In This Issue
 Librarian Supervisor 3 - Reference & Government Services
Indiana State Library
Librarian Supervisor 3 - Genealogy
Indiana State Library
Librarian 1 - Reference & Government
Indiana State Library
Secretary 4 - Circulation & Support Division
Indiana State Library
Bookkeeper (Part-Time)
Hamilton North Public Library
Library Director
LaGrange County Public Library
Youth Services Manager
Porter County Public Library
Project is perfect for researchers who don't want to publish
Allen County Public Library
ILS named most prolific school
Indiana University Library
Hoosier values were shaped by Northwest Ordinance
IUPUI Library
Book Giveaway
Lake County Public Library
How Christy Ziglar's Shine Bright Kids Books Help Children Stay Focused on What Matters Most
Rockville Public Library – Rockville Elementary
Library makes 2015 plans, considers community networking opportunities
Westchester Public Library
For more job listings click here.
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in The Wednesday Word
This season the Crown Point Library has a lot to celebrate! The Board of Trustees recently appointed Selina Gomez- Beloz as the new director of the Crown Point Community Library. She replaces Lynn Frank who retired in August.
Gomez-Beloz is a service oriented leader with experience in building relationships within the community and helping to develop a diverse background of innovative library services to provide exceptional customer service. Originally from Lake County, Indiana, she is coming from Centralia, Washington, where she was the Senior Library Manager of the Centralia location of the Timberland Regional Library system. The Timberland Regional Library System is a 27-branch district servicing 464,000 people with an $18 million annual budget. Gomez-Beloz’s location served 26,000 people. Gomez-Beloz is also active in REFORMA (the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking) and currently co-chairs the upcoming REFORMA national conference.
“From a large and very qualified and talented pool of applicants, the seven members of the Board of Trustees were unanimous in their selection of Selina Gomez-Beloz as the new director, “ said library board President Patrick Schuster. “Selina has both the leadership experience and personality to elevate the Crown Point Library as a destination and focal point in our community. This is an exciting time for the library and the Board sees many positive things to come at both the Crown Point and Winfield branches under Selina’s guidance.”
In addition to her Master’s in Library Science, Selina is currently working on her Master’s in Public Administration. “I am so very excited to be joining the Crown Point Community Library family,” said Gomez-Beloz on her appointment. “I am excited for the opportunity to lead the Library forward, to reinforce the value of the main branch and the Winfield branch to our community, and explore innovative services and programs for all. I'm originally from "the Region" and I look forward to coming home in this new step of my career adventure.”
Gomez-Beloz plans to arrive by January 5, 2015. The Friends of the Crown Point Library are planning a welcome reception in January for the community to meet the new director. More details to come.
The Bourbon Public Library recently submitted an application and received an endorsement from the Indiana Bicentennial Legacy Committee (IBLC) for its “Remember Bourbon” legacy project.
By connecting communities around Indiana, the IBLC hopes to honor Indiana history and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.
For more information about Bourbon Public Library’s participation in the bicentennial project, please visit the Bourbon Public Library’s website.
Don’t miss your chance to enter the Letters About Literature contest. The LAL deadline for Level I and Level II is January 15, so sign up here.
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 Once again, the Indiana State Library receives recognition from Family Tree Magazine for having the best state website for genealogy. The honor was published in the December 2014 issue and online.
This list honors the best websites that specialize in genealogy research for one of the 50 US states. The 75 stellar sites on the list represent the go-to bookmarks for tracing American ancestors state by state.
In the summer of 2014, the Indiana Library and Historical Board requested a committee be assigned to review existing library standards. After four meetings around the state, the committee recommended to the board changes in the current standards. The recommended changes streamline and clarify the existing standards.
At the December 12 meeting, the ILHB voted to proceed with the review and adoption process for the proposed standards. This process will include a series of public hearings. The dates for the public hearings will be announced in early 2015, along with the new standards being considered.
At the December 12 meeting, the Indiana Library and Historical Board voted to raise the cost of PLAC cards from $50 to $65 beginning January 1, 2015. This decision was based off the recommendation of the Indiana State Library staff. The operating costs for libraries continue to rise and the ISL and ILHB concluded that pricing the PLAC cards at a rate comparable to the state average of non-resident card costs was advisable.
A poster is attached.
Click HERE for more information about this announcement.
During the December 12 meeting, the Indiana Library and Historical Board voted under the recommendation of Indiana State Library staff to approve a change in service fees and fines. These new service fees and fines will take effect on January 1, 2015.
For a detailed outline of the new fees and fines, please visit the ISL website.
In a 3-2 decision, the FCC Commissioners voted to accept Chairman Wheeler’s proposal to increase the E-rate funding cap by $1.5 billion. The FCC’s vote to increase E-rate support is a bold step forward in support of our nation’s students and library patrons. Funds for Learning is committed to working with the FCC and others to ensure that our nation’s educational broadband needs are being met and learners of all ages have access to the Internet.
Click here to read the ALA press release on the expansion.
The American Library Association’s Washington Office launched a new and reinvigorated District Dispatch blog that highlights federal legislation and policy news that impacts libraries. The new District Dispatch makes it easier for library advocates to find important information policy news, search articles, share news and “drill down” further into national policy issues. The new District Dispatch also includes a “Breaking News” feature that makes it easier for advocates to find the most current and critical policy information they need to take action at the national level. Finally, the new blog makes it easier for library staff to find free policy-related webinars.
As we head into a new Congress, AASL members are encouraged to subscribe to the District Dispatch to keep abreast of relevant library policy news, such as federal funding opportunities, copyright reform, open access legislation, Federal Communications Commission proceedings and much more. Visit the blog today: www.districtdispatch.org.
The application process is now open for the 2015 LSTA grant program. Applications must be received by 4:00 PM EST on Friday, March 13th, 2015 and include the following opportunities for Indiana libraries and partnering historical and cultural organizations:
• Technology Grants
Technology Grants help Indiana libraries provide their users with the new and improved technology necessary to meet their residents’ ever-changing needs for library services and access to information.
• Digitization Grants
The suggested theme for the 2015 Digitization Grant Program is the Indiana Bicentennial. While adherence to the theme is not required, projects incorporating this theme are encouraged.
If you have questions about your eligibility, a grant application requirement, or anything else concerning 2015 LSTA grant opportunities, please don't hesitate to contact Jennifer Clifton, LSTA Grant Consultant, at (800) 451-6028. Visit the LSTA homepage to learn more how LSTA grants support Indiana libraries.
Welcome to Evergreen 2.7
When: December 17, 2014
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Where: Webinar
Train the ECRR 2.0 Trainer
When: January 8, 2014
Where: Johnson County Public Library
Every Child Ready to Read 2.0
When: January 15, 2015
Where: Tippecanoe County Public Library
Every Child Ready to Read 2.0
When: February 12, 2015
Where: Brownsburg Public Library
Teaching Books Webinar: Literacy Connections Across the Curriculum
When: February 17, 2015
Where: Webinar
Teaching Books Webinar: Literacy Connections Across the Curriculum
When: February 18, 2015
Where: Webinar
Teaching Books Webinar: Summer Reading Program Supports.
9:00am-9:50am
When: Tuesday, April 21
Where: Webinar
Teaching Books Webinar: Summer Reading Program Supports.
4:00pm-4:50pm
When: Tuesday, April 21
Where: Webinar
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ISL General Counsel Sylvia Watson
A One-on-One Conversation with Sylvia Watson
By: Ryan Brown
This week, I interviewed Indiana State Library General Counsel Sylvia Watson. Why does the ISL need a lawyer on staff? My conversation with Sylvia will serve to answer those questions and many more.
RB: Coming out of law school, what led you to the ISL?
SW: I did my first legal internship for the state Public Defender’s office. That was my first contact as a state employee, as a clerk for the state Public Defender’s office.
I did that for a year and then after I was done with law school and was waiting on bar results, I applied to work with the Department of Child Services (DCS). My undergrad was social work, so the fit with DCS was pretty good.
Then I left for a while to go into the private sector because I thought the private sector might hold more opportunities. That didn’t really work out, so I came back to the state and I had good references and I got my foot back in the door.
RB: So that’s when you came here?
SW: Uh huh. When I left to go into the private sector I got into real estate and that was right around the time when everything was falling apart. So, the place where I went to work cut out half the staff and all of us knew people who were let go, and some of the long-timers were let go. It was a title company and they were hit really hard.
RB: Yeah, I was hit hard too. I was in the music industry and it went from making great money and doing all of these shows. I was doing about 150 shows a year.
SW: What did you do?
RB: I was in a touring rock band.
SW: You were in a rock band? [With excitement]
 ISL Communications Director Ryan Brown Performing in 2010
RB: [Chuckling] yeah, you didn’t know that?
SW: Oh my gosh, no! That’s so exciting. We need to do a piece on you for the Wednesday Word.
RB: I went from about 2004 to 2012, well 2010 is when it started fading out.
SW: So do you sing or play an instrument or both?
RB: Both. I’ve got several albums that I’ve put out…
SW: That’s exciting! Is it rock music, or what?
RB: The first group I was in was called Ladymoon. It’s more like 60’s and 70’s progressive rock, almost psychedelic stuff, and the other group I was in was called Austin Bridges and it was more like pop rock. Kinda in the vein of Barenaked Ladies or something like that.
SW: How fun that you got to do something that exciting.
RB: It was fun. It’s just hard to make money at it. So, since I had already done PR and marketing for my bands, that’s why I went back to school and am working on a Master of Arts in Public Relations. That’s how I ended up doing that and I thought if I am going to do this then I need to find a job that is in communication so…first I was working at the Department of Education as an intern and then I was a press secretary for the Indiana State Senate for about six months. That was a temp job where I was filling in for a guy who took a leave-of-absence. Fortunately, this job became available and I am now working as the Director of Communications for the ISL. This is good for me because it’s not so political and overwhelming that I can’t still get my school work finished, and it is enough work that I get to actually practice what I am studying. I am excited to be here. I feel like everyone has been real welcoming.
SW: Yeah, we are a good, nice bunch. Yeah when I came back here, now that I think about it, I could have actually gone back to DCS but this position was open and I have actually always loved libraries. So that is probably a better reason as to why I chose to come here as opposed to DCS, because I’ve always loved libraries. I grew up going to the library all the time and just thought that working at the library would be really fun.
RB: What made you want to become a lawyer?
SW: It was all part of the whole idea of helping people. I really like to help people, so as a social worker I helped people but I wanted to have a broader impact. As a social worker, I worked with a small caseload of families. There were about 10 people that I worked with at a time, and that was fine, but I went to law school because that would allow me to have an impact on a broader range of people. Before I went to law school I didn’t really know where I would land, but this job fulfills me because I have a huge customer base and I am able serve a lot of people. That fulfills that side of me that needs to be a helper.
RB: I kind of had a similar idea when I was looking for a graduate degree. I was looking at the PR program as well as the law school. I took the LSAT and didn’t get the score I wanted. After consulting with a few lawyer friends, most of them were saying “don’t do it”, so I changed my focus to PR. I couldn’t justify getting into hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of debt when there isn’t much of a job market out there for lawyers.
SW: The debt is a problem. I have felt the impact of that as well.
RB: I guess you don’t do it because it pays well. You do it because it is something you love to do.
SW: Right. You follow your heart. Then you realize, what have I gotten myself into! [Chuckling]
RB: That is kind of how it was for me with music. I mean…I made pretty good money playing and everything, it’s just hard being out all the time and being in smoky places. That wore on me. You do that for ten years and you don’t even like to go out to bars anymore.
SW: I didn’t think you can smoke in bars anymore.
RB: Well, you can’t around here. But that law is pretty new and when I was doing it all the time there were many places that allow it. There still are in smaller towns. Just being in one reminds me of what it used to be like.
Back on topic; describe to me your role at ISL and what you do for libraries in general…
SW: I’m a resource for public libraries around Indiana. They can call me and consult with me about what a particular law may mean to the library or if they don’t know their legal obligations with something, they can ask about that and I can help them. I get most of my questions via email, which is the method I prefer so that I can write a thorough written response and I have time to research their question and don’t have to think of it off the top of my head.
I also do enjoy the phone conversations as well because it’s nice to get that human connection. I get calls and emails and I help with that. I also send out a quarterly legal bulletin. I’ve got my webinars online to help libraries if they need training on a specific legal topic.
For the Indiana State Library, I work on our contracts and I assist with rulemaking and with policies that are legal in nature…basically, any legal issue that comes up. I also assist our foundation with legal questions and policies that are legal in nature.
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