Purdue University Libraries Position Announcement: Digital Humanities Specialist (Assistant or Associate Professor)

May 27th, 2015

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Digital Humanities Specialist

Assistant or Associate Professor

Purdue University Libraries (PUL) seeks a highly motivated, innovative, and learner-centered Digital Humanities (DH) Specialist to join a collaborative, dynamic team who carry out a robust program of integrated information literacy, data services, scholarly communication, and collaborative research, and, as a Libraries faculty member, to contribute to the research and scholarship in those areas.

The DH Specialist will establish a dynamic multifaceted digital humanities program in the Libraries’ Division of Humanities, Social Science, Education and Business (HSSEB) and collaborate with other Purdue faculty to meet the growing demand for digital scholarship at Purdue.  Working closely with the Libraries’ GIS specialist, archivists, and Research Data unit, the successful candidate will consult and collaborate with faculty and students on techniques and methodologies supporting the digital humanities and provide instruction in their use. The

DH Specialist may serve as a subject liaison to at least one humanities discipline.

Required qualifications:  Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library school or doctoral degree in relevant discipline; demonstrated knowledge of digital research tools and approaches (e.g., text mining, data visualization, and image analysis) and/or related techniques; knowledge of data issues in the research/knowledge creation lifecycle and familiarity with the challenges faced by digital project lifecycle management; demonstrated interest in the applications of current and emerging technologies to meet the changing needs of users; demonstrated commitment to user instruction and to consultation with users on their information needs; strong service orientation; excellent communication and presentation skills; and ability to work well with all levels of users and staff.

Desired Qualifications:  Familiarity with the challenges of long-term archiving.

Salary and benefits:  Salary commensurate with experience in the context of Purdue University’s salary structure. Faculty tenure-track position with a twelve-month appointment. Rank of assistant or associate professor depending on qualifications.  Start-up funds in support of research are provided for computer/software/equipment, for travel/professional development, and for a half time graduate assistant for two years. Purdue provides a generous fringe benefit package that includes retirement benefits as well as health, disability and life insurance, 22 annual vacation days, and tuition support for employee, children, and spouse/same sex domestic partner.  Purdue University is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

Application process: To apply, please send a resume, cover letter, and the names and contact information of at least three references via email to Carole Tolley, Libraries Human Resources Coordinator, at libhr@purdue.edu.   Please place “Digital Humanities Specialist” in the subject line of the email.  Nominations for the position will be accepted and should be sent to the same email address.  Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.  Questions may be directed to Carole Tolley at 765-494-2899 or the above email address.  A background check will be required for this position.

The full job announcement can be seen www.lib.purdue.edu/about/employment

 Purdue University is an EEO/AA employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.

Purdue Active Learning Center named for engineering alumni Wilmeth brothers – Purdue University

May 7th, 2015

Purdue University Libraries Announces Inaugural Research Travel Grants Program for Visiting Scholars

May 4th, 2015

The Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections Research Center, Purdue University Libraries, announces its inaugural Research Travel Grants program for visiting scholars. The purpose of these grants is to support the research of scholars (faculty, students, and independent researchers) whose research cannot progress satisfactorily without consulting materials onsite in the collections of the Karnes Research Center. One or more grants of up to $2,000 will be awarded to individual scholars studying one or more subjects represented in the Karnes Center’s collections onsite between June 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016.

Eligibility and Criteria

Anyone (faculty, students, and/or independent researchers) who wishes to use the Karnes Center collections for research may apply, regardless of his or her academic status. Intended to support research using the Karnes Center as a historical resource, the grants require the onsite use of at least one of the Center’s collections.

Archival collecting areas include the history of flight and space (Barron Hilton Flight and Space Exploration Archives), the history of women affiliated with Purdue University or the state of Indiana (Susan Bulkeley Butler Women’s Archives), the history of psychedelics for medicinal and healing purposes (Psychoactive Substances Research Collection), and the history of Purdue University, including papers of Purdue alumni, faculty and staff, and records of the University departments reflecting the founding, growth and evolution of the land-grant university for the State of Indiana and its mission to provide instruction in the mechanical arts (University Archives).  Rare book collections include the history of engineering, science, and transportation (Goss Library of the History of Engineering), the history of economics and political thought (Krannert Special Collection), the history of typography and book design (Bruce Rogers Collection of books and personal papers), and books about Indiana history or written by Indiana authors (including the personal libraries and manuscripts of George Ade and Charles Major and the cartoons of John T. McCutcheon).

Preference will be given to applicants needing funds to travel from out of state or out of the country and who plan to publish or publicly disseminate the scholarly results of their research. Funds may be used for business related expenses incurred by the researcher in association with his or her research, travel, and use of the Karnes Center facilities and collections as well as costs in making the research broadly available to the scholarly community. Grants are awarded to individual applicants, not to institutions, as awarded funds are meant to help offset the costs associated with visiting and utilizing the Karnes Center and not for institutional overhead. Only in exceptional cases would an individual be awarded more than one research travel grant per year.

Criteria used to judge the applications will include how well the case is made that the proposed project will support the candidate’s research and that conducting this research requires travel to use the unique collections in the Karnes Center; the appropriateness of the budget; the plan for making the results of the research available to the public; and the feasibility of the project within time constraints. Proposals will be evaluated by a panel chaired by the Director of the Karnes Center and composed of two or more additional archivists employed by the Karnes Center.

Application Process

Applicants are asked to provide:

• Cover sheet containing the following information: name, rank/title, mailing address, email address, phone number, the title of the project, projected dates of travel, and the total amount of funding requested. Grants will be made for any amount up to the maximum amount allowed per grant ($2,000) (1 page)
• Narrative description of the research project, including the research topic and an explanation of how onsite use of the Karnes Center’s collections are essential to successful completion of the project. Specify which collections will be used; the projected timeline, including approximate dates of travel to the Karnes Center; expected outcome(s) of the research, and how it will be made available (for example: publication of a book or journal article, thesis/dissertation, conference presentation, development of a course, etc.) (1-2 pages)
• Budget itemizing activities and their estimated costs, with total amount requested (1 page)

The following websites may be used to estimate lodging, meals and incidentals.

– For U.S. General Services Administration – Domestic destinations:

http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/105307

– For U.S. Dept. of State — Foreign destinations:

http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=184&menu_id=81

• CV or resume, including a list of relevant publications and presentations (3 pages maximum)
• For student applicants, please include a letter of recommendation from an advisor, thesis director, professor, or mentor who is a good judge of the student’s work (1-2 pages)

Please send all materials as email attachments to: morris18@purdue.edu, with “Travel Grants” in the subject line. Questions about the grants may be sent to the same address.

Reporting Requirements

A brief report or presentation on the research-related activities supported by the grant, and the significance to the research of the recipient, is required and must be submitted to the Director of the Karnes Center within 1 year following receipt of grant funds.  Each individual awarded a grant will be invited to give a presentation about his or her research either during the research visit or at a convenient date following the visit.

Funding

Awards will be in given in any amount of up to the maximum amount allowed per grant ($2,000).  Grant funds will be provided to the award recipients upon completion of the site visit and use of the facility. Beyond the initial year of the program, the amount of awards and the continuation of the program will be dependent on the funding available.

Deadlines

For researchers planning to travel between June 2015 and December 2015, the deadline for applications is May 30, 2015. For researchers planning to travel between January 2016 and June 2016, the deadline for applications is December 30, 2015. All applications must be submitted by email to morris18@purdue.edu, with the subject line: Research Travel Grants. Applications received following the deadline cannot be considered, but can be resubmitted for consideration during the following funding cycle.

For further information on the Karnes Center and its collections, please visit our website: http://www.lib.purdue.edu/spcol.

Questions may be submitted by email to morris18@purdue.edu

Support Purdue University Libraries through Hourly Bonus Challenges – Wed., April 29

April 28th, 2015

Purdue Libraries extends hours to help students prepare for finals

April 24th, 2015

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University Libraries will extend hours and offer special services at four facilities to help students prepare for final exams, which are May 4-9.

Additionally, the John W. Hicks Undergraduate Library will offer special activities to help students alleviate stress.

The Siegesmund Engineering; John W. Hicks Undergraduate; Humanities, Social Science and Education; and Roland G. Parrish libraries all will extend hours. The hours will be:

* Siegesmund Engineering – Beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday (April 26) through 5 p.m. May 9, the library is open 24 hours a day.

* John W. Hicks Undergraduate Library – Beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday (April 26) through 5 p.m. May 9, the library is open around the clock.

* HSSE Library – The library will be open 1 p.m. to midnight on Sunday (April 26); 7 a.m. to midnight from Monday (April 27) through April 30; 11 a.m. to midnight on May 2; 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. May 3; 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. May 4-7; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 8; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 9.

* Roland G. Parrish Library – The library will open at 11 a.m. Sunday (April 26). Monday (April 27) through midnight May 1, open around the clock; May 2 – 10:30 a.m. to midnight; May 3 – opens at 11 a.m.; May 4-7 – open around the clock; May 8 – closes at midnight; May 9 – 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

During extended hours, Libraries staff will be on site to assist students, and refreshments will be provided.

All other libraries will maintain regular hours.

To help students relieve the stress of finals week, special activities will take place in the Common Area of Hicks Undergraduate Library from Monday (April 27) through May 6. These include:

* Monday (April 27). 6-7 p.m. Game Night. Students can visit the iDesk to get a snack and borrow a board or card game to take a break from studying.

* April 28. 6-7 p.m. Blow Stress Away. Hicks staff will be outside the library’s main entrance with bubbles and sidewalk chalk.

* April 29. 6-7 p.m. Massage therapists from Purdue’s Division of Recreational Sports will offer quick chair massages.

* May 4. 6-7 p.m. Massage therapists from Purdue’s Division of Recreational Sports will offer quick chair massages.

* May 5. 6-7 p.m. – Blow Stress Away. Hicks staff will be outside the library’s main entrance with bubbles and sidewalk chalk.

* May 6. 6-7 p.m. Game Night: Game Night. Students can visit the iDesk to get a snack and borrow a board or card game to take a break from studying.

In addition to these events, the Hicks library will have art relaxation and bubble wrap stations located around the library. New this year, the library also will have a Lego table located near the iDesk. Banners will be available to sign for therapy dogs that were scheduled to be part of the de-stressing activities but cannot due to the canine flu outbreak.

For more information, contact Danielle Schiewer at dschiewe@purdue.edu, 765-494-6733, or Ann O’Donnell at atodonne@purdue.edu, 765-496-1498.

Contact: Beth McNeil, 765-496-2900, memcneil@purdue.edu

Purdue Libraries offers Hicks Study Break Activities during Prep and Finals Weeks

April 23rd, 2015

Dean accepts national collegiate honor on behalf of Purdue Libraries

April 23rd, 2015

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Libraries Dean James L. Mullins on Thursday (April 23) accepted the 2015 Association of College and Research Libraries Excellence in University Libraries Award.

Mullins accepted the honor on behalf of Purdue Libraries during the annual Libraries staff awards program in Purdue Memorial Union’s South Ballroom. Purdue Provost Debasish Dutta, Libraries faculty and staff, donors, and officials with the Association of College and Research Libraries were in attendance. The award is the top honor a research university library system can receive. In addition to a plaque, the Purdue Libraries received a gift of $3,000 donated by the YBP Book Services Co.

The ACRL in January announced the Purdue University Libraries‘ honor in the university category based on its numerous initiatives. Those include: its leadership in redefining the role of libraries to meet the needs and expectations of its university; creating a research community in the 21st century, through innovative programs and projects in information literacy; new space designs; new publishing models; international collaborations; and data management.

“Purdue University Libraries succeeds by being experimental, taking risks, innovating and leveraging collaboration with their faculty, graduate and undergraduate students to push the boundaries of what research university libraries can accomplish for their community, locally and globally,” said Steven Bell, chair of the 2015 Excellence in Academic Libraries Committee and associate university librarian for research and instructional services at Temple University. “Whether it’s their information literacy initiative that features their participation in Purdue’s IMPACT (Instruction Matters: Purdue Academic Course Transformation) curriculum, a commitment to renovate and create library spaces that are highly intentional about student learning and collaboration with faculty or engaging in course redesign with their faculty, what most impressed the committee was Purdue’s profession-leading and cutting edge work in the area of research data services.”

 “The faculty and staff of the Purdue University Libraries are proud of the progress that we have made to define the role of the 21st century research library within its university community,” said Mullins, who also is the Esther Ellis Norton professor at Purdue. “To have our creativity, innovation, and dedication recognized through this important award is a wonderful honor.”

Writers: Jim Bush, 765-494-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu

Shannon Walker, 765-496-9610, walker81@purdue.edu

Source: James L. Mullins, 765-494-2900, jmullins@purdue.edu

Purdue Libraries Database of the Week: MyWorld Abroad, from Intercultural Systems

April 13th, 2015

Welcome to Database of the Week.  This feature from the Roland G. Parrish Library of Management & Economics is intended to give you a brief introduction to a database that you may not know, with only basic information to get you started.  Hopefully, you will be tempted to explore this or other databases.

This Week’s Featured Database:  MyWorld Abroad, from Intercultural Systems.

Find it:  www.lib.purdue.edu/parrish, under the column headed Collections, click on List of Business Databases.

Description/focus: MyWorld Abroad offers resources, articles, and guides related to seeking job opportunities abroad.

Start with this hint: MyWorld Abroad has a section called What Do You Want To Do? This part of the database provides articles depending on your interest, such as volunteering. If you click on the Volunteer Abroad link, you will see different sections listed as such as What You Should Know First and Find Volunteer Experiences Now.

Click here to see the basics of searching MyWorld Abroad or try our Guide on the Side with this link.

Why you should know this database: Students often ask their professors for advice when seeking a job overseas. MyWorld Abroad has a page dedicated to the different experiences available when going abroad, as well as a four part guide to getting started and stories of how others have succeeded.

How this will help students:  Students can use The 4 BIG Things section of MyWorld Abroad to discover the different stages of going abroad. This guide includes articles on how to build experience and find work in various professions.

Cost: Paid by the Libraries, the Center for Career Opportunities, and The Parents Fund.

——————————

Database of the Week 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.  Database of the Week is archived at https://blogs.lib.purdue.edu/news/category/MGMT/.  For more Purdue Libraries news, follow us on Twitter (@ParrishLib).

Feedback is always welcome.  If you would like us to promote your favorite database, send an email to parrlib@purdue.edu.

Participants of user evaluations of e-books wanted

April 10th, 2015

Introduction:

Purdue University Libraries is conducting a user evaluation of e-books available via the library website (www.lib.purdue.edu). In the evaluation participants will be asked to complete a set of information retrieval tasks with e-book readers via the library website and provide feedback. Participation of this user evaluation is voluntary. The evaluation is expected to take up to 1 hour of time. Participants will receive $15 if they complete the evaluation.

Requirements:

1. Age 18 or older with high school diploma or equivalent.
2. Normal or corrected normal vision.
3. Currently enrolled Purdue University student, staff or faculty.
4. Experience of using e-books on Purdue University Libraries website or other academic search websites desired.

Contact:

If you are interested, please contact Tao Zhang at zhan1022@purdue.edu to complete a short screening questionnaire and schedule an evaluation time.

Purdue Libraries ASC Hosts Upcoming Indiana Archivists Meeting, Workshop

April 7th, 2015

2015 Annual Meeting of Society of Indiana Archivists
When: Saturday, April 11, 2015 at
Where: John W. Hicks Undergraduate Library, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Society of Indiana Archivist Preconference Workshop
“What Copyright Lawyers Want Archivists to Know about Copyright” presented by Donna L. Ferullo, J.D., Director of the Purdue University Copyright Office and Associate Professor of Library Science
When:  Friday, April 10, 2015 at
Where: Swaim Instruction Center

For more information:  http://inarchivists.org/meetings/