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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 AnnouncementsJanuary 28th, 2026
During the spring 2025 semester, undergraduate student Kennedi Thomas, now a senior double-majoring in communication and anthropology, collaborated with classmates Rishika Ramakrishnan, Beck Spieth, and Isabel Baron on a semester-long project for the “Designing Technology for People” course (ANTH 384/TECH 220) taught by Sarah Renkert and Shawn Farrington. The class challenged students to apply human-centered design principles by selecting a user group and developing a product that addressed real-world challenges. From a wide range of potential user groups, the team chose to focus on individuals who menstruate.
The goal of the project was to design a product that would reduce challenges and improve the everyday experiences of people who menstruate. While menstruation is a common part of life for many people, it is still surrounded by stigma and often overlooked in design and technology spaces. This made it a meaningful and impactful focus for the team’s work.
The design process
To begin the design process, the group conducted ethnographic research to understand the needs and experiences of their user group. Team members used a variety of approaches, including interviews with family members, personal documentation during menstruation, and observational research. As part of this process, Kennedi accompanied a friend while she purchased menstrual pads, allowing the team to observe the experience and decision-making process in real time.
One of the challenges the group encountered during research was navigating cultural norms and family stigmas surrounding menstruation. Some participants were open and comfortable discussing the topic, while others were more hesitant. The team made a conscious effort to approach these conversations with sensitivity and respect, ensuring that participants felt safe and heard throughout the research process.
After synthesizing their findings, the team identified several key insights. Users emphasized the importance of discrete, non-invasive solutions and expressed concerns about the amount of waste produced during their menstrual cycles. These insights directly informed the team’s design direction.
Creating the prototype
In response, the group developed the concept for a portable cleaning pouch designed to allow users to wash and dry reusable menstrual products discreetly and conveniently in any location. The product aimed to reduce waste while minimizing inconvenience and maintaining privacy for the user.
The team moved from ideation to prototyping in the Knowledge Lab, where they created a low-fidelity prototype of their design. Using materials provided in the space—including fabric, zippers, and buckles—the team constructed a functional pouch that mimicked the intended materials of the final product. Sewing machines in the lab were used to assemble the components, and 3D-printed bristles created by a teammate were incorporated into the design to support the cleaning function.
Competition results
At the end of the semester, all student teams presented their design processes and final products. Kennedi’s team was selected as one of four finalists to compete in the Designing Technology for People Competition. The group ultimately earned first place and was awarded a scholarship in recognition of their thoughtful research, innovative design, and effective use of campus resources such as the Knowledge Lab.
This project highlights how Purdue Libraries’ collaborative spaces empower students to transform research and ideas into tangible solutions. By combining ethnographic research, hands-on prototyping, and access to specialized tools, students are able to design with empathy and create technologies that address real human needs.
Filed under: general, News and AnnouncementsJanuary 28th, 2026
Purdue University Archives and Special Collections (ASC) is excited to announce a new exhibition, “Forms and Functions: A Selection of Materials within Purdue University Archives and Special Collections.” The exhibition showcases the wide variety of items found in archives and explains how archivists classify these materials. It also explores common questions about historical formats and technologies, such as how older media were used and preserved.
About the exhibition
“Forms and Functions” was co-curated by Clinical Assistant Professor and Barron Hilton Archivist for Flight and Space Exploration Jo Otremba, seven archivists, and 11 student employees. The exhibition features materials from more than 40 collections dating from the 15th century to the present day. Items on display are connected to notable individuals such as John Purdue, Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong, Nobel Prize recipient Herbert Brown, William Henry Harrison, Orville Redenbacher, and illustrators Harold Gray (creator of Little Orphan Annie) and George Wildman (illustrator for Popeye comics), among others. The exhibition provides an overview of the types of materials preserved and made accessible by ASC and reflects the kinds of items archivists and student employees work with daily.
The central focus of “Forms and Functions” is to demonstrate the diversity of archival materials and includes materials from all of ASC’s special collecting areas. Each item on display represents a different collection and a distinct type of material. Exhibit labels use standardized form and genre terms from the Getty Research Institute’s Art & Architecture Thesaurus, which archivists use to describe materials consistently and support discovery and access.
These descriptive terms help researchers explore questions such as:
For ASC’s 11 student employees, “Forms and Functions” served as a hands-on learning experience. Students participated in all stages of development, including selecting materials, writing descriptions, creating labels, and installing the exhibition. Many of the student co-curators are interested in future careers in archives, libraries, or museums, and the exhibition provided mentorship and insight into this area of archival work.
“Forms and Functions” is free and open to the public during ASC’s regular hours, Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM throughout the spring 2026 semester, with modified hours during the summer. The exhibition is located at the Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections Research Center on the fourth floor of the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education (HSSE) Library in Stewart Center and runs until June 26.
For questions, please contact archives@purdue.edu.
Acknowledgement
ASC thanks the student employees and archivists whose time, creativity, and expertise made “Forms and Functions” possible. Their collaborative work—from selecting materials to installing the exhibition—was essential to bringing it to life.
The exhibition team includes the following contributors:
January 26th, 2026
On January 21, the ID:EALS webinar series hosted “Medieval Information Literacy: Research Into Practice,” featuring Dr. Kristin Leaman, assistant professor at Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies, and Dr. Andrew (Drew) Whitworth from the University of Manchester. The webinar highlighted how medieval and early modern scholars navigated complex information systems, showing that information literacy has deep historical roots.
Dr. Whitworth discussed how medieval scholars were trained to navigate manuscripts and other premodern sources. He emphasized that information literacy was taught through social and institutional systems, not just individual skill. His talk highlighted the close relationship between information, authority, and power.
Dr. Leaman explored medieval dis- and misinformation using frameworks from Information Science and Book History. Although the terms are modern, misleading and harmful information existed in the Middle Ages, often targeting marginalized communities. She organized her work into two areas—dis- and misinformation during the Middle Ages and about the Middle Ages—with case studies including the Malleus Maleficarum, its role in the western European witch trials, and responses by Reginald Scott and King James I. She also highlighted misreadings of medieval images and weaponized medievalism, the intentional misuse, and distortion of the Middle Ages to serve contemporary political, ideological, or violent agendas. Dr. Leaman emphasized the responsibility medieval scholars have in contextualizing and debunking this form of disinformation and misinformation.
The webinar demonstrated how medieval and early modern information practices continue to shape how knowledge, authority, and disinformation function today. By connecting historical case studies to modern frameworks, the speakers showed the value of studying information literacy across time.
View the talk recording on the Institute for Information Literacy’s website.
Filed under: general, News and AnnouncementsJanuary 8th, 2026
In fall 2025, Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies launched a new course, ILS 395: Information Strategies for Using AI, designed to help students engage with artificial intelligence through an information literacy and AI literacy lens. The course emphasized not only how AI tools function, but how to research, evaluate, test, and ethically use AI and its outputs in academic and professional settings.
A core component of the course was a multi-phase, project-based assignment. Students identified an industry-specific problem or opportunity connected to their field of study or career goals and selected an AI tool to address it. They evaluated the tool by reviewing vendor documentation such as privacy policies, training data disclosures, and accessibility statements; testing accuracy, bias, and consistency; and examining broader social, ethical, legal, and environmental implications through stakeholder analysis and risk assessment. The project culminated in a group final presentation.
Student presentations showcased a diverse range of tools and applications, including Zapier for workflow automation and data processing, Google Gemini for data cleaning and analysis, Copilot for recruitment and application automation, and ChatGPT and DALL·E for the restoration and visualization of archaeological artifacts.
Assistant Professor Zoe Mayhook highlighted that when students select and critically evaluate AI tools that meaningfully connect to their disciplines and career interests, they develop practical skills that are readily transferable to real-world settings. Clinical Assistant Professor Jing Lu emphasized that many students are already being asked to use AI in internships and shared that the course helps build confidence not just in using AI tools, but in making informed decisions about when and how to apply them.
Student feedback reflected a shift toward a more balanced understanding of AI, recognizing both its potential and its limitations, along with increased confidence in evaluating tools and identifying bias.
Following its successful pilot, the course has recently been approved as a permanent offering under the new designation ILS 231, with future courses planned for the summer and fall 2026 semesters. Students can also still enroll in the Spring section, which will continue to run under ILS 395 designation in the interim.
Filed under: 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: