Tag Archives: Indiana

Summer Reading in Indiana

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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

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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

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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

The Mount St. Helens volcanic eruption

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Located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Skamania County, Washington, Mount St. Helens is a stratovolcano and part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area known for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

On Sunday, May 18, 1980 at 8:32 a.m. Pacific Time, Mount St. Helens erupted. An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale preceded the eruption. The eruption lasted nine hours, causing landslides and mudslides, along with the devastation of the forests, lands, vegetation, wildlife, residences and roads in the area. In addition, volcanic ash dust traveled across 11 states and even some areas of Canada several days after the eruption. A total of 57 people lost their lives. After the Mount St. Helens Eruption, the United States Army Corps Engineers began recovery and construction efforts.

In August 1982, the United States Congress passed the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Act. The act was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan, officially establishing the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument where the public could visit the area and for scientists to conduct research.

In May 2025, the United States Geological Survey Library commemorated the 45th anniversary of the volcano’s eruption with a special exhibit at the United States Geological Survey National Center in Reston, Virginia.

The Indiana State Library has several titles in its federal documents collection relating to the Mount St. Helens Eruption:

"The Eruption of Mount Saint Helens" federal document cover.

“The Eruption of Mount Saint Helens: May 18, 1980.” ISLM C 55.2:ER 9

"Volcanic Eruptions of 1980 at Mount St. Helens" book cover.

“Volcanic Eruptions of 1980 at Mount St. Helens: The First 100 Days.” ISLM I 19.16:1249

"Observations of Eruptions" document cover.

“Observation of the Eruptions of July 22 and August 7, 1980, at Mount St. Helens, Washington.” ISLM I 19.16:1335

"Mount Saint Helen Hearings" pamphlet cover.

“Disaster Assistance Pacific Northwest – Mount Saint Helens Eruption, Fiscal Year 1980: Senate Hearings Before the Committee on Agriculture, 96th Congress, First Session.” ISLM Y 4.AP 6/2:D 63/7 1980 and “Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Area Act of 1982: Hearings … Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, 97th Congress, Second Session … Washington, D.C., March 12, 1982; Kelso, Wash., April 7, 1982.” ISLM Y 4.EN 2:97-93

Here are transcripts of additional hearings on the eruption of Mount St. Helens:

“Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Area: Joint Hearings … Committee on Agriculture … Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, House of Representatives … 97th Congress, Second Session … March 11, 1982, Washington D.C.; April 3, 1982, Vancouver, Wash.” ISLM Y 4.AG 8/1:97-III

“Recovery of Forest Resources from the Greater Yellowstone Wildfires, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, and the Mount St. Helens Eruption: Hearing … Committee on Agriculture, House of Representatives, 100th Congress, First Session, April 10, 1991.” ISLM Y 4.AG 8/1:102-8

“Mount St. Helens Impact: Hearing Before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, 96th Congress, Second Session … June 13, 1980.” ISLM Y 4.C 73/7:96-108

“Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Completion Act: Hearing … Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, 100th Congress, First Session … October 29, 1997.” ISLM Y 4.EN 2:9S. HRG. 105-377

Other historical societies and government agencies have online resources about the eruption:

Footage of the Mount St. Helens Eruption via the Smithsonian Channel

Mount St. Helens Erupts and USACE Responds
United States Army Corps of Engineers

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
United States Forest Service

The Volcanoes of Lewis and Clark: Mount St. Helens, Washington Summary United States Geological Survey

“What Was Lost: Reminiscences of the 1980 Eruption of Mount St. Helens”
by Sarah Stroman, Oregon Historical Society

“World of Change: Devastation and Recovery at Mt. St. Helens”
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

This blog post was written by Michele Fenton, monographs and federal documents catalog librarian.

Summer Lecture Series returns to State Library with programs on DNA, medical history and probate records

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The popular Summer Lecture Series will return to the Indiana State Library this year with programs on DNA, medical history and probate records. The presentations will take place on the second Saturday of June, July and August.

Decorative.On Saturday, June 13, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., the Indiana State Library will present “Unlock Your Family’s DNA Story,” a DNA workshop. Professional genealogist Angela Guntz will help attendees understand their DNA results, break through DNA mysteries and connect the dots in their family history. Sessions include “Understanding the DNA Testing Landscape,” “Solving Mystery Matches You Can’t Easily Place” and “Breaking Through Brick Walls: A DNA Case Study.” Click here to read more and to register.

On Saturday, July 11, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., author Chris Flook will present “A Famine of Cadavers: Inside Indy’s 1902 Graverobbing Syndicate.” Flook will examine a prolific graverobbing ring operating across central Indiana in the fall of 1902 when “ghouls” robbed graves for cadavers needed by the city’s medical colleges. Flook is a public historian from Muncie who has published books of public history, including “Ghost of Old Muncie” and “Lost Towns of Delaware County.” In 2016, he co-authored and edited “Beech Grove Cemetery Comes to Life.” Click here to read more and to register.

On Saturday, Aug. 8,  from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., John Barr, owner of Old Northwest Genealogy, will present “Combining Land and Probate Records to Get the Full Story.” Barr, an active member of the National Genealogical Society and the Association of Professional Genealogists, will explore a case study of the Hoffman family using probate records that led to land records citing unindexed probate records. He will also discuss types of probate indexes and records and types of deed indexes and deeds. Click here to read more and to register.

All sessions are eligible for LEUs for Indiana library staff. Registration is required for each program. An option to attend virtually is available for each program.

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

2026 Indiana Great Read youth and adult selections announced for National Book Festival

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The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress is a community of 56 Affiliated Centers existing to promote reading, libraries and literacy across the country. There is an Affiliate Center for the Book in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and Northern Marianas. These Centers elevate and advocate for each state’s unique literary heritage – developed by writers whose works reflect distinctively American places. Their stories, novels, essays, poems and other written works, rooted in the nation’s extraordinary diversity of people and geography, are often featured in the programs supported by the Affiliated Centers for the Book. These Centers engage, inspire and inform diverse audiences through author talks, web-based programs, podcasts, videos, writing challenges for young people, book festivals and other events designed to advance appreciation of the written word.

Decorative National Book Festival logo. 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 (ICB) 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 storytime, 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.

Each year, the Affiliated Centers for the Book participate in the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. 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. Annually, these Affiliated Centers for the Book select Great Reads from Great Places. 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 and/or celebrate local culture and heritage. In addition, this year, in honor of America’s 250th 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.

The Indiana Affiliate Center for the Book is delighted to announce its Great Read titles for 2026! The Center has chosen “Imogene’s Last Stand” written by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter for the 2026 Great Read Youth Selection. This book fits perfectly with the America’s 250th Semiquincentennial. It highlights how young people, like Imogene, can make a difference in their communities as we read about Imogene fighting to preserve history and save the local historical society from demolition.

Imogene's Last Stand book cover. “The Last Adieu: Lafayette’s Triumphant Return, the Echoes of Revolution, and the Gratitude of the Republic” by Ryan L. Cole is the 2026 Great Read Adult Selection. This book also fits perfectly with the America’s 250th Semiquincentennial. 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.

The Last Adieu book cover.

The Great Read books are recognized each year at the National Book Festival. The Library of Congress will host the 2026 National Book Festival on Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Washington Convention Center. Check out the Library of Congress website for details.

The Indiana Affiliate Center for the Book invites Hoosiers to read “Imogene’s Last Stand” and “The Last Adieu,” available at your local library.

For more information, visit the Indiana Center for the Book website and check back for local “festivals near you” events this fall, right here in Indiana!

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

Indiana Voices at the Indiana State Library

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Did you know that the Indiana Talking Book and Braille Library produces audiobooks via Indiana Voices at the Indiana State Library?

Audiobook aficionados know that a storyteller’s voice can create tangible experiences. Narrating is not just the task of reading out loud, but the art of inviting others into the story. For patrons of the Indiana Voices program of the Indiana State Library’s Talking Book and Braille Library, volunteer narrators do just that.

Together with Indiana State Library staff, volunteers bring Hoosier words and voices to people who cannot use standard printed materials due to a visual, physical or reading disabilities, and live in the state of Indiana or across the country. Cozy mysteries, local history, true crime, authors from Indiana and more are recorded in the program, but what goes into the process of recording an audiobook?

Picture of recording studio. Narrators begin work on their titles outside of the studio, reading ahead for thorny sentences and unfamiliar pronunciations. Once they are confident in their preparation, they arrive at the downtown Indianapolis studio to narrate for an hour. A monitor outside the booth follows along in the text to catch mistakes and alert the narrator.

It may take months to finish a title, but when the back cover is eventually closed, the audiobook is sent to a volunteer reviewer for a final examination. Reviews are tasked with finding any error that the monitor may have missed. Corrections are recorded, mistakes are edited out and the finished book is made available to Talking Books and Braille Library patrons.

Reading out loud may sound easy, but each title represents up to four times as many behind-the-scenes hours as the total runtime of the audiobook. It takes dedication to bring an author’s words to life!

In 2026, Indiana Voices has already completed six books:

  • “Bird Girl: Gene Stratton-Porter Shares Her Love of Nature and the World”  By Jill Esbaum. Juvenile nonfiction, biography, nature – DBC17873
  • “The Lucky One” by Lori Rader–Day. Fiction, suspense, thriller –  DBC17842
  • “I’ll Storm Hell: A Biographical Novel of ‘Mad Anthony’ Wayne” by Noel B. Gerson.  Historical fiction, Revolutionary War, war stories – DBC17823
  • “Oliver P. Morton and the Politics of the Civil War and Reconstruction” by A. James Fuller. Biography, Civil War history, war nonfiction, U.S. history – DBC17822
  • “The Improbable Wendell Willkie: the Businessman who Saved the Republican Party and his Country and Conceived a New World Order” by David L Lewis. Biography, U.S. history, presidential candidates – DBC17820
  • “Tales from the Indianapolis 500: A Collection of the Greatest Indy 500 Stories Ever Told” by Jack Arute and Jenna Fryer, forward by A.J. Foyt. Biography, sports biography, automobile racing – DBC17874

Picture of log sheet.

Volunteers are needed to do all of these task. Opportunities are open to join the work of providing Indiana-related titles to audiobook readers. Indiana is made up of many individual voices, representing different Hoosier communities, identities and experiences, all of which contribute to authentic interpretations of Indiana books. Volunteers from all the different communities and cultures in the state of Indiana are invited to apply. Volunteers are expected to work at least one hour every other week.

For those interested in learning more about volunteering with Indiana Voices as a narrator, monitor or as a reviewer, please visit the Indiana Voices website or contact Judy Gray, Indiana Talking Books and Braille Library supervisor, via phone at 317-232-0609 or via email.

Patrons interested in receiving audiobook materials from Indiana Voices should contact the Indiana State Library’s Talking Book and Braille Library at 317-232-3684.

This blog post was written by Judy Gray, Indiana Talking Books and Braille Library supervisor.

‘The Lost Photographs of Osbert Sumner’ now at the Indiana State Library

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Steven J. Schmidt and Danita L. Davis have generously donated two copies of their latest book, “The Lost Photographs of Osbert Sumner 1898-1903, Irvington Historical Society Edition,” to the Indiana State Library’s Indiana collection. The book chronicles an extraordinary discovery made in an Irvington home: a box filled with old glass negatives. Many of the negatives were damaged, but a handful remained intact, just enough to begin unraveling the mystery of who took the photographs, and what stories they captured.

Book cover in black and white showing man sitting down. In addition to presenting the recovered photographs, the book explores the life of Osbert Sumner, the man behind the lens. Readers will learn about the camera he used, and some of his family history.

You can now explore the results of this fascinating exploration in the Indiana State Library’s collection.

This blog post was submitted by Michelle Frost, collections and outreach manager at the Indiana State Library.

The great San Francisco earthquake of 1906

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April 18, 2026, will be the 120th anniversary of the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906. The earthquake began on the morning of April 18, 1906, at 5:12 a.m. Pacific Time. It is estimated that the magnitude of the earthquake was between 7.9 and 8.25. Over three days, the city and surrounding areas experienced several fires and aftershocks. San Francisco, the epicenter of the earthquake, sustained the most damaged. An estimated 3,000 people lost their lives in the earthquake.

The U.S. Army sent around 4,000 troops to assist local authorities with evacuation, debris removal and to stop riots and looting. The Army also helped build temporary shelters for people whose homes had been destroyed in the earthquake. Funds for disaster relief and reconstruction were approved by the U.S. Congress. It took over nine years for San Francisco to be rebuilt.

A centennial celebration was held in 2006. Among the attendees were several survivors of the earthquake, the oldest survivor being 113.

The Indiana State Library has several resources in its collection about the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906:

Inside of book reading "The San Francisco Earthquake."

“The San Francisco Earthquake” by Gordon Thomas and Max Morgan Witts. ISLM F869.S3 T44.

Inside of book showing map of San Francisco.

“The Great Earthquake and Fire: San Francisco, 1906” by John Castillo Kennedy. ISLM F869.S3 K4.

Inside of book reading "The San Francisco Relief Survey."

“San Francisco Relief Survey: The Organization and Methods of Relief Use After the Earthquake and Fire of April 18, 1906” by The Russell Sage Foundation. ISLM 361 O15s.

Book cover reading "Facing the Great Disaster."

“Facing the Great Disaster: How the Men and Women of the U.S. Geological Survey Responded to the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake,” by Elizabeth M. Colvard and James Rogers ISLM I 19.174:3 Online access only.

Book cover reading "The Art of War: A Legacy of Ashes: The US Army and the Destruction of San Francisco."

“A Legacy of Ashes: The U.S. Army and the Destruction of San Francisco” by Erik C. Alfsen. ISLM D 110.18:SA 5. Online access only.

In addition to the titles listed above, the Indiana State Library has transcripts of hearings held by the United States Congress regarding the earthquake. Here are a few:

“Relief for San Francisco: Message from the President of the United States.” Report from Secretary of War William Howard Taft submitted by President Theodore Roosevelt to the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. ISLM p.d. 328 I9t, vol. 49, no. 714.

“Government Buildings Damaged in San Francisco, etc. Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury.” Secretary of the Treasury Leslie Mortier Shaw’s report to the U.S. House of Representatives. ISLM p.d. 328 I9t, vol. 50, no. 778.

“Government Buildings Damaged in San Francisco, etc. Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury.” Secretary of the Treasury Leslie Mortier Shaw’s report to the U.S. Senate. ISLM p.d. 328 I9s, vol. 7, no. 433.

Other scientific and government agencies also have resources about the earthquake:

California Academy of Science.
Library of Congress – Chronicling America.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
National Archives.
National Parks Service.
United States Geological Survey.
University of California-Berkley Seismology Laboratory.

This blog post was written by Michele Fenton, monographs and federal documents catalog librarian.

Public library audits in Indiana

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Like other public entities (such as townships and schools), Indiana public libraries are subject to regular financial audits, typically every three to five years. During the audit examination process, the Indiana State Board of Accounts (SBOA) applies a prescribed process where an auditor works in conjunction with the library’s director, treasurer and bookkeeper (if applicable) to review the library’s financial records and practices.

In the past, auditors would physically visit the public library and sift through paper and electronic physical records, which could take weeks. In recent years, the State Board of Accounts has been able to harness available reporting technology to complete part of the audit remotely using information the library has already reported via the Indiana Gateway for Government Units. If reports have been submitted correctly and regularly, this can greatly reduce the time needed for an audit.

Decorative clipart graphic showing people performing an audit. As legislation and SBOA procedures are updated, financial best practices and audit requirements can also change over the years. Recent changes within the past decade involve a requirement that libraries must have internal controls in place. Internal controls are a set of rules and procedures involved in money handling. Some controls are specified by SBOA and others are set locally, based on the library’s staffing and cash handling model. All staff who handle money, from desk staff who collect fines and copier coins, to the library’s director who handles the library’s banking and budget, are required to complete training and follow their library’s procedures to prevent any instances of fraud or misappropriation.

Another recent change is that Indiana libraries are required to track all capital assets – items the library owns that meet a certain cost threshold. These may include land and structures possessed by the library, equipment or vehicles (like bookmobiles). Even the books in a library’s collection, as a total, are considered a capital asset, and when completing the annual financial report, a library is responsible for estimating the value of their collection as a whole and any depreciation or additions that may have occurred within the previous year. The purpose of reporting on capital assets is to make sure these most costly things are examined and reported annually.

At the completion of an audit, libraries receive a written report either confirming there were no exceptions found (a “clean” audit), or a report listing any exceptions (issues) that need to be addressed. Libraries have a chance to provide a written response explaining any issues or any corrective actions already taken. Subsequent audits will monitor for any previous exceptions. Copies of audits are also sent to the Indiana State Library’s Library Development Office for review. Most audits contain no issues or only a few minor exceptions, but this audit process has occasionally uncovered cases of fraud and mismanagement of public funds which were followed up on accordingly.

A library is responsible for the cost of their own audit. Libraries are assessed an hourly rate and the amount billed by SBOA is deducted from a future tax draw (as approximately 90% of Indiana public library funding comes directly from taxes). Good recordkeeping and reporting can help reduce the time spent and amount assessed for the audit, but some libraries are structurally more complex than others depending on number of locations, staff, complexity of their funds accounting, financials, etc. Additionally, some libraries have disputed that their audit process was inordinately lengthy or complex despite their best efforts.

All library audits are a public record and most recent audits may be viewed on the State Board of Accounts website.

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