“Steam, Steel, and Snapshots:” New exhibition highlights the William A. Swartz Locomotive Collection and Purdue’s locomotive history

November 6th, 2026

Railway enthusiasts, photography lovers, and history buffs can explore the rich history of steam locomotives through an upcoming exhibition at Purdue University Archives and Special Collections. This spring, “Steam, Steel, and Snapshots: The William A. Swartz Collection of Locomotive Photographs, Publications and Records,” will be on display from January 19 to May 27, 2027, in Archives and Special Collections on the fourth floor of the Humanities, Social Sciences and Education (HSSE) Library in Stewart Center.

Curated by Richard Bernier, processing and public services archivist, and Elijah Patton, student assistant, the exhibition will highlight the extensive collection of William A. Swartz, a former Purdue student and lifelong photographer and collector of steam locomotive images from around the world. Dedicated to documenting railway history, Swartz assembled an extraordinary collection of more than 40,000 photographs representing 2,642 railway companies across 69 countries. 

Beyond photographs, the collection includes locomotive construction records, rosters, publications, newsletters, correspondence, and other materials that provide insight into the history of railways and the people who documented them. Together, these resources offer a comprehensive look at steam locomotives and their role in transportation history. 

The exhibition will also highlight Purdue’s connection to locomotive history, with a dedicated section that will explore the university’s history of locomotive testing and boiler research, connecting Swartz’s collection to Purdue’s engineering legacy and Boilermaker identity. Visitors will explore the collection’s breadth, including photographs of railways in Indiana and the surrounding region, images from countries around the world, and materials illustrating Swartz’s network of collaborators. A reception celebrating the exhibition is planned for February 18, 2027.

Learn more about the William A. Swartz collection in the collections resource record, or explore the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections website for more information.

Announcing the Open Journal Finder: Simplify the search for open access publishing opportunities

October 28th, 2026

The Open Journal Finder, a new tool from Purdue Libraries, simplifies the search for library-supported open access publishing opportunities. It allows Purdue researchers to easily identify journals with waived or reduced article processing charges (APCs) through a single search. Researchers can explore open access publishing options, including article processing charges, library-supported discounts and agreements, and journal metrics and rankings.

Purdue Libraries is committed to creating more accessible and sustainable publishing options for Purdue authors and, in turn, expanding access to their research. Open access publishing supports faster scientific discovery, encourages greater public engagement, increases usage and citations, and helps fulfill funder public access mandates. While the benefits of open access are significant, the costs of open access article processing charges (APCs) can be prohibitive for authors. Through a variety of Open Access publishing agreements, Purdue Libraries helps authors publish open access at no cost.

Questions can be directed to Nina Collins, scholarly publishing librarian, or openaccess@purdue.edu.

Dr. Nicole Olynk Widmar receives the 2026 Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies Leadership in Open Access Award

October 27th, 2026

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.—Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies is pleased to recognize Dr. Nicole Olynk Widmar as the 2026 Leadership in Open Access Award recipient. Presented annually, the award recognizes members of the Purdue community who demonstrate leadership in advancing open access and expanding the reach of scholarly research.

Widmar was nominated for her efforts to encourage faculty in Purdue’s Department of Agricultural Economics to make their research more widely accessible through green open access, which allows researchers to share approved versions of their published work freely through online repositories such as Purdue e-Pubs, Purdue University’s institutional repository. Purdue Libraries supports this practice by helping researchers navigate publishers’ sharing policies and depositing eligible works on their behalf. Through Widmar’s leadership, 17 faculty members connected with Purdue Libraries to use repository services, increasing the department’s collection in Purdue e-Pubs from seven publications to 126. Downloads of the department’s publications increased from 1,407 to 5,609, demonstrating the growing reach of its scholarship and illustrating how making research freely available can connect it with a wider audience.

By encouraging faculty to share their work openly, Widmar has helped advance Purdue Libraries’ mission to broaden access to research and increase the visibility and impact of Purdue scholarship.

Open Access Week

October 19–25, 2026, was International Open Access Week. This year’s theme, The Cost of Knowledge, examined the financial, human, and environmental costs of creating, sharing, and sustaining knowledge. It also challenged communities to consider how increasing commercial control over knowledge affects access and how these systems can be reclaimed to better serve the public interest.

Open Access publishing provides free, immediate access to scholarly literature, removing paywalls and reuse restrictions. For more than 20 years, Open Access has advanced transparency in scientific research and helped pave the way for broader open scholarship initiatives, including open data, open peer review, and open science.

Purdue Libraries and Open Access

Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies advocates for Open Access publishing in support of the university’s land-grant mission of learning, discovery, and engagement. Purdue’s commitment began with Open Access Day in 2008, followed by participation in International Open Access Week since 2009. In 2020, an endowment established with support from the Dean’s Advisory Council and generous donors strengthened Libraries’ efforts to advance sustainable, transparent scholarly publishing.

Purdue Libraries negotiates publishing agreements that allow Purdue authors to publish Open Access at no cost through participating journals. Authors can also share their scholarship through Purdue e-Pubs, the university’s institutional repository, making their work freely available to a global audience.

Libraries also offers a free curriculum vitae (CV) review service to help authors identify publications that can be shared openly. Authors can submit a publication list or ORCID iD for staff to review publisher sharing policies and identify opportunities to make their work available at no cost.

For more information, contact openaccess@purdue.edu or explore Open Access Publishing Partnerships.

About Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies

Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies, a unit of Purdue University, aims to create and provide equitable access to diverse resources, outstanding services, and innovative spaces by pioneering new methods in information science and advancing knowledge to meet the evolving information needs of the future. To learn more, visit the Libraries website.

Purdue Libraries welcomes students to a successful open house

October 27th, 2026

Purdue Libraries welcomed a strong turnout of students to the Student Center Library Open House on October 15, introducing attendees to the resources, services and spaces available to support their academic success.

Held at the Student Center Library in Indianapolis, the event offered a relaxed, engaging atmosphere for students to explore the library. Attendees enjoyed handcrafted coffee from the Bedrock Coffee cart, received Purdue Libraries T-shirts, participated in games and activities, and had opportunities to win Amazon gift cards. The open house highlighted the many ways Purdue Libraries supports students through research resources, library services, and welcoming spaces for learning and study. It also gave students an opportunity to connect with Libraries staff and learn more about what Libraries has to offer.

Ann O’Donnell, assistant operations manager of Purdue Libraries in Indianapolis, said, “We were pleased to see such a great turnout at the open house. It is always wonderful to see members of the Purdue in Indianapolis community and to share Purdue Libraries resources with them.”

The strong turnout and enthusiastic participation made the open house a success, helping introduce students to Purdue Libraries and encouraging them to make the Student Center Library part of their campus experience.

Public access to funded research: How Purdue Libraries can help

October 22nd, 2026

Choosing to publish research openly can lead to higher research impact. Studies have found that open access articles tend to receive more citations than articles available only through subscriptions. Open access research can attract citations from researchers across a broader range of institutions, countries, and disciplines. By removing barriers to access, open access publishing creates more opportunities for Purdue research to be discovered, cited, and used not only by scholars worldwide, but also by industry professionals, policymakers, educators and more.

Purdue Libraries has long supported open access and helped Purdue researchers make their scholarship publicly available. Through publisher agreements and other open access initiatives, Purdue authors have opportunities to publish their work openly without always having to pay an article processing charge (APC) themselves.

Federal public access requirements

Following the 2022 Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Nelson Memo, federal research agencies have implemented policies requiring federally-funded research publications to be made publicly accessible immediately, without an embargo. Depending on the funder and the specific award, researchers may need to ensure that an accepted manuscript or published article is deposited in an appropriate repository and made publicly accessible without an embargo. 

At the same time, a May 2026 proposal from the Office of Management and Budget would change how publication costs can be charged to federal awards. The proposal is not final, but it highlights an important challenge for researchers: how authors can make their federally-funded research publicly available when they may not have grant funds available to pay APCs.

Options for making your research openly available

Purdue Libraries can help you identify an open access option that fits your publication, funder requirements, and available resources.

• Publish open access at no additional cost through publisher agreements
  • Purdue authors are eligible to publish open access in thousands of journals through open access agreements. These agreements can allow eligible corresponding authors to publish open access without personally paying an APC. Purdue authors have already published more than 2,000 articles through Purdue Libraries’ open access agreements since 2021, representing millions of dollars in saved publication charges. See the Open Access Publishing Partnerships guide for a complete list of agreements. 
• Take advantage of discounted APC programs
  • Purdue Libraries participates in programs and publisher agreements that provide discounts on APCs for eligible authors. See the Publishing Discounts guide for more information. 
• Understand and retain your author rights
  • Purdue Libraries can help you understand publishing agreements and identify opportunities to retain the rights needed to share your work in a repository. Retaining these rights can give authors greater flexibility to make their research publicly available without paying an APC. 
• Green Open Access as an alternative to APC
  • Purdue authors may be able to deposit an author-accepted manuscript—the version of an article accepted for publication after peer review—in Purdue e-Pubs or another appropriate repository, subject to the publisher’s terms. Repository-based open access can also provide a way to meet many public access requirements. Green open access also increases the reach and visibility of scholarship.  

Fortunately, making an article publicly available does not always require paying an APC.

Libraries can help

You do not have to navigate these changes alone. Before you submit a manuscript, or when your manuscript is accepted, contact Purdue Libraries to explore your options for open access publishing, repository deposit, and author rights. The Open Publishing Toolkit is available here. 

Seeking feedback
Researchers are encouraged to complete a brief survey to help Libraries better understand how publication costs and federal public access requirements are affecting their research and publishing decisions.

Please complete the survey below by Friday, December 4, 2026.

Activate The Wall Street Journal through Purdue Libraries

October 8th, 2026

Purdue Libraries provides The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) subscription access to students, faculty, and staff at Purdue University, Purdue University Fort Wayne, and Purdue University Northwest. Through your Purdue subscription, you can access WSJ’s award-winning journalism on WSJ.com and through the WSJ app, along with podcasts, newsletters, career resources, personal finance insights, and more.

How to Activate Your WSJ Subscription

Select your Purdue campus below to activate your subscription:

• Purdue University: Visit WSJ.com/Purdue and follow the registration instructions.
• Purdue University Fort Wayne: Visit WSJ.com/PurdueUniversityFortWayne and follow the registration instructions.
• Purdue University Northwest: Visit WSJ.com/PurdueUniversityNorthwest and follow the registration instructions.

Once your account is activated, you can access WSJ from your computer or mobile device.

Already Have a WSJ Subscription?

If you currently pay for an individual WSJ subscription, you can switch to your Purdue-sponsored subscription. Call 1-800-JOURNAL and let WSJ know that you are switching to your school-sponsored access. Partial refunds may be available for your existing subscription.

Why Access WSJ?

Stay informed with trusted reporting and analysis on the issues shaping business, finance, politics, technology, and world news. WSJ also offers content focused on career development, personal finance, health, arts, and culture.

Whether you’re keeping up with current events, researching an industry, preparing for a career, or exploring topics beyond the classroom, WSJ provides insights and resources to help you stay informed and engaged.

About The Wall Street Journal

Published by Dow Jones, The Wall Street Journal is a global news organization providing news, information, commentary, and analysis across digital, mobile, print, social, and video platforms. WSJ is recognized for its award-winning journalism and has received numerous Pulitzer Prizes.

Arun Gupta’s “The Mission Generation” connects purpose, learning and public service

October 1st, 2026

What does it mean to build a meaningful career in a world of rapid technological change and uncertainty?

That question was at the center of a recent event featuring Arun Gupta, CEO of the NobleReach Foundation and co-author of “The Mission Generation: Reclaim Your Purpose, Rewrite Success, Rebuild Our Future.” Gupta joined Purdue students on September 24 for a reading, conversation, and book signing in the Humanities, Social Science and Education Library.

Gupta challenged students to rethink the traditional idea of a linear career. With artificial intelligence, longer working lives, and rapid changes across industries, he encouraged students to focus less on titles and institutions and more on the problems they care about solving.

“You can’t just wait for clarity and then go act on it. You’ve got to put yourself out there and be acting and getting feedback.”

His emphasis on experimentation, curiosity, and continuous learning has strong ties to the values of Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies. In a world where information and technology are changing rapidly, information literacy is not simply a skill students develop for a particular course or assignment. It is a foundation for lifelong learning—helping people ask meaningful questions, evaluate information, adapt to new circumstances, and make informed decisions throughout their careers.

As Gupta put it, “You’re learning for the rest of your life.”

From Purdue to public service

Purdue alumnus Tarun Prakash joined Gupta for the conversation and provided a firsthand example of these ideas in practice. After graduating from Purdue with a degree in mechanical engineering, Prakash became part of NobleReach’s inaugural cohort and spent a year working with the U.S. Space Force in El Segundo, CA.

He described the experience as a “force multiplier” for his career. Working in government gave him an understanding of public-sector priorities and relationships that later became valuable when he moved into the private sector.

Prakash’s experience illustrated Gupta’s argument that an unconventional career experience can become an important source of learning, relationships, and perspective rather than a detour from a traditional career path.

Connecting NobleReach and Purdue

Prakash’s experience also reflects the growing connections among NobleReach, Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies, and the Purdue University College of Engineering.

The College of Engineering’s Innovation for Public Service Certificate, developed in collaboration with NobleReach, gives students opportunities to explore how technology, innovation, and public service intersect. Libraries courses ILS 230, ILS 300, and ILS 301 are selective courses in the certificate program.

These connections reflect a shared interest in preparing students to navigate complex problems that cross disciplinary and institutional boundaries. For Libraries and School of Information Studies, that work includes helping students develop the information-literacy skills and habits of lifelong learning needed to remain adaptable in a rapidly changing world.

The Mission Generation ultimately asks students to think differently about both careers and learning. Rather than waiting for certainty, Gupta encourages people to experiment, learn from experience, build trusted relationships, and continually reassess where they can contribute.

That message aligns closely with the role of Purdue Libraries: supporting students not only in finding information today, but in developing the curiosity, critical thinking, and lifelong learning practices they will need for whatever comes next.

Reception celebrates the history and legacy of home economics at Purdue

September 29th, 2026

On Thursday, September 24, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections welcomed members of the Purdue community to a reception celebrating the current exhibition, “The History of Home Economics at Purdue: How It Shaped Our Campus and Our Lives.” Marking 100 years since Purdue established the School of Home Economics, the evening offered guests an opportunity to explore the exhibition, connect with Purdue’s history, and hear firsthand reflections from professionals whose education and careers were shaped by home economics.

The evening began with exhibition viewing and a book sale and signing featuring authors Angie Klink, John Norberg, and Frederick Whitford. Presented with books from the Purdue University Press, the sale featured titles exploring Purdue and Indiana history, including works connected to the people and stories highlighted in the exhibition. Guests had the opportunity to meet the authors and have books signed.

Following remarks from Neal Harmeyer, assistant dean and head of Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, and Katey Watson, exhibition curator, France A. Córdova Archivist, and clinical assistant professor, guests heard from a panel of home economics professionals.

Celebrating a lasting legacy

Moderated by Klink, the panel featured home economics professionals Joyce Miles, Olivia Bennett Wood, and Mary Alice Nebold. The panelists shared memories of their time at Purdue, reflected on their experiences in home economics, and discussed how their education and careers shaped their lives.

For Wood, her path to Purdue began with an unexpected opportunity. She recalled that the position she ultimately accepted had mistakenly been advertised as requiring a Ph.D.—one she did not have and, as a result, would not have applied for. Purdue was looking for someone with recent clinical experience as it developed a new didactic dietetics program, and Wood’s background made her a strong fit.

“I was the one with the most clinical experience, and I also had a passion for dietetics.”

Hired as an instructor, Wood went on to help develop and secure accreditation for Purdue’s coordinated dietetics program. Her career at Purdue spanned 35 years and included teaching, research, leadership in dietetics, and retirement as a professor.

Miles reflected on how her connection to Purdue began long before her career. “My 4-H agent said, ‘You will come to Purdue,’” she recalled. That early connection grew into a lifelong relationship with the university, including leadership roles and continued involvement with Purdue and the field of family and consumer sciences.

Nebold likewise traced her career from teaching to Purdue faculty and administrative leadership. Reflecting on her decades in the field, she said, “Except for two years, my entire career was spent with home economics.”

Together, their stories illustrated the breadth of home economics and the lasting ways the discipline shaped their professional lives—and, in turn, the lives of the students and communities they served.

From the classroom to communities

The exhibition explores home economics’ lasting impact through photographs, documents, artifacts, and archival materials highlighting the people, programs, and innovations that shaped Purdue and communities beyond.

The panelists also discussed why the field remains relevant today, pointing to connections between home economics and issues such as health, nutrition, financial management, relationships, education, and family well-being.

As Miles reflected, “Our discipline touches education, research, and outreach. I can’t think of a discipline today more relevant.”

Wood highlighted the expanding role of registered dietitians, including opportunities in sports nutrition, while the panel reflected on the continued importance of applying research and education to the everyday lives of individuals, families, and communities.

A legacy that continues

Although Purdue’s School of Home Economics is no longer a standalone academic unit, its influence remains visible across the university. Programs that developed within the school continue through the College of Health and Human Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts, while organizations and initiatives with roots in home economics continue to serve students and communities.

“The History of Home Economics at Purdue: How It Shaped Our Campus and Our Lives” remains on view through December 11, 2026, Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM, at the Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections Research Center on the fourth floor of the HSSE Library in Stewart Center.

Explore America’s foundational ideas through Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

September 22nd, 2026

What can a 1791 printing of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense tell us about the founding of the United States? And what happens when it is considered alongside a contemporary publication arguing against Paine’s ideas? Students, faculty, and visitors will have an opportunity to explore those questions firsthand through Purdue University Archives and Special Collections (ASC) during the upcoming Cornerstone for Business conference.

On Tuesday, September 29, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, ASC will open its reading room on the fourth floor of the HSSE Library in Stewart Center to visitors for a special display of historical materials selected for the conference. The display will showcase rare books, pamphlets, and other primary sources that offer a window into the political, intellectual, and cultural debates surrounding the founding of the United States.

Among the materials featured will be ASC’s 1791 printing of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, one of the most influential political pamphlets associated with the American Revolution. Published originally in 1776, Common Sense made a widely circulated argument for American independence.

Visitors will also be able to see ASC’s 1776 printing of James Chalmers’ Plain Truth, a direct response to Paine’s arguments. The two publications provide an especially compelling opportunity to encounter competing perspectives from the revolutionary era through the original historical record.

The display will also include first or early editions of groundbreaking works by Adam Smith, Mary Wollstonecraft, David Ricardo, Thomas Malthus, John Stuart Mill, and Benjamin Franklin.

Explore history through Purdue’s collections

The display highlights one of the central strengths of Purdue University Archives and Special Collections: providing access to original materials that allow students and researchers to engage directly with the past. Rather than encountering the founding era only through textbooks or secondary accounts, visitors can examine the publications that participated in these historical debates. 

The display offers a unique opportunity to experience history through original sources while discovering the breadth of resources available through Purdue University Archives and Special Collections. Students, faculty, and visitors are invited to explore these materials on September 29 and discover how ASC can support learning, teaching, and research. When not part of this special display, these materials and over 32,000 other rare books are available to anyone by appointment in the Archives and Special Collections reading room.

New apps for downloading ebooks from Purdue Libraries

September 16th, 2026

Purdue Libraries provides access to thousands of eBooks for teaching, learning, and research. Most eBooks can be read online in your browser, and many also offer the option to download individual chapters as PDFs.

If you need to download an entire eBook for offline reading, however, you may need to use a dedicated eReader app. Because of licensing and digital rights management (DRM) requirements, eBooks from some of our major vendors use specific applications for full-book downloads.

Purdue Libraries supports two apps for downloading entire eBooks: ProQuest Ebook Central and Thorium Reader, which is used with EBSCO eBooks.

ProQuest Ebook Central

ProQuest Ebook Central provides access to eBooks available through the ProQuest platform. The Ebook Central Reader app allows you to download eligible eBooks and read them offline. If you regularly work with eBooks for research or teaching, our Ebook Central Reader App guide provides step-by-step instructions for setting up and using the app.

Using a Purdue-owned device? If you don’t have administrator privileges, submit a ticket to Purdue IT to request the Ebook Central app. Ask them to add your device to the EbookCentralReaderApp-2.05.04 software package, which is the current version.

Thorium Reader for EBSCO eBooks

EBSCO eBooks are available through a variety of library databases. Eligible titles can be downloaded as entire books and read offline using Thorium Reader, an open-source eReader application. Our EBSCO eBooks and Thorium Reader guide provides instructions for downloading and reading EBSCO eBooks with Thorium Reader.

What about chapter downloads?

If you only need a chapter or a small portion of an eBook, you can continue to download individual chapters as PDFs when that option is available (download options and limits are set by the publisher and cannot be changed by Purdue Libraries). You do not need one of these apps for chapter-level PDF downloads. The apps are primarily useful when you need to download and read an entire eBook offline.

Need help?

• For questions about functionality, contact Ask a Librarian at askalib@purdue.libanswers.com. 
• For accessibility questions, contact accessibility@purdue.libanswers.com. 
• Questions related to instructional design can be directed to the Innovative Learning team at innovativelearningteam@purdue.edu.