In This Issue

1. NELINET to Join Lyrasis
    

2. SAS Seeks Libraries' Help Promoting New Initiatives
    
3. I-LLID Applications Close Friday

More Library News:

Anderson Herald Bulletin
At the Library: APL home to Stewart papers
Bedford Times Mail
Library traffic trends up in a down economy
Evansville Courier Press
Families check out new library
Evansville Courier Press
Libraries in 21st century offer more than books
Gary Post-Tribune
Retiring board member wants libraries to stay
Goshen College News
Goshen College librarians help make peace archives available online
Hartford City News-Times
Photo journey program on WW II battle site set for April 23 at library
Hendricks County Flyer
GoLibrary comes to Plainfield
Indy Star
Historical Society cuts staff, changes project
Indy Star
After library loss, lessons learned?
Jackson County Banner
Merger set for Jackson County historical and genealogical societies
Jeffersonville Evening News
Jeffersonville leaders look ahead at fate of Carnegie Library
Lafayette Journal & Courier
Purdue archive opens
LaPorte Herald Argus
Celebrate the Fish Lake library
Library Journal
Growth of Lyrasis, Revamp of Regional Networks Tied to Changing OCLC Relationship
Louisville Courier-Press
Jeffersonville library debate continues
Marion Chronicle Tribune
Libraries tout opportunities for fun, education
Marion Chronicle Tribune
Preserving town’s history
Muncie Star Press
Library planning for conference room
New Albany Tribune
Carnegie Library board seeks opportunities
North Vernon Plain Dealer & Sun
Library offering amnesty before it hands over late accounts to collections agency
South Bend Tribune
Old Francis Branch library closes for good Sat.
Vincennes Sun-Commercial
Library hopes to let the sunshine in

Your library making news?
Email your news clip to Drew Griffis for inclusion in the next
The Wednesday Word.

State Library's
Reference Hotline
866-683-0008
eReference

Important Links:

Indiana State Library

WebJunction Indiana

INSPIRE

-------------------------------
The Wednesday Word is a production of the
Indiana State Library

NELINET to Join Lyrasis, Expand Opportunities

The Boards of Directors of NELINET and Lyrasis recently approved a resolution to recommend NELINET join Lyrasis. Together, Lyrasis and NELINET will comprise the largest membership collaborative of its kind serving more than 4,500 libraries and cultural heritage institutions in New England, the Mid-Atlantic, Southeastern U.S., and Indiana. The leadership of both organizations recognize this is an exciting opportunity for these successful, membership-driven organizations to join together to serve their diverse library communities.

Kate Nevins, Chief Executive Officer of Lyrasis, said, "This integration will allow both organizations to continue to provide our current broad range of services as well as implement new and innovative ones to meet the evolving needs of our members."

Final action must be approved by an affirmative vote from both organizations in early June. If approved, NELINET would become part of Lyrasis by the Fall of 2009.

The Indiana State Library joined SOLINET (now Lyrasis) in July 2008 to connect all Indiana libraries with the additional programming and services, expanded education curriculum, consortial savings opportunities, and expanded capacity for innovation offered by the nation’s leading library cooperative. Indiana’s membership in Lyrasis is now as important as ever due to the changing relationship between the library networks and OCLC.

“Indiana joined SOLINET for the same reasons PALINET later partnered with them to form Lyrasis – more options, more innovation, and more opportunities for collaboration and savings,” said Roberta L. Brooker, Indiana State Librarian. “Lyrasis is the present and future of library networks and Indiana libraries are fortunate to be part of this collaborative.”

For more information about products and services available to Indiana libraries, visit www.lyrasis.org. 

SSA Seeks Libraries' Help Promoting New Initiatives

The Social Security Administration has asked public libraries throughout the country to partner with them to share information with the American public about  a wide variety of new and important initiatives.

Specifically, they have asked public libraries to help promote their new national campaign Retire Online. It’s So Easy! This campaign features a new online retirement application that can be completed in as little as 15 minutes.  The application is available online at www.socialsecurity.gov, and can easily be completed at any library computer.  A brochure on the subject can be viewed online.

Additionally, as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Social Security will distribute a one-time payment of $250 to over 55 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries.  A leaflet which discusses this in greater detail is available online.

Partnering with Social Security to promote these initiatives will benefit the populations you serve.  Ways you can do this is linking to the agency’s website at www.socialsecurity.gov and publishing articles about these initiatives in your newsletters or other publications.

If you would like copies of the retire online or one-time payment brochures, or need additional information from Social Security please e-mail Carolyn Houston at Carolyn.Houston@ssa.gov or call her at 410-965-7603.  Please indicate the quantity desired (in units of 100) and where the publications should be shipped. 

I-LLID Application Process Closes Friday

The Indiana State Library last summer received a $1 million grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services to recruit 30 ethnically diverse students for Indiana’s Librarians Leading in Diversity (I-LLID) project.  The first class of 10 students began classes January 12, 2009. Seven students currently attend SLIS - Indianapolis and three students attend SLIS - Bloomington.

Potential candidates for the second class must apply to the Indiana University School of Library and Information Science (IU SLIS) before April 24, 2009. Candidates whose undergrad GPA is below 3.0 should take GRE as soon as possible. Fellows also must be accepted to the SLIS MLS program by June 30, 2009.