The Wednesday Word: Library News from Around Indiana

Next week, a valuable new procurement tool offering more options and greater savings will be available for Indiana libraries . LibraryIndiana, a public/ private partnership between the Indiana Department of Administration, the Indiana State Library and Indianapolis-based Business Purchasing Solutions (BPS), gives every library in the state the purchasing advantage of statewide-negotiated contracts, organized into convenient online catalogs, all on one easy-to-use website.

The creation of LibraryIndiana was a logical evolution of the current state QPA platform and follows the successful launches of OneIndiana (municipal government) and K-12Indiana (schools). Your access to LibraryIndiana includes up to three free licenses per branch paid for by the State of Indiana and with it comes access to the best state-approved purchasing agreements focused on the needs of all types of libraries.

While LibraryIndiana is easy, intuitive, and ready to use, several brief online training sessions are also being scheduled throughout October and November for anyone interested in learning more about how to:

Shop prices and make purchases using LibraryIndiana
Participate in coordinated sourcing events on the site
Maintain your account settings and user information
Use built-in purchasing reporting tools and more

Be on the lookout for more information, including registration instructions and a complete schedule of training sessions, throughout the next week. Also, any libraries that are current OneIndiana users will automatically have their account updated to include new library-specific agreements and updated pricing on many of the catalogs you already browse.

National Library Organizations Partner on Digital Literacy Initiative

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) recently awarded the Public Library Association (PLA) a $291,000 grant to develop an online collection of digital literacy resources that will be accessible to libraries, patrons, and community-based organizations. The grant, provided through the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program, will include handouts, the development of training curricula in English and Spanish, and library patron skills assessments in order to improve the nation’s digital literacy rate.

PLA will partner with the ALA’s Office for Information Technology Policy and the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) to generate the online digital literacy resource collection. PLA will launch the online resource center at the 2012 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle, and the organization plans to continue demonstrations of the resource center at ALA and PLA conferences from 2013-2014. The project will help libraries address local needs for technology skills and training, as well as better prepare libraries to support digital learning through the national “Connect to Compete” scheduled to launch early next year in conjunction with a national ad campaign urging people to visit their local libraries for free online tools and digital literacy education.

Governor Daniels proclaims this week as Indiana Information Literacy Week

Indiana Information Literacy Week was developed by the Academic Libraries of Indiana (ALI) Information Literacy Committee. This group focuses on expanding awareness throughout Indiana about information literacy. The committee serves as a focal point for exploring information literacy issues, discussing new opportunities that would further facilitate collaboration and adoption of best practices among ALI members, and to recommend courses of action to the ALI Board of Directors.

Programming Ideas Available for 2012 International Games Day

International Games Day is back again in 2012 and this year's celebration of communities coming together to play at the library will take place on Saturday, November 3rd. Over 900 libraries are already planning events, but it's not too late to register yours today.

If you're looking for ideas to plan your International Gaming Day event, the American Library Association is posting one programming idea a day on its Facebook page.

Register today for the 2012 Our Heroes’ Tree program

Registration Now Open for 21st Century Literacy Days

Register today for the 21st Century Literacy Days hosted by the Indiana State Library and brought to you by the Indiana Geographic Information Office.

Click here to register and for workshop & LEU details.

Dates & Locations:
Friday, Oct. 5: Ivy Tech, Lawrenceburg (cancelled)
Friday, Oct. 12: Purdue-Calumet, Hammond
Friday, Oct. 19: Ivy Tech, Evansville
Friday, Oct. 26: Ivy Tech, Ft. Wayne
Tuesday, Oct. 30: Indiana State Library
Wednesday, Oct. 31: Indiana State Library

Upcoming Workshops,
Events & Important Dates

Word of Mouth Marketing
When: October 4 @ 11:00 AM
Where: Lowell Public Library

Book Club Basics
When: October 4 @ Noon
Where: Lowell Public Library

AISLE Workshop: Getting the Most Out of INSPIRE -
When: October 3 @ 4:45 PM
Where: Hamilton East Public Library - Noblesville Branch

Society of Indiana Archivists Fall Workshop
When: October 5 @ 9:00 AM
Where: Indiana State Library

Indiana Computer Educators (ICE) Conference
When: October 11 & 12
Where: Indianapolis Marriott East

Readers Advisory Workshop
When: October 11 @ 1:00PM
Where: Indiana Humanities Office, Indianapolis

Basic INSPIRE training
When: October 17 @ 3:30PM
Where: Kendallville Public Library

Basic INSPIRE Training
When: October 23 @ 1:00 PM
Where: Wells County Public Library

Library Camp
When: October 24 @ 8:30 AM
Where: Allen County Public Library

Literacy and the Department of Education (2 LEUs)
When: October 24 @ 1:30 PM
Where: Indianapolis Public Library

Indiana Genealogy & Local History Fair
When: October 27 @ 9:00 AM
Where: Indiana State Library

ELAC WEBINAR
When: October 30 @ 2:00 PM
Where: Live Online

ILF Annual Conference
When: November 12-14
Where: Indiana Convention Center, Downtown Indianapolis

Institutional Libraries Fall Workshop
When: November 13
Where: Indiana State Library

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opportunities from: