Category Archives: Reference/Research

Snapshots of the Past: Indiana’s State Historical Marker Program – 1 LEU

Indiana historical bureau logo historical marker sign state of Indiana outline with stars and torch from the Indiana flag in the backgroundThe Indiana Historical Bureau has worked with communities and organizations on the installation of state historical markers dating back to the 1940s. These markers serve as tangible reminders of the state’s past and help return stories to the physical landscape. In this program, learn about the process and criteria for obtaining a state historical marker, why markers matter, and their continued relevance in today’s digital age, using examples from the collection of over 750 state markers that currently exist.

Date Recorded: 11/5/2025

Format: Archived YouTube Video

Presenter: Casey Pfeiffer, Historical Marker Program Director / Indiana Historical Bureau Division, Indiana State Library

 

State Data Center Programs – 1 LEU

logo Indiana State Data center in a circleThe national network of State Data Centers in every U.S. state and territory provides the public with access to data and training on current data tools. We partner with the U.S. Census Bureau to ensure you have the most recent population data. Here at the Indiana State Data Center, we also partner with several other state agencies and organizations to create a strong network of data and geospatial professionals to help provide insight into to today’s top social and economic questions. Katie Springer, Director of Indiana’s SDC Program, explains what our State Data Center @ the State Library does for the public and what kinds of questions we handle. Librarians and Educators alike can learn how to be ready for demographic questions and how our connections strengthen our network.

Date Recorded: 11/26/2025

Format: Archived YouTube Video

Presenter: Katie Springer, Director, Indiana State Data Center / Indiana State Library

 

A Conversation about Curating Digital Collections – 1 LEU

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

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The Indiana Collection at the Indiana State Library

 The Indiana Collection at the Indiana State Library offers a wealth of published material about our great state. Among the most widely used are local daily newspapers, maps, local histories, and state agency documents, including historical laws. Our collection includes historical runs of many titles, essential for researching the past and preparing for the future. In this webinar, you’ll be introduced to fascinating items within the collection, receive tips for exploring the resources, discover where to find online materials, and learn how you can help us grow this unique collection.

Date Recorded: 04/09/2025

Format: Archived YouTube Video

Presenter:  Monique Howell, Indiana Division Supervisor, Indiana State Library

Start Your Community’s Journey to Information Literacy – 1 LEU

In 2024 the Institute of Museum and Library Services launched a new website to resources to teach about the different types of literacy there are including information literacy, digital literacy, financial literacy, health literacy, and science literacy.  The website includes programming resources to help develop skills in using and understanding information in a quickly changing world. In addition, the website includes training resources specifically for professionals, funding opportunities to promote information literacy, ready-made lesson plans, evaluation tools and more.  Please join us for a look at what can be accomplished using the materials available on the website.

Date recorded: April 30, 2025

Format: Archived YouTube Video

Presenter: Kara Cleveland, Professional Development Office Supervisor, Indiana State Library

Bridging Futures Linking Library Collections and Services to Faculty – 1 LEU

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

 

Indiana Disability Resource FINDER – 1 LEU

image of Indiana Disability Resource Finder logoIndiana 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.

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2025 Using TeachingBooks at the Public Library – 1 LEU

Engage and inspire readers with TeachingBooks resources that can be used both with patrons and behind the scenes. In this webinar, we will highlight ways to implement resources in your youth services library programming as well as new tools to complement your work. Learn about the Collection Analysis and other toolkits, ready-to-use resources for your book clubs and story times, homework help features, and more.

Date Recorded: 2/19/2025

Format: Archived YouTube Video

Presenters: TeachingBooks staff

Indiana Legal Help – How Can Libraries Support Publicly Accessible Legal Information – 1 LEU

Indiana Legal Help www.indianalegalhelp.org logoWhat is Indiana Legal Help: Using technology, Indiana Legal Help seeks to improve access to justice for all Hoosiers by removing barriers to the law so they can better understand their legal options, make informed decisions and connect to local legal and community resources.

 

  • How to find Indiana Legal Help/Bridging the digital divide: What and where are the Indiana Legal Help kiosks; How libraries can use and promote IndianaLegalHelp.org
  • What legal information and resources can you access on the site (linking to free legal help, legal information help desk, calendar of events, etc.)
  • What is legal information vs. legal advice? Guidance for librarians on what they can and cannot do to help people with legal issues

Diverse members of the public represent some of the largest portions of citizens and library-users that are unable to afford legal representation.  The legal forms, resources and information provided by the Indiana Bar Foundation at indianalegalhelp.org are provided at no cost.   Librarians who are trained and proficient on assisting members with use of the website help ensure that these resources are available to those in our state who need them most.

Date Recorded: 8/28/2024

Format: Archived YouTube Video

Presenter: Mike Commons / Indiana Legal Help

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What the Research Says – Digital Privacy in libraries as Digital Literacy – 1 LEU

image of lock on html codeArticle VII of the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights states that “Libraries should advocate for, educate about, and protect people’s privacy”. With the proliferation of digital services available through libraries both public and academic, this imperative extends out beyond the walls of the library and into the realm of digital privacy. In this webinar, one librarian will talk through the preparation and implementation of three different programs on this topic: an online resource, a workshop at Monroe County Public Library, and a program at Indiana University Libraries. Through these examples, participants will discover various resources to support similar initiatives.

Date Recorded: 3/27/2024

Format: Archived YouTube Video

Presenter: James Henry Smith, Jay Visiting Information Literacy Librarian /
Indiana University Libraries

Resources