Advocacy Updates from Indiana Library Federation
February 8, 2018
Register for Library Day at the Statehouse
Plan to attend the Library Day at the Statehouse on Tuesday, February 20. ILF works to arrange individual appointments for registered attendees. Participants may also observe committee hearings and floor session. We aim to have an interactive table for legislators and legislative assistants to learn about try e-books, devices and materials from the library.

Participants should expect to arrive around 10:30 and stay through the early afternoon, though appointments may vary. After you register, the ILF Office will ask you about your home and office address and prior relationship , if any, with your legislators. Group photo above includes about one-third of the participants from 2017.
Half-time Report from the Statehouse
We have crossed the half-way point in the Indiana General Assembly . Only 302 of nearly approximately 1,000 filed bills are still alive. Here are some quick links:

Update from Bose Public Affairs, February 8 , which includes a list of legislators who will not run for re-election. Note that you have to be signed in as an ILF member for access to these important updates. Contact the office if you forgot your login or password.
Library Related Bills
The ILF Advocacy/Legislative Committee meets monthly to review bill language, possible impacts on libraries and patrons and then makes recommendations about actions. The four bills below have taken priority, though the committee is also closely monitoring bills related to tax policy, school issues and intellectual freedom.

State Library - Historical Bureau Merger
HB1412 officially merges the Indiana State Library (ISL) with the Indiana Historical Bureau (IHB) and makes technical changes to clean up the petition process. The bill also removes a limitation on the location on a future Archives building. The bill passed out of the House 90-0. ILF testified in support of the ISL-IHB merger at the Jan. 30 hearing and will support through the Senate. The bill was assigned to the Senate Public Policy Committee .

Workforce Development Reorganization
HB1002 reorganizes the programs within the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) . Through a floor amendment, Adult Education (section 16) and other programs were restored. Thank you to those who talked with their legislators about the value of adult education. SB50 focuses on certain changes to workforce development, primarily through programs currently overseen by the Commission on Higher Education. SB50 would create a commission on career and technical education, make changes to financial aid programs and establish certain tax credits. We will need to continue elevating the importance of literacy, adult education and the value or libraries. See updated HB1002 and SB50 explained with talking points .

Township mergers
HB1005, Township Consolidations, outlined a process for the smallest townships to merge with larger townships or with each other over five years. This bill DIED for lack of a final vote in the first chamber. The House GOP leadership recognized they did not have the votes to pass and committed to bringing something back in 2019. See ILF explanation of the bill and the Bose Report for more. ILF understands that efforts to streamline government will continue; ILF seeks to facilitate conversations that help create our own solution.

ILF has discussed issue with Public Library Directors who are members of ILF. ILF plans additional "director-only" conversations at Regional Conferences in April and May. Directors suggested learning more about Township Consolidation through the presentation offered by Larry DeBoer and Tammy Ogle of Purdue . See slides and link to recording .

ILF institutional and personal members may see the Bose Report for more details and links to up-to-date bill tracking lists. If you forgot your login or password, contact us to reset.
Attend Third House sessions
Legislators meet with constituents in " Third House " or " Meet your Legislator " events within districts. Most legislators will offer a preview or update of the types of legislation being considered during the short session of the Indiana General Assembly . Let us know if you plan to attend one of the upcoming sessions, as we can provide talking points and updates specific to your legislators.
  • Bartholomew County - every Monday 7:30am
  • Berne - February 10
  • Elkhart - February 9 at Noon
  • Evansville - February 10
  • Goshen - February 9 at 8am
  • Greater Lafayette - February 17
  • Hendricks County - February 26
  • Henry County - February 23
  • Huntington County - February 10 at 10:00am
  • Kokomo - February 23
  • Madison County - February 26
  • Muncie - February 23
  • Orange County - February 17
  • Shelby County - February 16
  • St. Joseph County - February 16
  • Tipton County - February 10 at 10:00am
  • Vigo County - February 16 at 10:00am
Thanks to Indiana Association of United Ways for maintaining the statewide calendar or the printable version . More dates are added as they are scheduled or known.
Many districts yet to go in
ILF School Library Census

Despite substantial progress on the ILF 2018 School Library Census Survey , we still need help to complete. We aim to survey nearly 2,000 schools in nearly 300 districts.

Districts without a red "v" on the map at left still need to be surveyed. We especially need help in the following 32 counties : Carroll, Cass, Clark, Clinton, Daviess, Floyd, Greene, Henry, Knox, Lake, Marshall, Martin, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Newton, Ohio, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, St. Joseph, Starke, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Wabash, Warrick, Washington and White.

Submit the volunteer form (include the school district you will survey) or contact the office .
Indiana Library Federation 2018 Policy Priorities
The ILF 2018 Policy Priorities include a continued focus on broadband expansion initiatives, lifelong learning initiatives and support for effective school libraries and certified librarians in K12 education.

You might also review the Indiana Adult Literacy Study which is referenced in the policy priorities.
Legislative Updates from Bose Public Affairs
Matt Long serves as our primary account manager with Bose Public Affairs , our contracted firm for government affairs and lobbying. Through our contract, we have access to the entire team of government affairs experts.

See the latest report from Bose Public Affairs for a summary of news from the Statehouse. (Remember that Bose Reports require your ILF Member Login. Contact us if you forgot your login or password.)
Register for End-of-Session Wrap Up on March 16
ILF has hosted special virtual updates with public library directors. We want to invite all ILF members to a special end of session virtual update . The virtual meeting will be held Friday, March 16, at 11amET .