Hear about the programs that have influenced one library’s community, including diversifying collections, creating spaces for different age groups, implementing food security programs, getting outside of library walls, implementing 24-hour book pickup, and offering take-home crafts, all on a small budget in a small building. You’ll look at how some of the programs were planned and work together as a team to share successful programs and identify other ways to make big changes with small adjustments.
Date Recorded: 5/14/2025
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Brenda Hornsby Heindl / Director/Librarian, Liberty Public Library (Liberty, North Carolina)
Learn how AI tools assist with data analysis, research automation, and text summarization. Demonstrate AI applications like ChatGPT, semantic search engines, and data visualization tools to streamline workflows.
Presenter Bio: Dr. Treg Hopkins is the Co-Founder of Connectable, an Indiana-based nonprofit committed to enhancing adult education programs across more than 20 states through advanced data systems and artificial intelligence. As a Certified Quantitative Methodologist, his research focuses on neurodiversity, aging, and the role of technology in these areas. Hopkins has extensive leadership experience, serving on multiple boards and advising nonprofits and government entities on strategic planning. His expertise in library innovation includes serving on a long-term library planning board and previously delivering a keynote address at the Indiana Library Federation’s FOIL conference.
Date Recorded: 8/27/2025
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Dr. Treg Hopkins / Co-Founder of Connectable
Explore how AI enhances library services, including automated cataloging, AI-driven search tools, and personalized recommendations. Discuss ethical considerations and best practices for implementation.
Presenter Bio: Dr. Treg Hopkins is the Co-Founder of Connectable, an Indiana-based nonprofit committed to enhancing adult education programs across more than 20 states through advanced data systems and artificial intelligence. As a Certified Quantitative Methodologist, his research focuses on neurodiversity, aging, and the role of technology in these areas. Hopkins has extensive leadership experience, serving on multiple boards and advising nonprofits and government entities on strategic planning. His expertise in library innovation includes serving on a long-term library planning board and previously delivering a keynote address at the Indiana Library Federation’s FOIL conference.
Date Recorded: 7/30/2025
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Dr. Treg Hopkins / Co-Founder of Connectable
Join us for a 45-minute conversation about the theories and thoughts about building a digital collection. We will explore questions about what and what not to digitize, the importance of provenance, copyright issues, and how to determine whether it adds value to the vast number of collections out there in the digital universe. We will also look at and evaluate examples of well-curated collections versus a lot of “space junk” filing a void, all from the Indiana State Library’s Digital Collections and Hosted Collections. (Please note: this program will not focus on fund-raising nor the actual building of a digital collection.)
Date Recorded: 7/23/2025
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Chris Marshall / Digital Collections Coordinator, Indiana Division Library and Brittany Kropf / Rare Books and Manuscripts Librarian, Indiana State Library
As we all know, some of the only constants in life are change and the passage of time. Academic librarians are also constantly asked to improve utilization of library services. Fostering communication and collaboration between faculty, students, and academic librarians to achieve shared success is an ongoing challenge. Our classroom instruction can often have a secret audience, the teaching faculty. By demonstrating expertise in subject matter and research techniques librarians can increase the chances of teaching faculty reaching out for support. With a panel of librarians from various disciplines, this talk will highlight several strategies that can be used to engage with students and faculty, supporting their work both inside and outside of the classroom.
Date Recorded: 4/22/2025
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Melissa Gentry / Map Collections Supervisor at Bracken Library, Ball State University and Karen Harag / Health Sciences and Human Services Librarian, St. Mary’s College and Brad Johnston / Building Material Librarian, Ball State University
ILF Advocacy Committee co-chairs, Vanessa Martin and Julie Wendorf will talk about the importance of advocacy and will give updates for the coming 2025 legislative session. Vanessa Martin – ILF Advocacy Committee, co-chair & Director, Greensburg Decatur County Public Library.
Vanessa Martin has been the director at the Greensburg Decatur County Public Library since 2016. She is also the current co-chair of the ILF Advocacy Committee. She has 18 years of experience working in Indiana public libraries. She has also been active in the governance of Evergreen Indiana, serving on different committees. She has held many job titles, but simply put, she is passionate about libraries and helping others.
Julie Wendorf – ILF Advocacy Committee, co-chair & Director, Crown Point Community Library. Julie Wendorf has been the director of the Crown Point Community Library since 2018. She is a member of the ILF Board, board representative on the IPLA Board, the co-chair of the ILF Advocacy Committee, and current ILF Vice President. She is active in community service organizations including Rotary International and Lions Club. She has a passion for library collaboration projects with other community organizations and doing library outreach. Julie will be busy testifying at the legislature during the webinar.
Date Recorded: 3/12/2025
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Vanessa Martin / Director of Greensburg Decatur County Public Library and ILF Advocacy Committee co-chair and Julie Wendorf / Director of Crown Point Community and ILF Board of Directors President
Indiana Disability Resource FINDER, administered by the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community (IIDC), is a FREE 24/7 online state-wide disability-related database designed to connect individuals to providers, resources, and events across Indiana. We will explore program features and demonstrate how to use FINDER to help individuals with disabilities and family members connect with services and resources in Indiana.
Date Recorded: 2/25/2025
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Peggy Holtz, Research Assistant, and Joel F. Fosha, Director of communications / Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, Indiana University, Bloomington.
Hear success stories of how the School Care Team has helped libraries in Indiana strengthen their impact on youth, provide community support, and support library staff well-being. Attendees will learn about programs and training offered through these partnerships and how to bring them to their own libraries. Leave with research-based practical tools to foster personal and community well-being.
Date Recorded: 2/26/2025
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Shannon Tenney, Program Specialist / School Care Team
Are you looking to spice up your library programs? Does the thought of cooking classes make you blanch? This session focuses on cooking programs for preschoolers through teens. We will introduce the basics of adding cooking programs to your list of library activities, sharing resources, recipes, techniques, and tips for success. Let us make cooking a whisk you’ll be willing to take!
Date Recorded: 11/27/2024
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Erika Wagner, Programming and Outreach Librarian and Cindy Baumeister, Branch Supervisor / Crown Point Community Library
Programming for adults doesn’t have to be complicated. They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and I have gathered 12 programming ideas, complete with instructions, for your library to use. These programs are adaptable to any budget.