Focus on Indiana Libraries :
Volume 73 Number 4, February 26, 2019
In this issue of your  Focus on Indiana Libraries
  • Featured "Great Things": Getting out in your community
  • Guest Leader Column by ILF's ALA Councilor Beth Munk
  • Great Things in Indiana Libraries
  • Advocating for Libraries
  • RosieCon video

What you missed in prior issues
Reminders:

Guest Leader Column:
As your elected ALA Councilor, I wanted to share some of the information from the Midwinter Conference held at the end of January in Seattle, WA. ALA’s Midwinter event is where many committees conduct their work and of course it’s when the ALA Book Awards are announced.  All of this is interwoven with the hundreds of educational sessions you can attend to better prepare yourself to serve your community.  

Some key discussions this year were centered around the language we use and a need to transition to “person” first terminology, the elimination of fines and of course the continued work to restructure ALA as an organization and in practice.  Many businesses and organizations are working towards person-first language (i.e. child with autism rather than autistic child), because they know that the way we talk or write about people can greatly influence the way we or others see or feel about them, leaving either a positive or negative impression. At my library, this is a discussion we will have as policies are rewritten and our marketing manager promotes our services. As of January 1st, the Kendallville Public Library transitioned to a fine free model and I know many other libraries around Indiana have done the same. These discussions remind me that the trends we see around the country are mirrored here in Indiana and in a lot of ways we’re even ahead of the game.    Read More
Featured Great Things in Indiana Libraries

Getting out into your community
Once a month at Heather’s Country Care, the Kentland Public Library hosts the Little Wigglers Pre-school program. Children’s Librarian, Ashlyn Lane starts each program with a finger-play using Mother Goose or one of Marc Brown’s Playtime Rhymes. She follows this with an activity and short story, which she may read several times, and a game. Activities vary but have included such things as making slime, playing with bubbles, an M&M sorting game and ice cube races. Ashlyn says she gets her activities from one of several websites like Hands On as we grow, Teaching Mama, or Starnet STEM Activity Clearinghouse. At the end of the program, she leads the kids in a Goodbye poem, which includes fun actions. 

Ashlyn says she always brings a tub of books that she leaves at the daycare then exchanges each month. She recently got the daycare to participate in 1,000 books before kindergarten program. Heather, the daycare provider, records the books read to the children as a group. 

Ashlyn also sees this outreach as a great source for advertising. Anytime she has a program for pre-school age children, she makes sure to take along handouts for the parents and talks about the program with the children. Ashlyn says this program has been going for almost a year and she is really excited about the opportunity and hopes to do more in the future.
Six Indiana Towns to Host National Smithsonian Exhibit
Indiana Humanities says six Hoosier communities have been selected to host a Smithsonian-curated traveling exhibit called Crossroads: Change in Rural America.  Read More

Breaking sound barriers: China’s earliest known sound recordings
The First Recordings from China Project, now underway thanks to $90,000 in funding from The Tang Research Foundation (TRF), is centered on 400 phonograph cylinders held by Indiana University Libraries’ Archives of Traditional Music.  Read More

Alumni of IU School of Education in Bloomington gift $4 million to Indiana University
The Indiana University Foundation has announced a $4 million gift from alumni Nycha Schlegel and Dallas "Bill" Loos. The bequest will benefit countless students, faculty and staff in the School of Education in Bloomington, IU Libraries, the Kelley School of Business and the Wells Scholars Program. Read More

IU South Bend Passes Open Access Policy
We are very pleased to announce that on Friday, January 18, 2019, the Indiana University South Bend Faculty Senate unanimously approved an Open Access policy, making us the third IU campus to do so. Read More

University Library renovation garners positive reviews
The book was closed last fall on University Library's $1.75 million renovation of the third and fourth floors, and library officials are writing a new chapter this spring on how new furniture and study spaces are being utilized.  Read More

Getting an early start: Nearly 12,000 LP County students take part in first Week of Code
The Indiana Department of Education says every student should have the opportunity to learn computer science.

"It helps nurture problem-solving skills, logic, and creativity. By starting early, students will have a foundation for success in any 21st-century career path," according to Dr. Jennifer McCormick, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction. Read More

New Alliance to Promote Early Literacy Through Laundromats Nationwide
Three national non-profit groups—the LaundryCares Foundation, the Clinton Foundation’s Too Small to Fail initiative, and Libraries Without Borders—have launched a new Laundry & Literacy Coalition.  Read More

Humanity’s 30-million-page backup plan is heading to the moon
When SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket took off on Thursday night, it carried humanity’s entire backup plan with it. It was headed to the moon, the world’s ultimate cold-storage unit. Read More
Advocating for Libraries - at the halfway point
The Indiana General Assembly reaches the halfway point this week, where bills must pass the first chamber and cross over for amendment or passage in the second chamber. Your Indiana Library Federation has been very active advocating for libraries. The biennial budget, HB1001, includes funding for one of our highest policy priorities, internet connectivity for schools and libraries and INSPIRE-Indiana's virtual library. ILF has been active on bills related to funding, governance and operations of libraries. Details are included in our weekly ILF Advocacy Updates and in our member-only bi-weekly Virtual Advocacy Updates. Members may receive a direct communication from the office within the week.


How you can help
  1. Stay informed - Be sure to subscribe to or review our Advocacy Updates or register for the March 11 Virtual Advocacy Update.
  2. Say Thank You! Email a Thank You message to your Representative in the House for including INSPIRE and Internet Connectivity in the State Budget. We make it easy through our Engage Center.
  3. Develop library supporters and champions - Invite people to experience what your library has to offer.
  4. Third House/Meet Your Legislator Events - Plan to attend the local event in your area. See calendar. Contact us with questions or additional session info.
  5. Plan to attend our Library Day at the Statehouse on March 12.
Nominate Your Peers!

Nominate a person, library or organization for an ILF Award. Who demonstrates excellence in Indiana public, academic or school libraries ? Who goes out of their way to advance literacy, marketing, intellectual freedom or library advocacy?   Learn more   about eligibility, past winners or criteria. 

Help support the future of librarianship by helping outstanding teachers and library staff pursue the Master of Library Science at IU or IUPUI or the AS through Ivy Tech. Help us promote ILF Scholarships.

Please consider nominating your peers or library! Deadline for nomination packets is June 30 . Awards are presented at our Annual Conference in November.
SNAP Information for your patrons
In response to the lengthy "SNAP gap" between the early February disbursement on January 16th and the regularly scheduled March disbursement, Indiana's Family & Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced they will split March SNAP benefit payments. Recipients will see half of their March benefit amount added to their Hoosier Works EBT cards on February 22nd and the other half on their regularly scheduled March date according to the alphabetical schedule. Clients do not need to take any action. 

Libraries may post the flyer. With children home during spring break, some families may be stretched this month.
Regional Conference Registration is now open!
We have five excellent regional conferences planned for April.

You are invited to attend any conference that is convenient for you due to location or date.



  • April 2         Ivy Tech Sellersburg
  • April 5         Crawfordsville Public Library
  • April 10       Ivy Tech Richmond
  • April 16       Evansville Vanderburgh PL
  • April 22       Mishawaka-Penn-Harris PL

This year’s overall professional development theme is “Libraries, Where Everyone is Welcome.” We are focusing strongly on inclusivity and diversity.

You can view one-page programs and register now. Please note that preliminary programs will be updated as we finalize content descriptions for a few session. This year’s member rate is $45 and the nonmember rate is $55 (includes lunch). An institutional member can take advantage of the member pricing IF they send more than two of their staff to the conference. Please complete a group registration form so that we can ensure you receive the correct pricing. We ask that you share the information about regionals with your staff, coworkers, neighbors, etc.
Join the "We [heart] Our Library" Yard Sign Campaign for April
We invite all to participate in a  Yard Sign campaign this April . Plan to place yard signs in your community for at least a two-week period in April, either April 1-14 or April 7-20 , to help us elevate libraries. National Library Week is April 7-13, 2019. This is timed perfectly with the final weeks of the Indiana General Assembly, where legislators are making final decisions about support for libraries and INSPIRE.

National School Library is April. If ordering signs without customization, support your school library by sharing 1-2 with your school. The main goal is to see as many signs around the state at the same time.

There are many vendors that print and ship signs at different rates, with optional customization. We are familiar with two companies that have agreed to prioritize signage for our members:
  • The Signage is the company used by the Friends of Pendleton Community Public Library. The Signage offers a online order form. Order soon to ensure your signs arrive in time for placement.
  • StickersandMore.com is a company used by public libraries in Knox, Pike and Davies counties. Here is an order form.
ILF Photo and Video Gallery:
RosieCon is receiving great promotional coverage! Check out ILF Board Member, Diane Rogers and ILF Member Kirsten Weaver as they talk about RosieCon on Fox59.
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