Instead of passing the gavel to the new RIPS Chair each
year, our outgoing Chairs pass the penguin. Puron, the RIPS Penguin, that
is. A typographical error led to Puron’s 1998 debut at the AALL
annual meeting in Anaheim. The sign placed on the RIPS table in the exhibit
hall read “Research Instruction and Purron Services SIS.”
Incoming Chair Celeste Feather thought that Purron might be a part of
RIPS’s future, but in what way? Fate intervened the next day when
incoming Vice-Chair Kristin Gerdy saw a full-page newspaper advertisement
for Puron: the environmentally sound refrigerant. So, it seemed Puron
was a cold weather sort, but what kind? Fate again played a role when
Kristin went shopping and happened to find Puron - a penguin with just
enough fire in his eyes to fit perfectly with RIPS.
Because he spends a year with each Chair, Puron has traveled far and wide,
living in Philadelphia, Provo, Hartford, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Little
Rock, Oklahoma City, and Fort Worth. Of course, Puron has attended every AALL annual meeting since 1998,
travelling from coast to coast.
Puron has been busy during his time with the RIPS Chairs. Some of them have taken the time to chronicle Puron's adventures at work and at play. Select the links below to see Puron in action.
- Friend Puron on Facebook!
- Puron Through the Seasons
- Even a Penguin Has to Work
- Puron and Friends
- Penguin Research