Advocacy Updates from Indiana Library Federation
May 3, 2019
In this issue of your ILF Advocacy Update
What YOU can do
What you missed in prior issues - Catch up here. Review library-specific legislation in the 4/26 Update .
Please thank legislators for INSPIRE and Internet Connectivity in the final State Budget

Please THANK THE HOUSE AND SENATE for funding INSPIRE and Internet Connectivity in the two-year budget, HEA1001 .

We make it easy to email a thank you to your state Representative and Senator with our ILF Advocacy Center or this link . Share a local story of how this funding for internet access and INSPIRE matters to your students, patrons and communities.
  • Public libraries - Invite them to visit to see how many use the Wi-FI or check out your mobile hotspots. Ask your techies or vendors to provide usage stats to share. Internet access is essential for research and homework completion, e-government and business transactions, online courses, job applications and basic communications.
  • School libraries - Show off student projects that used your customized pages for INSPIRE databases. Students rely on scholarly articles, Consumer Reports, TeachingBooks.Net, test-prep programs, historical newspapers or many other resources in Indiana's virtual library
  • Academic libraries - Feature how INSPIRE databases are used by students on and off campus. For many schools and some Indiana college campuses, INSPIRE is the only access to scholarly databases.
Indiana General Assembly
Wrap-up from Bose Public Affairs

As we reported last week, the Indiana General Assembly adjourned late 4/24. Review the 4/26 ILF Advocacy Update for the summary of library-specific legislation, including HEA1001 , the two-year state budget, and HEA1343 , a bill that enables optional binding review over public library budgets.

Over 1,300 bills were introduced during the 2019 session. Over 900 died in the first half, and another 100+ died in the second half. Fewer than 300 bills total are eligible to become law.

The legislature tackled many issues during the 2019 session, including gaming, hemp, education, healthcare, utilities and transportation, a soccer stadium in Marion County, and much more. ILF members may review the comprehensive Legislative Wrap-Up from Bose Public Affairs . Use your login and password to access this report and many other "member only" resources.
Primary Election Day May 7

The May 7 primary will include 10 school referendums around the state, as well as party primaries for municipal elections. The IN Department of Local Government Finance maintains the list of referendum descriptions as well as prior year results.

School Tax Levy -Most school tax levies, if passed, will be in place for eight years and specified for some combination of student safety initiatives, maintaining class sizes, mental health services, attracting and retaining teachers and operational support.
  • Duneland School Corporation, Porter County ($0.22 / $100 AV) for 7 years
  • Elkhart Community Schools, Elkhart County ($0.58 / $100 AV)
  • ​Franklin Community School Corporation, Johnson County ($0.23 / $100 AV)
  • Frontier School Corporation, White County ($0.21 / $100 AV)
  • MSD Decatur Township, Marion County ($0.289 / $100 AV)
  • MSD Wayne Township, Marion County ($0.35 / $100 AV)
  • Plymouth School Corporation, Marshall County ($0.19 / $100 AV)
  • River Forest Community School Corporation, Lake County ($1.19 / $100 AV)

Controlled Project Referendum
  • DeKalb County Central United School District, DeKalb County and Steuben County (to increase rate on debt service no more than $0.3391 / $100 AV)
  • Hanover Community School Corporation, Lake County ($0.5605 / $100 AV)

Primaries for Municipal elections can be identified on this new interactive map . Select Democrat or Republican party and hover over your county. This interactive map also includes the referendums.

Check the status of your voter registration and review your local ballot here . The Indiana Secretary of State has current voter registrations for 4,467,960 Hoosiers. How many will vote on Tuesday?
Virtual Exchanges in May about
Property Taxes and Local Income Taxes

Because of the success of the bi-weekly virtual meetings during the legislative session, we are continuing sessions over the summer on topics such as Local Income Tax on 5/20 , Capital Improvement Plans, Communicating your Budget, Criminal History Check policies and more. 

For those who missed our session on Property Taxes and Libraries with Tamara Ogle and Larry DeBoer, we have posted the updated handouts , video recording, supplemental slide and Q and A .
Attend Legislator Wrap-Up Events
Some legislators will hold a "legislative wrap-up" session. See our calendar for upcoming events in your area . Several are planned for NEXT WEEK.

Prepping to Meet Your Legislator
  1. Find your legislators where you live and where you work. Research their bio, committees and votes. Thank them for their efforts.
  2. Develop or strengthen your relationship. Offer to be a resource for them about any library questions. Invite them to see your library in action for summer reading events, open houses, special programs and more.
  3. Email us for specific information and let us know what you learn.
Indiana Library Federation Links