What's Happening at the Indiana State Library Foundation

‘Indiana’s Great Outdoors’ Statehood Day essay contest now accepting submissions

The Indiana Center for the Book is hosting an essay competition to commemorate Indiana’s 205th Statehood Day. This year’s theme is “Indiana’s Great Outdoors.” The Statehood Day Essay Contest takes place annually in the fall and is open to all Indiana fourth graders.

Essays should be well organized and reflective of the theme “Indiana’s Great Outdoors.” Judges will interpret the theme. Thematic ideas include: Why is nature important? How do you enjoy nature in Indiana? Why are water and other natural resources important? What outdoor recreational spots in Indiana are special to you? Why is nature important to a great state?

Winners of the essay contest will be honored on Friday, Dec. 10 in a ceremony that may be in-person or may be virtual. The winners will be expected to record their essays for a virtual ceremony. In-person ceremonies may take place at the Indiana Statehouse or other locations, pandemic permitting.

The first-place winner receives a CollegeChoice 529 deposit of $250, while the second, third and fourth-place winners receive CollegeChoice deposits of $150.

The essay contest rules are as follows:

- The competition is open to any Indiana fourth grade public, private or homeschooled student in the 2021-22 school year.

- A panel of judges, including Indiana State Library staff and volunteer educators, will choose the first, second, third and fourth place winners.

- Essays must range from 100 to 300 words; handwritten or typed and must be submitted with an entry form.

- Individual entries should use the 2021 individual entry form and class sets should use the 2021 group entry form. The following information should be included on each essay for class sets: student name, teacher name and school name.

- All entries may be mailed or emailed and must be received by Friday, Oct. 22, 2021.

- Mailed entry forms can be sent to: Indiana Center for the Book Indiana State Library 140 N. Senate Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46204.

- Emailed entry forms can be sent to this email address as an attachment.

Click here for more information about the 2021 Statehood Day essay contest, including lesson plans for teachers, and to view the 2020 winning essays.

Please contact Suzanne Walker, Indiana Center for the Book director, with any questions.

Indiana Vision Expo scheduled for Sept. 11 at State Library

On Wednesday, July 28, from 2-3 p.m., the Indiana State Library will present "The National Book Festival, Indiana, and You!," a webinar for those interested in the National Book Festival. The annual festival, sponsored by the Library of Congress, will be held online this year on Sept. 17-26. This will allow everyone a chance to join in on the festivities.

The 2021 National Book Festival will feature hundreds of author talks, including authors from Indiana, as well as other programs, which will all be available remotely. Attendees will learn more about how to participate, what’s available and program ideas for their libraries in this fun and informative webinar. A tool-kit on how to participate in the National Book Festival will be unveiled.

Presenters will be Suzanne Walker, director of the Indiana Center for the Book, and Megan Telligman, senior program manager at Indiana Humanities. Click here to read more about the webinar and to read presenter bios.

The webinar is eligible for one LEU for Indiana library staff. Click here to register.

Please contact Suzanne Walker of the Indiana State Library with any questions about "The National Book Festival, Indiana, and You!"

On Tuesday, June 8 at 2 p.m., the Indiana State Library will present "The Firefly Award and Early Literacy Standards - A Perfect Match!" This hourlong webinar will discuss how Indiana Firefly books and programs can support the National Association for the Education of Young Children's early literacy standards.

The Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award introduces parents and children, ages 0-5, to high-quality picture books. These award-winning books can be applied to early literacy standards, like those developed by the NAEYC. A professional membership organization, the NAEYC works to promote early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy and research.

Jeanne Baldwin, NAEYC member and Indianapolis Wayne Township preschool evaluation teacher, will present, and Suzanne Walker, Firefly Chair and Indiana Young Readers Center librarian, will facilitate a discussion throughout the event. Attendees are encouraged bring questions and comments.

CONTACT Suzanne Walker at suwalker@library.in.gov to register. The webinar is eligible for one LEU for Indiana library staff.

Please contact Suzanne Walker with any questions regarding the Firefly Award or the literacy standards webinar.

The Indiana State Library's monthly webinar series, What's up Wednesday?, will return on Jan. 27, 2021.

The webinars, which take place on the last Wednesday of each month,  feature a different library-related topic and offer the chance for Indiana library workers to earn LEUs. Each webinar will begin with a "what's up at the Indiana State Library" update.

On Jan. 27, the State Library will present "Facilitating a discussion about facilities," a panel discussion about managing library facilities. More details will be forthcoming.

Please email Kara Cleveland at kcleveland@library.in.gov    Professional Development Office supervisor at the Indiana State Library, with any questions.

The Indiana State Library will open to the public by appointment only beginning June 15.  Patrons are encouraged to continue to use our online services such as Ask-A-Librarian, INSPIRE  and the Digital Collections.  To make an appointment or to request online assistance, email isl@askisl.libanswers.com, or call (317)232-3675.

Click on both images (flyers) to enlarge

GENEALOGY FOR NIGHT OWLS returns to Indiana State Library; Genealogy Fair date announced.

The popular Genealogy for Night Owls research event returns to the Indiana State Library on Wednesday, April 22. The library will have extended hours, from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., for this event.

Genealogy for Night Owls features one-on-one consultations with representatives from the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Central Indiana DNA Interest Group, Palatines to America, professional genealogist Betty Warren and more.

Registration is free and is required by April 15. Register online here. Attendees do not need to create an events calendar profile to register for this event.

The library has also announced Saturday, Oct. 24 as the date of the 2020 Genealogy and Local History Fair. Please visit the library's Events & Public Workshops page for more information as it becomes available.

Please contact Jamie Dunn, supervisor of the Genealogy Division at the Indiana State Library, with any questions.

Thank You to EBSCO as our Overall Sponsor for the 2019 Golf Outing at Purgatory Golf Club!

Thank You Jackson Press as our Print Sponsor.

THANK YOU TO OUR 2019 GOLF OUTING SPONSORS

Thank you for your support of the Indiana State Library Foundation.

“SPRINGTIME ALONG THE SOUTH SHORE LINE"

INDIANA STATE LIBRARY FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES $10,000 IN GRANTS

The Indiana State Library Foundation is pleased to announce that $10,000 in grant funding was distributed to the following libraries in January of this year: Greentown Children’s Library, Fortville-Vernon Township Public Library, Kokomo-Howard County Public Library, Oakland City Columbia Township Public Library, Andrews-Dallas Township Public Library, Huntington City Public Library, Monticello-Union Township Public Library, Wanatah Public Library, Barton Rees Pogue Memorial Library and Jeffersonville Township Public Library.

Each library received a $1,000 grant for a project that would improve library services to their patrons. The Indiana State Library Foundation congratulates these libraries on their projects. The foundation is optimistic that a second round of grant opportunities will become available in late fall.

Returning this year… summer programs for kids!

We are thrilled to announce that the Indiana State Library will again provide free youth programming this summer through the Indiana Young Readers Center! June and July are going to be packed with fun and engaging workshops for kids to INvestigate + Explore.

Join us this summer for six exciting programs combining Indiana investigations and explorations of cool themes like art, culture and history. Programs are open to children who have completed third grade up through middle school and require advanced registration. Read below for more information and learn how to register for our programs. All programs will take place at the Indiana State Library, located at 315 W. Ohio St. in Indianapolis. Attendees may also enter through the door at 140 N. Senate Ave. Public registration is limited, so act fast!

Next Great Architects | Wednesday, June 13, 2018, 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. | History Reference Room

Kionna Walker will show children how to use problem solving and their imaginations to explore architectural planning processes. Kids will also learn about the design and construction of the Indiana State Library. Register here.

Comic Creation | Monday, July 16, 2018, 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. | Indiana Authors Room

Jingo de la Rosa will lead children in drawing comics after they learn about some of Indiana’s great illustrators like Norman Bridwell, Jim Davis, Ben Hatke, Keiko Kasza and Troy Cummings. Register here.

Join the new Talking Book & Braille Library book club

Posted on April 26 2018

The Indiana Talking Book & Braille Library is excited to announce the launch of a new book club! Since Talking Book patrons are located throughout the state, this will not be your normal type of library book club; rather, our book club will meet by conference call so you can participate from the comfort of your own home.

The first meeting will take place via conference call at 2 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. Participants can join the discussion by calling our toll-free dial in number, (877) 422-1931, and entering the conference code, 8762032518. We will be discussing “A Piece of the World” by Christina Baker Kline, which is available in braille (BR 21873), audio (DB 87630) and large print (LP 20372). This novel is a historical fiction work about the life of Christina Olson, who was the model for Andrew Wyeth’s famous 1948 painting “Christina’s World.”

Pre-Order Your Indiana Bison-Tennial Book!

The last of the official Indiana Bicentennial projects has been completed and M.T. Publishing is excited to bring to you this new, all-color book that commemorates this unique project celebrating the Bicentennial of our state. Indiana’s Bison-tennial Project: A Celebration of Hoosier History, Artistry and Creativity is a coffee-table style book that highlights the last of the state’s birthday celebrations. A must-have for your local library, convention or visitor’s bureau, business, historical or genealogy society, or as a personal memento of our state’s birthday.

The Bison-tennial Legacy Project helped celebrate Indiana’s 200th birthday by decorating and displaying 5-foot-tall fiberglass bison (a symbol of Indiana) with an end goal of at least one – if not a herd – of bison on display in each of Indiana’s 92 counties. TO BE RELEASED IN THE FALL OF 2018. Place Your Order HERE

Genealogy event

On Wednesday, April 18, 2018, the popular Genealogy for Night Owls event returns to the Indiana State Library. The free Night Owls event features expanded library hours, orientation tours and sessions with genealogy experts. The extended library hours are 4:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Sessions will be available with experts from the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Indiana Chapter of Palatines to America, the Indiana African-American Genealogy Group, the Genealogical Society of Marion County, professional genealogist Betty Warren and the Central Indiana DNA Interest Group. Registration is required by April 16, 2018. Click here to register.

Registration for 2018 "The Difference is You" conference is officially open

"Registration for the 2018 The Difference is You: Be INSPIRED conference is officially open. The conference will take place at the Indiana State Library on Friday, July 20 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Click here to register.

This annual conference is a day of learning, networking and fun for Indiana library support staff and paraprofessionals. For more details about the conference, click here.

Registration is $25, which includes lunch. Once the registration form is filled out, an invoice from the Indiana State Library with payment details will be accessible. Credit card, check or money order is accepted. Limited parking will be available at the Senate Avenue Parking Garage. Early arrival and/or carpooling is encouraged.

Tours of the Indiana State Library will be available from 8:30 - 9 a.m. for those who register early. Please sign up in advance. Email Kimberly Brown-Harden of the state library to register for the tour or for more information."

Congratulations to the 2018 Indiana Poetry Out Loud
state champion Joshua Fisher of Warsaw Community High School.

Joshua earned a trip to the national competition in Washington D.C. in late April.
The Poetry Out Loud Contest was held Saturday, February 17th at the Indiana State Library.

Emmy Award-winner Dick Wolfsie of WISH-TV

Recently, Emmy Award-winner Dick Wolfsie of WISH-TV stopped by the Indiana State Library to learn more about the Indiana Voices program. He met with Indiana Voices studio director, Linden Coffman, to get a basic understanding of what Indiana Voices is and how the program works. While he was there, he also met two recording studio volunteers, Nelson Goud and Stuart Remali, to see what it is like to be a volunteer in the recording studio for Indiana Voices.

The Indiana Talking Book and Braille Library provides library service to Indiana residents who cannot use standard printed materials due to a visual or physical disability. Indiana Voices is a program within the Talking Book Library that focuses on recording books by Indiana authors or with another Indiana connection that otherwise would not be available in an accessible format.

See more pictures of Wolfsie's visit here. See the WISH-TV video segments here.

To view the books in the Indiana Voices collection, visit the online catalog, search for “Indiana,” select subject and then choose Indiana Digital Voices from the media drop down list. Visit the Indiana Voices website at this location.

Poetry Out Loud

"Poetry Out Loud encourages students to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life.

Join us at the Indiana State Library February 17 for the 2018 State Finals.

Each winner at the state level receives $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip with an adult chaperone to Washington, DC, to compete for the national championship.

The state winner's school receives $500 for the purchase of poetry books. The first runner-up in each state receives $100, with $200 for his or her school. A total of $50,000 in awards and school stipends is awarded annually at the National Finals.

Past Events of 2017

Materials Preservation

'Indiana's "Bison-tennial" Project,' book now available for pre-order.

The final Indiana Bicentennial book, "Indiana's 'Bison-tennial' Project," is now available for pre-order. This is the companion book to "Indiana at 200" and highlights the Bicentennial bison projects throughout the state, including Cookie the Bison at the Indiana State Library. The book has been mailed out to public libraries and will be arriving soon, if it hasn't already arrived.

From the publisher: "This new, all-color book that commemorates this unique project celebrating the Bicentennial of our state. 'Indiana’s "Bison-tennial" Project: A Celebration of Hoosier History, Artistry and Creativity' is a coffee-table style book that highlights the last of the state’s birthday celebrations. A must-have for your local library, convention or visitor’s bureau, business, historical or genealogy society or as a personal memento of our state’s birthday."

The book comes in standard and leather bound editions and can be personalized . The book may be pre-ordered here. "Indiana at 200" may be purchased here.