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Events, Friday Facts, Resources
April is Autism Awareness Month
April 3rd, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

Thursday, April 2, 2009 was World Autism Awareness Day, and April is Autism Awareness Month, sponsored by the Autism Society of America. There are several government resources to turn to when searching for information on Autism Spectrum Disorders, or ASDs. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides a user-friendly online Autism Information Center which contains an overview of ASDs, CDC activities, and directs users to related news. The National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus webpage on Autism also lists a wealth of different sources – from Diagnosis and Treatment to Genetics and Research. For quick access to answers, try the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke’s Autism Information Page. Try also Learning about Autism, from the National Human Genome Research Institute.

More DTV Coupons Now Available
In a March 24, 2009 press release from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), it was announced that the DTV Coupon Program is back on track. The program was designed to provide government subsidies for citizens who had to purchase digital cable converters for their analog televisions. Prior to the DTV Delay Act (PL 111-4), a major concern was that the program had run out of funding and was unable to provide coupons for households who needed them, thus creating an extensive backlog. However, because of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the backlog has been alleviated. Households with expired coupons can contact the NTIA to get a replacement. Please see the press release for detailed contact information. The NTIA is accepting new applications for coupons and their stated turnaround period is nine days. However, as these coupons are being distributed on a first-come-first-served basis, citizens are encouraged to redeem their coupons as soon as possible.

Unwind with a Nice “Stay-cation” this Spring
Florida, Cancun, Jamaica… Indiana?! Why not Indiana for Spring Break? While it may not be an exotic location, Indiana has many tourist attractions and features for just about everyone. Instead of going away for Spring Break, many Hoosiers are deciding to take stay-cations and become tourists in their own city. The Indiana Office of Tourism and Development has packages and discounts to make staying in Indiana for Spring Break an attractive one. From resorts to museums to casinos, there is something for everyone here. For more information, please visit these websites and enjoy your stay-cation.

Census 2010 Preparation Getting into Gear
You and your patrons may notice U.S. Census workers soon in your neighborhood, sporting identification badges, starting now and throughout the year. Workers have begun canvassing addresses to make sure no one goes uncounted. One year from now, on April 1, 2010, the Census Bureau will begin counting the nation. Performing an accurate count of the population is very important. Information collected during the decennial census is used to: “distribute Congressional seats to states, to make decisions about what community services to provide, and to distribute $300 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year,” according to the Census Bureau’s Census 2010 website. One of the main differences for Census 2010 is that there will be no long form to fill out. Everyone will fill out the same short form which takes a convenient 10 minutes to complete. For more information, please visit Indiana’s Census 2010 website for more on Why the Census Matters and read the March 30 Indy Star article, Census wants to count on you.

U.S. Mint Honoring Louis Braille with New Coin
The U.S. Mint is yet again releasing a new coin. This one, however, is a little different than most. Officially known as the “Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar,” the coin was authorized by Public Law 109-247. It features inventor Louis Braille on the obverse (“heads”) side, and is the first U.S. coin to include readable Braille on it. The coins are available until December 31, 2009, and are non-circulating. Patrons interested in purchasing one can visit the U.S. Mint website or call their toll-free number at 1-800-USA-MINT. They can also view images of the coin by visiting the Mint’s Press Image Library. Any surcharges in sales will be sent to the National Federation of the Blind for its blind literacy programs.

by Katharine Springer, Elisabeth O’Donnell, & Kim Brown-Harden
Events, Resources
New Website Program Free for Public Libraries
April 1st, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

The availability of online library information and resources are quickly becoming essential public library services. The Indiana State Library is launching Access Point to provide free high-quality and functional websites to public libraries. The program includes many features that will make maintaining a website simple and painless, and the State Library will provide an initial template, training, and assistance.

Public library standards are currently being updated and it is expected that new standards will require that public libraries have a functional website. Access Point is a simple and cost-effective solution to not only meet this standard, but put you ahead of the curve by connecting your community to innovative and practical online library services.

The program is currently for public libraries without an online presence and those having difficulty maintaining their existing site. Qualifying libraries have already been contacted about the program. After this initial group is complete the State Library will take applications from other public libraries wishing to upgrade their current website.

To learn more about the program visit www.in.gov/library/accesspoint.htm.

I-LLID Fellow to Receive Extreme Home Makeover

Bernard McFarland of Indianapolis, a 2009 Indiana Librarians Leading in Diversity (I-LLID) fellow, has been chosen to receive an “Extreme Home Makeover.” Mr. McFarland is in the first year of the MLS program at IU-SLIS in Indianapolis. He is also a single father of three who works as a computer specialist for Marshall High School and mentors children.

According to an Indy Star article, Estridge Homes is building the home for the McFarland family. The builder also is creating a one-room library and resource center next to the home so McFarland has extra space for his mentor activities. Additionally, Estridge president, Paul Estridge, took the job on the condition that he would help the whole neighborhood, not just one family. With the help of volunteers, Estridge plans to demolish vacant houses, renovate neighboring homes, clean streets, pave alleys and plant trees in McFarland’s surrounding community.

Mr. McFarland’s new home will be the subject of the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition season finale set to air May 17, 2009.

Library Network Merger Official: Indiana Now Member of Lyrasis

The PALINET-SOLINET merger is official as the new organization, Lyrasis, became effective today. The nation’s leading library cooperative also has a new website, www.lyrasis.org, so please check out what’s new online and update your favorites and bookmarks accordingly. Designed to be user-friendly and member-focused, the Lyrasis website offers new benefits and services developed with members in mind.

Lyrasis was established in 2009 by the merger of PALINET and SOLINET, a move that was unanimously recommended by both Boards and overwhelmingly (over 95%) approved by members of both networks. The impetus for the merger was the recognition of the shared mission of both organizations and the unprecedented opportunities to expand education, leadership development, technology, and savings for members, while adding critical new initiatives needed for the future.

The current membership of Lyrasis is 4,012 libraries and cultural heritage organizations of all types and sizes – academic, research, public, school, corporate, medical, law, and special – located in twenty-three states, including Indiana, the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, and in three other countries. Lyrasis serves nearly a third of US states and welcomes new members from anywhere in the world.

Lyrasis headquarters are in Atlanta, GA, with an office in Philadelphia, PA. Leadership consists of a Chief Executive Officer and a President, held by Kate Nevins and Cathy Wilt respectively. The Board of Trustees consists of 15 members – 7 each from the Boards of SOLINET and PALINET and one additional member to be appointed by the Lyrasis Board.

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

More Library News:
Evansville Courier Press: College libraries keeping up
Gary Post-Tribune: Gary native returns to lead her hometown library
Indianapolis Business Journal: Indianapolis books big library convention
Indy Star: Library seeks $24M from engineers
Indy Star: Indy lands 2021 library association convention
Kokomo Tribune: Library still looking downtown Louisville Courier-Journal: Stimulus bill to bring rural areas a faster Internet
Marion Chronicle Tribune: Entrants sought for book contest
Muncie Star Press: Bracken makes it easier for Burris students to use library
Richmond Palladium-Item: Sink your teeth into a good book
Terre Haute Tribune Star: ISU librarian publishes servant leadership bibliography
The Paper of Montgomery County: Calling artists for Carnegie Mural
Friday Facts, Resources
National Archives Offers Daily History Tidbits
March 27th, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

Every day, Today’s Documents from the National Archives features a different document that represents an event that occurred that day in history. All documents displayed are relevant to American history. However, this is not your traditional Constitution and Gettysburg Address version of history. Rather, it includes pieces of Americana and coverage of other events that citizens may not know about. For example, March 24th featured Elvis Presley’s Acknowledgement of Service Obligation, when he joined the Army in 1958.

Each item in Today’s Document has been digitized, so viewers can see the actual record as it originally appeared. The website also includes links to related documents. In addition to Elvis’s Army agreement, the March 24th page lets viewers access a letter from Elvis fans to President Eisenhower and also gives tips on researching military records. There are also Classroom Resources available.

While you can check in every day to see the latest documents, you can also sign up for updates via their RSS feed.

American Memory Outlines History of Cherry Blossom Festival
According to the Library of Congress American Memory project’s Today in History website, “On March 27, 1912, First Lady Helen Herron Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted two Yoshino cherry trees on the northern bank of the Potomac River” in Washington, D.C. This event began the idea that grew into the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which takes place every Spring. The trees bloom at a different time every year, but the Peak Bloom Period usually covers late March to early April. Visitors plan their visit around these dates annually.

You can find a history of the festival on its official website. For historical photographs of the festival, use the search box on the American Memory website to search all Library of Congress online collections for “cherry blossom festival”.

DNR Seeks Entries for Annual Photo Contest
In celebration of Historic Preservation Month, the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology (DHPA) of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is sponsoring its annual photo contest. The Division is asking shutterbugs and photo enthusiasts to capture some of your favorite subjects, especially historic sites or buildings over 50-years old. Indiana has a rich, historic landscape so there should be plenty of willing and available subjects.

The deadline to submit a photo is April 15th. You can view the contest guidelines to learn more about the contest. You can also get some good ideas by looking at the photos from previous contest winners. These photos are on display at the Indiana Statehouse and other historic state sites, as well as viewable online.

Census Bureau Releases 2007 Economic Data
Earlier this month, the first data from the 2007 Economic Census was released by the U.S. Census Bureau. According to a March 17 press release, “The economic census is conducted every five years and is the most comprehensive and detailed profile of the U.S. economy, covering millions of businesses representing more than 1,000 industries. The census provides the foundation and benchmark for gross domestic product, monthly retail sales and other indicators of economic performance.”

The report findings include an increase of more than $1.4 trillion in manufacturers’ shipments from 2002 to 2007, the largest increase of all sectors covered. Manufacturers also experienced the largest decrease of all sectors – in employment – during the same period. More information about specific statistics may be found by viewing the 2007 Economic Census (through 2011) data release schedule.

Public Printer Promotes GPO Initiatives
In an effort to increase the transparency of the federal government, Public Printer Robert Tapella has sent a letter to President Obama stating his support for the initiative and promoting new ideas from the Government Printing Office (GPO). One of these ideas is the increased usage of GPO’s Federal Digital System, or FDSys. While not yet fully released, FDSys is expected to be a cleaner and more efficient search engine than the current system. According to the letter, it is also an ideal system for providing a forum on legislation. One proposal for the “transparency initiative” allows for a comment period on legislation before it is made into law. The functionality of FDSys could allow for this. There is also an effort to create more synergy between FDSys and the White House website.

FDSys employed to its full potential will be an invaluable tool for librarians and patrons. Not only will it allow for easier searching capabilities on a wide variety of government publications, but it will be another avenue to allow citizens to participate in the democratic process.

by Katharine Springer, Elisabeth O’Donnell, & Kim Brown-Harden
Grants, Resources
New Wiki Highlights Children’s Authors and Illustrators
March 25th, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

The State Library has launched a new resource that gathers and organizes information about Hoosier authors. The Indiana Children’s Authors and Illustrators Wiki enables authors, scholars and librarians to submit information about current and historical Indiana authors. The State Library intends for this new wiki to be an interactive resource for teachers, librarians, and the general public, as well as Indiana authors and illustrators.

The wiki was developed as a cost-effective and innovative solution for publishing and updating The Directory of Indiana Children’s Authors and Illustrators, which was last updated by Sara Laughlin in 1997 (3rd ed.). However, many of the wiki entries remain unchanged from that 1997 edition. We are looking for partners to help reach out to authors and illustrators, update content, and create new author entries.

The Indiana Children’s Authors and Illustrators Wiki was developed through a partnership between the State Library’s Children’s Services Consultant, Michele Farley, and students from the Indiana University School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) – Indianapolis. In the coming year, the State Library plans to continue developing the wiki with new features and educational resources.

The Indiana Children’s Authors & Illustrators Wiki is a continual work in progress. Please feel free to contact Michele Farley, mfarley@library.in.gov, if you have any suggestions or comments on how to enhance the look or usability of the wiki, or if you know of a Hoosier children’s writer or illustrator not included in the wiki.

Deadline Approaches to Apply for I-LLID Fellowships
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 the Indiana 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. Fellowship awardees also must be accepted to the SLIS MLS program by June 30, 2009.

The Fellowship Application process is now open until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2009. Applications and more information can be found on the Indiana’s Librarians Leading in Diversity (I-LLID) webpage.

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

More Library News:
Batesville Herald: Batesville woman becomes genealogist
Columbus Republic: Many rediscovering library during tough times
Gary Post Tribune: Library head devoted to preserving Gary branches
Indianapolis Business Journal: Cultural institutions fear bear-market toll
Indy Star: HSE board votes to eliminate library teaching assistant
Plymouth Pilot News: ‘The Passerby’ now available at Bourbon library
Shelbyville News: WorkOne workshop aims to help jobless get benefits
Events, Friday Facts, Resources
March is Red Cross Month
March 20th, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

According to a March press release from the American Red Cross, in 1943, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the first to declare Red Cross Month in March, in order to raise funds for World War II. President Obama has signed a Presidential Proclamation for 2009, which details the services offered by the organization: “supporting our military and their families, collecting and distributing blood, helping the needy, delivering health and safety education, and providing aid abroad.”

The Red Cross website and the Red Cross Chat blog offer real-time disaster updates and information about assisting within your community. Under Your Local Red Cross (right-hand side of the main website), enter your zip code for local offices and blood drive locations. You can even donate online or shop for Reference Guides in the Red Cross store.

IndianaMap Turned 52 on March 18
…Fifty-two Indiana counties sharing data with IndianaMap, that is, according to a recent press releasefrom the Indiana Geographic Information Council. IndianaMap is an electronic statewide map for Indiana. It is used to help manage things such as hiking trails, business development, and highway construction projects. It is particularly valuable in emergency response and recovery efforts. If you’ve ever searched for something on Google Maps, it’s highly likely that the aerial photography came from IndianaMap.

The state Geographic Information Office was created on July 1, 2007 by Indiana Code 4-23-7.3 and located within the Indiana Office of Technology to coordinate GIS activities statewide. The Indiana Geographic Information Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization of GIS users, professionals, and educators. Administered by an elected board of directors, IGIC is recognized as the official statewide coordinating body for Indiana geographic information.

World Water Day Promotes Sharing Resources
World Water Day. Founded in 1992 following a United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, it was designated as a day for people to recognize the importance of freshwater and to work on developing ways to maintain that freshwater.

This year’s theme is Transboundary Water: Sharing water, sharing opportunity. According to the official website from the UN, cooperation between countries sharing bodies of water can “help build mutual respect, understanding and trust among countries and promote peace, security and sustainable economic growth.” As a state bordering the Great Lakes, this is a relevant topic for Indiana. The UN’s website includes an interactive map of World Water Day events from around the world. It also provides posters and brochures that are available for download. For information about the important connection between clean water and good health, see the CDC’s website.

You can find information regarding Indiana’s Water Shortage Plan on the DNR’s website. For general information about water in Indiana, including water availability and how to obtain various permits, see the Department of Water. You can also visit the Central Indiana Land Trust to see how you can help the environment. The EPA is an additional source of information to learn about your local watershed.

Useful Tool Offers Variety of Local Data
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s Hoosiers by the Numbers website includes a new County Highlights feature that is full of data about the communities where you and your patrons live and work. Go to County Highlights, click a county on the map of Indiana, then select from eight different sections on each county profile: Overview, Population, Education, Commuting, Labor Force, Industry, Income, and Firm Size. Each section contains a variety of information in narrative, tables, charts, and graphs formats. Choose Lake County’s Industry section, for example, and view Average Employment by Sector for the county.

As stated on the website, the data is updated throughout the year, not just on an annual basis. The resulting tables and charts list their sources and are printable from the screen. Or download the data you need into Word, Excel, or PDF formats using the links on the top, right-hand side of the screen.

by Katharine Springer, Elisabeth O’Donnell, Kim Brown-Harden

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Events, Friday Facts, Resources

April is Autism Awareness Month

Events, Resources

New Website Program Free for Public Libraries

Friday Facts, Resources

National Archives Offers Daily History Tidbits

Grants, Resources

New Wiki Highlights Children’s Authors and Illustrators

Events, Friday Facts, Resources

March is Red Cross Month