Focus on Indiana Libraries: Vol 75 No. 1

Focus on Indiana Libraries

January 5, 2021| Vol. 75 No. 1

Great Things Are Happening in Indiana Libraries

Crown Point library's art display pays homage to uplifting messages during pandemic

Amid closures in the wake of the coronavirus in early 2020, Crown Point establishments shared messages of positivity in their windows. Read More

Rushville PL becomes an Evergreen library

The Rushville Public Library is now a member of Evergreen Indiana, a collection of libraries which share resources to benefit users across the state of Indiana. Read More

Time to Renew your Membership

Personal and Institutional members enable our mission-advancing work. Your dues comprise more than half of the annual ILF budget. Please join or renew today.

Personal member (individuals) receive access to member-only resources, conference discounts, participation in leadership, and more. Over 1,100 individuals join each year, including staff at academic, public, school and special libraries. Note that we also have two special types of personal members: the joint ALA-ILF student membership and retirees. (Thanks to the 258 who already renewed!) Personal members may use the loyalty renewal discount by January 15 for a $10 discount.

Institutional members (public and academic libraries) receive access to member-only resources and online learning, and certain discounts (staff may attend Fall Forum at the member rate). Public Libraries may request membership here. Trustees of member public libraries gain personal membership access. See 2020 list of public library members. Thanks to the 60+ who already renewed!
Affiliate members (partners, vendors) receive member-only access to ILF resources and discounts on exhibiting.

Please Update Your Membership Profile

After you renew your membership, be sure to update your member profile, including where you live and where you work, as well as your cell phone and home email. You mark where you want your ILF communications directed. Most importantly, we want to know your interests so that you may receive updates specific to YOU. Maybe you work in Public Services and are excited about transforming library services for the future. Or maybe you are really excited about the relaunch of our academic journal. Youth Services and Management divisions are our largest divisions. The Marketing, Technical Services, and Public Services divisions are critically important as we lead into the future.

ILF Seeks A Few More Member Leaders

Updated since December issue - A few more specific skills or voices needed for each

Now is the time that we start planning to fill open and expiring terms on various leadership roles throughout ILF for 2021. Terms are generally for two years. We need ILF members with passion and specific skills to lean into leadership! Note that in developing each leadership committee or team, we seek diversity in library type, geography, demographics, and skills.

Committees -

Advocacy - seeking an academic, a trustee/supporter, and a school rep
Ad Hoc Committee on Racial Justice and Inclusion - seeking individuals committed to authentic inclusion of Blacks in libraries (collections, workforce, policies, etc.); meets 2x/mo
Annual Conference /Professional Development - seeking a school and trustee/supporter to help plan and carry out the Annual Conference, and those interested in helping carry out specific activities of conference
Awards & Honors - seeking a few discrete individuals who are committed to recognizing excellence through awards and to advancing librarianship through scholarship programs--seeking a school rep, retirees, and trustee/supporter
Book Awards - Rosie is full. Read Aloud Indiana and YHBA needs a few--from regions around the state. Note that we are creating a committee of folks on the waiting list for each and/or who will read new releases to offer nominations.
Communications - seeking specific marketing expertise to help carry out strategic communications plan developed in 2020
Intellectual Freedom - seeking a library director and trustee/supporter
Leadership Development - seeking individuals for this new committee which will focus on ILF goals to help ILF members grow as in their leadership as individuals, in ILF, and in their library and community.

Division Leadership Teams - ILF convenes sectors within the library community through Divisions.

Management - seeking middle managers committed to helping librarians and library staff flourish
Marketing - seeking individuals with responsibilities for marketing or promotions
Public Services - seeking individuals interested in transforming library services in the new normal--specifically to develop best practice guides related to telehealth, legal services/court access, and more, as well as related online learning
Technical Services - seeking a few to help develop online learning content
Youth Services - seeking representatives from far northern and southern Indiana

Affiliation Advisory Boards - Advisory Boards for AISLE, Association of Indiana School Library Educators, and IPLA, Indiana Public Library Association, are currently full, but let us know if you are interested in this as openings come up sometimes.

IALA, Indiana Academic Library Association - seeking academics from a variety of institutions throughout the state to help carry out two (2) goals in 2021--relaunch our journal and convene the Transitions project to improve the school to college experience
ILTSA, Indiana Library Trustee and Supporter Association - seeking trustees, Friends and Advocates to bring these voices to ILF

Workgroups - Small groups work on specific tasks, such as updating the AISLE Rubric, Broadband Adoption Task Group, and Remote assistance from the library (telehealth, legal assistance, court access).

Interested in learning more about any of the above? Complete the volunteer form and/or contact Lucinda Nord. ILF works to match member leaders to positions that fit your skills, interests, and availability.

ATTN: Academic Librarians

If you read in detail above, academic librarians are needed throughout ILF. Indiana Library Federation-IN Academic Library Association is your ACRL chapter of ALA. Serving as a member leader within ILF can demonstrate tangible results for Indiana libraries and can serve as service points for tenure.

Becoming a member-leader with ILF demonstrates a commitment to professional service at the state level and has a tangible impact on the development of libraries and the profession in Indiana. Your contributions to ILF can be valuable components of promotion and tenure.

One of IALA's goals for 2021 is a relaunch of our academic journal. ILF suspended publication of the Indiana Libraries Journal in 2016 as we completed our ILF Strategic Vision. Our goal is to relaunch a journal as an online publication with a clear purpose, quality standards, and increased engagement by academic librarians. We need a core team to serve on the editorial board, and then we will need authors and peer reviewers.

Library Advocacy Updates

Stay informed about library advocacy

The Indiana General Assembly reconvened January 4. Legislators have two objectives: 1) pass the two-year state budget, and 2) redraw legislative districts.

Stay informed and get involved in library advocacy.

Join a Virtual Advocacy Update on Monday, January 25 and then bi-weekly through April (a member-only benefit after January). See Jan. 4 video below.
Check out reports from our contracted advocacy firm, Bose Public Affairs (member only).
Subscribe to the ILF Advocacy Updates (emailed weekly; open to all, regardless of membership). Be sure to check your junk folder and white list us. See the 12/31 issue.

Advocate for School Librarians

The Teacher Pay Report and stresses on the state budget both elevate the urgency of our advocacy for effective school library programs staffed with certified school librarians.

School librarians - Please complete this survey.

ALL Library Stakeholders - Please help share these basic messages about school libraries and school librarians, including:

school librarians are certified teachers;
research illustrates the connection between student success with the presence of an effective school library program supported by a certified school librarian and trained library assistants; and
school libraries routinely collaborate and participate in sharing initiatives for cost-efficiencies.

Library Advocacy Training Series

Prepare yourself for the 2021 legislative session. Access the entire series of 9- to 17-minute trainings.

Library Advocacy 101
Library Districts, Cards, and Deserts
How ILF Works in Advocacy
Public Library Funding
Libraries and the State Budget
Resource Sharing
Communications and Advocacy

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Watch the Virtual Advocacy Update or view the slides from January 4. ILF's virtual advocacy updates are followed by unrecorded dialogue and Q&A. During the 1/4 session, we discussed legislative proposals to change the tax structure and allow continued virtual attendance at local government meetings, among other topics.

Member-Only Access To Tools and Resources

Your ILF membership gets 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.

Members have access to Online Learning. One of the most popular recent online learning sessions was the Copyright during COVID session. If you are a staff member of an institutional member, you may email Tisa for access to this fantastic recorded session.

Member News

ICYMI: ILF Staffing

In case you missed it, Tisa Davis is transitioning to the position of Member Services Manager. ILF has been working with reduced staffing since March and is reorganizing the staff roles to reflect the changing work of ILF. We are hoping to hire 1-2 positions, as well as interns soon. See ad or internship position.

Why do you call Tisa? Ask Tisa anything. Here are some of her most frequent questions:

Can you help me renew my membership?
I lost my password. Can you help me reset it?
My colleague got her LEU certificate. Did you send mine?
I want to volunteer with ILF, but I am torn between two options.
There was this thing on the website that my director asked me to find--can you help me?
Will you help me register for the conference? Our library wants to to send 7 staff.

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