Meet your Indiana State Library interlibrary loan team

Have you ever wondered how books, CDs and DVDs get from library to library in Indiana? Your local public or academic library will place a request on your behalf for an item that your library or library system does not own. This request is processed through Indiana Share and coordinated at the Indiana State Library by a team that works in our Library Development Office.

Leigh Anne Johnson is the resource sharing coordinator for the Indiana State Library. She makes sure that InfoExpress, the library courier system, is running smoothly. She acts as a liaison between Now Courier, the company who runs the courier system, and 322 Indiana libraries to coordinate the best possible transit service. She also oversees the Indiana Share program and keeps statistics on InfoExpress, Indiana Share and INSPIRE, which is our statewide grouping of databases offered for free to Indiana residents.

Eric Altemus is a newcomer to the Indiana State Library, but is very experienced with using ILLiad, the interlibrary loan software that runs Indiana Share. He sends out roughly 250 Share requests daily. He also processes the spreadsheets of received and returned items, and renewal requests sent to us from borrowing libraries. He assists Leigh Anne with requests for InfoExpress canvas bags needed at libraries for transit. The team also cleans and maintains the transit bags as they come back in before they are put back into circulation.

The State Library also loans most of the general collection through Interlibrary loan requests. The staff in the Circulation Support Division pull the items and send them out through InfoExpress, which picks up and delivers items to the State Library every weekday. The State Library fulfills interlibrary loan requests for Indiana state employees for books and articles needed for work in their agencies. Those requests are processed by the circulation staff, as well. When the InfoExpress driver delivers and picks up materials at the State Library, the circulation desk is the location where the items are exchanged.

The ILL team strives to keep the system running smoothly, but if you do have issues with InfoExpress or Indiana Share, please contact us.

This blog post was written by Leigh Anne Johnson, resource sharing coordinator at the Indiana State Library.

Indiana State Library launches bicentennial website

In celebration of its 200th anniversary as a state agency, the Indiana State Library has announced a new bicentennial website. The website features important historical moments from the library’s past, in addition to the latest news and event information related to the celebration. The website can be viewed here.

Along with launching the website, the library has several activities and events planned for 2025. Throughout the year, the library will administer multiple trivia and escape room events, host a special bicentennial Lunch and Learn program, exhibit and display several items from its collections and screen a movie in October as part of a program featuring the Circle City Ghostbusters. A historical marker will also be dedicated on the grounds of the library this year.

Attendees in the Great Hall of the Indiana State Library during the Bicentennial Reception on Feb. 11.

On Dec. 6, 2024, a proclamation was issued declaring that day to be Indiana State Library Bicentennial Day. On Tuesday, Feb. 11, an invitation-only celebration took place at the Indiana State Library marking the anniversary of the day that the library became a state agency.

The library has also already published “Laying the Foundation,” a richly illustrated book featuring 100 items from the library’s vast and remarkable collection. Some of these items are currently on display in the State Library’s Exhibit Hall. “Laying the Foundation” is available for purchase now for $20 from the Nook Gift Shop on the first floor of the Indiana State Library, located at 315 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis. 

The yearlong Indiana State Library Bicentennial celebration is supported by the Indiana State Library Foundation.

This post was written by John Wekluk, communications director at the Indiana State Library.

What is the Internet Archive?

For the past 16 years, the Indiana State Library has had a very active digitization program between its Indiana, Genealogy and Manuscripts Divisions. The collection has grown to 32 individual collections, with each having sub-collections, and with all collections having a total of 337,093 items as of January 2025. In 2024, the Indiana Division alone added more than 700 items, consisting of more than 20,000 scans of materials from our digital collections. We added maps, newspapers and pamphlets from our county history collection. We also added state documents.

For the most part, we add materials to our digital collections management system, ContentDM. It was created by the Online Computer Library Center and is great for smaller items that are less than about 50 pages, such as maps, pamphlets, posters, photographs, etc. However, for larger books with heavy text, we use the Internet Archive, a digital content management system that is free and makes using these larger volumes far easier to use. It also offers better search capabilities than ContentDM.

The Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has been building a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts online since 1996 with their “mission is to provide universal access to all knowledge.” They offer free access to researchers, students, historians, genealogists and the general public.

Here at the Indiana State Library, we use the Internet Archive for larger periodicals and materials more than 50 pages in length with lots of text. Why? Because they are far easier to use and search. Among our Internet Archive collection, you will find the Indiana Acts from 1817 to 1850, the House and Senate Journals, the documentary journals, a few county and civil war histories and a few periodicals. As of the writing of this blog, we have 327 items.

One great example is the Indiana Construction Recorder, a periodical published by the Society of Indiana Architects in the 1920s and early 1930s. They are great if you are trying to find out when a building was built during that time period. However, each volume is well over 1,000 pages and can be difficult to search when using the actual book. The Internet Archive does an awesome job of making them searchable. We scan the materials, create a pdf and upload it into the Internet Archive and they do the rest. They offer a great optical character recognition program that makes these 1,000+ page volumes easier to search, in turn making your luck greater in find out what you are seeking.

We are continually adding more materials, so be sure to check out the Indiana State Library’s Internet Archive Collection on a regular basis.

This post was written by Christopher Marshall, digital collections coordinator for the Indiana Division at the Indiana State Library.

‘If you weren’t there, you missed it:’ Jazz at Tomlinson Hall

While the 1920s are colloquially known as the “jazz age” due to its emergence in that decade as a shockingly new and unique form of music, jazz did not truly enter the popular culture mainstream until the 1930s. The days of small bands comprising around five musicians were gone and replaced with massive orchestras of over a dozen performers, often fronted by a charismatic bandleader. Jazz performers moved out of the small clubs and speakeasies they had occupied throughout the 1920s and into massive music halls to both accommodate a growing fanbase and to better showcase the loud music created by the multiple saxophones, trumpets and trombones of the large orchestras. The Big Band Era was in full swing.

If you were in Indianapolis and wanted to see the biggest names in jazz in the 1930s, you were probably going to make a pilgrimage to Tomlinson Hall. Located at the corner of Market and Delaware streets, right next to the City Market, Tomlinson Hall opened its doors in 1886. A massive building, it served many purposes for the people of Indianapolis and hosted everything from conventions and political rallies to boxing matches and music performances.

Postcards showing Tomlinson Hall. The image on the left shows its proximity to the City Market building. From the Postcard Collection (P071) Rare Books and Manuscripts Collection.

Tomlinson Hall was open to all and the African American community of Indianapolis frequently held events in the venue as it had a capacity of 4,000 which was significantly larger than the recently constructed Walker Theater on Indiana Avenue. While all were welcome at Tomlinson Hall, segregation still existed within its confines. Below are two ads for the same 1935 Duke Ellington performance. The ad on the left is from the Indianapolis Recorder, the city’s preeminent Black newspaper. The smaller ad on the right is from the Indianapolis News and includes the text “Dance for colored patrons only. Balcony reserved for white spectators.”

Indianapolis Recorder, July 20, 1935. Indianapolis News, July 26, 1935.

Other major acts to make appearances at Tomlinson Hall in this time period include Claude Hopkins (1936), Louis Armstrong (1937), Count Basie (1939), Fats Waller (1938) and Blanche Calloway (1936). Calloway was the older sister of popular singer and bandleader Cab Calloway. She was the first woman to lead an all-male orchestra.

Collection of ads from the Indianapolis Recorder, 1936-39.

Band leader and drum virtuoso Chick Webb and singer Ella Fitzgerald performed at the Hall in August of 1938. The Indianapolis Recorder published photos from the show and noted that Fitzgerald “literally made the mike dance” during her performance.

Indianapolis Recorder, Aug. 13, 1938.

Tomlinson Hall continued to serve as one of Indianapolis’s main entertainment venues until it was destroyed by a fire in 1958. An arch from the original structure was found during City Market renovations in the 1970s and has been erected in a plaza near where the Great Hall once stood.

The Indianapolis Recorder contains a wealth of information on the history of jazz in the city. A digitized archive of the newspaper from 1899-2005 is available through Hoosier State Chronicles here.

This blog post was written by Jocelyn Lewis, Catalog Division supervisor, Indiana State Library. For more information, contact the Indiana State Library at 317-232-3678 or “Ask-A-Librarian.”

Indiana State Library names ISL Bicentennial Research Fellow

Last year, in honor of the Indiana State Library’s then upcoming 200th anniversary, the Indiana State Library Bicentennial Committee, in conjunction with the Indiana State Library Foundation, established an ISL Bicentennial Research Fellowship to be awarded in 2025. Researchers and historians with a focus on Indiana history were encouraged to apply. The Bicentennial Research Fellowship Review Committee recently awarded the week-long research grant to Emiliano Aguilar.

Emiliano Aguilar is a political and labor historian of the United States, specifically the Latina/o Midwest. His manuscript-in-progress explores how the ethnic Mexican and Puerto Rican community of East Chicago, Indiana navigated machine politics in the 20th and 21st centuries to further their inclusion in municipal and union politics. His work has appeared in The Metropole, Belt Magazine, Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History, the Los Angeles Review of Books, Indiana Magazine of History and the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History. A native to East Chicago, he is a proud board member of the Calumet Heritage Partnership and now lives in South Bend, where he is an assistant professor of history at the University of Notre Dame.

“As a lifelong resident of Indiana, I’ve always had a love and appreciation for my roots in East Chicago and my years living in Hammond, Whiting and now South Bend. I appreciate the opportunity as an Indiana State Library Bicentennial Research Fellow to share the rich stories of the Calumet Region and the long history of our state’s Latino community,” said Aguilar.

The Indiana State Library looks forward to Aguilar’s stay at the library.

This post was written by Monique Howell, Indiana Collection supervisor.

Upcoming What’s Up Wednesday trainings to focus on AI

With the rise of artificial intelligence in our society, library staff may have concerns and questions surrounding AI and the best practices to apply when it comes to using AI. Did you know that the Professional Development Office at the Indiana State Library has four upcoming What’s Up Wednesday webinars that will focus on AI and how to incorporate AI in public libraries? Continuing education is an important part of a professional librarian’s success, and it is equally important that they are provided training and knowledge that will provide them tools for their success. Lacey Klemm, Northwest regional coordinator, and Meg Adams, Central regional coordinator, have partnered with professionals to deliver AI training to public libraries.

Below, you will find dates and information for the upcoming What’s Up Wednesday AI trainings and a link to a recently-completed AI webinar that took place on Jan. 29. Some of these webinars are still finalizing details, but stay tuned to the Indiana State Library’s LibCal events calendar to view the updated information as it becomes available.

July 30
“What’s Up Wednesday – Debunking and Understanding the Fears of AI”
This webinar will help debunk the fears surrounding AI, while providing how we currently use AI in our daily lives.

Stay tuned for more information and a registration link!

Presented by Dr. Treg Hopkins, national director of administration and leadership of Connectable Education.

Aug. 27
“What’s Up Wednesday – How to incorporate AI for Professional and Library Use”
Our presenter, Dr. Treg Hopkins, will teach librarians and staff how they can incorporate AI in their jobs and within their library.

Stay tuned for more information and a registration link!

Presented by Dr. Treg Hopkins, national director of administration and leadership of Connectable Education.

Sept. 10
“What’s Up Wednesday” – Dr. Treg Hopkins program
This program will share information on what types of AI could be beneficial for libraries to use, to serve and to provide for their communities.

Stay tuned for title and a registration link!

Presented by Dr. Treg Hopkins, national director of administration and leadership of Connectable Education.

Oct. 8
“What’s Up Wednesday – Creating Library Programming with AI”
This program will demonstrate how libraries can use AI capabilities to create library programming.

Stay tuned for more information and registration link!

Presented by Dr. Treg Hopkins, national director of administration and leadership of Connectable Education.

Additionally, on Jan. 29, the Indiana State Library presented “What’s Up Wednesday – Artificial Intelligence in Libraries.” Presenters Michael Acsbok and Nicaris Daniels-Porter discussed advances in artificial intelligence and how the coming decade could bring transformations comparable to those witnessed over the past century.

Click here to view the Indiana State Library’s LEU policies, including how to document LEUs for live and archived virtual conference sessions or webinars.

This post was submitted by Meg Adams, Central regional coordinator at the Indiana State Library.

Did you know that the Indiana State Library has a recording studio?

Yes, the Indiana State Library has a recording studio! It’s part of the Indiana Talking Book & Braille Library, and it’s used to record audio books and audio magazines. This program is called Indiana Voices. Indiana Talking Book & Braille Library employee Jannell Summers is the program coordinator for the Indiana Voices program. She oversees all aspects of the program here at the Indiana State Library. The Indiana Talking Book & Braille Library serves citizens of Indiana who are blind or visually impaired, have a physical disability that makes using a standard book difficult or have a reading disability.

Indiana Voices records books written by authors who have a connection to Indiana; books with a subject that has a connection to Indiana; and books about Indiana history. Unfortunately, most people will never be able to listen to our books. Indiana Voices records books to be uploaded to the Braille & Audio Reading Download Service, most commonly known as BARD. This is an app produced by the National Library Service for use by talking book and braille libraries all over the nation. The reason Indiana Voices can only upload books to this site for use by our patrons is because the Legislative Branch of the United States government gave us permission to record any book for this service without violating their copyright protections.

During 2024, Indiana Voices recorded 10 books and magazines for the BARD service. These include:

Local authors
“Zeek the Zigzag Zebra” by NT Lucy is a juvenile fiction book. All four books currently in the series were recorded by the author in our studio.

“Now You See It/ Him/ Them” by Gene DeWeese and Robert Coulson is an adult fiction mystery. This book was recorded by Indiana Voices volunteer Lisa Calabro.

Books set in Indiana
“The Ghosts of Jungle Park” by Tom W. Williams is an adult nonfiction book. This book was recorded by Indiana Voices volunteer Kathleen Munsch.

“I Saw Santa in Indiana” by Shannon Anderson is a juvenile fiction book. This book was recorded by Indiana State Library employee Karen Perry.

Magazines
Outdoor Indiana is the state’s premier magazine, featuring the best of state parks, lakes, wildlife, forests, trails, hunting, fishing, wildflowers and outdoorsy people. Volume 87, Number 4 was read by Indiana State Library employee Doug Conrads.

Volunteering for Indiana Voices
Indiana Voices can always use more volunteers, and we have two positions that we are always looking to fill.

Narrators and readers: These volunteers are recorded reading the books and magazines. An hour every two weeks is all that we ask of your time, but you must be able to come to the Indiana State Library in Indianapolis.

At-home reviewers: These volunteers work from home listening to the finished books and read along to find errors that need to be corrected. Everything you need is sent to you electronically. An hour or two a week is all that we ask of your time.

To find out more information about volunteering, contact Jannell Summers via email or call her at 317-234-2128.

Read more about the Indiana State Library’s Volunteer Program here.

This blog post was written by Judy Gray, Indiana Talking Books and Braille Library supervisor.

How’s 2025 going for you so far?

While a lot of us have already broken our New Year’s resolutions – or just didn’t bother making one this year – maybe I can give you a couple of suggestions to make your days seem a little better.

I work at the Indiana State Library, which is a beautifully-crafted work of art that I honestly feel privileged to walk into every day. But let’s be honest, no one wants to drive downtown; it’s busy and that scares “country folks.” However, if you come while all this construction is going on, you’re able to park in the parking garage across the street and bring your ticket in to be validated.

Now, let’s talk about how this field trip can benefit you! First, walk into the library and find a book, find a comfy seat, sit down and relax for a while. We don’t care how long you stay… as long as you’re out by 4:30 p.m., as I must go let my dog out.

Studies show that reading can reduce your stress levels by more than 60%. Reading also reduces muscle tension and reduces heart rate. Reading is also an excellent way to relax, so make it part of your bedtime ritual for better sleep.

Make 2025 about you. Try new things. Learn about cooking or meditation. You might just want to learn how to plant that herb garden you’ve always dreamed of. We have all these books and more hidden gems in the stacks waiting for you to come visit. Stop by the Circulation desk and say, “Hi.” We’ll be glad to see you.

This blog post was written by Rayjeana Duty, circulation supervisor, Indiana State Library.

New technology opens up vast world of records through FamilySearch

In 2023, FamilySearch debuted a new feature for researchers: Full-Text Search. Using handwriting recognition technology, FamilySearch is indexing and making searchable massive numbers of records that were unindexed and difficult to navigate before now.

At this time, Full-Text Search includes over 4,500 record sets from all seven continents (yes, including Antarctica). FamilySearch continues to add new record sets and to expand the number of records in currently indexed sets.

Indiana records currently included in Full-Text Search.

To access Full-Text Search, you will need a free FamilySearch account, which you can create at www.familysearch.org. Once you have an account, visit the FamilySearch Labs page to join Full-Text Search. Since it is currently in testing, it’s not part of the regular FamilySearch search experience. After joining, you can use Full-Text Search to search for any person, place, business or keyword.

FamilySearch Full-Text Search main page.

So how does it all work? Let’s look at an example. Suppose we are researching the Sipple family of Tippecanoe County, Indiana.

We start by searching for the surname Sipple. We can either limit our search to Tippecanoe County from the beginning using the location field, or we can filter our results after we search. In this example, we’re going to use the filters.

Search results.

Full-Text Search gives us 62 results for people named Sipple in Tippecanoe County. Looking at the Record Type filter, we can see there are Legal Records, Vital Records, Business Records and Government Records. Each of those can be further filtered by subtype. For example Vital Records may include birth, marriage and death records, depending on the place you’re researching. You can also filter your results by decade using the Year filter and by FamilySearch collection using the Collection filter.

Tippecanoe County General Index of Deeds, Volume 135: 1849-1970.

Let’s look at this deed index from Tippecanoe County. For this county, FamilySearch has only the deed indexes. For other counties and places, they often have the full deed records as well. You may also find other text-heavy records such as wills, probates, court records and more.

The name we searched is highlighted on the page so we can see where the relevant record is. There’s also a transcription of the records on the right, with our search terms highlighted. As you can see, there’s some unclear transcriptions here. Because handwriting can be so highly variable, the transcriptions are not always perfect, but they are usually quite good.

Once we have looked at the record to make sure it’s what we want, we can download the record as a PDF or JPG and have citations automatically included. We can also attach the record to the relevant person on the FamilySearch Tree.

Search results for Smith in Knox County, Indiana at home.

Search results for Smith in Knox County, Indiana at the Indiana State Library.

One thing to note about Full-Text Search is that although FamilySearch is freely accessible at home, there may be records that you cannot access just anywhere. Due to contractual restrictions, some records are available only at FamilySearch Centers and FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries. Fortunately, the Indiana State Library is an Affiliate Library and we have access to thousands of additional records compared to at-home users. To find a FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library near you, visit the Find a FamilySearch Location page.

The examples given here all cover Indiana, but Full-Text Search includes records from across the United States and around the world. Records that previously had to be accessed page-by-page are now fully searchable and ready for researchers to make new discoveries about their families.

This blog post is by Jamie Dunn, Genealogy Division supervisor.

Legal considerations for library events: What Indiana librarians need to know

Libraries in Indiana are vibrant community hubs offering a range of events, from book clubs and author talks to STEM workshops and family movie nights. While these events enhance community engagement, they also come with legal considerations that librarians must address to protect their institutions and participants. The following are key legal issues Indiana librarians should be aware of when planning and hosting events, ensuring a smooth and compliant experience for all.

Many library events involve the use of copyrighted materials, such as books, movies, music or art. Public performance rights are a critical aspect to consider, particularly for movie nights or live readings. Showing a film requires a public performance license, even if you own the DVD or digital copy. Playing music at events, whether live or recorded, may require licenses from organizations like the American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) or Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI). Readings and story times typically fall under fair use but large-scale or paid ticketed events would likely require additional permissions and possibly even an amusement and entertainment permit.

Hosting events introduces risks which could include injuries, property damage or unforeseen emergencies. Libraries should be sure to have appropriate liability protections in place. General liability insurance should cover accidents or injuries that occur during events. Review your library’s insurance policy to ensure adequate coverage for events. Use participant waivers for high-risk activities, such as physical workshops or outdoor events. Require vendors or performers to provide proof of insurance for services provided at the event. Conduct safety assessments for event activities and clearly communicate rules and expectations to participants.

The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates that library services and programs, including special events, must be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Ensure physical venues are wheelchair accessible, including entrances, seating and restrooms. Provide accommodations, such as sign language interpreters or assistive listening devices, when requested. Digital events must meet accessibility standards, including captioning for videos and screen reader-compatible materials. Plan for accessibility from the outset, rather than as an afterthought. Include an accessibility statement in event promotions, inviting participants to request accommodations. Train staff on ADA requirements and best practices for inclusive programming.

Events for children and teens often involve specific legal considerations, including consent and supervision. Develop and use parental consent and release forms for events that include photographs, videos or off-site activities. Libraries could even include this language in the activity sign-up forms. Ensure adequate adult supervision during children’s programs, whether that means requiring parents to attend the event with their children or whether it means diverting additional library staff to assist with the program. Clearly communicate expectations for parent or guardian participation when necessary and avoid collecting unnecessary personal data from minors.

Collaborating with outside vendors, authors or performers for events requires clear, enforceable agreements. Define the scope of services, payment terms and cancellation policies. Include clauses addressing copyright, liability and insurance requirements. Maintain thorough records of agreements and communications with vendors and clarify expectations for promotion, setup and cleanup responsibilities.

Post clear signage at events informing participants about photography or recording. Libraries can also address whether there will be photography or videography at the event in the sign-up form, state how images will be used and include consent for use language. Store and use images responsibly, adhering to your library’s privacy policies.

Library events are a cornerstone of community engagement, but they come with legal responsibilities that Indiana librarians must navigate. By addressing copyright compliance, liability, accessibility and other legal concerns proactively, libraries can create events that are not only enjoyable but also legally sound.

This blog post was written by Sylvia Watson, library law consultant and legal counsel, Indiana State Library.