The Wednesday Word: Library News from Around Indiana

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, in partnership with The Library of America, is now accepting applications from libraries and National Park historic sites for grants to develop public programming around the free traveling panel exhibition Civil War 150. Fifty sites will be awarded a grant of $1,000 for Civil War 150 public programming.

The application deadline is July 15, 2012. More details and a downloadable application is available online.

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New INSPIRE Ready & Waiting for Test Drive

The new INSPIRE debuted early this week with an enhanced look and search functionality. The new 360 Search uses results clustering in order to speed up searches and better organize data. Results clustering separates search results by subtopics, dates, journals and authors so that search results are organized and easy to browse.

“We believe users will appreciate the new INSPIRE’s more intuitive searching capabilities that now resembles popular online search engines,” said Roberta L. Brooker, Indiana’s State Librarian. “Now is a great time for Hoosiers that have not heard of INSPIRE to test drive this complete virtual library that is accessible from their home, school or work computer.”

In addition to the new functionality and look, please be sure to check out three new databases now featured on INSPIRE. Hobbies and Crafts Reference Center provides content for many of the most popular hobbies, sports and games. It has an interface that allows users to gain access to more than 450 books and magazines as well as more than 300 videos and manuals. Home Improvement Reference Center is designed to assist homeowners in do-it-yourself projects, as well as educate about general upkeep, home maintenance and remodeling projects. Indiana History Online has a multitude of Indiana historical materials. Drawn from the collections of Joseph Sabin, one of the nation's premier bibliophiles, and other Gale sources, the archive provides access to a wide variety of documents: personal narratives and memoirs, pamphlets and political speeches, sermons and songs, legal treatises and children's books.

Summit to Investigate Serving Unserved Populations

One of the Indiana State Library’s most crucial long-term goals is to ensure that every Hoosier has local public library service. We continue to provide support for Indiana libraries extending their current service area or services such that unserved or underserved populations gain increased access to library services and electronic resources. Yet today, roughly 6.5% of Hoosiers still do not have public library service, no information safety net or alternative point of access to information exists for those unable to afford or access online resources at home.

Anyone whose library is located in a county that has an unserved population is aware of the challenges that front line staff deal with on regular basis. To that end, a trio of library directors that includes Ellen Stuckey (Butler Public Library), Kelly Ehinger (Adams Public Library System) and Jacob Speer (Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library) are hosting a Summit on Serving the Unserved on July 11 from 1:00 PM-4:00 PM (EDT) in Indianapolis. The Summit on Serving the Unserved will investigate ways to prove full service to your entire community, discuss common challenges with your colleagues and develop a plan of action.

View a tentative agenda and reserve your spot today on the WebJunction Indiana Online Calendar. You may also contact Wendy Knapp at 317-232-3718 or wknapp@library.in.gov for more information.

Twelve Libraries Awarded Institutional Literacy Grants

The Indiana State Library awarded grants totaling over $45,000 to twelve state institutions. The institutional literacy grants facilitate improved literacy among the individuals under custody of the state. Institutions strive to meet literacy goals at multiple educational levels and may request funds for library materials that meet their specific literacy needs. Materials that are frequently borrowed through interlibrary loan may also be purchased through the institutional literacy grant program.

We need you!..

to tell us what kind of INSPIRE promotional materials are needed at your library. Please take time to complete this brief six-question survey by this Friday, July 6.

LOC Representative to Talk Digitization During Workshop

The Indiana State Library will host a public program on Friday, July 13 featuring Ms. Deborah Thomas, the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP) coordinator for the Library of Congress. Ms. Thomas will discuss the Chronicling America website and the importance of digitizing and preserving historic newspapers published in Indiana. The presentation will take place at the State Library at 315 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, in the History Reference room from 10:30 AM to noon (EDT).

This program is worth two (2) Technology Library Education Units toward public librarian certification. Please contact Indiana NDNP project manager Chris Ittenbach at cittenbach@library.in.gov or (317) 234-8153 to register for the program.

Upcoming Workshops,
Events & Important Dates

Summit on Serving Unserved Populations
When: July 11 @ 1:00 PM
Where: Indiana State Library

Testing & Education Reference Center Training for Inspire:
When: July 11 @ 1:00 PM
When: August 9 @ 10:00 AM
Where: Live Online

Midwestern Roots Family History & Genealogy Conference
When: July 19 (pre-conference)
July 20 & 21 (conference)
Where: Indianapolis Marriott East

Databases and the Common Core
When: July 23 @ 2:00 AM
When: August 2@ 9:00 AM
When: September 11 @ 4:00 PM
Where: Live Online

Gale Virtual Reference Library eBooks from Inspire:
When: July 25 @ 3:00 PM
When: August 15 @ 9:30 AM
Where: Live Online

Biography InContext for Inspire
When: July 31 @ 2:00 PM
Where: Live Online

New Director's Workshop
When: August 2 @ 8:00 AM
Where: Indiana State Library

Director's Refresher Workshop
When: August 8 @ 8:00 AM
Where: Indiana State Library

CYPD 2012 Conference
When: August 26 & 27
Where: Indianapolis Marriott East

Indiana Vision Expo & Vision Walk
When: September 29 @ 9:30 AM
Where: Indiana State Library

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