Tag Archives: Library

Two new training opportunities for Indiana library staff and trustees

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Two new professional development training opportunities have been added to the Indiana State Library’s Find Training page.

LiFT – Library Foundational Training

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LiFT courses were created to address the training needs of predominantly non-degreed library staff who are new to their current position, or new to working in libraries. Through a 2024 IMLS grant – and a partnership with the Idaho Commission for Public Libraries – WebJunction’s foundational ABLE and SABLE courses have been reimagined into these new courses:

  • “Public Library Fundamentals.”
  • “Introduction to the Library Catalog.”
  • “The Reference Interview.”

The Collection Management Series:

  • “Introduction to Library Collections.”
  • “Introduction to Collection Policies.
  • “Selection and Acquisitions”.
  • “Organizing and Maintaining a Collection.”
  • “Collection Assessment.”
  • “Weeding the Collection.”

The courses are geared toward non-MLS staff and would be great refreshers for all library staff. They are all one hour and worth one LEU for Indiana library staff. These courses build core library skills and would be great for onboarding new staff or advancing skills for current library staff. Once a course is completed, a short quiz must be taken in order to receive the learning certificate. Attendees need to get 80% correct to pass, and then the certificate can be printed or saved. They also provide badges that you can add to LinkedIn profiles for achieved skills.

United for Libraries – Short Takes for Trustees

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The Indiana Library Federation, through a grant from the Herbert Simon Family Foundation, has provided free statewide access to the American Library Association’s United for Libraries Short Takes for Trustees training series. Indiana is a current statewide training partner, and free statewide access is available to Indiana trustees and library staff through 2027.

The training includes quick, professionally produced videos designed to help trustees better understand their role.

To access the videos, visit the United for Libraries state access page, select Indiana and then select either “Register” or “Access” (individuals will need to register for an ALA account if they do not already have one).

Some topics in the Short Takes series include:

  • What it means to be a trustee.
  • Board meetings and ethics.
  • Advocacy and communications.
  • Intellectual freedom.
  • Library policies.
  • Strategic planning.
  • Working with friends.
  • Evaluation of the library director and board.
  • Succession planning and new board orientations.

A certificate worth two LEUs is available after the completion of the series.

This post was written by North regional coordinator Paula Newcom of the Indiana State Library Professional Development Office.

2025 Indiana State Library end-of-year reflection

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As we close out the Indiana State Library’s Bicentennial year, a huge thank you goes to all our hard working staff, not only for their persistent diligence and dedication throughout the year, without which our programs and services would not be as successful, but also for their extra effort on our Bicentennial projects and events.

We went about our regular business of Vision Expo, Discovery to Delivery, the Different is You conference, DNA workshops, Genealogy for Night Owls, Evergreen Indiana library migrations and updates (and everything that goes along with those), summer lecture and lunch and learn series, web archiving born digital state publications, digitizing and uploading collections to the Indiana State Library Digital Collections, assisting other libraries with creating their own collections hosted by the Indiana State Library, etc. In addition to that, we celebrated the Indiana State Library’s Bicentennial with multiple programs and even a publication!

As part of our Bicentennial festivities, the library published “Laying the Foundation,” a book showcasing 100 items from the library’s vast and remarkable collection. The items featured cover a wide array of topics and span centuries.

Picture of Laying the Foundation book. In addition to the publication that the library’s staff worked on, the Indiana State Library also hosted a Bicentennial reception on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 200 years to the day that the General Assembly established the Indiana State Library. The reception was a celebratory reflection on the collections, history and services of the Indiana State Library. A festive occasion was held with refreshments, music by a string duet from the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, tours of the library, exhibit displays and a talk by Lisa Hendrickson, the granddaughter of Edward Pierre of Pierre and Wright, the architects of the Indiana State Library and Historical Building.

Picture of Bicentennial celebration attendees in Great Hall of Indiana State Library. Several other Bicentennial programs were held, including escape rooms and trivia games during the lunch hour; a “Ghostly Gathering” that, along with fun stuff for the kids, also provided a chilling peek at spooky and creepy items from our collections; and a Bicentennial Lunch and Learn followed by a marker dedication. Capping off a year of programming related to the Bicentennial, the library held a marker dedication, dedicating a new state historical marker commemorating the Indiana State Library.

Picture of historical marker outside of Indiana State Library. While these are only a sprinkling and highlights from a year full of programs and services well-done, the staff at the Indiana State Library pulled together to ensure the year of the library’s Bicentennial was both commemorated and would be remembered as we celebrated 200 years in 2025. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication!

This blog post was written by Stephanie Asberry, deputy director of public and statewide services at the Indiana State Library.

2025 Indiana Library Federation Annual Conference recap

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The Indiana Library Federation (ILF) Annual Conference was held Nov. 9-11, 2025 at Union Station in Indianapolis. ILF is the statewide nonprofit organization serving all library types: academic, public, school, special and library supporters/trustees. ILF provides educational opportunities for library staff and trustees year-round with the annual conference being their premier event.

Two exhibitor booths at a conference.The theme of the 2025 conference was “On Track for the Future of Libraries.” This theme correlated with both the conference location (a former train station with active tracks occasionally rumbling throughout the day) and the 2025 legislative session, which resulted in changes to property taxes in Indiana (taxes which comprise approximately 90% of public library budgets) and a reduction of the Indiana State Library’s agency budget.

Decorative. While there were captivating keynotes and many general educational sessions, including readers advisory and staff safety, there were a number of sessions geared toward library directors and trustees to help them understand the potential effects of SEA 1 and other legislative updates on their future library budgets.

A Q&A with legislators was held which included Senator Greg Goode (Terre Haute) and Representative Danny Lopez (Carmel). Both shared their personal interest in library matters and provided recommendations for library staff in fostering relationships with their representatives and local government, a strategy that will be more necessary as public libraries fight to keep their piece of the local property tax pie.

Additional sessions were held including budgeting in uncertain times and legislative changes to municipal bonds.

Indiana State Library staff also presented sessions at the conference. Public library consultant Hayley Trefun presented “Teamwork makes the Dreamwork,” which covered the topic of library mergers, along with Liz Schoettle (Indianapolis Public Library) and Fonda Owens (La Porte County Public Library). Suzanne Walker, in the interim of her transition to the Library of Congress, presented tips and tricks for borrowing and using the ISL’S Escape Experiences in a box. Additionally, Meg Adams Pool and former ISL regional consultant Lacey Klemm provided an early morning session on “Facilitating Positive Conversations,” which was well attended for it’s 8 a.m. start time.

Despite the impending budget changes that will affect the future of libraries, the conference was an excellent opportunity to convene library champions statewide and to learn from each other.

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

Interning and volunteering in the Rare Books and Manuscript Department at the Indiana State Library

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Hello! My name is Shannon! I’m a volunteer at the Rare Books and Manuscript Department at the Indiana State Library. I got my start here as an intern as part of my final semester for my Archives Management Certification program through IU Indianapolis. I interned from January to May 2025 and came back to volunteer starting in June 2025. My background is in public libraries; I earned my Master’s in Library Science from IUPUI in 2016 and currently work as a teen-focused public librarian at The Indianapolis Public Library’s Central Library. I decided to make a career change and was drawn toward archival work.

By choosing to do an internship, I gained a general working knowledge of what it was like in an archives setting compared to the public library. One of the biggest differences between the two was how materials were processed. Therefore, my internship focused mainly on archival processing, specifically writing finding aids, the majority of which were single-item collections. Other work included digitizing photographs and creating metadata in CONTENTdm, as well as arranging and describing one large, complex collection.

With the bulk of my work writing single-item finding aids, I was able to understand how to evaluate and summarize research succinctly, gaining an understanding on how to budget my time per collection. My tasks included mainly drafting the scope and content notes, the historical/biographical notes, and the subject headings for each finding aid. I worked exclusively in Archives Space (my coursework had us working in Access to Memory or AtoM) which gave me the opportunity to familiarize myself with the application’s ins and outs.

Black card with gold text. Paper reading "Ballad of Gene Debs."

I also got to learn about digitization, with a focus on scanning photographs of Indianapolis streets taken during the earlier decades of the 20th century. Once digitized, I wrote metadata and descriptions for each photo in CONTENTdm. These photos could then be found online as part of the Rare Books and Manuscript Department’s general photograph collection. Another digitization project included digitizing photos from the Berne Witness Newspaper as part of a donor request. One of the key takeaways I learned from this work was how much labor and time go into digitization. As a result, I learned the importance of tempering patron expectations when it came to digitization, making sure to address what is and isn’t feasible with the staff you have on hand.

Scanner with photo in it. Photo of girls riding bike on bridge.

Lastly, I got to tackle one large collection: the Edythe Fitzhugh papers. Edythe Fitzhugh had been a huge supporter of the local Indianapolis jazz scene. She played multiple instruments, edited the Indy Jazz Scene newsletter, served as the Secretary of the Board for the Jazz Action Coalition and was a regular patron to many jazz clubs on Indiana Avenue. The collection was about five cubic feet and included a complex array of items including personal documents, family photographs, jazz periodicals, sheet music, songbooks, artwork and miscellaneous jazz ephemera. My work included sorting, foldering and arranging the collections, making notes of any items deaccessioned. Once arranged, I created the finding aid in Archives Space. I learned a lot about balancing the intellectual arrangement of the collection with the limited space and supplies available to me. While my work on the collection wasn’t finished by the end of my internship, when I came back to volunteer, I had the opportunity to complete the finding aid and get the collection boxes properly labeled to ensure accessibility to patrons.

Photo of books. Photo of books.

Now, as a volunteer, my archival processing work continues, but I have also had the opportunity to tackle other areas. For example, I have had the chance to handle more patron reference questions. This has included pulling materials for patron requests, scanning documents, and running the reference desk when patrons book an appointment to view a collection. I am also helping to take inventory of the oral history collection in preparation for a large digitization project. I’m excited to see what new projects I get to tackle in the New Year! I also want to thank everyone I have met and worked with in the Rare Books and Manuscript Department, the Indiana Historical Bureau and the State Library for making me feel so welcomed!

This post was submitted by Shannon O’Donnell, intern at the Indiana State Library. 

Food for thought: Recipes from the Indiana State Library’s federal documents collection – Part I

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When you think of government documents, do hearings, laws, history and maps come to mind?

Cookbook cover featuring salmon dishes. Cookbook cover featuring a radio.Cookbook cover with text.

Did you know that government documents include cookbooks, recipes, meal plans and tips on growing fruits and vegetables in your own garden?

Cookbook cover featuring jars. Cookbook cover featuring pasta and salad. Shopper's Coat publication from the USDA.

Also, did you know that the federal government even had a cooking show broadcasted via radio in the 1930s?

Pamphlet featuring tomato. Pamphlet featuring money saving main dishes. Pamphlet featuring potatoes.

In addition, they even published a document about a shopping coat and where to order patterns to make one of your own!

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

Updated 2025 database collection now available on INSPIRE

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Beginning Friday, Aug. 1, a new resource package from EBSCO is available via the Indiana State Library’s INSPIRE website. The suite includes essential information covering career development, business, psychology, history, religion and more. The following EBSCO databases are now available:

INSPIRE logo with text "Lifelong Learning Library for Hoosiers."Academic Search Elite includes 1,329 active full-text journals and magazines covering the social sciences, humanities, general science, multi-cultural studies, education and more. It also includes 60,000 videos from the Associated Press.

Business Source Elite offers 492 active full-text journals and magazines covering business, management, economics, banking, finance and accounting. It includes Harvard Business Review, Academy of Management Journal, MIS Quarterly, Forbes and others.

Consumer Health Complete provides 274 active full-text journals and magazines, plus more than 330 animations with audio narration and 3,746 health reports.

Consumer Health Reference eBook Collection delivers 481 e-books covering diseases, weight management and exercise, allergies, senior care, social emotional health and more.

ERIC contains 1,900,000 records, covering education literature and resources. It includes 590,000 links to full-text documents.

Health Source: Consumer Edition provides access to 68 full-text consumer health magazines and reference materials covering fitness, nutrition, diabetes, aging and more.

Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition delivers 167 active full-text journals and magazines covering pediatric nursing, critical care, nursing management, medical law and more.

Job &Career Accelerator gives job seekers tools, including resume builders, interviewing tips, career advice and more.

LearningExpress Library Complete includes academic skill-building, test prep for entrance exams, military, U.S. citizenship and more.

MAS Ultra was designed for high school libraries and contains 459 full-text magazines covering history, science, health and more. It includes more than 55,000 full-text primary source documents, plus videos from the Associated Press.

MasterFILE Elite was designed for public libraries and contains 929 full-text magazines and journals, plus reference books and images covering business, health, general science and multicultural issues.

MasterFILE Premier Reference eBook Subscription contains 500 reference books encompassing a rich selection of titles covering architecture, literature, cooking, health and wellness, science, self-help, religion, current events, sports, travel and more.

Middle Search Plus was designed for middle schools and provides 176 popular full-text magazines plus thousands of primary source documents and videos. Subjects include history, current events, science and sports.

Middle Search Reference eBook Subscription delivers 320 full-text e-books and reference books from leading educational publishers. Topics include social studies, math, history, language arts, technology, geography, culture and science.

Military & Government Collection offers 289 full-text journals and periodicals pertaining to all branches of the military and government. It is designed to offer current news to military members, analysts, policy makers, students and researchers.

Newspaper Source provides cover-to-cover full text for 522 national (U.S.), international and regional newspapers. In addition, it offers television and radio news transcripts from major networks.

Primary Search is designed for elementary school libraries. It includes full text for 103 of the most popular children’s magazines, e-books and easy-to-read encyclopedic entries.

Primary Search Reference eBook Subscription includes reference e-books from top children’s publishers including Cricket Media, Sleeping Bear Press and more.

Professional Development Collection delivers 451 full-text journals with information specifically for educators, professional librarians and education researchers.

Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection contains 315 active full-text journals and magazines for psychologists, counselors, researchers and students. It offers particularly strong coverage in child and adolescent psychology and counseling.

Religion & Philosophy Collection provides 134 active full-text journals and magazines covering world religions, religious history and political philosophy.

While some EBSCO databases – like Rosetta Stone and the Film and Television Literature Index – will no longer be available, INSPIRE will still provide access to TeachingBooks for libraries and schools. Additionally, the INSPIRE interface will continue to connect learners to resources like Newspapers.com, Hoosier State Chronicles, Indiana Memory and Indiana Legacy.

This blog post was submitted by the Indiana State Library administrative team. 

Marquis de Lafayette

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In recalling early American history, we are accustomed to remembering the founding fathers, battles of the Revolutionary War, Native American removal or the beginning of the fight for women’s suffrage.

Are you aware, however, of an early bond between the United States and the country of France, by way of Marquis de Lafayette, otherwise named Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier de La Fayette? This French courtier sought glory as a soldier, was a friend to the first U.S. President and inspired support for our new country.

Display case showing various Marquis de Lafayette items.

Marquis de Lafayette display on the second floor of the Indiana State Library.

After losing his father in the French and Indian War, Lafayette was very young, 13, when he decided to join the King’s Musketeers (Mousquetaires due roi) in his home country. The group is described as “an elite troop at the heart of power” in a 2023 thesis, “Les Mousquetaires due Roi,” by Julien Wilmart. Lafayette was officially accepted in 1771 and attended military training at Versailles, just one year after he inherited an immense fortune due to the death of his relatives.

These circumstances set into motion a tremendous push by one man to brave against the British on the side of the United States. The American Friends of Lafayette have created a timeline here about key events in his life.

I’d like to share the Government Information resources you can view online or in various institutions across the United States and France about Lafayette. These resources hold details of his relationship with the United States, his dedication to the cause of the American Revolution and the parallel history we share with the French Revolution.

The Palace at Versailles presents a brief biography online about him here.

The Library of Congress has several items showing his history, starting with A complete history of the Marquis de Lafayette published in 1826. It also holds a collection of Marquis de Lafayette papers, 1757-1990 in its Manuscript Division.

The National Archives makes available transcripts of original letters from John Adams to Lafayette, 3 February 1778, to Benjamin Franklin in 1779, from Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 16 June 1792, and many letters from George Washington from various collections. The Archives even capture statistics of the wounded and killed at Yorktown sent to Lafayette by Alexander Hamilton in 1781. The National Park Service details his experience at Yorktown here.

The Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia entry on Marquis de Lafayette explains in detail Lafayette’s impact on both the U.S. and French Revolutions.

A key player in the French Revolution, Lafayette was imprisoned by the Austrian and Prussian governments, and wrote letters while in exile. These are available at the National Library of France (BnF) here: Lettres de prison et d’exil .

Not only did Lafayette establish himself as a friend of the Revolution and fight for the United States; he was invited by President James Monroe to return for a Farewell Tour in 1824-1825, where he made one stop in Indiana – at Jeffersonville, on May 12, 1825. The American Friends of Lafayette sponsored a bicentennial commemoration of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour in 2024-2025, featuring stops in the 24 states he visited then. View a map of his stops here.

Lafayette’s original accounts of the tour are available at the National Library of France (BnF) here Voyage du général aux Etats-Unis d’Amérique, 1824-1825.

A beautiful display on Marquis de Lafayette is now viewable on the second floor of the Indiana State Library, installed by Roxanna O’Bryant. Please come for a visit! For more details about the bicentennial commemoration of Lafayette’s Farewell tour of the United States, stay tuned for our Dec. 11 blog post.

This blog post was written by Katie Springer, reference librarian and director of the Indiana State Data Center. For more information, contact the Reference and Government Services Division at 317-232-3678, or submit an Ask-A-Librarian request.

Understanding the role of librarians in legal information services

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Each day, patrons visit the library seeking guidance on a wide range of topics, including legal matters. Whether it’s locating a rental agreement form, understanding divorce proceedings or researching local ordinances, public libraries are often the first stop for individuals facing legal challenges.

Given that libraries have a longstanding reputation as a trusted source of information, it is only natural that members of the public turn to librarians for help in navigating the complex world of law. However, while librarians are well-equipped to assist with legal research and information access, there are strict ethical and legal boundaries that govern how far that assistance can go.

Close up of law books. It is helpful for patrons to understand what librarians can and cannot do in terms of legal reference assistance in the library in order to minimize frustration and maximize a positive outcome. While librarians are not attorneys and do not offer legal advice, they can provide a wide range of support within the scope of their professional role. Librarians can help patrons locate relevant laws, regulations, ordinances and court opinions. Whether its federal, state or local law, librarians can direct users to authoritative sources, both in print and online. Library staff can also demonstrate how to use legal research tools such as Westlaw and Lexus Nexus, as well as secondary sources like legal encyclopedias and self-help guides. Some of these resources require subscriptions so the resources available could be limited based on what databases or services the library pays for. Librarians can point patrons to trusted sources of free information including legal aid websites, government portals and non-commercial databases that provide reliable up to date content. This is particularly important in an era where misinformation is easily encountered online. Libraries sometimes even collaborate with legal aid organizations and community partners to host clinics, workshops and informational events. Librarians can inform patrons about upcoming programs, eligibility requirements and how to schedule appointments with qualified legal professionals.

While library staff play an important role in facilitating access to legal information, there are clear ethical and legal limits designed to protect both the patron and the librarian. These restrictions are in place to prevent the unauthorized practice of law. Librarians are not authorized to analyze how a particular law may apply to an individual specific situation. They can provide access to legal texts but they cannot offer interpretations or recommended courses of action. While librarians may assist patrons in locating the appropriate legal forms they patron may need, the librarian cannot help the patron complete the form or provide suggestions about what to include in any particular section. Doing so would constitute legal advice. If a patron asks if they should “plead guilty,” “file a motion” or “appeal a case,” these types of questions fall squarely within the realm of legal advocacy and must be directed to a licensed attorney.

Patrons need to understand that the limitations placed on librarians are not a reflection of unwillingness to help but are grounded in the professional and legal standards that protect all parties. Librarians are trained to provide neutral and objective assistance. By observing the boundary between legal information and legal advice, librarians ensure that patrons are not misled or inadvertently harmed by well-meaning but unauthorized guidance. Maintaining these boundaries also upholds the library’s reputation as a trustworthy and unbiased institution. When legal issues arise, patrons can rely on the library as a starting point for research and resource navigation and they can be confident that any further recommendations will be directed to qualified professionals. The law can be intimidating for individuals who are unfamiliar with legal systems, terminology and procedures. Libraries help lower the barrier to legal access by offering free resources, research support and community connections.

This blog post was written by Sylvia Watson, library law consultant and legal counsel, Indiana State Library.

Vision Expo returning to the Indiana State Library

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On Saturday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., the Indiana Talking Book and Braille Library will present Vision Expo, an event that provides resources and information for individuals with vision loss, families of individuals with vision loss and service providers. This year, many returning, as well as several new vendors and organizations, will be available for attendees to meet.

Vision Expo 2025 logo.A new addition to this year’s event is the game room. The room will be set up so participants of Vision Expo will be able to play some of the new accessible games that the Talking Book and Braille Library now has in its collection. These games include braille-adapted versions of Monopoly, Scrabble and Uno, in addition to large print and braille playing cards. Soon after Vision Expo, these games will be available for library patrons.

Presentation in a meeting room. Vision Expo takes place every other year at the Indiana State Library. Founded in 2006 by former Talking Book librarian Carole Rose, Vision Expo was designed to connect interested consumers with the resources available to support and promote independent living for individuals experiencing vision loss. In 2023, the event had more than 150 participants.

The Indiana State Library is located at 315 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis. Attendees may also enter via the Senate Avenue door on the east side of the building. There is no registration required for this free event.

Please visit the Indiana Talking Book and Braille Library website for updates about Vision Expo as they becomes available, including information about speakers, vendors and exhibitors.

This post was submitted by Indiana Talking Book and Braille Library staff. 

2025 Public Library Budget Workshop recap

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On Thursday, May 29, the Indiana State Library hosted the 2025 Public Library Budget Workshop. This workshop, primarily for an audience of public library directors, bookkeepers, treasurers and trustees, focuses on helping public libraries get ready for the budget planning season for the next fiscal year. We bring together the Department of Local Government Finance and the State Board of Accounts to help guide libraries through this process and any changes that may be coming. This year we were also joined by special guest Sandy Petrie, director of the Noble County Public Library.

The morning started with a presentation by Ryan Burke, assistant budget director of the Department of Local Government Finance. Burke highlighted DLGF’s webinar on new legislation that would be coming up, important dates coming up on the budget calendar, as well as resources on the DLGF website. He reminded libraries of their maximum budget for non-binding review and the process of binding review by fiscal body resolution. Finally, he gave a sneak peak of what they are calling Budget 2.0 – a streamlined and improved application for submitting budget forms in Gateway that is scheduled to launch in 2026 and is already intriguing many of the folks that attended that day.

The afternoon began with a presentation by Beth Goss and Mitch Wilson, government technical assistance and compliance directors at the State Board of Accounts. They touched on new legislation that impacts public libraries, including increased thresholds for local public works projects, changes in retainage requirements for public works projects over $200,000, additional instances where executive sessions may be held by the board and changes for the receipt of FIT and CVET distributions. SBOA reminded libraries that Gateway is not intended for document storage, so to make sure they had copies of their documents as they will be removing some of the older files on Gateway. There was a spirited discussion on accounts payable and receivable, electronic payments and the disbursal of funds.

Following SBOA’s presentation, Noble County Public Library director Sandy Petrie spoke about the importance of understanding cash flow and shared the method and spreadsheet she uses to keep track of expenses and revenue. The day was finished with announcements from Jennifer Clifton, Library Development Office director at the Indiana State Library.

This post was written by Hayley Trefun, public library consultant, Library Development Office, Indiana State Library.