Programming resources for youth services librarians

Posted on by

Programming librarians are always looking for new ideas. I was a programming librarian for 12 years, so I get it! Keeping things exciting for your patrons and for yourself can be a challenge. I’ve rounded up a few helpful resources to get the ideas flowing.

Before I share those, however, remember that the very best programming idea resource is your patrons! The only way to truly know what your patrons want is to ask them. This is especially important with teens and tweens, who gain important skills when invited to share input and to codesign programs, so I recommend reviewing the toolkit Evaluating Library Programming to learn about a variety of tools you can use to gather and evaluate feedback.

Now, on to the resources!

Indiana State Library program idea lists
To support summer reading and programming year-round, I gather program ideas from library staff during my summer reading trainings each year. Collected and posted annually in various formats since 2016, the lists are a treasure trove of program ideas for all ages! You can browse program ideas for the current summer reading program year here. These lists are divided roughly by age group and a quick browse might inspire your next program!

Programming Librarian
ProgrammingLibrarian.org is a website run by the American Library Association’s Public Programs Office. They host a searchable database of program ideas for all ages collected from library staff across the country. Results can be filtered by a variety of factors.

Starnet logo.

STAR Net STEM Activity Clearinghouse
The STEM Clearinghouse is a database of quality STEM activities that are perfect for library use. Each activity includes a full plan, and they are searchable by age, cost, time to prep and to complete the activity, difficulty level and more. STAR Net stands for “Science-Technology Activities & Resources for Libraries,” and was developed in partnership with Cornerstones of Science, the Space Science Institute, the National Center for Interactive Learning and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

PBS Kids logo.

PBS Kids
PBS Kids maintains their own “Find Ways to Play” database of activities for kids ages 2-8. Designed to be used by parents, each activity is tied to a PBS Kids show or character and provides a thorough plan complete with required materials and step-by-step directions. They also offer printables that you can share with parents, such as “Encouraging Pretend Play” or “How to Prepare Children for Unexpected Events and Emergencies.” The database is searchable by age, show, topic and type.

Jbrary
Jbrary was started by two Canadian children’s librarians and is “a library of storytime resources for those of us working with children.” While not strictly a program idea database, Jbrary offers plenty of helpful resources and tips for storytime programmers, including planning resources for storytimes and school age programs, booklists, songs and rhymes and more. The Jbrary YouTube channel contains recordings of many songs and rhymes that are perfect for storytime.

Youth Services Playbook
The Youth Services Playbook is a blog created by Indiana librarian Adrienne De Luna. Adrienne shares program ideas but also discusses a wide variety of youth services library-related topics in her blog posts, highlighting what other librarians have to say about various hot topics. Though some of her materials are behind a paywall, I do recommend the blog for both program ideas and thoughtful reflection on the profession.

Nourishing Minds Toolkit
Nourishing Minds is a mental wellness program for teens and their libraries with the goals of creating brave spaces for creativity, normalizing mental health conversations and harnessing the power of program co-design in libraries. The site offers resources and tools for prioritizing those three pillars in teen library programming.

Let's Move in Libraries logo. Let’s Move in Libraries
Let’s Move in Libraries offers ideas for movement-based programs, from running and walking clubs to music and movement activities.

National Impact of Library Public Programs Assessment (NILPPA)
The NILPPA, from the American Library Association, offers tools for to help you establish impactful partnerships and to evaluate your programs and programming staff.

Submitted by Beth Yates, Indiana State Library children’s consultant.

Are you related to a famous person?

Posted on by

How do you find out if you are related to a famous person?

A well-researched and healthy family tree is a great place to start. The more generations you have in your family tree, the more chances you will have to find out if you are related to someone famous.

Know that, most likely, your famous relative will not be a direct ancestor, but you and the famous person will have descended from a common ancestor – making you some sort of cousin.

When I first started searching my family history, I came across a familiar surname: Hoover. Absalom Hoover was born in 1792 in North Carolina and died on Sept. 26, 1857 in Wayne County, Indiana. Of course, seeing the name Hoover made me think of Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the Unites States. I had my traced my Hoover ancestry to Johann Heinrich Huber. Now, I just needed to compare my family tree to Herbert Hoover’s family tree.

It was not hard to find Herbert Hoover’s family tree. The great thing about presidential family history is that, to my knowledge, all the presidents’ family trees have been successfully and thoroughly researched. Genealogical material can be easy to find as well, since presidential libraries and museums are many times repositories for genealogical material related to the president. Some examples of genealogical material available at presidential libraries include the Manuscript Collections – Hulda Hoover Mclean Papers at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library; The Ancestry of Richard Milhous Nixon, Second Edition – White House Special Files Collection, Special Files Box 10 Folder 13 at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library; Eisenhower Ancestry at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home; and The Roosevelt Family Roots at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.

To compare my family history to Herbert Hoover’s family history, I used Herbert Hoover’s family tree available in the book “Genealogy of the Herbert Hoover Family.” The results? I am a fourth cousin, four times removed to President Herbert Hoover.

By the way, did you know that J. Edgar Hoover and Herbert Hoover are not related? A Tale of Two Hoovers from the blog of the Herbert Hoover Library and Museum provides more insight.

Black and white picture of Stuart M. Chambers of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Richard Nixon, former President Herbert Hoover and George C. Biggers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Left to right: Stuart M. Chambers of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, former President Richard Nixon, former President Herbert Hoover and George C. Biggers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Having Quakers – those who belong to the Religious Society of Friends – in your family tree is an easy way to find famous relations. Historically, since Quakers were religiously non-conformists, their births, marriages and deaths were not recorded by the state sanctioned church, so the Quakers kept their own records. In addition, since Quakers could get disowned from their faith by marrying someone not in unity (i.e., not a Quaker), many Quakers for many years married other Quakers (endogamy). This means a lot of Quakers are related to a lot of other Quakers with the records to prove it.

Because I have an abundance of Quaker families in my ancestry, I found I am related to Richard Nixon and James Dean via these Quaker connections.

Comparing my family tree to Richard Nixon’s family tree – through the Mendenhall family – I found that my great grandmother was eighth cousins with Richard Nixon, making me eighth cousins thrice removed to Richard Nixon. However, because of the endogamy of the early Quakers, I am also related to Richard Nixon through the Dixon and Griffith families.

Publicity still of James Dean for the movie "Rebel Without a Cause."

Publicity still of James Dean for the movie “Rebel Without a Cause.”

James Dean also had Quaker families in his ancestry. The article “New England in Hollywood, Part Four: The Ancestry of James Byron Dean (1931-1955)” made it easy to find my connection to James Dean. Comparing James Dean’s family tree to my family tree, I am fourth cousins thrice removed to James Dean. I am also related to James Dean through another Quaker family, the Chamness family.

Left: Image from the sedilia at Westminster Abbey, thought to be Edward I. Right: Edward I and Eleanor of Castile, early 14th-century manuscript.

Left: Image from the sedilia at Westminster Abbey, thought to be Edward I. Right: Edward I and Eleanor of Castile, early 14th-century manuscript.

Edward I of England, Westminster Abbey Edward and Eleanor, Illuminated manuscript

When I was researching the Gorsuch and Lovelace families, I discovered Anne Lovelace Gorsuch was a gateway ancestor. A gateway ancestor is a colonial America ancestor whose ancestry has been verified through research to connect with noble or royal families in Europe. Referring to volume two of “The Royal Descents of 900 Immigrants of the American Colonies, Quebec, or the United States,” I find Anne Lovelace on page 509. Her lineage leads back to Edward I, King of England.

Because being a saint confirmed spiritual power and a connection to God, historically there were canonized kings and kings that acknowledge their own descent from a saint. This means I can use Edward I to see if I am related to a saint. I locate Edward I of England and his wife Eleanor of Castile in the book “A Who’s Who of your Ancestral Saints.” Eleanor of Castile is a descendant of Saint Fernando III, King of Castile and Leon and Blessed Ida of Boulogne.

What does it mean to be related to someone famous? Considering most of us have just a small bit of DNA in common with ancestors who were alive in the 1700s, I have very little biological connection to my most distant ancestors. If my famous person connection was something I wanted to brag about – and I could choose my ancestors – obviously I would have chosen more illustrious presidents to be related to. For me, finding famous ancestors is a fun amusement I can do with my family history. Finding a famous ancestor also demonstrates to me the interconnectedness of humanity.

Follow these tips to find your own famous person:

  • Start with a well-researched family tree.
  • Look for famous but unique surnames in your family tree.
  • Research to see if any of your family came from an endogamous community, like the Quakers.
  • Look for gateway ancestors.

If you search your own family history, who knows who you would find? I know for sure you will find fun.

This blog post is by Angi Porter, Genealogy Division librarian.

Resources from the Indiana State Library:
“Genealogy of the Herbert Hoover Family,” ISLG 929.2 H7891m
“Ancestors of American Presidents,” ISLG 929.11 R644A 2009
“Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy,” ISLG 929.102 F911h, volumes 1-7
“Notable Kin: An Anthology of Columns First Published in the NEHGS nexus, 1986-1995,” ISLG 929 N899k V. 1 & V.2
“British Roots of Maryland Families,” ISLG 975.2 B261B V. 1 & V.2
“The Royal Descents of 900 Immigrants of the American Colonies, Quebec, or the United States: Who Were Themselves Notable or Left Descendants Notable in American History,” ISLG 929.72 R644R V. 1 & V. 2
“A Who’s Who of Your Ancestral Saints,” ISLG 929.102 K81W

Additional resources:
“Cousin Chart – How to Calculate Family Relationships”
“Celebrating Presidential Kinship, U.S. Ancestry”
“Do You Have Presidential Ancestors? 4 Steps to Finding Out”
“When the Country’s Founding Father Is Your Founding Father”
Famous Friends (a list of famous Quakers)
“The Lovelace Family and Its Connections”
“Finding Royal Roots”
“The Meaning and Meaninglessness of Genealogy“

Serving colorblind patrons in your community

Posted on by

Colorblindness may not be a common occurrence you see every day. About 300 million people are colorblind across the world. While that is a small percentage of our overall population, that doesn’t mean that your library can’t be prepared to serve patrons who are colorblind.

According to the National Institute of Health, colorblindness “means a person see colors differently than most people. Most of the time, color vision deficiency makes it hard to tell the difference between certain colors. Usually, color vision deficiency runs in families. Most people who have color vision deficiency don’t have problems with everyday activities.”  Most of the issues for colorblind people come from red-and-green combinations as a pair of opposites in design in posters, presentations, etc. The first rule of making a palette for colorblind – avoid combining red and green.

Graphic showing colorblindness test with number one.

If you want to continue supporting colorblind patrons, purchasing a pair of color correcting glasses, like the kind made by EnChroma could help enhance their use of the library. Or the glasses could be put into circulation through a “library of things” so a colorblind patron could test them out before deciding to buy a pair for themselves.

Below is a list of resources and articles about supporting those who are colorblind:

“Libraries offer corrective glasses to color-blind patrons”
“Improve Accessibility for Users Who are Visually Impaired with These 9 Tips”
“The best charts for color blind viewers”
“Designing For (and With) Color Blindness”

This post was written by Abby Chumin, librarian in the Indiana Talking Book and Braille Library, and previously appeared in the April 2025 Collaborative Summer Library Program newsletter.

Proper decoration: Margaret Armstrong’s publisher’s bindings

Posted on by

The years 1860-1920 saw great changes in book design, led by technological developments, refining marketing strategies and shifting ideas about the relationship between book and text. Expanding literacy led to increased demand and a new market to attract via an expanding literate middle class. Previously, book bindings were produced by the bookseller. This changed in the 19th century and publishers began providing the bindings. During this time, newly popular cloth covers were produced which were cheap compared to their leather counterparts; but, unlike even less expensive paper boards, could be adorned in a manner that hinted at the beauty of custom bindings commissioned by those who could afford them. Book design soon became its own profession led by women.

Both the general and Indiana author collections at the Indiana State Library hold many fine examples of these cloth publisher’s bindings. The greatest numbers of them are from designer Margaret Armstrong, which is not surprising given that she was arguably the most successful.

New York artist Armstrong (1867-1944) was one of the first professional binding designers in the U.S., designing her first covers in 1887. Her work continues to be uncovered, so reports of how many covers she designed vary, but it is now understood to be over 300. The bulk of her work was for Scribner’s, where she got her start, but she worked with many publishers as her popularity grew because book designers were hired on a freelance, project-by-project, basis. She often employed floral motifs in her designs and went on to write and illustrate a book on Western American wildflowers; but, as you will see in the examples here, she was a very flexible and adaptable artist with work that varied in style more than some of her peers.

As an early contributor to the field, Armstrong had a hand in the shift toward developing designs that directly reflected the work within their pages, something that is taken for granted now, but was not generally the case before this period. When asked whether attention should be given to having the cover reflect the often vibrant contents of the book, she replied: “Yes, I think so. Pretty covers for cheap books have never been done until now.” Pretty was not the only purpose though, and different colors and motifs were used to signal to the reader what they might expect from the pages within.

"Adventures of Captain Horn" book cover.

Frank R. Stockton, “The Adventures of Captain Horn.” New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1895.

One example of how Armstrong used design to communicate with her readers was by assigning colors to her Scribner’s authors and periods of their work. Beginning with this book, she designed Stockton on green cloth to contrast with the blue of Henry Van Dyke. Myrtle Reed designs appeared in lavender. This book belonged to noted Indiana book collector Frank Graef Darlington. Many of the nicer copies of books with notable publisher’s bindings came from donors, though copies also exist that would have been purchased when they were published along with other popular books to grow the general collection.

"The Yoke" book cover.

Elizabeth Miller, “The Yoke.” New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1904.

The Egyptian motif is not typical of Armstrong’s work, but reflects the book’s contents: an historical romance in Egypt during the exodus of the Israelites. The artist’s signature, her initials, can be found underneath the flower on the right side of the cover under the title.

Zoom in of the initials M.A.

Book cover of "The Defective Santa Claus."

James Whitcomb Riley, “A Defective Santa Clause.” Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1904.

Armstrong’s work outside of Scribner’s gave her an Indiana connection when she did some designs for the Indianapolis-based publisher Bobbs-Merrill, which resulted in a cover for James Whitcomb Riley. Her background as a naturalist appears here in the holly theme. She shows a preference for a holly in other Christmas books designs, as seen in her Charles Dickens covers.

Book cover of Margeurite Minton's "Captain Lettarblair."

Margeurite Minton, “Captain Lettarblair.” Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1906.

This is an example of a cover design by Armstrong that incorporates symbols from the text. The red roses symbolize the love between Captain Letterblair and his love interest Fanny, while the clover represents his good fortune. Both hints of the happy ending in this traditional three-act comedy.

Book cover of "Cape Cod."

Henry David Thoreau, “Cape Cod.” New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1908.

Armstrong’s father was a stained glass designer, and this is seen as an influence on her work, as exemplified by this edition of “Cape Cod.” These designs contrast with her more naturalistic later work.

Book cover of Gene Stratton Porter's "The Song of the Cardinal."

Gene Stratton Porter, “The Song of the Cardinal.” Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1912.

Unsigned, but frequently attributed to Armstrong, this Gene Stratton Porter novel is the only example of her use of red cloth that exists in the State Library’s collections. More examples can be found in other institutions. It is also one of the better examples of the influence of Art Nouveau on her work.

Much has been written about Armstrong, and by better authorities. For more information, please see the blogs and digital exhibits below:

“In Full Bloom: Margaret Armstrong’s Decorated Publishers’ Bindings Revisited”
“The Companionable Book Cover Designs of Margaret Armstrong”
“The Book Beautiful: Margaret Armstrong & Her Bindings”

This post was written by Victoria Duncan, Rare Books and Manuscripts supervisor.

The 2026 National Book Festival is near and Indiana will be there!

Posted on by

It’s August, and that means that the National Book Festival, presented by the Library of Congress, is right around the corner. The National Book Festival will take place in person on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 9 a.m.-8 p.m., at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees must have a ticket to enter. Tickets can be reserved for free here. A selection of programs will be livestreamed online, and videos of all programs will be available shortly after the festival. If you love books and reading, then this festival is for you!

Decorative graphic of National Book Festival. Over 80 of the nation’s best authors, poets, illustrators and more will discuss their work and answer questions at the National Book Festival. Featured authors from Indiana include Meg Cabot, Craig Fehrman, Elana Arnold and Caroline Brewer.

You can find the Indiana Affiliate Center for the Book from the Indiana State Library at the festival by visiting the Roadmap to Reading area of the festival. Representatives from all of the Affiliate Centers of the Book from all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Island, Guam, American Samoa and Northern Marianas will be available to talk to visitors about their community’s local literary heritage.

Each year, the Affiliated Centers for the Book participate in the National Book Festival. Each Center for the Book Affiliate will staff a booth in the Festival’s Roadmap to Reading area to promote reading, libraries and literacy in their state. The Indiana Affiliate Center for the Book is housed at the Indiana Young Readers Center at the Indiana State Library. The Indiana Affiliate Center for the Book has several exciting programs that Hoosiers can get involved with to promote literacy. We jury the Firefly Early Literacy Book Award; we have interactive displays and kiosks to teach about the Library of Congress and literacy; we host the Indiana Statehood Day writing contest and the Letters About Literature writing contest; we manage a program to offer story time, STEAM, book, Lego and escape experience kits for teachers and librarians across the state; we host events and author visits; we created the Indiana Literary Places Map; and we support a collect of materials for young people written and illustrated by Indiana authors and illustrators.

Annually, these Affiliated Centers for the Book select Great Reads from Great Places books. Each affiliate chooses two titles. In most cases, these books – one for youth and one for adults – are written by authors from their state or territory, take place in their state or territory or celebrate local culture and heritage. In addition, this year, in honor of America’s semiquincentennial, affiliate centers were encouraged to choose a title that connects to that theme in some way. The Indiana Affiliate Center for the Book works with Indiana Humanities to select titles.

Indiana is celebrating two books at this year’s festival. “Imogene’s last Stand” by Candace Fleming is the youth selection from Indiana and “Last Adieu: Lafayette’s Triumphant Return, the Echoes of Revolution, and the Gratitude of the Republic” by Ryan Cole is the Indiana selection for adults. Cole will be present at the Indiana booth at the festival.

Book cover showing girl waving flag.Fleming is the author of more than 50 books for children and young adults, including the 2021 Sibert Medal-winning “Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera” and the 2021 American Library Association YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award-winning “The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh.” Fleming’s book, “Imogene’s Last Stand,” illustrated by Nancy Carpenter, fits perfectly with the America’s semiquincentennial theme. It highlights how young people, like Imogene, can make a difference as she fights to preserve history and save the local historical society from demolition.

Book cover showing man standing.

Cole, an Indiana University graduate, has delivered talks at venues such as George Washington’s Mount Vernon and the Library of Congress and his writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal. “Last Adieu: Lafayette’s Triumphant Return, the Echoes of Revolution, and the Gratitude of the Republic” also fits perfectly with the semiquincentennial theme. When the Marquis de Lafayette returned to the U.S. in 1824, the aging hero of the American Revolution was defeated politically and distraught over the fate of liberty in Europe. He set sail one last time from France for America after an absence of 40 years. He was welcomed with the grandest celebration the young republic would ever stage as he traveled to every state in the Union and met with parades and delirious crowds.

Headshot photo of woman.

Candace Fleming.

In addition to attending the National Book Festival, the Indiana State Library Affiliate Center for the Book will be hosting two Festival Near You events at the Indiana State Library! Fleming will be visiting the library on Saturday, Aug. 8. Fleming will read from her book and share her passion about storytelling, writing and history. She will offer time for questions and a book signing following her presentation. Books will be available for purchase.

Photo of man standing and crossing arms.

Ryan Cole.

Cole will visit the library on Saturday, Sept. 12. Cole will discuss “The Last Adieu: Lafayette’s Triumphant Return, the Echoes of Revolution, and the Gratitude of the Republic.” He will offer time for questions and a book signing following his presentation. Books will be available for purchase.

Both events will be live streamed and in person. Click the author’s names for more information about each event.

The Indiana booth at the National Book Festival is always exciting. Last year, Indiana had a “stars” theme to celebrate Kimberly Brubaker Bradley’s book, “The Night War.”

Selfie of woman in front of banner with stars.

Suzanne Walker, former director of the Indiana Affiliate Center for the Book, at the 2025 festival.

Please reach out to Tammie Buchanan, director of the Indiana Affiliate Center for the Book, with any questions or queries you might have about the National Book Festival and happy reading!

This blog post was submitted by Indiana Young Readers Center librarian Tammie Buchanan.

Great Reads authors to visit Indiana State Library in August and September

Posted on by

In celebration of the Library of Congress National Book Festival, the Indiana State Library will welcome authors Candace Fleming and Ryan Cole in August and September, respectively. Fleming and Cole have been chosen by the Indiana Affiliate Center for the Book to represent Indiana at the National Book Festival, which will take place on Saturday, Aug. 22, in Washington, D.C. The Indiana Center for the Book is one of 56 centers affiliated with the Library of Congress Center for the Book. The affiliates promote reading, libraries and literacy across the country.

Fleming’s picture book “Imogene’s Last Stand” and Cole’s adult nonfiction book “The Last Adieu: Lafayette’s Triumphant Return, the Echoes of Revolution, and the Gratitude of the Republic” will be part of the festival’s Great Reads from Great Places program. Each year, each Center for the Book selects one juvenile and one adult Great Reads title. Selections are written by authors from their state or territory, take place in their state or territory or celebrate local culture and heritage.

Headshot photo of woman.

Candace Fleming.

Fleming, originally from Indiana, will share her passion for storytelling, writing and history on Saturday, Aug. 8, at 2 p.m., at the Indiana State Library. Her book tells the tale of a young girl from a small town who discovers the town’s abandoned historical society and works to restore it and save it. Fleming is the author of more than 50 books for children and young adults, including the 2021 Sibert Medal-winning “Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera” and the 2021 American Library Association YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award-winning “The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh.”

Photo of man standing and crossing arms.

Ryan Cole.

Cole will visit the Indiana State Library on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 2 p.m. Cole, an Indiana University graduate, has delivered talks at venues such as George Washington’s Mount Vernon and the Library of Congress and his writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal. He lives in Indiana. Cole will discuss his book, which details the Marquis de Lafayette’s return to the U.S. in 1824 as an aging hero of the American Revolution.

Both programs are free and will take place at the Indiana State Library with an option to attend virtually. Registration is required for the virtual presentations and can be completed here and here.

“We are excited to celebrate these ‘Great Reads’ and great authors with people in Indianapolis and across Indiana via Zoom,” said Tammie Buchanan, director of the Indiana Affiliate Center for the Book at the Indiana State Library.

More information about the Indiana State Library’s involvement in the National Book Festival will be published in a blog post in August. Stay tuned!

This post was written by John Wekluk, communications director at the Indiana State Library.

Disability Pride Month

Posted on by

July is Disability Pride Month. It is meant to honor the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that was established on July 26, 1990. Ultimately, it seeks “to honor the achievements, identities, history and contributions of individuals with disabilities, all while advocating for a more accessible and inclusive society,” according to the Statewide Independent Living Council. Every Disability Pride Month, advocates strive to reduce the stigma surrounding disabilities. More than one billion people worldwide have some form of disability – including one in four adults in the U.S.

Graphic of flag that reads Celebrating Pride Disability Month.

Flag symbolism
The disability pride flag has five different color stripes, each representing a different type of disability.

  • Red: Physical disabilities.
  • Gold (Yellow): Cognitive and intellectual disabilities (neurodivergence).
  • White: Invisible and undiagnosed disabilities.
  • Blue: Psychiatric and mental health disabilities.
  • Green: Sensory disabilities (deafness, blindness, audio processing, etc.).
  • Charcoal gray background: Mourning and rage for victims of ableist violence and abuse.

The theme for Disability Pride Month this year is “The World Works Better With Us.” It is meant to underscore the importance of disabled individuals in schools, work and everyday life. The Indiana Talking Books and Braille Library embodies that theme by offering a plethora of books, magazines, resources and equipment to its disabled patron base.

During Disability Pride Month – and every month – the Indiana Talking Book and Braille Library at the Indiana State Library ensures that equitable access to materials, information and programs is upheld as law. A wide range of individuals use the Indiana Talking Book and Braille Library. Anyone with a visual impairment or physical impairment – and those who have a reading disability, like dyslexia – are welcome to join Indiana the Talking Book and Braille Library program. The Indiana Talking Book and Braille library offers a wide range of books in braille, large type and talking book format. Most importantly, the library offers a large selection of books with a disability focus – from fiction to nonfiction – to ensure patrons feel seen.

Picture of the Indiana State Library.

The Indiana State Library.

While the Indiana State library does include one assisted technology computer terminal, patrons seeking additional accessibility resources can visit the Indianapolis Public Library. The library offers accessibility workstations with assistive technology, sensory inclusive environments and universal changing stations. Six branches are officially designated as Certified Autism Centers. All locations are ADA compliant.

The Indianapolis Public Library also offers books and digital resources as part of the Expanding Our Story grant from the Clowes Foundation. Resources include online lectures celebrating Disability Pride Month and exhibits. The library occasionally presents sensory-friendly story times, too.

Securing accessibility resources is an effective step toward living an independent and equitable life. These resources are made possible by those who advocate for a more accessible and inclusive society, during Disability Pride Month and beyond.

This post was submitted by Kiley Brinker, reader advisor at the Indiana Talking Book and Braille Library.

Sources
https://disability.lacity.gov/understanding-disability-pride-flag
https://www.indypl.org/
Celebrating Disability Pride Month 2026 | Indiana Statewide Independent Living Council

Summer Reading in Indiana

Posted on by

Summer is a busy time in Indiana public libraries, as most host several weeks of summer reading programming. In fact, public libraries in Indiana are required by the public library standards to offer at least six weeks of a reading program each year, and most choose summertime  – when school is out –  to accomplish this. During the summer, many libraries offer enhanced programming including story times, crafts, movies, games, parties and even daily lunch (in partnership with USDA’s Summer Food Service Program). Some libraries award prizes based on the number of books, pages or hours read. Some use paper reading logs, others use apps like Beanstack. Larger libraries, like the Indianapolis Public Library, even add additional temporary staff during summer months to help administer their programs.

Poster featuring dinosaur that says, "Unearth a Story."Summer Reading programs are usually centered around a theme, so there’s no reason for library staff to start from scratch each year. All libraries in Indiana can access thematic resources through the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP), an organization that creates summer reading programming and graphics that may be used by libraries around the world. 2026’s theme is “Unearth a Story,” so you may have seen dinosaurs among the stacks at your local library. These materials are made possible in part by Library Service and Technology Act grants awarded to the Indiana State Library by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Decorative logo. The Indiana State Library’s Talking Books and Braille Library is also hosting a statewide Summer Reading program for readers of all ages with a print disability. Books are available to borrow from the library in braille, large print and digital audio formats and TBBL staff help select and ship materials to patrons. Participants will receive a gameboard and other activities to complete and prizes are also available.

A newer national summer reading offering, also sponsored by IMLS, is the Second Lady’s Summer Reading Challenge. Children in grades K-8 are encouraged to read twelve books before Sept. 4, complete a fillable tracker and receive a certificate, small prize and chance to visit the Nation’s Capital.

Kids and police officers in foam, during a foam party.

“Lowell Public Library readers and Lowell Police Department enjoy a foam party during the 2025 summer reading program.”

Several Indiana State Library staff work behind the scenes to support summer library programs that help boost literacy and provide lasting positive memories for Hoosier children. Statewide children’s consultant, Beth Yates, provides trainings and resources for library staff statewide. These fun, interactive trainings occur all around the state during the winter months giving libraries plenty of time to prep and plan for summer. During the summer, Indiana Young Readers Center librarian Tammie Buchanan hosts readers, oversees the Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award voting and lends thematic kits to libraries. Additionally, Abby Chumin, from TBBL, serves on the CSLP Board of Directors helping to guide decisions and future programming. New for 2026, Yates is planning a Summer Reading Summit for library staff at the Indiana State Library in December. Details on that will be shared on the library’s website once available.

There’s still plenty of time to check out what’s happening this summer at your local library!

This blog post was written by Jen Clifton, Library Development and Professional Development Office director.

What’s Up Wednesday EBSCO INSPIRE series webinars scheduled

Posted on by

EBSCO is a leading provider of research databases, collection development materials, e-journals and more for many libraries worldwide. The Indiana State Library has been with EBSCO since INSPIRE launched in January 1998. INSPIRE – the lifelong learning library for Hoosiers – provides free access to many EBSCO databases statewide. In early 2026, Indiana residents were given access to all EBSCO resources that had previously been available through INSPIRE, as well as a few new databases. Residents of Indiana could now access EBSCO Academic Search Complete and Business Source Complete, as well as use various research methods like EBSCO Open Dissertations.

INSPIRE logo with text "Lifelong Learning Library for Hoosiers."During spring 2026, the Indiana State Library’s Professional Development Office booked Shana Ashwood-Viala, senior customer training specialist at EBSCO Information Services, to conduct a training series regarding EBSCO and the new offerings available via INSPIRE. The sessions are part of the Indiana State Library’s What’s Up Wednesday webinar series, and will give residents of Indiana, as well as librarians and librarian staff, real time training on how to access the databases and how to use certain functions. The webinars will also give the confidence to show others how to use EBSCO databases. The first series offering was completed on Wednesday, June 17. “What’s Up Wednesday: EBSCO Databases – What’s New for Indiana State Library” was hosted by Meg Pool. During the session, residents learned about:

  • EBSCO Management Collection: A collection of 11,117 full-text academic journals, magazines, trade publications, reports and company profiles designed to serve researchers in all fields of business management, including advertising, marketing, banking, public administration and the arts.
  • EBSCO Open Dissertations: Provides access to 2 million electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) from more than 300 universities worldwide.
  • Business Source Complete: The new interface for Business Source Complete, a full-text database with content from leading business magazines and journals.

If you missed the first offering, don’t fret! There are plenty of other sessions to attend, and you can view the first session on our YouTube channel.

 

We hope you can join us at our next session on Wednesday, July 29, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. For more information about the future offerings, you can find the details below or visit the Indiana State Library’s events calendar.

“What’s Up Wednesday: Get To Know EBSCO”
Wednesday, July 29, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time

You will learn what key interfaces and databases you have access to, why they are important and how to access them. We will discover articles, eBooks, journals and primary source documents in popular EBSCO databases; perform basic and advanced searches; and review custom tools and functionality.

Hosted by Meg Pool.

“What’s Up Wednesday: Business Source Complete Overview”
Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time

We will review the new and improved interface for Business Source Complete, EBSCO’s full-text database with content from leading business magazines and journals, including Forbes, Harvard Business Review and Academy of Management Perspectives. We will cover basic and advanced search, review custom content including company profiles, case studies, SWOT analyses and highlight key features including the citation tool, Google and OneDrive integrations and personal MyEBSCO accounts to organize research.

Hosted by George Bergstrom.

“What’s Up Wednesday: LearningExpress Library Complete Overview”
Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time

Join us for an in-depth review of LearningExpress Library; the interactive learning platform that provides the most comprehensive collection of resources for basic skills mastery, academic success, job preparation and career advancement. We will review the user interface, highlight the new content we’ve added and demonstrate key resources for learners of all ages. We will also uncover hidden gems you didn’t know were available and discuss ways to promote these valuable resources. Bring your questions and we’ll learn together!

Hosted by, Paula Newcom.

This post was submitted by Meg Pool, Central regional coordinator at the Indiana State Library.

Marion County birth returns: Rosalind English

Posted on by

If you have a fascination with early Marion County history or have ancestors from the area, you may be interested in the Indiana State Library’s digitized collection of early Marion County, Indiana birth returns.

Birth returns were filled out by doctors or midwives and returned to the Marion County Health Department. Once they received the return, a birth certificate would be issued. Marion County began keeping birth records in 1882, but they were optional until 1907 and not every family registered their child’s birth. This makes the records in this collection much more captivating, and they are available right at your fingertips online!

In many cases the cards are handwritten by the doctor or midwife and include important details about the family including parents’ names, where they were born, ages, father’s occupation, address and the location of the child’s birth. A few records even include details on the birth itself, like whether it was difficult or easy and a description of why.

The collection is filled with cards for interesting people and families in Indianapolis history. This is part two of a series of blog posts where I’ll be highlighting a few of the fascinating individuals included in Marion County birth returns.

William E. English and Helen Orr English’s only child, Rosalind was born March 10, 1903 in their luxurious apartment at the English Hotel. She was delivered by well-known Indianapolis Doctor, E.F. Hodges whose wife, Laura was the granddaughter of famous Indianapolis pioneer, Calvin Fletcher.

Scan of handwritten informational document.

Attorney and U.S. Representative, William E. English managed the English Hotel and Opera House on Monument Circle. His wife, Helen was a prominent gardener who cared for the gardens at the family’s Englishton Park Estate and participated in floral festivals. During one festival, she awarded a prize to a Mr. E.G. Hill for a new rose, a continuous blooming pink variety newly named after her daughter, Rosalind Orr English.

Photo of Englishton Park Estate.

Gardens at Englishton Park Estate. Indiana State Library digital collection.

Postcard showing English Hotel in Indianapolis.

Postcard of the English Hotel Indianapolis, Indiana. Indiana State Library digital collection.

Rosalind grew up surrounded by the opulence and excitement of the English Hotel in Indianapolis. With its carved woodwork, marble staircase, balcony overlooking Monument Circle and famous performances, the English Opera House and Hotel was the height of luxury.

Due to the family’s wealth and prominence, she was a popular curiosity to Indiana residents in awe of her upbringing at the center of the bustling city. Frequently featured in Indiana newspapers, she was making the news for her fashions as early as the day after she was born. “Not only is little Rosalind English the richest baby in Indiana, but she will wear the most exquisite outfit ever provided for a little Hoosier … A number of the finest needlewomen in Indianapolis worked several months on the outfit.”

Scan of newspaper article.

Evansville Courier and Press, March 13, 1903.

 

 

As an infant she was, “The baby that has Monument Place for a playground! Little Rosalind Orr English, daughter of Capt. And Mrs. W.E. English has had this big circle in front of the English Hotel for a playground all winter.” Father and daughter didn’t allow the curious onlookers to stop them from playing together. “She insists on playing ‘horse’ with the pink harness, and her imperious highness will have no driver but Capt. English. Pedestrians stop every day to watch the pretty picture of the pair going around the Circle, harnessed together with the pink reins.”

Black and white photo of man and young child.

Indianapolis Star, April 2, 1905.

She was the “best known baby in Indianapolis” with famous Indianapolis poet James Whitcomb Riley declaring her the “breath of the morning”.

Scan of newspaper article featuring photos of baby.

Indianapolis Star, May 22, 1904.

Scan of "Best Known Baby in Indianapolis" article.

Indianapolis Star, May 22, 1904.

She may have been inspired by Riley when she wrote her own book of poetry at a young age. “All of these verses were written before her tenth birthday and her first effort in that line were Christmas rhymes, which were attached to her holiday gifts on one occasion and came as a surprise to her family, whose members did not know she had the rhyming knack.” The book she authored, “Christmas Time and Other Verses” is among the holdings of the Indiana State Library.

Scan of Rosalind English from Indianapolis Star.

Indianapolis Star, Aug. 30, 1914.

Writing poetry was merely one of her many ambitions. As she grew into adulthood, she developed an interest in practicing law, like her father. Her hard work and diligence paid off as she stacked up an impressive list of accomplishments. She was class leader her senior year at Benjamin Harrison Law School, became a member of the Indianapolis Bar, was active in Republican politics, organized women voters and was a member of the businesswoman’s section of the Indianapolis League of Women Voters. Rosalind was also named executive secretary of the first Republican voters’ and college club bureau.

For all her talents and successes, she expressed feelings of conflict regarding her place as a woman in the legal profession, a reflection of a time when there were few practicing female lawyers. Regardless of the challenges, she was determined to forge ahead.

“‘It was unobliging of me not to have been a boy,” she declared. “For there has been a lawyer in every generation of the English family. My great-grandfather, Elijah English was a lawyer and I believe he would want me to be one, too. I used to go to Legislature with my father and there it was marked who had a knowledge of law and who didn’t, I have always been interested in this part of my family history and will try to make up for not being a boy by being a first-class woman lawyer. It can be done.’”

Scan of newspaper article featuring Rosalind English.

Indianapolis News, Feb. 11, 1922.

She wasn’t alone in her efforts to break new ground for women. Rosalind was frequently mentioned in the newspaper working alongside other influential women pursuing similar political and professional goals. The first woman to prosecute a criminal case in Marion County Criminal Court, Jesse Levy worked alongside Rosalind in organizing women voters. Levy also presented the motion for Rosalind to practice law before the Indiana Supreme Court in 1924. It’s likely these women offered one another support and encouragement as they worked towards a common end and entered spheres where women were only recently admitted.

Scan of newspaper text.

Kokomo Tribune, March 15, 1924.

Scan of newspaper text.

Indianapolis Times, Aug. 28, 1924.

Sadly, Rosalind’s life was cut short and she died at the age of 21 in a tragic automobile accident shortly before she was to enter Columbia University Law School. This was not long after the motion presented by Levy for her to practice law before the Indiana Supreme Court, when her career was just beginning and her life was full of promise.

Scan of newspaper article about death of Rosalind English.

Indianapolis Times Dec. 23, 1924.

The heartfelt inscription on the family marker at Crown Hill Cemetery reads:

Rosalind Orr English, only child of William E. English and Helen Orr English.

 

Taken at the age of 21 years in the flower and beaty of her youth and on the threshold of a brilliant career. A political public speaker before her majority, an attorney, admitted to the bar on her 21st birthday, a writer of poems at 8 and at the age of 11 she wrote these words so fittingly quoted here

Sleep and rest, sleep and rest. Mourned by those who loved thee best, while holy angels guard and keep, sleep my baby, sleep.

 

A short life measured by years, but a long life measured by accomplishments.

If you would like to learn more about what it may have been like for members of the English family as they gazed over Monument Circle, went on vacation or spent time at their estate you can explore the Indiana State Library’s digital collections of English family photos. You may even spot Rosalind as a toddler on the balcony of the hotel looking at the hustle and bustle on the downtown streets below.

This blog post is by Dagny Villegas, Genealogy Division librarian.

Sources:
“Assist League Meeting.” Indianapolis Star, 10/28/1923, p. 65

“Baby’s Rare Playground.” Indianapolis Star, 04/02/1905, p. B29

“Best Known Baby in Indianapolis.” Indianapolis Star, 05/22/1904, p. 7

“Career of young woman lawyer ended by death.” Indianapolis Times, 12/23/1924, p. 1

“Fate of Clark Goes to Jury Early Today.” The Anderson Herald, 03/24/1934, p. 1

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45991874/rosalind_orr-parsons: accessed January 30, 2026), memorial page for Rosalind Orr English Parsons (10 Mar 1903–22 Dec 1924), Find a Grave Memorial ID 45991874, citing Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by John C. Anderson (contributor 47208015).

Helen Orr English. “Autumn Magic Transforms Englishton Park Into a Veritable Floral Fairyland.” Indianapolis Star, 10/30/1910

“Hoosier Women to Go to Polls: Organize for active fall campaign.” Indianapolis Times, 08/28/1924, p. 2

Kokomo Tribune, March 15, 1924, p. 2

“Mrs. Parsons to Work in First Voters’ Clubs: Named executive secretary of G.O.P. State Bureau.” Indianapolis News, 09/19/1924, p. 25

Richard W. Worth. “English Hotel and Opera House.” Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, https://indyencyclopedia.org/english-hotel-and-opera-house-1880-1948/#:~:text=The%20English%20was%20the%20premier,Penney%20building%2C%20which%20replaced%20them

“Richest Baby in Indiana.” Evansville Courier and Press, 03/13/1903, p. 8

“Rosalind English Writes Book of Verse.” Indianapolis Star, 08/30/1914, p. C4

“Roses, Rare and Radiant: Feature of the flower show afternoon and evening.” Indianapolis Journal, 11/13/1903, p. 12

Stacey Nicholas. “William Eastin English.” Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, https://indyencyclopedia.org/william-eastin-english/

“Woman Prosecutes Murder Case.” Indianapolis Times, 12/10/1925, p. 5

“Woman Takes Her Law Studies Seriously and Wishes to Join Father in Profession.” Indianapolis News, 02/11/1922, p. 19