Provost’s Office announces creation of Libraries master plan

In support of Purdue’s Transformative Education 2.0 initiative to place the University at the forefront of higher education innovation inside the classroom and beyond, Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies is launching a master plan to provide students with access to the latest, highest-quality learning and research tools for academic and career success, as well as the physical spaces necessary to use those tools most effectively.

Honored by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) for its forward-thinking initiatives, Libraries continues to redefine the role of an academic research library to meet the evolving needs of the 21st century university –a robust research community through innovative instruction, programs and projects in information literacy; data management; new publishing models; and international collaborations. The development of physical space has not kept pace with Libraries’ ambitious initiatives nor Purdue’s enrollment growth. The master plan will seek to identify and realign Libraries’ physical assets with the progress of its strategic programs and services. 

Faculty, staff, students, alumni and other stakeholders will be consulted over the course of the master plan. The executive committee members are:

• Beth McNeil, dean, Libraries and School of Information Studies; Esther Ellis Norton Professor of Library Science.
• Robert Wynkoop, associate vice president, Auxiliary Services.
• Jay Wasson, associate vice president, Physical Facilities.
• James Keefe, senior director, Capital Asset Management.
• Michael Gulich, University architect and senior director, Campus Planning, Architecture and Sustainability.
• Nathan Manges, director, Real Estate.
• Jenna Rickus, vice provost for teaching and learning; professor of agricultural and biological engineering.
• Allison Leavitt, director, Campus Planning.
• Drew Furry, project executive, Capital Asset Management.

A national search was conducted in Fall 2021 to identify a firm to lead the Libraries’ master plan. After thorough vetting, Perkins&Will was selected from a pool of highly qualified finalists.

“We are pleased to work with Perkins&Will, who I am confident will translate the diverse needs of the faculty, staff and students who rely on Libraries for research, study, and teaching and learning into a cohesive plan that meets the needs of campus today and allows for growth and innovation well into the future,” McNeil says. “Libraries is central to the residential campus experience of all Boilermakers, and I look forward to receiving input from student government leaders, PurdueTHINK students, and other stakeholders in our campus community to build the best possible plan for the future.”

Throughout the master planning process, the executive committee will reach out to students, faculty, library partners and other stakeholders to engage in visioning sessions, focus groups and other input opportunities to better understand the diverse interests of the Purdue community. 

The Libraries’ master planning effort is expected to conclude in late summer 2022.