Focus on Indiana Libraries: Vol 74 No. 17

Focus on Indiana Libraries

Sept. 1, 2020| Vol. 74 No. 17

In this issue:

Farewell to Megan Zanto, outstanding member of ILF Staff Team

Great Things from IN libraries

Key Updates from ILF: Leader recruitment and Member Survey Results

Resources from ILF featured partners ENA and WFYI

Volunteers needed on several committees.

Member News - back by request

Member Only - Member Documents and Online Learning

LAST CALL: Survey closing this week on the ILF Policy Priority Survey and video explaining the process

President's Column

This week is my birthday, but we tend to not sing “Happy Birthday” or blow out candles in my home because it upsets my child with Autism/Down Syndrome. It is not the act of this custom that bothers him--but rather that it ends and the cake is eaten. Sam, who spends a lot of free time watching and re-watching video clips of Barney and Elmo, would simply like to keep singing and blowing--he hates the cake to be cut because this means the end of the sing and blowing. We have been known to buy a bakery cake and keep it in the freezer for days when Sam wants to play “birthday.” Read More

FAREWELL To Megan Zanto

After much thought, I have decided that my last day with the Indiana Library Federation will be Friday, September 11. I have spent the last 6.5 years learning from libraries, ILF’s amazing staff team, volunteer leaders, and YOU. I’m proud to be a blip in the legacy of ILF and Indiana libraries. I will continue to advocate for libraries, and speak passionately about their benefits to anyone around me (socially distant!) who will listen (willingly or not!).

See you at the library!

Megan Zanto

Great Things Are Happening in Indiana Libraries

Group marches in Crown Point to honor 100-year anniversary of 19th Amendment

A small group of women and girls gathered on the Crown Point square Wednesday to honor the 100-year anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Read More

150 Indiana libraries receive funds for materials addressing racial injustice

Libraries, schools, universities and nonprofit organizations across Indiana are receiving grants to purchase highly sought-after books, digital materials and films addressing racial injustice in America to add to circulating collections in their communities. Read More

Indiana Library Federation - Key Updates

Indiana Library Federation is preparing the slate for the 2021 Board of Directors, and has additional volunteer openings.

Have you considered becoming one of our 200 volunteer member leaders?

ALA Councilor - This position represents ILF on ALA Council and serves on the ILF Board for a 3-year term. Must be a member of both ILF and ALA, with preference for candidates to be knowledgeable and supportive of the Forward Together efforts.

Board - Board members typically have served in one or more capacities in ILF before being nominated to the Board. However, our bylaws allow open nominations.

ILF works to match member leaders to positions that fit their skills, interests, and availability, as well as ensuring that each group reflects the communities we serve in diversity of geography, library type, position, demographics. Some of the groups below have openings NOW, while others will have new terms available to start in January.

Committees - Advocacy, Ad Hoc Committee on Racial Justice and Inclusion, Book Awards (YHBA, Rosie, Read Aloud Indiana), Communications, Intellectual Freedom, Professional Development

Division Leadership Teams - Management, Youth Services, Technical Services

Affiliation Advisory Boards - AISLE, IPLA, IALA, ILSTA

Interested in learning more about any of the above? Complete the volunteer form and/or contact Lucinda Nord.

Join the Board Officers for an Update about IN Libraries and ILF on 9/17

The pandemic turned the world upside down. Your Indiana Library Federation rose to the occasion and led libraries through the stay-at-home order to reopening. Libraries have always changed to reflect the changing needs in communities. Now ILF is changing to reflect the needs of our members and of ensuring libraries thrive into the future.

Join the ILF Board Officers for an update about IN Libraries and ILF on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 4pmET/3pmCT. OPEN to ALL, regardless of membership.

Membership Survey Results

Thanks to the 350 who responded to our 2020 Survey related to ILF Membership and services. In this survey we asked members, non-members, and key stakeholders about their awareness, use, and value of our services. Check out this quick graphic to understand a little about ILF members and services.

Children Need Books and Libraries!

Hearing that some schools were limiting access to books and to libraries, ILF issued a statewide Letter to the Editor on 8/31.

How you can help:

Advocate for children, who need access to school libraries, public libraries, and the millions of print and digital resources available with a library card.
Educate leaders and influencers on safe circulation and the link between reading and social emotional learning.
Teach parents and caregivers about the value of reading aloud with children. Check out Read Aloud Indiana lists for print, eBooks and audiobooks.

Better Together, Now and For the Future

Early in the pandemic, ILF joined with other statewide associations to being planning for recovery. See Joint Statement linked below.

Information and Resources from our Partners

ENA offers training sessions

The pandemic underscored the digital divide. Libraries and Schools are providing more devices and extending Wi-Fi to parking lots, gazebos, parks, bookmobiles, and vans. Learn about trends, Wi-Fi 6, Cat 2 of eRate.

Public libraries are asked to complete this 2-minute Survey from ENA.

OPEN to ALL - Upcoming sessions with ENA

Sept. 22 at 10am EST–Register here and

Sept. 30 at 1pm EST–Register here

Curiosity Club 1-min Shorts

Thanks to our partner at WFYI for allowing us to share six 1-minute video shorts that you may use in your own virtual programming or incorporate on your website (with credit to WFYI, of course).

Attendees of the ILF Youth Services Conference previewed these, and even met the videographer who filmed them. Look for future ILF trainings about virtual programming and technical tips.

What is IN eLearning Lab?

IN eLearning Lab was developed to help educators, parents and caregivers with remote learning.

Join this session on Thurs, Sept. 10 at 4pmET, when Instructional Design expert Nate Walden will demonstrate the range of 2- to 10-minute micro trainings and lesson ideas. Open to all, regardless of ILF membership.

ACLU Indiana Yes! You Can Vote campaign toolkit is now available. See 8/25 Focus.

Member-Only Access To Tools and Resources

Your ILF membership get you access to so much more than a discount to a conference. Have you checked out the Online Learning? For any of the opportunities below, please contact us if you need assistance logging in.

Be sure to update your member profile

What's your area of work? Management? Youth Services? Technical Services? Marketing? Do we have both your home and work email and physical addresses and cell phone numbers? As we work to deepen our relationship with our members, it is important to be able to reach you. We do not share your personal information.

Member News

Promotions

Denise Davis, Strategic Initiatives Director, was named Interim Director of the Allen County Public Library.

Have some member news you would like to include in an upcoming Focus on Indiana Libraries? Email Tisa with your news!

Join

Renew

Donate