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March 18th, 2020
Get Help Online
Use our Ask a Librarian service for general assistance with Libraries resources. Email, live chat, texting, and tweeting are all available during varying hours. We are committed to expanding our ability to assist you online, but please understand that delayed responses may occur based on staff availability during this uncertain time.
E-Resources
Purdue Libraries has an expansive catalog on e-resources covering all disciplines represented at the University. Please explore our catalogs and A-Z Database for journals, databases, tools, and programs that you can use to further your academic studies, teaching, or research while you are away from campus.
If you encounter difficulty accessing an e-resource, please submit a support ticket.
Looking for an alternative to print?
Course Reserves
We are currently revising our Course Reserve Request Form for instructors who wish to place Libraries materials on hold for student use. Currently, it is advisable to assign and direct students to e-resources whenever possible. All circulation of print resources, including course reserves, has been suspended. We are actively working with instructors to convert course reserves for the Spring 2020 semester to electronic formats.
Remote Librarian Consultations
Our liaison librarians are available for remote consultations with faculty, staff, and students via phone, email, or (in some cases) video conferencing. Please locate your librarian by subject, and contact them by email to arrange an appointment.
Connecting to Libraries through Boilerkey, VPN, and EZProxy
Please visit our Off-Campus Access page for guidance on connecting to the Purdue Libraries server from a distance. Please leave your Purdue workstation computer turned on when you leave campus to ensure ability to connect remotely.
Interlibrary Loan
Interlibrary Loan remains available to help source journal articles at this time, with restrictions.
Obtaining print materials through ILL is no longer feasible. However, requests for articles and chapters that can be scanned or obtained electronically may still be processed.
All ILL shipping methods and deliveries are currently suspended, including those to Purdue Online students.
Books on the ILL hold shelf will remain on hold until the Libraries re-open, and renewals will be discussed at that time, if needed.
Filed under: UncategorizedMarch 18th, 2020
For the health and safety of students, faculty, staff, and our community, Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies is immediately shifting all services to an online only model effective Friday, March 20, 2020 at 5:00 pm EST and continuing for the foreseeable future. Please refer to our Changes to Operations page for Libraries updates and the University’s COVID-19 site for the latest information on campus policy and protocol.
Please note:
Our ongoing focus will be on connecting faculty, staff, and students to electronic resources and assisting our patrons as they transition to an e-learning and telework environment. Librarians will be available for phone, email, or video chat consultations, and the hours for our virtual methods of assistance will be expanded. Though we are closing our physical doors, Purdue Libraries will continue to provide the highest level of service possible in a virtual environment.
Need help?
Please note that not all services are available at all times.
March 11th, 2020
The health and safety of the Purdue University community remains our utmost concern in these uncertain times. Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies stands with the vigilant efforts of campus administration to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19 to our students, faculty, and staff by moving current courses online. As this situation develops in real time, information about COVID-19 and Purdue’s response will be regularly updated on the University’s site.
I want to reassure our community that Purdue Libraries will make every effort to continue necessary services and resources and provide scholarly support to our faculty, staff, and students. We have created a guide to our Remote Access Resources to aid those who require access to Libraries materials while away from campus. We encourage instructors to utilize these electronic resources in lieu of print materials when possible for the safety and convenience of their students who may be studying away from campus. Liaison librarians will be available for consultations via phone or email for those with questions and concerns.
We have implemented additional health and safety measures in our physical libraries by increasing the frequency in which we clean study spaces and encouraging the social distancing measures recommended by the CDC. As this outbreak and precautionary recommendations evolve, you may see changes to our operating hours, events, and policies. This guide will be actively updated as changes occur.
Purdue Libraries is closely following the University’s lead in taking the proper preventative steps to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on our faculty, staff, and students. Every effort is being made to ensure that Libraries will continue to provide service and expertise to our community without jeopardizing the health and safety of our faculty, staff, and patrons. I want to thank those who work in Purdue Libraries for their time, effort, and planning in proactively addressing the changing needs of campus as we confront the COVID-19 outbreak.
Thank you for your continued support,
Beth McNeil
Dean and Esther Ellis Norton Professor of Library Science
Libraries and School of Information Studies
March 11th, 2020
Announcements
In accordance with Purdue University’s decision to move all courses to an online model for the foreseeable future, Purdue Libraries has made changes to its operations in the interest of the health and safety of the campus community. News about the COVID-19 virus changes fast, and any updates to Libraries-specific operating procedures or policies will be noted here. Please refer to the University site for all information related to Purdue’s COVID-19 response.
Changes to Hours/ Services Moving Online
Beginning Friday, March 20, 2020 at 5 pm EST and continuing until the university deems it safe for campus life to resume as normal, all Libraries services and resources will be available online only. All Libraries buildings will be closed completely until further notice with the exception of Hicks Undergraduate Library, which will remain open to Purdue students Monday through Friday from 8 am to 6 pm as a study space ONLY. This is subject to change per University protocol. No in-person library services will be provided and social distancing protocol will be strictly enforced. Visit our All Hours page for the most up-to-date library hours.
Statement from the Dean of Libraries
Dean Beth McNeil has released a statement on the COVID-19 outbreak, its impact on Purdue Libraries, and our commitment to continuing necessary services while keeping our campus community safe.
Print Materials
For the health and safety of our staff and patrons, we have temporarily suspended all circulation of print materials until further notice.
Changes to Events
Events are currently subject to likely cancellation for the health and safety of all attending. Please check your email frequently for updates or contact the event organizer to confirm that an event is still taking place before you travel to campus.
Link to Remote Access Resources Guide
Purdue Libraries will make every effort to maintain access to critical resources through this uncertain time. We encourage you to explore this guide to learn about the various ways that we can support your scholarship and research while you are away from campus.
Filed under: generalMarch 11th, 2020
Get Help Online
Use our Ask a Librarian service for general assistance with Libraries resources. Email, live chat, texting, and tweeting are all available during varying hours. We are committed to expanding our ability to assist you online, but please understand that delayed responses may occur based on staff availability during this uncertain time.
E-Resources
Purdue Libraries has an expansive catalog on e-resources covering all disciplines represented at the University. Please explore our catalogs and A-Z Database for journals, databases, tools, and programs that you can use to further your academic studies, teaching, or research while you are away from campus.
If you encounter difficulty accessing an e-resource, please submit a support ticket.
Looking for an alternative to print?
Course Reserves
We are currently revising our Course Reserve Request Form for instructors who wish to place Libraries materials on hold for student use. Currently, it is advisable to assign and direct students to e-resources whenever possible. All circulation of print resources, including course reserves, has been suspended. We are actively working with instructors to convert course reserves for the Spring 2020 semester to electronic formats.
Remote Librarian Consultations
Our liaison librarians are available for remote consultations with faculty, staff, and students via phone, email, or (in some cases) video conferencing. Please locate your librarian by subject, and contact them by email to arrange an appointment.
Connecting to Libraries through Boilerkey, VPN, and EZProxy
Please visit our Off-Campus Access page for guidance on connecting to the Purdue Libraries server from a distance. Please leave your Purdue workstation computer turned on when you leave campus to ensure ability to connect remotely.
Interlibrary Loan
Interlibrary Loan remains available to help source journal articles at this time, with restrictions.
Obtaining print materials through ILL is no longer feasible. However, requests for articles and chapters that can be scanned or obtained electronically may still be processed.
All ILL shipping methods and deliveries are currently suspended, including those to Purdue Online students.
Books on the ILL hold shelf will remain on hold until the Libraries re-open, and renewals will be discussed at that time, if needed.
Filed under: generalMarch 10th, 2020
Parrish Library’s Featured Database aims to give a very brief introduction to the basic features of one of the Purdue Libraries and the School of Information Studies (PULSIS) specialized subscription databases. This Featured Database highlights Passport, brought to you by Euromonitor International.
The List of Business Databases is the alphabetical list of the databases specially selected for those in a business program of study. Access the databases off-campus with your Purdue login and password.
Provides business intelligence on countries, consumers and industries. It offers integrated access to statistics, market reports, company profiles and information sources.
Click Getting Started with Passport to see the basics of using Passport. Click Finding Travel and Tourism Data in Passport for a brief tutorial on accessing travel and tourism data in Passport.
Use the keyword search at the top of the page; relevant content will appear as you type.
Passport can be used to find travel and tourism data such as city travel briefings, which include information on business dynamics, lodging, SWOT analysis, city destination rankings and more.
Some other resources you might want to explore, are:
You can find additional tutorials for a variety of our subscription resources on our YouTube channel.
Featured Database comes to you from the Roland G. Parrish Library of Management & Economics. If you would like more information about this database, or if you would like a demonstration of it for a class, contact parrlib@purdue.edu. Also let us know if you know of a colleague who would benefit from this, or future Featured Databases.
Since usage statistics are an important barometer when databases are up for renewal, tell us your favorite database, and we will gladly promote it. Send an email to parrlib@purdue.edu.
Filed under: database, general, MGMTFebruary 26th, 2020
In this interview, we talk with author Eric Grissell about writing his new book A History of Zinnias: Flower for the Ages.
A History of Zinnias is a cultural and horticultural history documenting the development of garden zinnias—one of the top ten garden annuals grown in the United States today.
Q: Why did you choose the Zinnia?
Eric Grissell: The subject of zinnias first came about as a result of moving from my shady Maryland garden to southeastern Arizona where sun and water became the primary factors of gardening. I had a bit of luck with dwarf zinnias in Maryland, but I wanted to grow the tall, colorful sorts that require lots of sun. I soon discovered several native species of zinnia that piqued my life-long interest in native plants, and quickly became inundated in zinnias, growing from seed as many color forms and shapes of the annual sorts as possible. I also researched what the native species had to offer. Being a normal gardener (i.e., obsessive compulsive) I soon began to question zinnia origins and histories. Answers were not immediately forthcoming so I began my other indulgence of finding answers about questions that intrigued and/or bothered me. I’ve spent my life doing this with insects so plants were not far behind. At the same time my interest in zinnias became serious I read the entertaining book A Perfect Red by Amy Butler Greenfield, which is the history of a single species of scale insect. For some still-unexplained reason I thought a book about zinnias might possibly be infinitely more interesting than one about a little red bug. This admission cannot become common knowledge or I will be ostracized by my entomological colleagues.
Q: Did Zinnias live up to that billing?
Grissell: I suppose readers will be the judge of that! I can say, however, that attempting to learn about zinnias was both challenging and greatly improved my view of “history.” History seems to be divided into specific subjects such as geography, politics, music, and art, along with subsets of these broader categories. Researching the subject of zinnias surprisingly lead me to integrate areas I would not have imagined when I began. That is what eventually lead to a book that is more interesting than a simple history of a flower.
Q: You mention the preface of the book that some purported historical facts about Zinnias are actually complete falsehoods, what were some of your favorite myths to bust?
Grissell: I don’t consider myself a myth buster, but more appropriately a truth seeker. Perhaps the most often quoted sentence in all of zinnia literature is that they were a favorite flower of the Aztec peoples. This statement is made unhesitatingly throughout literature of all kinds but without attempts to verify it. Like much of life (and the Internet) it is simply repeated “knowledge.” Three chapters of my book investigate this problem from many different angles. The obvious of which is that the word “Zinnia” did not exist until 1759. So what was it called before that and how could I find out? Other odd notions about zinnias are that Gottfried Zinn, for whom the zinnia is named, collected zinnia seed in Mexico and was accosted by bandits. The purported incident occurred 150 years after his death, and Zinn had never even left his home country of Germany. This legend appears as fact in popular field guides to this day. Another bit of nonsense is that an elderly British Prime Minister fell off a cliff to his death while botanizing. His wife supposedly had a role in importing zinnia seed to England. Although an interesting bit of legend, it was the wrong wife, the wrong husband, and he didn’t die until a year after the fall—as a result of old age.
Q: On that note, was there anything you learned in research for this book that surprised you?
Grissell: I found it interesting that so many famous people and subjects were associated with zinnias in one way or another. Normally these associations would go unnoticed because no one in their right mind would think to look for them. These simply popped up as a result of searching for information on zinnias. Additionally, when people envision zinnias in the garden the first—and possibly only—thought is of the brightly colored garden varieties, all of which are annuals. I was surprised to learn that half of the two dozen known species are perennials, some verging on dwarf, woody shrublets. These species are considered wildflowers but are rarely mentioned even in wildflower guides. The so-called Desert Zinnia has even been the subject of work by the U. S, Department of Agriculture to develop a genetically diverse (but not engineered) seed source with which to help in restoration of disturbed areas, wildlife habitat improvement and for increasing plant diversity on lands in southeastern Arizona. The Desert Zinnia has also been used in attempts to introduce perennial status into annual garden zinnias.
Q: Do you feel the relative lack of knowledge on the history of Zinnias made your research more fun? or possibly more frustrating?
Grissell: I would have to say both! It certainly was frustrating because I was searching in the dark for 250 years before 1759 when the name “Zinnia” was created. It did force me to look at plants that were more thoroughly researched such as marigolds and dahlias. These have a documented history going back centuries and are endemic to Mexico as is the zinnia. Having to dig deeper and deeper into what was, or was not, known either forces one to give up in frustration or press onward with hope. I chose the latter out of stubbornness and the love of mystery. Eventually discovering minor and major bits of information along the way became increasingly more productive. Integrating such notions as Winston Churchill and battle ships, or Mozart and his students, seemed to have nothing to do with where I started, but a number of such diversions made the latter-day history of zinnias outweigh the earlier frustrations of searching through an abyss until I could admit that the whole project was more fun than I should admit. Hopefully the reader will agree.
Thank you to Eric for taking the time to answer our questions! If you’d like to learn more about Zinnias, you can order your own copy of A History of Zinnias or pick a copy up from your local library!
You can get 30% off A History of Zinnias and all other Purdue University Press books by ordering from our website and using the discount code PURDUE30.
Filed under: PurduePressFebruary 24th, 2020
The ILLiad system used for Interlibrary Loan requests is receiving an upgrade on Friday, February 28th between 2-4pm EST. This means that the Interlibrary Loan request pages at http://go.lib.purdue.edu/ill may be unavailable during that time. During the upgrade, you might not be able to log in, a message that the database is inaccessible may be displayed, or you may receive an error that the web pages are not accessible or that the web server is not available. This alert will be removed when the upgrade process is complete.
Filed under: Alerts: ExpiredFebruary 24th, 2020
We talked to Dara Wald and Anna Peterson, authors of Cats and Conservationists: The Debate Over Who Owns the Outdoors about feral cats and the conversation surrounding them.
Cats and Conservationists is the first multidisciplinary analysis of the heated debate about free-roaming cats. The debate pits conservationists against cat lovers, who disagree both on the ecological damage caused by the cats and the best way to manage them. The book aims to see through the smoke of the debate, and facilitate collaboration in order to manage outdoor cats and minimize the damage they cause.
Q: Could you briefly explain the debate surrounding feral cats, and what the two sides in the argument are purported to be?
Anna Peterson: The two sides are sometimes framed as “bird people” and “cat people,” who are supposedly at odds with each other in every possible way. “Bird people” think outdoor cats kill huge numbers of wild animals, including song birds and endangered species, and want to eliminate outdoor cats in order to protect wildlife and ecosystems. They often think that trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs are ineffective ways to reduce the cat population and that stricter measures, including lethal ones, are required. “Cat people,” on the other hand, think that outdoor cats do not contribute to minimal ecological damage, that TNR programs usually work well to reduce or stabilize cat populations, and that outdoor cats have as much “right” to exist as other animals. This is very simplified, but it’s a common way that the debate is framed.
Dara Wald: The problem with simplified framing is that it often dismisses or ignores value-based differences driving public debate over outdoor cats. The folks involved in this debate have strongly held beliefs about the world, about science, and about animals. These beliefs are associated with specific worldviews or orientations (e.g., conservationist vs. animal welfare) that influence how individuals’ select and interpret information. Thus, conservationists are more likely to pay attention to and accept widespread scientific consensus that cats kill birds. While TNR supporters are significantly less likely to be exposed to this message, and when confronted with it, they are less likely to agree that cat predation poses a risk to wildlife or environmental health. So, this simplified framing could actually be reinforcing the differences between these groups and contributing to greater polarization between interested parties. That’s why it’s important to identify alternative voices and pathways to promote constructive conversations.
Q: It seems that many intend to frame the two sides of this conflict as being uncompromising and combative, your book talks about that framing, could you explain?
Peterson: The simplistic bird people vs. cat people frame does portray the two sides as rigid and mutually exclusive, as though there are no common values or interests. Our research finds that while the conflicts are real, there are many shared values. While some people may be uncompromising, many other people who care about this debate are open to conversation and compromise. We think that constructive conversations among different stake holders – conservationists, cat advocates, local residents – can help reveal common interests and goals and provide people with the information they need to make better policy decisions. For example, it’s important to know what ecological damage cats might be doing in a given area, because their impact is really different in a disturbed urban or suburban area than it is in an ecologically fragile place like a coastal or island environment. Good information about issues like that can help people have better conversations and reach constructive policy solutions.
Wald: The language and frames we use to describe an animal or a topic can send a signal about how much we value a species, which identity group we belong, and whose science we accept. Think about the difference between the terms “evolution” and “creation” or “global warming” or “climate change.” Using a specific frame or term can unintentionally send a signal to your audience about your position. This positionality can make it hard to start a constructive conversation. The goal of this book is to encourage constructive conversations among all the communities interested in this debate. To do this, we looked at the common frames employed by prominent voices and groups. You’ll also notice that we use the term “outdoor” cats instead of “feral” cats throughout. We chose the more neutral term because we want this book to be accessible to all the groups involved in this debate.
Q: What do you feel are some of the other major misconceptions the general public may have about this debate?
Peterson: I think one misconception might be about how important this issue is to many conservationists. While many people in the “general public” aren’t aware that there is a conflict, and maybe not even that there are lots of outdoor cats running around, the people who are aware of the issue often feel very strongly. The first time this issue came up in a classroom for me, it was with a bunch of environmental science grad students, and I was surprised at how passionate they were about this issue and how heated the discussion became.
Wald: Agreed. I was also surprised once I started studying this issue that it has really important implications beyond cats. The debate over outdoor cats is an example of what happens when strongly held beliefs and values drive conflict over environmental issues. There are important parallels between this issue and public debate over the safety of GM foods, the benefits of wind energy, and the risks associated with climate change. Unlike these national/international issues, decisions about how to manage outdoor cats can be addressed at the local level. There are groups already involved and committed to developing solutions that save the lives of birds and cats and yet they are often dismissed, ignored, or belittled by the media and the environmental community. This is a pattern that can create resentment, distrust, and a sense that environmentalists, and other expert groups are not acting in the public’s best interest. My goal is to encourage constructive discussions and community-led solutions that are inclusive, supportive, and sustainable – whether the topic is cats or other complex, contested environmental issues.
Q: Many are relatively comfortable considering certain animals (moles, snakes, raccoons, opossums, etc.) as pests to be exterminated/captured. How do you feel this does/should affect the debate around feral cats?
Peterson: Most people, at least in the US, put cats in a very different category than “vermin” – they see cats as pets, even if they are unowned, and not pests. Our research and other studies show that even “bird advocates” often have pet cats of their own, whom they love. That’s why there is a debate about what to do about outdoor cats, when there is not nearly the same level of conflict about other invasive predators. In some ways, as certain conservationists will argue, this distinction is not well-grounded: if we focus on cats’ intrinsic qualities or on their ecological role, they are not all that different from many other species. What makes them different is their relationships with us. Humans have a historical relationship with cats, as our two species have interacted for thousands of years, in addition to the personal relationships that many people have with cats today. For better or worse, these relationships profoundly shape how people feel about the “feral cat problem,” and we cannot ignore them, if we want constructive solutions.
Wald: I agree. One major difference is the human connection. In addition, people are generally attracted to and interested in charismatic mammals. As much as I love snakes, birds, and raccoons, I understand why the World Wildlife Fund has a panda on its logo.
Thank you so much to Dara and Anna for their time! You can read more about outdoor cats and the debate surrounding them by getting your own copy of Cats and Conservationists or picking it up from your local library!
You can get 30% off Cats and Conservationists and any other Purdue University Press books by ordering from our website and using the discount code PURDUE30.
Filed under: UncategorizedFebruary 21st, 2020
Despite extensive annual negotiations with publishers and vendors, the cost of our subscription resources rises by 4-8% annually, far outpacing the rate of inflation and the realistic constraints of university budgets. To remain good stewards of University funds, fiscal year 2021 will bring with it a large cut to our subscription resources, with a goal of cancelling $500,000 – $600,000 worth of subscriptions.
We have conducted a thorough review of our subscription resources and created a list of proposed titles for cancellation. This can be found on our Journal and Database Cancellations Project LibGuide, along with a form to provide feedback on the titles, and a helpful FAQ. The campus community will have the opportunity to provide feedback through Friday, March 27th, 2020, and the final cancellation list will be posted on our website by the end of April.
We know that cancelling subscription titles creates challenges for our faculty, researchers, and students. Every effort will be made to retain the most heavily used subscriptions. We will help find alternate means of accessing information whenever possible, and encourage the use of services like Interlibrary Loan. We will deliver more articles upon request, in lieu of a reliance on institutional subscriptions. Ownership of these resources may change, but we are committed to ensuring that your access will not.
If you or others in your college/school have questions or comments, please direct them to Rebecca Richardson, Assistant Dean for Collections and Access, rarichar@purdue.edu.
Filed under: collections, general