The Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) has named 10 faculty members as recipients of the PALSave Open Educator Award for the 2021-22 academic year. The award recognizes innovation and excellence in support of higher education, textbook affordability and student success. 

As part of the PALSave: PALNI Affordable Learning Program, these individuals have been key players in the creation and adoption of Open Educational Resources, or OER—a move that reduces costs for students, improves access to required texts, and increases student success and retention. 

“This year’s Open Educator Award recipients have gone above and beyond to help advance student access, which is what OER is all about,” says Amanda Hurford, PALNI’s Scholarly Communications Director and PALSave project lead. “With every single one of PALNI’s 24 supported institutions participating in PALSave, faculty are making a genuine impact on students’ ability to earn a degree. They have built a community of champions for affordable learning, and we’re excited to see their efforts benefit students now and well into the future.”

This year’s Open Educator Award honorees include:

Jonathan Craton, Anderson University

Jeana Jorgensen, Butler University

Nipun Chopra, DePauw University

Lori Watson, Earlham College

Arbin Thapaliya, Franklin College

Tim Brooks, Hanover College

Lori Rumreich, Marian University

Andrea Bearman, Trine University

Leah Milne, University of Indianapolis

Chelsie McCorkle, University of Saint Francis

Honoree Statements

Jonathan Craton
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Anderson University

“I’m passionate about the use of Open Educational Resources inside and outside of the classroom. I believe that Open Educational Resources lower the cost of college for students, eliminate waste, and encourage student engagement and learning. High-quality education should be accessible to as many people as possible, and open resources help eliminate barriers for many learners.”

Dr. Jeana Jorgensen
Lecturer, History and Anthropology
Butler University

“Open pedagogy is important to me because I believe there should be as few barriers as possible between students and learning. Making information and texts more accessible helps eliminate those barriers, especially ones based on social class, ability or disability, and so on.”

Dr. Nipun Chopra
Assistant Professor of Biology
DePauw University

“As someone who himself struggled to buy textbooks as a student, I want to ensure that I help lower the exorbitant financial burden students face by offering open source texts in my elective courses. Last semester, I utilized such a resource for my BIO 390 (Brain and Diseases) course, and the students appreciated and learned from the online text. Thank you, PALNI!”

Dr. Lori Watson
Professor of Chemistry
Earlham College

“Using Open Educational Resources where possible in my classes is one way I try to increase equitable education access—it’s important to me that all students have the same access to course materials. PALSave has given me the background and support to be able to do this effectively using best practices in open pedagogy.”

Dr. Arbin Thapaliya
Associate Professor of Physics
Franklin College

“I am a huge proponent of Open Educational Resources. At Franklin College, the majority of our students receive some form of financial aid. I personally feel that students can utilize that aid for some of their other needs instead of paying for expensive textbooks. Making the learning experience as accessible and affordable as possible for our students is one of the most rewarding feelings for me, and PALSave has been very supportive not only to me, but all the faculty in my department to achieve that goal.”

Tim Brooks
Instructor of Engineering
Hanover College

“Why do I use OER? The easy answer is to save students money. However, there is another reason. Using Open Education Resources, and open sources in general, teaches the students that lifelong learning is available to them after college. Engineering and technology invented the web. Engineering and technology, be it suppliers, associations, universities or others, have provided updated technical resources as they come available. It is a necessity to constantly search for advances in a field as one teaches it.”

Lori Rumreich
Assistant Professor of Marketing
Marian University

“I’ve found that using no-cost textbooks expands access to learning, especially among the many students who struggle with textbook affordability. Selecting open educational resources removes that obstacle to student success.”

Andrea Bearman
Director of Instructional Design and Development
Trine University 

“I use OER because I believe in the benefit for students; as one student said in a recent survey: ‘I have more money for instant ramen!’ And as faculty, we want content that meets the needs of our students, therefore we are the perfect people to create textbooks. My hope is to continue to inspire more faculty to consider using existing OER materials but also to encourage more faculty to develop their own content as well.”

Dr. Leah Milne
Associate Professor of Multicultural American Literature
University of Indianapolis

“Universities are and should be about furthering knowledge for everyone, and I believe pedagogy that provides access to as many students as possible is a vital part of doing so. When we teachers can openly collaborate with our students on creating knowledge, then we have a better chance of finding creative interpretations and solutions.”

Chelsie McCorkle
Assistant Professor of English and Writing Center Director
University of Saint Francis

“Initially I was interested in OER because of my work with too many students who have had trouble affording my chosen textbooks in class. However, participating in PALSave has taught me that OER use enhances my own autonomy as an instructor as well. It also complements the outcomes of composition curricula—teaching students to think about knowledge as something continuously created and revised versus something received from a static text.”

About PALSave

Funded through grant support from Lilly Endowment, Inc., PALSave combats the rising costs of textbooks by supporting faculty adoption and creation of open and affordable course materials. 

Some of PALSave’s initiatives include:

• Offering workshops and stipends that give educators the resources they need to transform courses using materials that are entirely free to students
• Providing textbook creation grants
• Offering publishing support, and more. 

Data consistently shows that textbook costs affect the academic decisions students make. According to the College Board, the average full-time, on-campus undergraduate at a four-year school was asked to budget $1,240 for books and supplies during the 2020-21 academic year. When students are unable to meet that financial obligation, they are forced to seek out insufficient alternatives or skip buying course material altogether. PALSave works to provide a proactive solution to these barriers by helping faculty adopt openly licensed and fully customizable OER into their courses.

After its third year, PALSave is on track to far exceed its initial goals. Highlights of its successes include:

• $2.1 million total savings now projected from participation levels, which will exceed PALNI’s $1 million goal, and $852,351 cumulative savings to date 
• 13,999 students impacted, saving on average $60.89 each
• 98% of students reporting a positive or neutral impact on studies and grades with OER
• 651 faculty reached with educational workshops 
• 174 courses transformed to include OER  
• 40% of redesigned courses indicating grade improvement 
• 475% return on investment with course redesign funds 
• $2.68 saved for every program dollar spent 
• 100% of PALNI institutions participating in PALSave

For more information, visit the PALSave: PALNI Affordable Learning Program website.

###

About Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family — J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Eli — through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. More information can be found at www.lillyendowment.org.

About the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana

PALNI is a non-profit organization supporting collaboration for library and information services to the libraries of its twenty-four supported institutions. Over time, the library deans and directors who sit on the PALNI board have adjusted the organization’s strategic direction as the internet and information services landscape have changed. PALNI has expanded beyond providing a resource management system to sharing expertise in many areas including strategic planning, reference, information fluency, outreach, data management and configuration, and has identified greater collaboration in acquisitions as a key goal. Visit the PALNI website for more information.

PALNI Supported Institutions 

Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary | Anderson University | Bethel University | Butler University | Concordia Theological Seminary | Christian Theological Seminary | DePauw University | Earlham College | Franklin College | Goshen College | Grace College | Hanover College | Huntington University | Manchester University | Marian University | Oakland City University | University of Saint Francis | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | Saint Mary’s College | Saint Meinrad’s Seminary and School of Theology | Taylor University | Trine University | University of Indianapolis | Wabash College

The Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) is pleased to announce the addition of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) to its list of supported institutions. SMWC’s Mary and Andrew Rooney Library joins a highly engaged, collaborative group of private college and seminary libraries across the state, bringing the number of institutions within the consortium to twenty-four.

As a PALNI school, SMWC will be part of a strong network of library staff that supports cost-effective and collaborative library management systems, other shared systems and knowledge in resource management, strategic planning, affordable education, information fluency, and much more. The people of PALNI—from its board of library directors, to central organization staff, to library support staff—share expertise and work together in full autonomy to benefit the individual schools as well as the whole. Together, they enhance the teaching and learning missions of private higher education in Indiana by optimizing resources and services while strengthening leadership and professional development.

“We are delighted to have SMWC as a PALNI-supported institution, as is evidenced by the board’s enthusiastic and unanimous decision to approve their request for inclusion,” says Kirsten Leonard, PALNI executive director. “All constituents within PALNI and PALNI-supported schools look forward to combining our strengths and skills to achieve more together. SMWC’s request to join PALNI’s culture of deep collaboration speaks highly of our ability to produce services and collections together that rival much larger libraries and consortia. Their inclusion makes us that much stronger.”

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods’ addition to PALNI provides a wealth of mutual benefit throughout the consortium. For example, through PALNI’s Lilly Endowment, Inc.-funded PALSave program, SMWC faculty can access stipends to review and adopt open educational resources, while contributing to the program’s impact on student success and savings. PALNI schools share resources to reduce duplication and fuel innovation—a strategy that allows each institution to lessen costs while gaining access to the services and expertise of more than 175 library colleagues and support staff. It is through these efforts that PALNI is able to achieve its mission of enhancing teaching and learning in private education throughout Indiana.

“Our inclusion in PALNI will allow us to leverage the ongoing strategic initiatives of the consortium to benefit our users in the short and long term,” says Rusty Tryon, director of the library and assistant professor at SMWC. “While the current economic situation is atypical for most institutions, it is the norm for small academic libraries—continually rising costs are constantly front of mind. In this environment, it is imperative to invest in providing access to quality content for teaching, learning, and research, versus investing heavily in the infrastructures and tools needed to support and manage access to that content. The more we minimize expenditures on support systems, the more funding we can direct to ensuring students and faculty have the resources they need, when they need them. Pursuing open-source solutions with PALNI allows us to support students and faculty, rather than systems.”

Janet Clark, provost and vice president for academic affairs at SMWC, notes the benefits of joining PALNI: “Like many smaller academic institutions, SMWC realizes the importance of leveraging collaborative relationships to achieve greater impact. PALNI is a good fit for SMWC, with its understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing academic libraries at small, private institutions of higher learning. We believe PALNI can assist SMWC in charting its future to ensure a sustainable model for student learning and success.”

PALNI libraries are looking forward to meeting their new SMWC colleagues and bringing them onboard fully throughout the spring. “Saint Mary-of-the-Woods is an ideal partner for PALNI,” says Joe Thomas, PALNI executive committee chair. “The college’s values align with PALNI’s as we work toward similar challenges in higher education; namely, the need to provide sophisticated and evolving services while containing costs for students and their families. SMWC’s addition to our track record of deep collaboration will increase the return on investment for all PALNI institutions.”

About Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is Indiana’s oldest Catholic college, established in 1840. SMWC is listed among the Best Regional Universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report and was the second in the nation to add distance education/online programming in 1973.

About PALNI
The Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) is a 501(c)(3) owned by twenty-four supported private academic institutions. The founding concept of PALNI is to collaborate to enhance teaching and learning through optimizing library resources and services. PALNI collaborates not only with other private academic institutions in Indiana, but also with other groups and consortia to reduce costs and compete academically through innovative services. Information management systems and sharing expertise in many areas including strategic planning, reference, information fluency, outreach, data management and configuration, scholarly communication, and instructional technology are just a few examples of our collaborations.

PALNI Supported Institutions
Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary | Anderson University | Bethel University | Butler University | Concordia Theological Seminary | Christian Theological Seminary | DePauw University | Earlham College | Franklin College | Goshen College | Grace College | Hanover College | Huntington University | Manchester University | Marian University | Oakland City University | University of Saint Francis | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | Saint Mary’s College | Saint Meinrad’s Seminary and School of Theology | Taylor University | Trine University | University of Indianapolis | Wabash College

The Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) is pleased to announce that it has received an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant of $225,000 from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Indiana State Library. The planning grant will enable PALNI to identify ways of expanding current infrastructure to support open bibliographic data management tools, which library staff use to manage and share collections. The project aims to significantly enhance financial sustainability and access to information, allowing libraries to further deliver on their critical role in student success.

“We are excited and grateful to receive this grant, which will allow us to explore new options in bibliographic data management,” says Kirsten Leonard, Executive Director of PALNI. “The ultimate drivers for the initiative are access and affordability—we hope to leverage existing projects and infrastructure to support collaboration amongst libraries broadly and in Indiana to meet changing needs and priorities. This project will identify emerging opportunities in technology to reduce costs, minimize duplication efforts and provide granularity in services—all of which will benefit libraries and their stakeholders.”

ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE INFRASTRUCTURE

Academic and public libraries need the flexibility to address evolving needs around data created to manage and share library collections. Over the past few years, efforts to create community-owned software solutions have emerged to reduce the dependence on closed systems. However, there is a gap in tools and data sources focused on bibliographic record creation, management and workflows. 

PALNI’s project will explore innovative alternatives that promote open infrastructure — using open systems to encourage new ways of understanding collections through community building, sharing staff and metadata about library materials to meet the evolving needs of library patrons. The future-focused system, which will model tenets of other successful projects, will be supported by stakeholders in Indiana and from other library groups to ensure its continued success. 

PROJECT DETAILS

PALNI is currently working with Indiana libraries and national and international library groups to identify needs and build a community that can govern and sustain a shared bibliographic data management service. This process includes exploring services provided by other countries and open record sources like the Library of Congress. In addition, the project comprises reviewing metadata usage rights to understand better the permissions and limitations for the open sharing of metadata. 

“This innovative and collaborative project will provide libraries with the flexibility to better serve their users and fully leverage their resources,” says Jacob Speer, State Librarian for Indiana.

PALNI will work with the library community to build a wireframe for a low-cost, open system that facilitates the exchange of library-created bibliographic information. In addition, the project will seek to improve the interoperability of other open-source services that rely on bibliographic data, such as holdings, interlibrary loans, and collection analysis.  

DEEP COLLABORATION 

Representatives from several consortia have expressed overwhelming support for the project and have agreed to serve as advisors. Individual libraries and consortia have already provided input on a vision document for a shared Bibliographic Utility as part of the project.

“In the end,” says Leonard, “we hope this project will enable library communities to work together to build more efficient and effective systems and services that sustainably meet the needs of libraries and their users today and in the future.”

This project is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Indiana State Library. For updates on progress and impact, visit the PALNI project website.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services 

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. 

About the Indiana State Library

The Indiana State Library is responsible for developing and providing library services to state government, its branches, its departments and its officials and employees; providing for the individual citizens of the state those specialized library services not generally appropriate, economical or available in other libraries of the state; encouraging and supporting the development of the library profession; and strengthening services of all types of publicly and privately supported special, school, academic and public libraries. Throughout its history, the Indiana State Library has developed strong collections in the fields of Indiana history and culture; Indiana state government and United States government publications; Indiana newspapers; genealogy and family history resources on Indiana and the eastern United States; braille; large print and books on tape for the visually impaired; library science; and American history, politics and economics. Its collections in these areas support research by state agency employees, scholars, genealogists, librarians, students, Indiana residents who are blind or have physical disabilities and the general public. The Library Development Office and Professional Development Office work to improve and support the libraries of Indiana through assistance, training and supervising the distribution of state and federal funds.

About the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI): www.palni.edu 

PALNI is a non-profit organization supporting collaboration for library and information services to the libraries of its twenty-four supported institutions. Over time, the library deans and directors who sit on the PALNI board have adjusted the organization’s strategic direction as the internet and information services landscape have changed. PALNI has expanded beyond providing a resource management system to sharing expertise in many areas including strategic planning, reference, information fluency, outreach, data management and configuration, and has identified greater collaboration in acquisitions as a key goal. 

PALNI Supported Institutions:  

Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary | Anderson University | Bethel University | Butler University | Concordia Theological Seminary | Christian Theological Seminary | DePauw University | Earlham College | Franklin College | Goshen College | Grace College | Hanover College | Huntington University | Manchester University | Marian University | Oakland City University | University of Saint Francis | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | Saint Mary’s College | Saint Meinrad’s Seminary and School of Theology | Taylor University | Trine University | University of Indianapolis | Wabash College 

The Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) is accepting applications for Library Innovation Grants. The application deadline is March 15, 2022.

Program Overview:  The funding provided by PALNI Library Innovation Grants aims to optimize library resources and services in ways that significantly expand the ability of supported organizations to support teaching and learning at PALNI institutions.  Funded programs, projects, and initiatives must align with PALNI strategic priorities and support PALNI deep collaboration.

Grant Amount: Up to $20,000 will be awarded per year

Grant Period: Up to one year

Cost Share Requirement: No matching requirements.

Program Contact: Kirsten Leonard, Executive Director PALNI, (317) 752-6831 kleonard@palni.edu 

Eligibility:  Any employee from a PALNI supported organization library may apply. Collaborations between PALNI libraries or between the library and other areas in the PALNI supported college, university, or seminary, are eligible and encouraged.

Application Guidelines:

The detailed description of an innovative program, project, or initiative that results in new or improved tools, products, services, or organizational practices will include:

1. Program/Project title and brief overview (300 words or less)
2. Institution name, complete mailing address, and background (number of students, faculty, and related information)
3. Name and title of person submitting the application with contact details (email and phone)
4. A list of the key personnel who will direct the implementation of the program
5. Key program partners, if any, and their role in the program. Applicants should ensure that all project partners are aware of and agree to their roles in the project and should supply a letter of support documenting this agreement
6. Measurable objectives and key activities and outcomes/impact of the program
7. Program goals and implementation plan, including timeframe
8. Evaluation and, if applicable, sustainability plan 
9. Overall budget with breakdown of costs and, if any, other sources of funding and alternative funding possibilities should the grant only supply partial funding.
10. Explanation of how other institutions can replicate the program or project
11. Explanation of how the proposed project aligns with PALNI strategic goals
12. Application materials should be no longer than 15 pages.

Program Requirements:

1. PALNI restricts use of grant funds solely to the purpose of the grant.  Funding must be utilized as proposed in the application unless written adjustment is requested by Grantee and approved by the PALNI Executive Committee.
2. Grantee will maintain accounting and financial records and shall furnish copies of bills, invoices, cancelled checks, receipts, etc. to the PALNI contact upon request.
3. Under no circumstances may Grantee expend, borrow (inter-fund), pledge or transfer grant funding for reasons unassociated with the stated purpose.
4. Grantee may reallocate budgeted items up to 10% of individual line item amounts provided that prior written notice is given to the grantor.  Any other changes in budget require prior written approval of PALNI, contact Kirsten Leonard kleonard@palni.edu.
5. Any portion of the grant remaining unexpended at the completion of the project or at the end of the period shall be repaid to PALNI within 30 days unless the PALNI Executive Committee, in its sole discretion, shall otherwise specify in writing.
6. If the Grantee fails to meet any of the agreed upon requirements of the grant, PALNI may at any subsequent time by notice to the Grantee require repayment of disbursed funds, full or in part.
7. PALNI may, at its expense, monitor and conduct an evaluation of procedures and operations under this grant through visits, observations, or meetings with participants.
8. Grantee shall submit the text of any proposed news release concerning the grant to the PALNI contact for review (by the ED, chair, DCM) and approval prior to its release date.  
9. Grantee shall provide a detailed summary of results in person and in writing.  The Grantee is committed to present at the next scheduled PALNI Symposium or All-Staff meeting.

Grant Timeline:

Application Deadline: March 15, 2022

Committee Decision: April 15, 2022

Funding Released: May 1, 2022

Report Due: July 15, 2023

Employees of PALNI institutions can find the evaluation rubric and more details here. Those who are interested in applying should contact:

Kirsten Leonard, PALNI Executive Director
(317) 752-6831
kleonard@palni.edu

or Molly Reed, Strategic Communications Director
(317) 512-7359
molly@palni.edu

The Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) has announced the appointment of Molly Reed as the organization’s new Strategic Communications Director, effective January 10.

Reed is charged with leading internal and external communication management and strategy for PALNI and its member institutions, in conjunction with its executive director and board. She will support PALNI library directors in promoting the value and impact of library expertise, services and resources, while upholding the organization’s mission of deep collaboration. As a member of PALNI’s administrative directors team, Reed will also provide input on current and future strategic initiatives.

Her responsibilities include conceptualizing and creating promotional and communication material, sharing expertise on crisis management, identifying and leveraging public relations opportunities, and managing PALNI infrastructures to support deep collaboration, among other duties.

“PALNI supports sharing of staff and expertise across our supported institutions. The Strategic Communications Director position is critical to building efficiency and trust between the staff in our libraries to work together to provide better services and improve student success,” says Kirsten Leonard, PALNI Executive Director. “As the PALNI board members embarked on their journey supporting deep collaboration, communications strategy quickly became critical to its success.”

With nearly 15 years of experience in higher education marketing, Reed is highly skilled at communicating for a variety of audiences across multiple platforms. Her industry knowledge includes public relations, media relations, crisis communication, publications, digital marketing and more—all skill sets that will impact PALNI’s communication with its stakeholders.

“Molly brings great talent, experience, and enthusiasm to her role at PALNI. Her track record as an innovative and creative marketing professional is outstanding, and we are excited to welcome her to the PALNI family,” says Joe Thomas, Chair of the Executive Committee and Director of the Saint Mary’s College library. “The role of the Strategic Communications Director is vital for us as we work to communicate our value and needs to campus leaders. Molly will be a great partner in those efforts.”

Reed, of Battle Creek, Michigan, comes to PALNI from Western Michigan University, where she most recently served as marketing specialist senior for the Haworth College of Business. In this role, she managed content for the college website, and contributed to the writing, editing and measurement of a number of key communications including feature stories, press releases, advertising and promotional material, and the annual Business Magazine. She also served as editor for a number of key publications while at WMU, including the university’s Arts and Sciences Magazine and The 30, a digital publication that recognizes alumni who are emerging leaders in business.

Prior to joining Western Michigan University, Reed served as director of communications and senior writer at Olivet College. She was also a reporter at the Nashville Tennessean, covering the entertainment and living sections.

Reed earned a master’s degree in communication from Western Michigan University in 2020, as well as bachelor’s degree in journalism from Olivet College in 2005.

Hyku for Consortia User Experience (UX) Consultant 

10-20 hours per week, Short-term contract-based role 

Hyku for Consortia seeks a UX Consultant to work with project staff to develop and implement a series of user research activities determining the most useful updates for the Samvera-based Hyku digital repository software. 

The UX Consultant will determine the best activities for the project goals, develop resources and plans for activities, carry them out with selected candidates, and assist in the analysis of results. Research activities may include surveys, interviews, focus groups, usability tests or other related feedback mechanisms. The Consultant will work closely with and have the support of the project team to accomplish their goals. Prior experience with user research, excellent communication skills, and attention to detail will be essential in this role. 

This is a grant-funded part-time remote-working independent contractor role, with an estimated average of 10-15 hours per week needed to complete contracted deliverables between November 2021 and June 2022 subject to limitations described below. The position will report to the PALNI Executive Director. Flexible scheduling is available for many tasks, but the Consultant must have some availability to attend meetings during Monday-Friday, 11am-5pm EST.

Hyku for Consortia (see https://www.hykuforconsortia.org/) is a partnership of the PALNI and PALCI consortia to increase the flexibility, accessibility, and usability of the multi-tenant repository platform system, Hyku. This project will extend our previous work and improve the national digital repository infrastructure by enhancing Hyku, an open-source platform suitable for access to a broad range of types of materials, addressing needs articulated by diverse stakeholders and consortia and reducing barriers to adoption.  

Responsibility and Requirements:

• Demonstrated experience with gathering and analysing user research
• Understanding of user experience and accessibility best practices
• Familiarity with library/archives environments and digital repositories
• Knowledge of the academic library and scholarly research landscape
• Experience leading and facilitating group projects and meetings
• Experience with Samvera repository software a plus
• Detail-oriented, with demonstrated organizational and project management skills
• Demonstrated strength in writing, editing, and other communication skills
• Evidence of ability to work independently and as part of a team in remote work settings
• Proficiency and comfort with using modern collaboration technologies and productivity tools necessary for distributed, remote-work teams, including but not limited to Google’s suite of business tools (Google Docs, Sheets, and Forms), project management software, such as Trello, online survey software, and web conferencing technologies, such as Zoom
• Commitment to a high level of productivity, and excellent communication

Compensation 

Compensation will be based upon delivery of contracted services. Hyku for Consortia anticipates an average of 10-20 hours per week required across the term of the contract, with payment delivered on a monthly schedule based upon successful completion of contracted deliverables. We anticipate a total of 200-245 hours for the set of deliverables we need, and we expect to pay an hourly rate of $45-$55, depending on demonstrated level of experience and expertise.  Candidates will be selected based on availability and listed qualifications.

This is an independent contractor position. The contracted party will be responsible for all insurance or other business/employment related expenses, including taxes, benefits, licenses, and other expenses. Alternatively, this role may be filled by an individual employed at a PALNI or PALCI member institution, through an agreement with that institution that contracts to supply services on a time-release basis. 

To Apply 

Please send your resume and cover letter to consortial-ir@palci.org. Contact information for three professional references will be required from all applicants invited to interview.

The position is open until filled, with first consideration given to applications received by November 5th. 

Equal Opportunity Employer/Diversity and Culture

The most productive and satisfying work environment is one in which work is accomplished in a spirit of mutual trust and respect. That trust and respect should be shown by the manner of interaction between our employees, contractors, participants (those participating in PALNI activities), and people with whom we collaborate. We value positive communication and conversations. We expect people to have different opinions we all come from different backgrounds and have had different experiences. Those differences allow us to see things from different angles so that our organization can grow and thrive in a constantly changing culture. We do not and will not treat someone differently on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, gender identity, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations. See our Respect in the Workplace policy.

From the Atla Digital Library:

We are pleased to welcome the PALNI Last Copies project as the newest addition to the Atla Digital Library! The project, officially known as Collaboratively Preserving Rare Scholarship in Religiously Affiliated Libraries: PALNI Last Copies, is an open access digital library collection of over 400 unique-in-Indiana monographs, focusing on religion and theology subject matter. The 22 collections that make up the Last Copies project include titles from the 1810s to the 1920s in twelve languages.   Common subjects are hymns, doctrinal theology, and the Bible. 

Through this project, the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) partnered with Internet Archive to provide digital access to rare monographs from 22 PALNI partner institutions.  This project was made possible by a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant that was awarded through the Indiana State Library.

PALNI and Atla are pleased to collaborate to include this important collection in the Atla Digital Library in order to increase discoverability of these items and to place them in context with other religion and theology content.

Explore highlights from these collections below.

An account of the Vedas : with numerous extracts from the Rig-Veda

Digital Library URL: https://dl.atla.com/concern/works/xd07h750z

Description: An account of the Vedas : with numerous extracts from the Rig-Veda. The Atharva-veda described : with a classified selection of hymns, explanatory notes and review. The Brahmanas of the Vedas. Contributed by Manchester University

You can see the full Manchester University Last Copy Collection collection in the Atla Digital Library here:  https://dl.atla.com/collections/manchester-university-last-copy-collection 

Mildmay : or, the story of the first deaconess institution

Digital Library URL: https://dl.atla.com/concern/works/1n79hj49n 

Description: Mildmay : or, the story of the first deaconess institution by Harriette F. Cooke, M.A. Contributed by DePauw University.

You can see the full DePauw University Last Copy Collection collection in the Atla Digital Library here:  https://dl.atla.com/collections/depauw-university-last-copy-collection 

La Santa Biblia : Antiguo y Nuevo Testamento

Digital Library URL: https://dl.atla.com/concern/works/5425kq65f

Description: The Holy Bible: Old and New Testaments. Contributed by Taylor University

You can see the full Taylor University Last Copy Collection collection in the Atla Digital Library here:  https://dl.atla.com/collections/taylor-university-last-copy-collection 

Vierstimmige Melodien zu dem “Gesangbuch zum gottesdienstlichen und häuslichen Gebrauche in evangelischen Mennoniten-Gemeinden”

Digital Library URL:   ​​https://dl.atla.com/concern/works/tq57p467d 

Description: Four-part melodies for the “hymn book for worship and domestic use in evangelical Mennonite communities.” Contributed by Mennonite Historical Library.

You can see the full Mennonite Historical Library Last Copy Collection collection in the Atla Digital Library here:  https://dl.atla.com/collections/mennonite-historical-library-last-copy-collection

Wonderful leadings

DL URL: https://dl.atla.com/concern/works/n296xc285 

Description: Wonderful Leadings by Mary A. Glaser. Contributed by Huntington University.

You can see the full Huntington University Last Copy Collection in the Atla Digital Library here: https://dl.atla.com/collections/huntington-university-last-copy-collection

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has awarded $248,050 to the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) in partnership with The Partnership for Academic Library Collaboration & Innovation (PALCI) for Hyku for Consortia: Removing Barriers to Adoption as part of the National Leadership Grants for Libraries Program. IMLS received 172 applications requesting more than $47 million in funding and selected 39 applicants to receive awards during this grant cycle. With this award, the partners will increase the flexibility, accessibility, and usability of Hyku, the multi-tenant repository platform system.  

Repositories are a critical piece of library infrastructure, enabling access to many types of digital materials created by an institution’s students, faculty, staff, and researchers. Libraries, cultural heritage institutions, and other organizations also use repositories to provide access to digitized special collections.

 

In the face of continued budgetary pressures, libraries are seeking cost-saving approaches to their work. Those unable to deploy Institutional Repository (IR) services on their own due to costs or other constraints are increasingly looking to consortia to serve this role. This project specifically seeks to develop Hyku to support the repository needs of library groups by increasing affordability and flexibility. 

PALNI Executive Director Kirsten Leonard notes, “This grant will provide the foundational support for PALNI and PALCI to remove remaining barriers to more widespread deployment of the repository software. Together with input from our new consortia project participants from VIVA and LOUIS, we will create business modeling and a toolkit to support other consortia to provide this service for their members, potentially reaching thousands of libraries.” 

This project will extend work completed under the previous PALNI/PALCI IMLS grant, which resulted in the establishment of Hyku Commons, a production-level, low-cost, multi-tenant repository service shared by the supported institutions of PALNI and PALCI.  This new round of funding will further improve Hyku by directly addressing needs articulated by stakeholders in a scalable, multi-tenant environment.

The project will kick off with a user study and gap assessment to further define existing barriers and software requirements needed to support the adoption of the service. PALNI and PALCI will employ Notch8, an open-source software development firm and long-time contributor to the Hyku project, to deliver enhancements and changes prioritized in the early phases. Rob Kaufman, Notch8’s Founding Partner and current Product Owner for Hyku, sees this as an extraordinary opportunity to increase visibility and adoption of Hyku. “Hyku for Consortia has been one of the key projects in the community, expanding the functionality of Hyku in ways that really matter to the users. Notch8 is excited to continue this partnership into this game-changing new phase.”  

The project will also expand its partnership to include consortial partners LOUIS and VIVA, who will pilot the service and offer feedback critical to ensuring widespread adoption. A Consortial Institutional Repository Toolkit will provide guidelines, documentation, and other materials to support the development of similar collaborative repository services in other consortia.

Jill Morris, Executive Director of PALCI, is excited at the opportunity to drive strategic innovation of community-owned infrastructure. “This project builds on the strengths of consortia and stretches our relationships to leverage our respective strengths. We are thrilled to continue our partnership with PALNI to explore new solutions, business models, and collaborative approaches to building and sustaining our library infrastructure.

Anne Osterman, Director of VIVA, said, “We are delighted to be piloting and supporting this important project as it develops scalable options for groups of libraries.The creation of a truly community-led, open, sustainable, and multi-tenant repository service meets needs long articulated by academic libraries and the consortia that serve them.” 

Teri Oaks Gallaway, Executive Director of LOUIS, expressed her interest in the grant, “One of our strategic goals as a consortium is to explore opportunities with other libraries, consortia, and vendors for the development of an open-source library services platform. This project is a perfect example of how we can pool our collective knowledge and resources to improve upon and expand the reach of a needed tool like Hyku. We are excited to be a part of this opportunity with our partners and colleagues and look forward to supporting the development of this project.”

“As pillars of our communities, libraries and museums bring people together by providing important programs, services, and collections. These institutions are trusted spaces where people can learn, explore and grow,” said IMLS Director Crosby Kemper. “IMLS is proud to support their initiatives through our grants as they educate and enhance their communities.”

Updates for the project will be made available at https://www.hykuforconsortia.org/.

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About the Institute of Museum and Library Services:

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana, Inc. (PALNI): 

PALNI is a non-profit organization supporting collaboration for library and information services to the libraries of its twenty-three supported institutions. Over time, the library deans and directors who sit on the PALNI board have adjusted the organization’s strategic direction as the internet and information services landscape has changed. PALNI has expanded beyond providing a resource management system to sharing expertise in many areas, including strategic planning, reference, information fluency, outreach, data management, and configuration, and has identified greater collaboration in acquisitions as a key goal. www.palni.edu

About The Partnership for Academic Library Collaboration & Innovation (PALCI):

The PALCI organization was originally founded as the ‘Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium, Inc.,” and was formed in 1996 as a grassroots federation of 35 academic libraries in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Today, PALCI is known as Partnership for Academic Library Collaboration & Innovation, with membership consisting of 74 academic and research libraries, in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, and New York. PALCI’s mission is to enable cost-effective and sustainable access to information resources and services for academic libraries in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. PALCI Members serve over 800,000 students, faculty, and staff at member institutions, through a variety of programs, including the highly-regarded EZBorrow resource sharing service. PALCI also serves as the home for the Affordable Learning PA program, creating a community of practice for open textbooks and related educational resources. http://palci.org

About LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network

LOUIS is a consortium of public and private college and university libraries in the state of Louisiana. This partnership was formed in 1992 by the library deans and directors at these institutions, in order to create a cost-effective collaboration among the institutions for the procurement of library technology and resources. We are currently forty-seven members strong.

About VIVA

VIVA is the academic library consortium serving 71 nonprofit higher education institutions in Virginia, including 39 state assisted colleges and universities, 31 independent private, nonprofit institutions, and The Library of Virginia. VIVA’s mission is to provide, in an equitable, cooperative, and cost‐effective manner, enhanced access to library and information resources for Virginia’s academic libraries serving the nonprofit higher education community. 

About Notch8:

Founded in San Diego, CA in 2007 by Rob Kaufman, Notch8 is a Ruby on Rails-based web consultancy with additional expertise in React and React Native mobile applications. Today we are a team of 18 developers and technical experts located across three time zones. Since 2016, we have been active with digital repository solutions, primarily through our involvement with the Samvera Community. We are Samvera Partners and both in and out of the Samvera framework, we have contributed to more than 20 projects in the digital repository space. 

PALNI’s Affordable Learning Program, PALSave, has named eight faculty members from five PALNI schools recipients of the “PALSave Open Educator Award” for the 2020-2021 academic year.  The Open Educator Award recognizes innovation and excellence in support of textbook affordability and student success. 

Name	Institution	Award Category
Laura Herder	Butler University	Open Education Champion
James McGrath	Butler University	Open Textbook Author
Brian Weidner	Butler University	Open Textbook Author
Humberto Barreto	DePauw University	Open Textbook Author
John Ross Buschert	Goshen College	Open Education Champion
Alejandra Rodriguez-Villar	Hanover College	Open Pedagogy Innovator
Valerie Young	Hanover College	Open Education Champion
Matthew DeLong	Marian University	Open Education Champion

Three categories of awards were given: Open Education Champion, Open Textbook Publisher, and Open Pedagogy Innovator. The Open Education Champion award was bestowed to faculty who adopted and integrated open educational resources (OERs) into their courses and advocated for their use with colleagues. The Open Textbook Author was awarded to those who created their own open textbook and/or course materials. The Open Pedagogy Innovator award was given to a professor who, already using open textbooks for course materials, empowered and facilitated the creation of a student-created open textbook as a classroom assignment.

We thank them for their participation and innovative work in open education with PALSave!

To find out more information for PALSave please see: https://palsave.palni.org/