Advocacy Updates from Indiana Library Federation
January 4, 2019
In this issue of your ILF Advocacy Update
  • Updates from the Statehouse
  • Quick Links
  • Spotlight on INSPIRE
What YOU can do
  • Complete surveys related to advocacy
  • Attend a Third House / Meet your Legislator Session
  • Register for Library Day at the Statehouse - March 12
What you missed in prior issues - Catch up here .
  • Gearing up for the 2019 Session
  • How ILF works in Advocacy
  • How you can help - the newly elected, library policies and your elevator speech
  • Info for first-timers about Third House/Meet your Legislator Sessions and Library Day at the Statehouse
Updates from the Indiana General Assembly
The 2019 session of the Indiana General Assembly kicked off yesterday, January 3. Legislative leaders outlined their priorities for the session. In addition to writing the State's $32 billion budget, legislative leaders anticipate a focus on several bills related to the opioid crisis, IN Dept of Child Services, teacher pay, school safety, bias crimes, sports betting, as well as re-writing the code related to education and workforce development programs across state agencies.

What is unique about this session? While the Republicans retained supermajorities in both the House (67-33) and in the Senate (40-10), leaders expressed goals for bipartisanship. Many committees have been assigned new leaders. Caucuses also have new leadership in Senate Pro Tem Rod Bray and House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta.

The Indiana General Assembly meets Mondays through Thursdays through April 29.
Quick Links from Indiana Library Federation
Spotlight on INSPIRE
INSPIRE , Indiana's virtual library, provides access to academic resources, career testing, teaching books for early literacy and use in classrooms and so much more. INSPIRE is cost-effective, saving academic, school and public libraries millions of dollars annually in subscription costs if colleges, schools and public libraries had to subscribe to each database individually.
  • How it is funded - INSPIRE is supported by the Indiana General Assembly through Build Indiana Funds and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). Funds in the State Budget enable INSPIRE access for all Indiana residents.
  • Why it is important - For many libraries, INSPIRE is the ONLY access to academic information for students and residents. Without INSPIRE, students would not be able to complete research assignments, access scholarly journals or practice college and military tests. Future medical or public safety professionals would not have access to practice tests and preparation materials. Teachers would not have access to curricular materials to support their students in the new "device" environment. Genealogists would not have access to Indiana's newspapers or print and photo histories.

What YOU can do: Tell your INSPIRE story. What is your favorite use of INSPIRE? Email us .
What to learn more?
Do you have questions about township mergers, INSPIRE advocacy, or other bills you have seen in the news? As a member-only benefit, ILF offers bi-weekly Advocacy Virtual Updates during the legislative session. Learn the inside scoop from our Advocacy Committee co-chairs and staff. Share what you are hearing about issues in your local community. Ask questions. Learn more about the issues. These brief sessions will be held via Zoom meeting.

What YOU can do: Complete this survey
As we meet with legislators, it is helpful to have compelling examples from different parts of the state related to our policy priorities. Over the holidays, we emailed surveys to members. Please complete the survey appropriate for your library type:
We also use data that libraries submit to Indiana State Library. Thank you in advance for your examples and photos. Do you offer an outstanding program that benefits Hoosiers? Email us the story, report and photos.
Indiana Library Federation 2019 Policy Priorities
The Indiana Library Federation…
ACTIVELY ADVOCATES for…
  • Funding for internet connectivity for libraries and schools.
  • Stable funding for INSPIRE, the state’s virtual library, in State budget.
  • School libraries, certified librarians with library assistants and school library materials in K-12 education.
  • Increased broadband coverage.
SUPPORTS...
  • Lifelong learning initiatives
  • Ensuring library service for all Indiana residents.
  • Library funding and the tax structures that support libraries.
WILL MONITOR AND BE POSITIONED FOR ACTION related to the following:
  • Efforts to re-organize local government.
  • Updating the definition of library services in the Indiana Code.
  • Changes to employment, compensation and retirement programs affecting library staff.

Download the four-page detailed 2019 Priorities or one-pager . Advocacy for libraries is one of our highest priorities. Indiana Library Federation is the ONLY organization in Indiana that prioritizes lobbying for libraries. Membership dues, annual conference revenues and donations support our mission.
What YOU can do: Attend a Third House or Meet Your Legislator event
Legislators take time to meet with constituents through "Meet your Legislator," "Third House" or "Cracker Barrel" events from December through May. Sessions are often hosted by a local library, chamber of commerce or League of Women Voters. Here are a few upcoming sessions in January:
  • 1/11 - Carmel/Fishers
  • 1/11 - Johnson County
  • 1/12 - Evansville-Vanderburgh
  • 1/12 - Vigo County
  • 1/14 - Madison County
  • 1/17 - Greater LaPorte
  • 1/18 - Carroll County
  • 1/18 - Greater Bloomington
  • 1/18 - Muncie-Delaware County
  • 1/19 - Elkhart County
  • 1/19 - Tippecanoe County
  • 1/25 - South Bend Regional
  • 1/28 - Columbus
  • 1/28 - Hendricks County
Plan to attend?
  1. Find your legislators where you live and where you work.
  2. Review the list of newly elected legislators in the report from Bose Public Affairs. Or download our quick overview with photos and committee assignments. Additionally several longer-serving legislators have new leadership positions. See committee lists for House and Senate.
  3. Download the 2019 Policy Priorities, ask us for specific information and let us know what you learn.
  4. Libraries that host events might consider placing a small table tent with facts about the library on the sign-in table (i.e. Did you know this library helped 46 residents find jobs last year? Did you know this library loans mobile hotspots and garden tools?)
Mark March 12 for Library Day at the Statehouse
The Indiana Library Day at the Statehouse will be held Tuesday, March 12 . Plan to attend and bring a board member or community library champion.

For first-timers: We will provide you a webinar and policy primer in advance. We begin the Statehouse Day with a quick legislative update and brief training in the History Room of the Indiana State Library. Then we move to the Statehouse for a group photo and individual appointments with legislators. Experienced advocates and staff from our lobby firm help guide members to their meetings with legislators.

Photos: at right Rep. Tom Saunders received the 2018 Legislative Champion Award with ILF Board President Edra Waterman; below, a partial group photo of Statehouse Day attendees from 2018