 This week's new Indiana library jobs
Customer Service Assistant (part-time)
Brownsburg Public Library
Herbert Simon Early Childhood Literacy Specialist (Program Specialist)
Indianapolis Public Library
Public Services Librarian
Indianapolis Public Library
Adult Services Manager
Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library
If you would like your Indiana library job posting to be listed in the Wednesday Word, the position, and its description, must be submitted to the Indiana State Library. Click here for submission guidelines and to submit.
Library gets display on Indiana Suffragettes
Carnegie Public Library of Steuben County
Library hosts training for protesters, observers
Johnson County Public Library
KCHPL names ‘The Year We Left Home’ 2020 Howard County Reads book
Kokomo-Howard County Public Library
Vonnegut Museum shifts gears on Bluebeard-managed cafe plans
Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library
Love of library leads to five-decades-long career
Lake County Public Library
Westfield Public Library creates pen pal program to help seniors during pandemic
Westfield Washington Public Library
*Please consult local news sources and library websites for the latest information on the closures and re-openings of libraries and the cancellations of scheduled library events and programs in relation to COVID-19.
Email news links for inclusion in the Wednesday Word's "In the news" section.
To be featured in the Wednesday Word, please email a press release and a photo.
 Follow the Indiana State Library's blog for weekly posts covering all aspects of the state library. Visit the blog here.
If you are an Indiana library employee and would like to contribute a guest blog, please send us an email here with your idea.
Back issues of the Wednesday Word are available here.
|
 On Monday, Indiana Center for the Book director Suzanne Walker announced that author Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrator David Roberts are the 2020 Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award winners for their book "Don’t Blink." The award is being given posthumously to Rosenthal who died in 2017.
Upon receiving the news, Roberts said of the award that it's a “wonderful tribute to Amy’s genius imagination!” Roberts continued on to say, “A book with no story! And no characters? Being asked to illustrate 'Don’t Blink' was an enticing challenge I could not refuse. Amy had very cleverly written a book that required interaction with the reader. I instantly saw the reader as a beloved stuffed toy, and an owl was the obvious choice for a book that offers the opportunity to stay awake all night!”
This is the sixth year of the Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award. This year, during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, votes were submitted from 47 Indiana counties and over 600 children ages 0-5 voted. "Don’t Blink" garnered over 32% of the vote. Votes were collected at public libraries, as well as at daycares and via remote voting form.
The Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award is an initiative of the ICB to promote early childhood literacy in Indiana. The nominees are chosen by the Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Committee. The nominated books are chosen for their ability to encourage parents and children to use the Every Child Ready to Read® practices of talking, singing, reading, writing and playing together. Caregivers can use the Firefly books as a quality go-to resource for having fun and learning with their young children.
Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2020-21 award. See more details here.
 On. Aug. 26 from 10-11 a.m., the Indiana State Library will present "Basics of Cataloging" as part of its What's Up Wednesday webinar series.
Jill Sherman, data analytics and technical services librarian at Sullivan University in Louisville, Kentucky, will cover how library resources are cataloged, OPAC record displays, what catalogers and technical services staff do all day, Library of Congress subject headings, classification and other tools used to create the records that build the foundation of a library catalog. With more than 20 years of experience in the library technical services field, Sherman will offer participants a chance to learn all about these essential functions of a library.
"Basics of Cataloging" is eligible for one TLEU for Indiana librarians. Click here to register.
Following a growing trend, the Jasper County Public Library is the latest Indiana library to go fine free.
"We are no longer charging overdue fines for late returns, and all past overdue fines have been forgiven. At the Jasper County Public Library, we recognized that overdue fines were creating barriers to library use and we wanted to remove those barriers," said Patty Stringfellow, library director.
Overdue fines often keep patrons from visiting their local libraries. By removing the fines, the Jasper County Public Library hopes patrons will once again check out materials and resume reading, listening and viewing.
The fines at the Jasper County Pubic Library have been automatically forgiven, so there is no need for further action from patrons. However, patrons will still be responsible for lost or damaged items, collection agency fees and overdue fines for Wi-Fi hot spots.
"Going fine free is another way we inform, enrich and empower our diverse community," Stringfellow added.
Stringfellow can be reached at 219-866-5881 or via email with any questions. Visit the Jasper County Public Library website here.
|
Library Reopening Plans
When: Aug. 14, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Where: Webinar
Evergreen Indiana Training Tuesdays - How to Test Software Features for Evergreen Indiana and The Evergreen Project
When: Aug. 18, 1-2 p.m.
Where: Webinar
Starting and Growing A Library of Things
When: Aug. 19, 10-11 a.m.
Where: webinar
Tackling Racism in Classic Children's Literature
When: Aug. 25, 10-11:30 a.m.
Where: Webinar
What's Up Wednesday - Basics of Cataloging
When: Aug. 26, 10-11 a.m.
Where: Webinar
Welcome to the Government Information Minute. Every week, government information librarians at the Indiana State Library cover current resources on governmental data at the state, national and international levels, all to keep the public well-informed. Follow the Indiana State Data Center on Facebook and Twitter and feel free to leave comments and suggestions.
 National Inventors Hall of Fame and Museum
Due to the current pandemic, work and home atmospheres may be stressful. With that in mind, now might be a good time for some entertaining government information. The Indiana State Library uses government documents in print and online to serve its patrons. What some people might not know is that government information is full of fun and offers interesting learning opportunities and resources.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office is a terrific place to start a journey of discovery. Users can access its learning and resources webpage here. One of their resources to highlight is the Inventors Eye Archive, a newsletter for the independent inventor community that has been published since 2010. As COVID-19 leads to more innovation, people continue to see more modern inventions and new ideas. The USPTO lets the general public keep an eye on Americans who are producing the newest innovations. Read about Election Year Patents that Rocked the Vote and take a virtual trip to the National Inventors Hall of Fame and Museum.
Another federal agency to go to for inspiration is the Library of Congress. Their 2020 National Book Festival will be held online this year on Sept. 25-27, meaning those interested can attend from anywhere. The theme is “Celebrating American Ingenuity.” Participants can experience more than 100 authors, poets and illustrators via on-demand videos and live author chats and discussions. For those teaching from home, this is a good chance to introduce students to today’s best American authors. View the festival blog for more information.
 On Aug. 25 at 10 a.m., "Tackling Racism in Classic Children's Literature" will make its Indiana debut as a webinar. Klem-Mari Cajigas and Lindsey Patrick-Wright, both of the Nashville Public Library, will discuss how libraries can hold fast to intellectual freedom while solidifying their commitment to diversity and inclusiveness in regard to outdated and racist classic books on their shelves.
Cajigas is the family literacy coordinator for Bringing Books to Life!, Nashville Public Library’s award-winning early literacy outreach program. She has been with Nashville Public Library since 2012.
Patrick-Wright was formerly the youth services and continuing education Coordinator for the Tennessee State Library and Archives. She has been at Nashville Public Library for nine years.
This webinar has previously been presented for the Tennessee State Library and Archives and at the 2020 Public Library Association Conference and the 2019 Tennessee Library Association Conference.
Click here for more information about "Tackling Racism in Classic Children's Literature" and to register. The webinar is eligible for two LEUs for Indiana librarians.
|
