Tag Archives: 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.

The Indiana Fever at the State Library

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May in Indiana has always revolved around the Indianapolis 500 and car racing. However, it also marks the beginning of the Women’s National Basketball Association season, and with the Indiana Fever becoming one of the most popular sports teams in the nation, the drivers in Speedway are sharing the spotlight with the women playing in downtown Indianapolis at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Founded in 1999, the Indiana Fever became the state’s first professional female basketball team. The team’s inaugural season was 2000, only three years after the founding of the WNBA. In the following 25 years, the Fever made the playoffs 14 times, winning three Eastern Conference championships and one WNBA championship in 2012.

Foldable pocket schedule from the inaugural 2000 season (ISLO 796.32 no. 12).

Indiana has always had a strong affiliation with the game of basketball and the name Fever is a reference to the perceived mania people in Indiana feel about the sport.

One of the first stand-out players on the team was Tamika Catchings. After an illustrious career at the University of Tennessee, Catchings was drafted by the Fever in 2001. During her tenure in Indiana, which lasted until 2016, she amassed a championship and multiple WBNA awards and is the only player to have her jersey number retired.

Children’s book written by Catchings (ISLI 927 C357d).

The WNBA’s popularity slowly increased and by 2023, attendance and viewership were up. In that year, the Fever drafted Aliyah Boston from the University of South Carolina and she would go on to win the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year award.

Aliyah Boston and Damris Dantas on the cover of the Fever’s game program (ISLO 796.32 no. 16).

The following year, in 2024, the Fever drafted Caitlin Clark from the University of Iowa. An extremely popular player in college, Clark’s addition to the team caused its growing fanbase to explode. After a slow start, the Fever finished the season 20-20 but still managed to make the playoffs after an eight year post-season drought. Like her teammate Boston the year before, Clark won the Rookie of the Year Award.

Children’s book about Caitlin Clark. ([IYRC] ISLI 927 C592d).

Going into the 2025 season, the Fever have completely revamped their roster around their young stars and have taken on a new coach, Indiana native and Purdue alum Stephanie White. Expectations for the team are high and opposing teams are moving their home games against the Fever to larger venues to accommodate the increased interest in watching the Fever play.

Fortunately, there is no scheduling conflict between the Fever and the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 25.

The Indiana State Library strives to collect materials on all Indiana sports teams, both current and from the far past. To discover more, please visit our catalog.

This blog post was written by Jocelyn Lewis, Catalog Division supervisor, Indiana State Library. For more information, contact the Indiana State Library at 317-232-3678 or “Ask-A-Librarian.”

My journey with therapy dogs

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I have been involved in library therapy dog programs since 2007, when I became the head of the Children’s Department at the Crown Point Community Library. CPCL had an ongoing program called Read to the Dogs, and they partnered with a therapy dog group in Lake County called “Power Paws for Kids.” Certified and trained dogs would come to the library and children would pick out a book and “read to a dog.” Dogs are excellent listeners and provide a safe, non-judgmental environment for kids to practice their reading skills. Children don’t feel pressure to read to a dog because the dog won’t judge them if they mispronounce a word or skip a page. From a large Bernese Mountain Dog to a small Chihuahua in a wheelchair, there was a dog for everyone. Most of the children would read but some just wanted to pet the therapy dogs. Others would come to each Read to the Dogs program because they had their favorite dog and wanted to visit them and give them a treat. I watched the group for a few years, and eventually thought my Yorkshire Terrier Gigi could do it.

I remember a person came to the library when the Read to the Dogs program was happening and said, “Cool, so I can bring my dog to the library and get it read to?” We had to explain, “No, the dogs needed to be trained and certified and the dogs were part of the therapy dog group.” There is a lot of training involved before a canine is ready to be in a therapy dog program. Gigi was the first dog that I trained. We went to puppy class, and we needed to retake it because I flunked. These classes are more about training the person. You need to be consistent with the commands you give your dog, and you need to have a lot of patience. It also takes time, and you need to put the time in when training your dog. I did not realize that at the time I was working with Gigi.

To get into the therapy dog group, one needs to pass the Canine Good Citizenship test. There are 10 skills needed, and the test completion needs to be signed off by an American Kennel Club-approved Canine Good Citizenship evaluator:

  • Accepting a friendly stranger.
  • Sitting politely for petting.
  • Appearance and grooming.
  • Walking on a loose leash.
  • Walking through a crowd.
  • Sit and down on cue/stay in place.
  • Coming when called.
  • Reaction to another dog.
  • Reaction to distractions.
  • Supervised separation.

I received extra help from a member of the dog training club. They worked with me one on one on the skills we were weak on. It wasn’t an easy process, as Gigi had trouble not pulling on her leash and she would pop up and not stay in place for the required three minutes. Gigi finally earned her Canine Good Citizenship title and membership in Power Paws for Kids in August 2013 and we were involved visiting many libraries, until we moved back to Grant County in 2014.

Grant County has a different therapy dog group called Love on a Leash. In Indiana, there are six chapters. The Heartland Chapter covers Grant and Miami Counties. Other areas in the state are Terre Haute, Columbus, Hamilton County, Indianapolis and Kokomo. I needed to go through the Love on a Leash evaluation process and discovered that the local Mississinewa Valley Obedience Training Club had an evaluator. Gigi and I took a few classes to brush up our skills. The Love on a Leash evaluation is very similar to the Canine Good Citizenship test but includes a few extra factors about your dog’s demeanor. Factors such as does your dog exhibit apparent aggression, or do they keep their composure if someone approaches in an erratic manner. We passed the Love on a Leash evaluation. Love on a Leash has an extra step that the Lake County group did not have. We needed to do 10 supervised visits with a Love on a Leash evaluator. These need to be completed within a year after you pass the Love on a Leash evaluation. After that, your completed paperwork is turned into the national Love on a Leash group as well as a membership fee.

Gigi and I would go to the Marion Public Library for their Read to the Dogs programs and to Indiana Wesleyan University before their finals at Christmas Break. I had a very heartwarming interaction with a college student at their “Dogs and Donuts” event. A student came up to me and I asked her if she wanted to hold Gigi. She nodded “yes” and she hugged Gigi close to her as tears streamed down her face. She said this was her first time away from home and she missed her dog. It’s hard to keep your composure in situations like those.

Sadly, Gigi passed away in 2021 and I really missed going to Love on a Leash events. Our other Yorkie, Ozzy, did not have the right demeanor to be a therapy dog. He is set in his ways and does not like others not “living in his pack.” I was now on the lookout for another dog who could possibly be a therapy dog. In April of 2023, my stepdaughter happened to see a puppy who was up for adoption. A 10-week-old Morkie – a Maltese/Yorkshire terrier mix – needed a home. I was out of town for my job when I saw a picture of the puppy and I immediately called about him. When I met him, I had a feeling that he might make a great therapy dog. He is so friendly, and he has such a happy look almost like he is smiling. We got him on the spot later that evening and changed his name to Rocky.

I knew that I wanted to get Rocky into training classes as soon as I could. Rocky needed to go through the proper vaccination schedule before he could take the Mississinewa Valley Obedience Training Club classes, which are seven weeks long. We started with the puppy class. We worked on walking on a leash and healing and sitting as well as the commands: leave it, stay and come. The next level is the basic level, where we learn more commands: sit stay, down stay, weave between other dogs, recall, stand and turns. After passing the basic class, we could become members of Mississinewa Valley Obedience Training Club. This lets you get the first pick on other classes that are given, and you get a discount. This got us prepared to take the Canine Good Citizenship class.

We passed the Canine Good Citizenship test and the Love on a Leash evaluation on the same night. This meant that we could start with the next task of doing the 10 supervised visits. I was able to get all 10 visits completed by going to a couple of libraries in Grant County, Taylor University and a retirement facility. The final step is to fill out the Love on a Leash paperwork. For each visit, the evaluators sign a form and comment on how you and your dog did. For example, “Do you have your dog under control?,” “Are you talking with the program participants?,” “Is your dog well-groomed and clean?,” and “How does your dog react to the other dogs?” One comment I got from an evaluator was “Rocky did well with the little girl with the beads in her hair.” I did not think about it when it happened, but Rocky did not flinch or try to bite at the beads. Those beads might be a trigger for other dogs to either be afraid of or to try to play with them.

Dogs in the therapy group need to be on their best behavior and be under control. They must show no aggression with people or other dogs and they must be fine with sudden movements or sounds. Rocky has been to the Lowe’s home improvement store many times and he has a fan club there. We take him for car rides. He has spent a lot of time with my young nieces and nephews. It is apparent that he loves adults and children. I’ve also tried to get him used to other sounds – like taking the trash can from the curb to our house. This helps him get used to sounds he might hear at a nursing home with wheelchairs.

Having a therapy dog is amazing on so many levels. With the school-age children, they get to practice their reading skills, and they get to learn about different dogs and how to treat them. College students need to de-stress during finals, or they need some comfort when they are far from home and missing their family and pets. At a nursing home, the residents may not have family close by and they really miss their pets. It took me a couple of years to get Rocky officially in the Love on a Leash group. It is such a joy to share Rocky with others and it is worth all the time, effort and training that is involved.

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

Links
https://www.powerpawsforkids.org/
https://www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen/
https://www.loveonaleash.org/

Borrow interactive kits from the Indiana State Library

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The Indiana State Library’s kit booking program has recently received a facelift. Librarians and teachers in Indiana can now book kits from the new online system powered by SpringShare.

While easy to use, two videos have been created to teach users how to interact with the new system. The quick version covers all the basics including navigating the system, booking different kinds of kits and learning how to use the availability grid. The longer version covers all that in more detail and includes booking limitations and deeper explanations. Additionally, an instructional webinar was offered on March 25. Click here to view the video.

The new system allows users to book kits from the Indiana Young Readers Center including Storytime kits, Lego & Duplo kits, Book Club kits and our new Indiana Escape Experience kits. The Indiana Young Readers Center kits can be booked out a year and a half in advance to accommodate future planning.

There are also a variety of kits available from the Professional Development Office, including NASA kits, Breakout Box kits and Tech kits. Kits from the Professional Development Office can be booked out a year in advance.

Both teachers and librarians in Indiana are welcome to use this system, however it is essential that teachers work closely with their public libraries to book their kit as all kits are delivered through the Indiana State Library’s InfoExpress courier service for Indiana libraries.

Questions? Suzanne Walker in the Indiana Young Readers Center can answer any questions you might have about the Indiana Young Readers Center kits. You can reach Suzanne via email. Kara Cleveland in the Professional Development Office is the contact for the Professional Development Office kits. Kara can be reached via email.

The new system is easy to use. Book your first kit today!

This post was submitted by Suzanne Walker and Kara Cleveland of the Indiana State Library. 

What is the Internet Archive?

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For the past 16 years, the Indiana State Library has had a very active digitization program between its Indiana, Genealogy and Manuscripts Divisions. The collection has grown to 32 individual collections, with each having sub-collections, and with all collections having a total of 337,093 items as of January 2025. In 2024, the Indiana Division alone added more than 700 items, consisting of more than 20,000 scans of materials from our digital collections. We added maps, newspapers and pamphlets from our county history collection. We also added state documents.

For the most part, we add materials to our digital collections management system, ContentDM. It was created by the Online Computer Library Center and is great for smaller items that are less than about 50 pages, such as maps, pamphlets, posters, photographs, etc. However, for larger books with heavy text, we use the Internet Archive, a digital content management system that is free and makes using these larger volumes far easier to use. It also offers better search capabilities than ContentDM.

The Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has been building a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts online since 1996 with their “mission is to provide universal access to all knowledge.” They offer free access to researchers, students, historians, genealogists and the general public.

Here at the Indiana State Library, we use the Internet Archive for larger periodicals and materials more than 50 pages in length with lots of text. Why? Because they are far easier to use and search. Among our Internet Archive collection, you will find the Indiana Acts from 1817 to 1850, the House and Senate Journals, the documentary journals, a few county and civil war histories and a few periodicals. As of the writing of this blog, we have 327 items.

One great example is the Indiana Construction Recorder, a periodical published by the Society of Indiana Architects in the 1920s and early 1930s. They are great if you are trying to find out when a building was built during that time period. However, each volume is well over 1,000 pages and can be difficult to search when using the actual book. The Internet Archive does an awesome job of making them searchable. We scan the materials, create a pdf and upload it into the Internet Archive and they do the rest. They offer a great optical character recognition program that makes these 1,000+ page volumes easier to search, in turn making your luck greater in find out what you are seeking.

We are continually adding more materials, so be sure to check out the Indiana State Library’s Internet Archive Collection on a regular basis.

This post was written by Christopher Marshall, digital collections coordinator for the Indiana Division at the Indiana State Library.

Indiana State Library names ISL Bicentennial Research Fellow

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Last year, in honor of the Indiana State Library’s then upcoming 200th anniversary, the Indiana State Library Bicentennial Committee, in conjunction with the Indiana State Library Foundation, established an ISL Bicentennial Research Fellowship to be awarded in 2025. Researchers and historians with a focus on Indiana history were encouraged to apply. The Bicentennial Research Fellowship Review Committee recently awarded the week-long research grant to Emiliano Aguilar.

Emiliano Aguilar is a political and labor historian of the United States, specifically the Latina/o Midwest. His manuscript-in-progress explores how the ethnic Mexican and Puerto Rican community of East Chicago, Indiana navigated machine politics in the 20th and 21st centuries to further their inclusion in municipal and union politics. His work has appeared in The Metropole, Belt Magazine, Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History, the Los Angeles Review of Books, Indiana Magazine of History and the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History. A native to East Chicago, he is a proud board member of the Calumet Heritage Partnership and now lives in South Bend, where he is an assistant professor of history at the University of Notre Dame.

“As a lifelong resident of Indiana, I’ve always had a love and appreciation for my roots in East Chicago and my years living in Hammond, Whiting and now South Bend. I appreciate the opportunity as an Indiana State Library Bicentennial Research Fellow to share the rich stories of the Calumet Region and the long history of our state’s Latino community,” said Aguilar.

The Indiana State Library looks forward to Aguilar’s stay at the library.

This post was written by Monique Howell, Indiana Collection supervisor.

Did you know that the Indiana State Library has a recording studio?

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Yes, the Indiana State Library has a recording studio! It’s part of the Indiana Talking Book & Braille Library, and it’s used to record audio books and audio magazines. This program is called Indiana Voices. Indiana Talking Book & Braille Library employee Jannell Summers is the program coordinator for the Indiana Voices program. She oversees all aspects of the program here at the Indiana State Library. The Indiana Talking Book & Braille Library serves citizens of Indiana who are blind or visually impaired, have a physical disability that makes using a standard book difficult or have a reading disability.

Indiana Voices records books written by authors who have a connection to Indiana; books with a subject that has a connection to Indiana; and books about Indiana history. Unfortunately, most people will never be able to listen to our books. Indiana Voices records books to be uploaded to the Braille & Audio Reading Download Service, most commonly known as BARD. This is an app produced by the National Library Service for use by talking book and braille libraries all over the nation. The reason Indiana Voices can only upload books to this site for use by our patrons is because the Legislative Branch of the United States government gave us permission to record any book for this service without violating their copyright protections.

During 2024, Indiana Voices recorded 10 books and magazines for the BARD service. These include:

Local authors
“Zeek the Zigzag Zebra” by NT Lucy is a juvenile fiction book. All four books currently in the series were recorded by the author in our studio.

“Now You See It/ Him/ Them” by Gene DeWeese and Robert Coulson is an adult fiction mystery. This book was recorded by Indiana Voices volunteer Lisa Calabro.

Books set in Indiana
“The Ghosts of Jungle Park” by Tom W. Williams is an adult nonfiction book. This book was recorded by Indiana Voices volunteer Kathleen Munsch.

“I Saw Santa in Indiana” by Shannon Anderson is a juvenile fiction book. This book was recorded by Indiana State Library employee Karen Perry.

Magazines
Outdoor Indiana is the state’s premier magazine, featuring the best of state parks, lakes, wildlife, forests, trails, hunting, fishing, wildflowers and outdoorsy people. Volume 87, Number 4 was read by Indiana State Library employee Doug Conrads.

Volunteering for Indiana Voices
Indiana Voices can always use more volunteers, and we have two positions that we are always looking to fill.

Narrators and readers: These volunteers are recorded reading the books and magazines. An hour every two weeks is all that we ask of your time, but you must be able to come to the Indiana State Library in Indianapolis.

At-home reviewers: These volunteers work from home listening to the finished books and read along to find errors that need to be corrected. Everything you need is sent to you electronically. An hour or two a week is all that we ask of your time.

To find out more information about volunteering, contact Jannell Summers via email or call her at 317-234-2128.

Read more about the Indiana State Library’s Volunteer Program here.

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

How’s 2025 going for you so far?

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While a lot of us have already broken our New Year’s resolutions – or just didn’t bother making one this year – maybe I can give you a couple of suggestions to make your days seem a little better.

I work at the Indiana State Library, which is a beautifully-crafted work of art that I honestly feel privileged to walk into every day. But let’s be honest, no one wants to drive downtown; it’s busy and that scares “country folks.” However, if you come while all this construction is going on, you’re able to park in the parking garage across the street and bring your ticket in to be validated.

Now, let’s talk about how this field trip can benefit you! First, walk into the library and find a book, find a comfy seat, sit down and relax for a while. We don’t care how long you stay… as long as you’re out by 4:30 p.m., as I must go let my dog out.

Studies show that reading can reduce your stress levels by more than 60%. Reading also reduces muscle tension and reduces heart rate. Reading is also an excellent way to relax, so make it part of your bedtime ritual for better sleep.

Make 2025 about you. Try new things. Learn about cooking or meditation. You might just want to learn how to plant that herb garden you’ve always dreamed of. We have all these books and more hidden gems in the stacks waiting for you to come visit. Stop by the Circulation desk and say, “Hi.” We’ll be glad to see you.

This blog post was written by Rayjeana Duty, circulation supervisor, Indiana State Library.

Legal considerations for library events: What Indiana librarians need to know

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Libraries in Indiana are vibrant community hubs offering a range of events, from book clubs and author talks to STEM workshops and family movie nights. While these events enhance community engagement, they also come with legal considerations that librarians must address to protect their institutions and participants. The following are key legal issues Indiana librarians should be aware of when planning and hosting events, ensuring a smooth and compliant experience for all.

Many library events involve the use of copyrighted materials, such as books, movies, music or art. Public performance rights are a critical aspect to consider, particularly for movie nights or live readings. Showing a film requires a public performance license, even if you own the DVD or digital copy. Playing music at events, whether live or recorded, may require licenses from organizations like the American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) or Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI). Readings and story times typically fall under fair use but large-scale or paid ticketed events would likely require additional permissions and possibly even an amusement and entertainment permit.

Hosting events introduces risks which could include injuries, property damage or unforeseen emergencies. Libraries should be sure to have appropriate liability protections in place. General liability insurance should cover accidents or injuries that occur during events. Review your library’s insurance policy to ensure adequate coverage for events. Use participant waivers for high-risk activities, such as physical workshops or outdoor events. Require vendors or performers to provide proof of insurance for services provided at the event. Conduct safety assessments for event activities and clearly communicate rules and expectations to participants.

The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates that library services and programs, including special events, must be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Ensure physical venues are wheelchair accessible, including entrances, seating and restrooms. Provide accommodations, such as sign language interpreters or assistive listening devices, when requested. Digital events must meet accessibility standards, including captioning for videos and screen reader-compatible materials. Plan for accessibility from the outset, rather than as an afterthought. Include an accessibility statement in event promotions, inviting participants to request accommodations. Train staff on ADA requirements and best practices for inclusive programming.

Events for children and teens often involve specific legal considerations, including consent and supervision. Develop and use parental consent and release forms for events that include photographs, videos or off-site activities. Libraries could even include this language in the activity sign-up forms. Ensure adequate adult supervision during children’s programs, whether that means requiring parents to attend the event with their children or whether it means diverting additional library staff to assist with the program. Clearly communicate expectations for parent or guardian participation when necessary and avoid collecting unnecessary personal data from minors.

Collaborating with outside vendors, authors or performers for events requires clear, enforceable agreements. Define the scope of services, payment terms and cancellation policies. Include clauses addressing copyright, liability and insurance requirements. Maintain thorough records of agreements and communications with vendors and clarify expectations for promotion, setup and cleanup responsibilities.

Post clear signage at events informing participants about photography or recording. Libraries can also address whether there will be photography or videography at the event in the sign-up form, state how images will be used and include consent for use language. Store and use images responsibly, adhering to your library’s privacy policies.

Library events are a cornerstone of community engagement, but they come with legal responsibilities that Indiana librarians must navigate. By addressing copyright compliance, liability, accessibility and other legal concerns proactively, libraries can create events that are not only enjoyable but also legally sound.

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