The Wednesday Word: Library News from Around Indiana

The Indiana State Library has partnered with NetLiteracy.org, an organization aimed at reducing the digital divide by rehabbing donated computers, which are then donated to schools, libraries and other community organizations. The computers are then used locally to teach computer and Internet skills and improve access to the Internet.

Net Literacy was founded by an Indiana middle school student in 2003, and today it remains a “student empowered” organization. The students set their own mission and priorities, write their own grants, and perform all of the volunteering and community services. In the past nine years, Net Literacy has increased computer access to over 170,000 individuals, repurposed over 20,000 computers.

The goals of this partnership is to make available a number of refurbished computers to public and school libraries in Indiana and enable them to replace slow and outdated public access computers and OPAC stations, and expand the number of public workstations.
These machines will all have 1GB ram, 40GB or larger hard drives, Ethernet cards, the Windows 7 operating system, antivirus software and will be delivered ready to be connected to the Internet. A limited number of monitors are also available; both flat screen and CRT models.

If your library is interested in being considered for these machines, please update your library’s listing in TechAtlas and then notify the Indiana State Library Development Office (LDO@library.in.gov) of your interest by June 1, 2012. Contact Karen Ainslie or Edie Huffman for more information, or view the archived webinar on creating an inventory in TechAtlas for assistance completing the TechAtlas Inventory.

INfo Express Prices Unchanged, Renewals Due May 15

User fees for the INfo Express delivery service contract will remain at current levels for the next service year (July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013). Stable prices are welcome news given the rising transportation costs associated with gasoline prices. In addition to keeping prices low, the State Library will continue to subsidize one-day-a-week delivery service at $75 for public, school, and academic libraries that meet the requirements of the INfo Express program.

As additional incentive to promote resource sharing throughout Indiana's library community, the State Library will continue to offer a second day of delivery at the subsidized rate of $125 for the year, rather than the normal rate of $450 per weekly stop. Eligible libraries include:

Libraries currently receiving the additional day subsidy and have remained an active lender with OCLC or Evergreen;
Libraries that are adding a day of services for the coming service year and are actives lender with OCLC or Evergreen;
Libraries already at five-days-a-week service will receive the additional second day of subsidized delivery.

Please note that branch libraries are not eligible for subsidies. The renewal form and instructions are located at infoexpress.in.gov. Renewal requests must be received by May 15, 2012. Contact Mike Hicks at (317232-3699 or dhicks@library.in.gov with additional questions or for more information.

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If you or someone you know would like the latest news from the Indiana Talking Book & Braille Library, subscribe today on the Talking Books homepage by clicking the "Subscribe for Email Updates" icon at the top of the page. Past publications by Talking Books, like In Touch and Indiana Insights, are also available online.

Four Days Remain to Apply for Leadership Academy

Applications for the Indiana Library Leadership Academy (ILLA) are being accepted until Sunday, May 13, 2012. The application available online.

The State Library’s Professional Development Committee established the Academy to prepare future library leaders for 21st-Century challenges. The inaugural 10-month academy will begin this July for a group of 50 cohorts with a five-day workshop at the Canyon Inn at McCormick’s Creek State Park. The cost of the Academy is just $150 ($2,100 value) for participants thanks to a significant subsidy from the Indiana State Library.

Additional details are available on the ILLA webpage or by contacting Wendy Knapp at wknapp@library.in.gov.

Upcoming Workshops,
Events & Important Dates

ILF District Conferences
When: 8:30 AM (local time)
Where: Multiple Locations

5/10: District 5&7
5/15: District 4

Spring Institutional Workshop
When: May 14 @ 9:15 AM
Where: Indiana State Library

Spring LEU workshops
When: May 17 @ 9:30 AM
Where: Spencer Co. Public Library

Preservation Night: Save Your Treasures
When: May 17 @ 5:30 PM
Where: Indiana State Library

Budget Basics Workshop
When: May 21 @ 9:45 AM
Where: Live Online

Serving Seniors
When: May 24 @ 10:00 AM
Where: Live Online

Overdrive Digital Bookmobile Visit
When: May 24 & 25
Where: Indianapolis Public Library - Central Library

EdCamp Indy
When: June 12
Where: Plainfield High School

2012 Indiana Vision Expo
When: September 29 @ 10:00 AM
Where: Indiana State Library

View free LEU
opportunities from:

© 2012 Indiana State Library. All rights reserved. The trademarks used herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.
Indiana State Library, 315 W. Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202. www.library.IN.gov

The Wednesday Word is a free publication of the Indiana State Library, distributed weekly in an electronic format.
Past issues are archived at the State Library's Newsroom.