participated, and congratulations to the three teams who earned top placements. Well done!
Filed under: general, News and AnnouncementsDecember 9th, 2025
On Friday, December 5, 2025, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections welcomed over 100 guests to celebrate the opening of “Beyond the Binding: Medieval Manuscripts from Farm to Fragment.” The reception, held on the 3rd floor of the HSSE Library in Stewart Center, showcased the culmination of a semester’s work by students in ILS 595: Medieval Manuscript Studies.
Curated by ten student curators—Noelia Alvarez, Annemarie Bryans, Sidney Ducleroir, Roma Koroneos, Amanda Laughery, Lauren Matthews, Kat McCormick, Abby Riehl, Scarlett Strong, and Carri Jane Tenniswood—the exhibition brought together centuries-old artifacts with fresh scholarly insight, demonstrating the power of hands-on learning and material history.
During the event, guests explored both the loaned manuscripts from the Les Enluminures Manuscripts in the Curriculum program and items from Purdue’s own collections, with many visitors expressing surprise and delight at the opportunity to view medieval materials up close. Family, friends, faculty, community members, and students filled the space with lively conversation about script, artistry, and preservation.
A transformative semester of student research
Throughout the fall semester, students studied the foundations of medieval bookmaking: parchment production, ink and pigment preparation, codicology, paleography, illumination, provenance, and the circulation of texts. Their research culminated not only in written analysis but in the public curation of an exhibition designed to make medieval materials accessible to the campus and the community.
Over the course of just four days, students installed the exhibit, transforming the space into a celebration of medieval craftsmanship, historical inquiry, and student scholarship. Their excitement was evident, as many shared how meaningful it was to work directly with materials they had once assumed were available only to career archivists or scholars.
Faculty collaboration and community support
ILS 595 was led by Assistant Professor Kristin Leaman and Clinical Associate Professor Adriana Harmeyer, who highlighted both the deeply collaborative nature of the project and the exceptional support it received from partners across Purdue and beyond.
Special thanks were extended to:
Student perspectives
During the reception, five students—Noelia Alvarez, Scarlett Strong, Lauren Matthews, Amanda Laughery, and Roma Koroneos—spoke about their experiences, reflecting on the accessibility of archives, the thrill of handling centuries-old manuscripts, and the transformative impact of interdisciplinary learning.
Alvarez reflected on her journey into archives and said, “Before taking this course, I always wondered how people got into archives and museums. I never really took the time in my studies to actually explore that part…I initially had this very stereotypical view of what libraries do… But looking at the annotations on their manuscripts it made me also reflect on what I think about history. And honestly, if it wasn’t for the libraries, I don’t think I’d be in this room talking to all of you.”
Strong spoke about the tactile and human aspect of handling manuscripts, and said, “These materials have lasted for centuries for scholars and students like us to learn from them…They’re just regular people like you and me. We believe that these items are important, and they’re important for future generations for their knowledge to grow and expand.”
Continuing access and lasting impact
“Beyond the Binding” is on display Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM through December 19, 2025. While the loaned manuscripts will return to Les Enluminures, the Purdue collections featured in “Beyond the Binding” remain accessible to anyone interested in continuing their exploration in the Archives and Special Collections reading room. As Harmeyer noted at the reception, community access is central to the mission of both Purdue Libraries and the Manuscripts in the Curriculum program.
The evening underscored what Purdue University Archives and Special Collections does best: create meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that connect students, scholars, and the community to history in tangible, transformative ways.
Congratulations to the student curators, faculty, and partners who brought this exhibition to life—and thank you to all who joined us for this unforgettable evening.
For questions, contact archives@purdue.edu. Anyone interested in viewing the Purdue materials following the exhibition may visit the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections website to schedule a reading room appointment.
Learn more about how the exhibition came to be on our blog.
Filed under: general, News and AnnouncementsDecember 4th, 2025
On December 3, Purdue Libraries celebrated its faculty and staff at the annual recognition event in Stewart Center. This long-standing tradition honors exceptional service, showcases staff creativity, and recognizes new hires, retirees, and promotions from the past year.
The event included a craft show where attendees browsed handcrafted jewelry, paintings, crocheted animals, abstract prints, and more created by Andrea Gapsch, Susan Zeyher, Sandy Galloway, Jessie Scott, Patricia Swanson, Rachel McFadden, Katie Mathew, Nina Collins, and the Purdue University Press.
The celebration also honored employees who reached major service milestones in 2025, acknowledging their dedication and lasting contributions to Purdue Libraries and the broader Purdue community.
Service recognitions
We are proud to recognize the following staff members for their outstanding years of service to Purdue Libraries. Their years of service enrich the library community and continue to foster an environment of learning, creativity, and innovation.
10 years of service:
20 years of service:
25 years of service:
30 years of service:
40 years of service:
41 years of service and retiring this year:
December 4th, 2025
On December 2, Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies hosted “A Celebration of Books Fall 2025” to honor Purdue authors who published books throughout the past academic year. This event was the largest yet, spotlighting more than 100 authors whose scholarship spans the full spectrum of academic disciplines—from engineering and education to philosophy, technology, and the arts.
Sunil Prabhakar, Libraries and School of Information Studies, Interim, and Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, shared formal remarks recognizing the authors’ achievements and the importance of scholarship. The program also featured five Purdue authors who shared insights into their latest works and the journeys behind them:
Attendees enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and drinks while reconnecting and networking with colleagues across campus. Authors were greeted with corsages and a display of posters featuring the book covers, creating an interactive space where authors could sign their work for fellow guests. Each book has been identified as a “Purdue Authored Book,” visible by new, specially-designed stickers on the front cover and book spine. The collection is now on display in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education Library in Stewart Center and available for checkout.
Provost Patrick Wolfe delivered remarks, noting the tremendous momentum behind faculty publishing at Purdue, and said, “I thank you for the support, encouragement, and dedication. We have published nearly double as many faculty books this calendar year…and there are many more in the pipeline.”
“A Celebration of Books Fall 2025” showcased the power of ideas, the persistence of research, and the enthusiasm of a campus committed to discovery. The event served as a meaningful reminder of the enduring value of books and the people who create them.
Filed under: general, News and AnnouncementsNovember 17th, 2025
An IMLS-funded project led by Professor Gang Shao at Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies is set to create new, practical AI learning opportunities for librarians. The project, “TACTIC in Lib—Transforming AI Consumers to Innovative AI Creators in Libraries,” is supported by the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program and focuses on expanding accessible, hands-on AI training.
“TACTIC in Lib” is developing a flexible, dual-path learning framework that offers both code-based and no-code options, providing librarians with multiple entry points into AI skill building. This approach supports librarians with a wide range of backgrounds and interests, encouraging exploration, hands-on practice, and creative application of AI tools in their everyday work.
By providing adaptable resources for AI literacy and applied practice, the project will help librarians integrate AI into library services, instruction, and research support. Ultimately, “TACTIC in Lib” strengthens the role of libraries as centers of innovation and equips the library community to confidently navigate and shape the evolving AI landscape.
Filed under: general, News and AnnouncementsNovember 14th, 2025
Celebrating Research aims to highlight the work, innovation, and dedication of Libraries faculty by providing an opportunity to share their research with colleagues. This year, 25 Libraries faculty members, a graduate student intern, graduate research assistant, and a undergraduate research assistant participated and showcased their work throughout the year. From projects in their beginning stages to those that are completed, faculty members and students shared what they have been working on and what we have to look forward to in the future.
Those who presented and the topic of their projects include:
Celebrating Research was a great opportunity to reconnect with faculty and learn about their work. We are proud of their commitment to advancing their fields and look forward to seeing how their research shapes the future.
Filed under: general, News and AnnouncementsNovember 11th, 2025
Purdue GIS Day 2025, with the theme of “Unlocking GeoAI Data and Tools,” was a success and brought together over 200 students, academics, and industry professionals in a day filled with insightful talks, poster presentations, and networking opportunities. The event, hosted by Gang Shao, showcased the latest advancements in geospatial analysis and its applications across many disciplines.
The success of this year’s event was made possible through the generous support of Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cultivate Geospatial, and Ecopia AI. Their partnership continues to foster collaboration between academia and industry, advancing the development and application of geospatial technologies at Purdue and beyond.
The conference featured keynote speaker Gregory Brunner, an experienced scientist, award-winning professor, and principal data scientist at Esri, a global market leader in GIS software. His talk, titled “Integrating AI Across GIS,” explored innovative ways to apply artificial intelligence tools within geographic information systems to enhance analysis, visualization, and decision-making. He discussed using AI to assess the extent of building damage following hurricanes and to identify specific landmarks, as well as understand how they are utilized. Brunner enjoyed getting the opportunity to connect with students throughout the day and share his insights and professional experience with GIS.
Reflecting on his experience at this year’s conference, Brunner said, “I’ve really enjoyed it. I had a great experience last year; this year was a great experience, too. I love getting to talk to the students and hear about their posters.” He added that many of the projects this year involved AI or machine learning, noting, “It just seems like AI and machine learning have become so pervasive that all the students seem to be using it.”
The schedule also featured 29 research posters presented by undergrad and graduate students that connected their respective disciplines to the field of GIS. In addition, industry partners shared valuable insights through four research and industry presentations and a career panel discussion, highlighting the practical applications of geospatial technologies and strengthening connections between academia and industry. New this year was a Purdue faculty panel, where professors shared their research areas and inspired students through their insights. From learning about how to build an open geospatial data ecosystem to finding and accessing statewide GIS data, the speakers highlighted the relevance of these tools in real-world scenarios.
A special thanks to the following individuals for their involvement, participation, and professional insights shared with attendees during the panel discussion and/or their research and industry presentation:
The day concluded with the recognition of the best graduate and undergraduate student poster presenters, including Digital Humanities award winners in both categories—a new award introduced this year. Each winner received a certificate and a $100 cash prize in acknowledgment of their unique contributions to the field of GIS. In addition, graduate student winners were awarded one-year ArcGIS for Personal Use licenses, each valued at $100, to further support their continued learning and research in geospatial science.
Undergraduate award winners:
Graduate award winners:
Congratulations to all of this year’s winners for their exceptional achievements, and to every participant of Purdue GIS Day 2025 for their valuable contributions to the field of geographic information systems. Your curiosity, creativity, and dedication made the event truly inspiring. We look forward to continuing this tradition of learning and collaboration; be sure to mark your calendars for Purdue GIS Day 2026, which will take place on November 12, 2026.
Filed under: general, News and Announcements