The Indiana State Library has captured our best webinars for you to access anytime. To earn credit for a archived webinar hosted by the Indiana State Library. Please have your library director or supervisor create a certificate that meets the requirement found on the LEU Policies page. The Indiana State Library does not issue certificates for archived webinars.
Build excitement about summer reading! Join us for a look at summer reading lists and programming ideas. Inspire independent reading with TeachingBooks resources that let the books and their authors speak for themselves. TeachingBooks is provided to all Indiana schools, public libraries, universities and residents through INSPIRE, a service of the Indiana State Library.
Girls Who Code wants to give you the tools and resources you need to develop inclusive computer science programming – no coding experience required. Join us to learn about our free Clubs program for 3rd-12th grade coders. We’ll introduce you to our three essential components for quality programming: (1) activities that teach coding and social-emotional development, (2) a culture of bravery where participants join a supportive community of peers and role models in tech, and (3) real-world application of coding for positive impact. Leave with step-by-step guidance for bringing new STEM initiatives to young people in your community!
Presenter: Kibret Yebetit is a Senior Manager of Community Partnerships & Outreach at Girls Who Code. She works with educators, libraries, and nonprofits to bring free computer science education to their students.
Date Recorded: 5/9/2024
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Kibret Yebetit / Senior Manager of Community Partnerships & Outreach at Girls Who Code
Receive insights, reports, and confidence around the titles you choose for displays, storytimes, and even faceout displays. Book resumes provide you with the book’s bona fides: awards, reviews, genres, reading levels, and more. Collection analysis reports give you insights into diversity, recency, fiction/non-fiction, and more – while also helping you identify titles for possible augmentation. Both tools provide immediate documentation and consistent information about the titles in your library. The goal of this session is to return to your library equipped with support and increasing confidence in your collections.
To improve the lives of all Indiana children, Indiana Youth Institute provides access to reliable data and resources to empower, educate, and equip those who impact youth. Join us for a dive into the recently released 2025 Indiana KIDS COUNT® Data Book during this State of the Child presentation! Learn and engage with the best and most recent information on child well-being, to inform leaders, policymakers, youth workers, and advocates, like you, with go-to sources for critical data to create positive change for youth in your community.
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.
Get started planning your 2023 Summer Library Program with this VIRTUAL Collaborative Summer Library Program training! Join Beth Yates of the Indiana State Library for this training where you will be introduced to and receive updates about and resources for the 2023 CSLP Summer Reading Program “All Together Now.”
NOTE: If you attend an in-person All Together Now training in Indiana, there is no need to watch this webinar; content is duplicated.
Date Recorded: 1/4/2023
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Beth Yates, Children’s Consultant / Indiana State Library
The staff of the North Manchester Public Library strive to meet the needs of their community in a variety of innovative ways. Unique programs and resources strengthen community relationships, center the library as an integral part of community life, and undergird literacy. In this webinar, Sarah Morbitzer, Children’s Department head, will share the ways NMPL is working to promote food security, physical activity, sensory integration, accessibility, and curiosity in learning.
Presenter Sarah Morbitzer began her career in the library world as a 10 year old volunteer. As a high school student she was hired as a clerk and promoted to Children’s programmer in her late teens. She later served as a Children’s Department Assistant and is now the Children’s Department Head at the North Manchester Public Library. Big ideas get her excited and one of her greatest joys is implementing new ideas at the library to blow patrons’ minds and get them excited about coming to their library!
Date Recorded: 5/10/2023
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Sarah Morbitzer / North Manchester Public Library
Rebecca Parker and Stuart Cotton will discuss their Digital Climbers STEAM learning program, and how they gave up on traditional STEAM programming in favor of a multi-layered, sustainable system of STEAM challenges and projects for children. Attendees will learn about the benefits of unscheduled, personalized learning programs for kids, how the program has evolved and improved over time, and how your library can benefit from programming like this.
Date Recorded: 9/1/2017
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Rebecca Parker and Stuart Cotton / Muncie Public Library
Talk! Sing! Read! Write! Play, especially with blocks! Play is an integral component of the development of young children, which is increasingly reflected in libraries through their design and programming. During this webinar you will learn why block play is so powerful, how staff at Allen County Public Library tackled the challenge of adding more play–specifically block play–to their program offerings, and how to adapt their initiative for libraries big and small.
Hear from two librarians experienced in the NASA @ My Library program about how they have used the kit materials in their libraries to bring STEM programming to the masses and connect their libraries with the research and science of NASA. Ryan Curto, Bedford Public Library, and Allison McLean, Elkhart Public Library, share ideas for programs they have done using the original NASA@MyLibrary kits.
Date Recorded: 4/12/19
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Ryan Curto, Bedford Public Library and Allison McLean, Elkhart Public Library
As one of the few public places where peace and quiet can often be found, libraries have long served autistic children and adults well. Still, popular group activities held at libraries can be an issue for autistic children who can easily become overwhelmed by the noise and activity of peers. Librarians and staff can become overwhelmed as well, when responses to sensory or social inaccessibility lead to what some people call “behaviors.” In this presentation, we will discuss brain differences in autism and how these create unique sensory profiles which in turn determine responses to the environment. You will learn about the sensory and social needs of autistic people and how to create an environment that promotes calmness and security, as well as how to prevent or respond to meltdowns. The presentation also includes book recommendations for all ages.
Presenter Bev Harp is Project Director for Innovative Supports for Autistic Workers (ISAW), a project of the Human Development Institute (HDI) and is self-advocate faculty for LEND at the University of Kentucky. Bev is an autistic self-advocate who has presented at national conferences for APSE, AHEAD, TASH, and many other organizations. She holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Kentucky.
Date Recorded: 11/9/2023
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Bev Harp, Project Director / Innovative Supports for Autistic Workers (ISAW)
Dive deep into diversifying your collection with TeachingBooks resources. Join us to learn how to use our Diverse Books Toolkit to analyze the cultural representation in your existing collections, how to identify great books to fill gaps, and how to use TeachingBooks resources to promote those books and facilitate conversation with your library staff and patrons.
Get started planning your 2022 Summer Library Program by this VIRTUAL Collaborative Summer Library Program training! Join Beth Yates of the Indiana State Library for this training where you will be introduced to and receive updates about the 2022 CSLP Summer Reading Program “Oceans of Possibilities.”
Get started planning your 2024 Summer Library Program by this VIRTUAL Collaborative Summer Library Program training! Join Beth Yates of the Indiana State Library for this training where you will receive updates about and resources for the 2024 CSLP Summer Reading Program “Adventure Begins at Your Library.”
Date Recorded: 1/9/2024
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Beth Yates, Chidren’s Consultant / Indiana State Library
Kick-off summer reading 2025 with this presentation about the Collaborative Summer Library Program’s Color Our World “art” theme, including suggested resources for planning and other general information.
Date Recorded: 1/7/2025
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Beth Yates, Children’s Consultant at Indiana State Library
Youth need more than traditional literacies to succeed in life – they also need emotional intelligence. Learn how you can build Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) into any teen program and help your teens develop their self-management, social awareness, and relationship skills. You’ll leave this session with great resources and concrete ideas for incorporating SEL at your library. Presenter: Brin Chenille Bugo, Calgary Public Library
Role playing games (RPGs) such as Dungeons & Dragons are becoming increasingly popular both at home and in libraries. Librarians across the country are embracing RPGs and the skills that they teach during play. How can you get started? What do you need to get started? Do you have to play in person? Can you play online? Is it hard? We’ll be answering these basic questions and more as well as show you how The Learning Curve @ Central Library runs our virtual Dungeons and Dragons game utilizing Discord and Roll20.net. Whether you’re a complete beginner or have a bit of experience, you can run your own games!
Date Recorded: 2/25/2021
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Kirsten Weaver, Teen Programming Specialist and Christopher Brozo, Activity Guide and Austin Senior, Activity Guide / Indianapolis Public Library
The public library can be a scary place for people with dyslexia. Join us for a quick overview of the science of reading and dyslexia and how to apply best practices to create a welcoming place for all brains, including people with dyslexia. We will explore ways public libraries can serve as a dyslexia resource center for children and parents and help promote awareness in local communities. Presented by Shaiya Badgley, a literacy guru, and Josiah Colombo-Espinosa, senior dyslexia specialist, from the Indiana Department of Education Literacy Center.
Date Recorded: 8/29/2023
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Shaiya Badgley, a literacy guru and Josiah Colombo-Espinosa, senior dyslexia specialist /Indiana Department of Education Literacy Center
Do you need summer program ideas for your youngest patrons? Look no further than the Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award! This Indiana book award comes complete with an entire manual packed with ideas and resources for ages 0-5. This webinar will dive into the manual, discuss voting methods, and more about this great picture book award voted on by Indiana children ages 0-5.
Suzanne Walker is the Indiana Young Readers Center Librarian at the Indiana State Library. Suzanne received her Master of Library Science from Indiana University. She is currently the Indiana Young Readers Center Librarian and Director of the Indiana Center for the Book, an affiliate of the Library of Congress. She coordinates Indiana’s Letters About Literature competition annually. Suzanne judged the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards in 2013 and 2014 and the Indiana Poetry Out Loud competition in 2017. Most recently she was a judge for the 2020 Indiana Authors Awards and the 2021 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award. She has presented numerous times at Indiana Library Federation’s District conferences, annual conferences, and youth conferences and is proud to have been interviewed about Indiana authors by NPR.
Shel Curry, children’s author, has always dreamed of being an author and in November 2021, The Bedtime Story Race was published. When Shel was a little girl, getting her first library card was a defining moment in her literacy journey. She has been involved with the Firefly Award Committee for two years. The Gary, Indiana native is a graduate of Indiana State University, a mom of four and when she’s not reading with her kids, she works full time in corporate communications.
Date Recorded: 4/25/2023
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Suzanne Walker, Indiana Young Readers Center, Indiana State Library and Shel Curry, children’s author, member of Firefly Award Committee
Join us as members of the Indiana Astronomical Society provide an introduction to practical observing that can be used at libraries for their own astronomy-themed programs. This session will explore the basics of navigating the night sky, cover common types of celestial objects, and provide guidance for finding and identifying popular targets in the summer night sky. Whether you are planning a “Universe of Stories” star-gazing program this summer or just want to brush up on your knowledge of our galaxy, this webinar will provide the information you need!
Date Recorded: 3/6/19
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Ben Jansen, Vice-President – Indiana Astronomical Society / Laura Keller, Secretary & Librarian – Indiana Astronomical Society / Fred Keller, Board Member – Indiana Astronomical Society / Mike Birch, Board Member – Indiana Astronomical Society
Learn about free and low cost programming for youth in this webinar, led by a library programmer! We will talk about things you can do on the fly and programs you can plan for next to nothing out of your library budget. We will cover all ages from birth to 18.
Date Recorded: 2/29/2024
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Bambi Pea / Indianapolis Public Library
Join Beth Yates, Children’s Consultant at the Indiana State Library, as she highlights several INSPIRE databases that will be useful for those who serve students and who assist with homework assignments.
Book Connections tools can assist library staff in providing easy and thorough Reader’s Advisory for children and teens, as well as helping empower readers to independently discover a new favorite title. Learn about Discover Like Books, searching and filtering, and resources to preview titles, and come away ready to recommend a book to any reader. TeachingBooks and Book Connections are provided to all Indiana schools, public libraries, universities and residents through INSPIRE, a service of the Indiana State Library.
Strong school-library partnerships are vital for students in our communities. In 2022, the St. Joe County Public Library designed the SB READy program, which provided 16 schools, 57 classes, and more than 950 Kindergarteners with library cards, field trips and outreach storytimes. In this session, learn how to build comprehensive school partnership plans, pitch ideas to school and library administrators, gain teacher and library staff buy-in, and make the magic happen!
Emily Lovell is the Early Literacy Librarian at the St. Joe County Public Library. With a background in Elementary Education, she has worked with children in school and library settings over the past five years. She holds an MLIS from Wayne State University and a BS in Elementary Education from Central Michigan University. She is passionate about providing young patrons and their caregivers with programs, resources, and services that foster a love of reading from an early age.
Date Recorded: 1/25/2024
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Emily Lovell, Early Literacy Librarian / Saint Joseph County Public Library
This webinar covers some well-known and possibly not so well-known government websites for kids and young adults. Media specialists, children’s librarians, and parents will be able to use this information to share with patrons, kids, and young adults to help them navigate safe websites with useful information, resources, and games. This session introduces federal government Internet sources and how they can be applied to every area of life from consumer safety, education, money management, and more.
Date Recorded: 12/03/20
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Brent Abercrombie, Federal Documents Coordinator, Indiana State Library
Looking to fund your next great library idea? There might be a grant for that! Navigating the world of grants can be daunting for even the most seasoned professional, and many people aren’t even sure where to start. This webinar will provide a brief overview on how to search for funding, as well as recommendations for tackling those applications
When teens walk into the library, does your staff view them as a problem or an opportunity? Libraries are positioned to have a huge impact on teen lives with just a little intentionality. This session will introduce directors (and anyone else interested) to the developmental needs of teens and the ways in which libraries can support teens in their communities by utilizing Connected Learning—yes, even during the pandemic! We’ll discuss what this looks like in the library setting and how to encourage staff to look at teens and teen programs in a different way.
Date Recorded: 12/22/2020
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Beth Yates, Indiana State Library / Christy Franzman, Hamilton East Public Library
The Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award brings together young children and great picture books, but it can’t be done without public libraries. Learn about the award and how one Indiana library implements the program each year. Updates to the program and an overview of the annual program guide will also be covered.
Speaker, Amy Caswell has worn hats in the library world since 2012. She earned her MLS degree from IUPUI in 2015, and since has focused exclusively working in Youth Services. She currently is a Children’s Librarian at the Downtown Library of Monroe County Public Library where she enjoys hosting a weekly Preschool Storytime, among other programs. She loves the controlled chaos of working with children. Amy is currently going through the Project READY training, which she highly recommends to any and all library folks.
Date Recorded: 5/9/22
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Amy Caswell, Children’s Librarian / Monroe County Public Library
Join Beth Yates, Children’s Consultant at the Indiana State Library, as she gives an overview of INSPIRE databases that could be useful to those who work with youth. INSPIRE is Indiana’s Lifelong Learning Library for Hoosiers. Its collection of online academic databases and other information resources can be accessed for free by Indiana residents.
Date Recorded: 10/25/2023
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Beth Yates, Children’s Consultant / Indiana State Library
Join TeachingBooks staff as they explore time-saving teaching tools for teachers, including video and audio recordings with authors, lessons, book trailers, vocabulary lists, and more. Discover ways to deepen connections to books with online materials to engage readers, support families, and facilitate collaboration. 45min / 1 LEU
Get started with TALK: Text and Learn for Kindergarten. Discover how to quickly navigate online toolkits to find promotional materials and partnering tips to help you reach parents you might not see at the library with school readiness activities they can do at home. Learn how to use the MCLS TALK portal to send text messages to caregivers and let them know about upcoming library events.
This webinar is geared towards Indiana public libraries who are interested in or are planning to join the Indiana TALK pilot group. 1 hour/1LEU
Join us to learn about STEM and “making” in libraries featuring the Make Do Share curriculum that has been tried and tested in a rural library system in Washington State. Make Do Share was made by libraries for libraries and includes helpful tips to build your confidence while supporting 21st century learners. We will explore ways to incorporate STEM skills into existing programs and how to become a non-expert leader in your community’s STEM learning ecology.
This virtual, one-day training brought together Indiana and Maryland youth services staff to learn about the use of digital media in libraries and the role library staff can play as media mentors to youth and caregivers.
Part 1 explores technology/media trends and basic concepts surrounding media mentorship. 2 hrs / 2 LEUs
Part 2 explores practical applications and peer learning, helping library staff to incorporate media mentorship principles into their library programs, collections, and services. 2 hrs / 2 LEUs
Date Recorded: 10/27/2022
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: This training is facilitated by a team of library and media professionals, including Lisa Guernsey of New America; Dorothy Stoltz, consultant/retired librarian from Carroll County Public Library (MD); Conni Strittmatter, Youth & Family Engagement Manager, Baltimore County Public Library; and Amy Koester from Skokie Public Library (IL), in addition to facilitation by Beth Yates, Children’s Consultant, Indiana State Library, and Carrie Sanders, Youth Services Coordinator, Maryland State Library Agency. Additionally, several library professionals from around the country are special guests, sharing their particular expertise and knowledge in the application of media mentorship work in libraries and youth services.
Resources:
All slides and a resource sheet can be found in this Google Folder
Join Indiana Children and Nature Network (ICAN) to explore nature play possibilities at your library! Learn what ICAN Nature Play Days are, who can host one (YOUR LIBRARY!), how to organize and plan a nature play day, nature play activity and book ideas, tips on connecting with partners and sponsors, and practical experiences from nature play day hosts. ICAN Nature Play Days are June 1st-9th in 2024.
Presenter: Dr. Carla Gull volunteers as the state coordinator of Indiana Children and Nature Network and is on her local library board. She is the coordinator of and associate professor in the master of arts in environmental education at Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College. She is coauthor of the book, Loose Parts Learning in K-3 Classrooms, and hosts the podcast, Loose Parts Nature Play.
Date Recorded: 3/13/2024
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Dr. Carla Gull / State Coordinator of Indiana Children and Nature Network & Professor at Goshen College
The Indiana Young Readers Center is proud to announce new kits coming in 2025 for check-out to Indiana’s teachers and librarians. Indiana Escape Rooms (in a box!) focus on Indiana history, build on primary resources from the Library of Congress, and were developed with the help of a Teaching with Primary Sources grant. Join this one hour webinar to learn all about the kits and the TPS Grant.
Join Abby Johnson from the Floyd County Library to learn about how to do more with the Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award. We will discuss why Firefly outreach is important, how to set up circulating book kits for daycares and preschools, incorporating the Firefly Award into existing outreach and lots more! This webinar was recorded on 2/11/2020.
Join WFYI to learn about PBS Kids resources! We will share where to find them, how to use them and introduce collections that are specifically designed for libraries! 1 hr / 1 LEU
Date Recorded: 8/21/2025
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Laura Makin, WFYI & Jessica Neeb-Smith, Indianapolis Public Library
Children’s literature is full of philosophical questions and ideas, reflecting an awareness of children’s propensities to think about life’s big questions. This webinar will explore ways to inspire exploration with children about their big questions through children’s books. We will examine several examples of philosophically-suggestive works, and will engage as a group in a philosophical inquiry based on a picture book. You will come away with ideas and resources for involving children in philosophical questioning and discovery through literature.
Date Recorded: 10/25/22
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Jana Mohr Lone, Executive Director of Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization (PLATO) and Affiliate Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Washington
Let’s explore fun ways to make our spaces engaging, interactive, and thought provoking! Play is crucial for early literacy development, but how do we get our community to engage with these carefully curated activities and spaces? You will leave this session newly inspired with fresh ideas for scavenger hunts, StoryWalks, self-directed programming, and designing safe spaces for our smallest patrons.
Date Recorded: 11/19/2025
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Kelsey Fickinger and Emily Leitch, Peabody Public Library
Our LGBTQIA+ youth are increasingly under attack and subjected to constant bullying. Participants will learn how to easily identify themselves as an ally: a port in the storm. Participants will also receive resources and advice on how to navigate the troubled waters with these formative young people. Questions were submitted in advance for this webinar and the presenter guided participants through best practices for a variety of scenarios.
Presenter: Jayne Walters (she/her) is a Board Member and the Director of Education for Indy Pride, co-founder of the LGBTQ+ Services Committee for IndyPL, and the first openly transgender manager in the history of Indianapolis Public Library. Having worked in libraries for over 14 years, her writing has been featured in Children & Libraries, Library Journal, and is a contributing author in the book Trans and Gender Diverse Voices in Libraries. She has spoken on LGBTQ+ issues for libraries, companies, and on the news, (2022). Her passions include LGBTQIA+ representation in juvenile literature; making sure libraries are accessible and equitable for the community and making them a safe and welcoming environment for both patrons and staff.
As Indiana public schools adopt state-mandated curriculums aligned with the Science of Reading (SoR), what can public libraries do to support parents and teachers? What resources might they be looking for? In this session, we’ll talk about the ways libraries already support SoR through Every Child Ready to Read, and then share the adjustments we’ve made to our collections to complement the Fundations curriculum adopted by Carmel Clay Schools in 2021.
Date Recorded: 11/14/2024
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Jennifer Humphrey, Carmel Clay Public Library
LGBTQIA+ literature is not just for Pride Month! Librarians from the Indianapolis Public Library will share their top LGBTQIA+ literature picks for youth. They will introduce titles across multiple genres and age groups that can be easily incorporated into every day displays and reader’s advisory. Books from every aspect of the rainbow for parents and youth ages 12 and younger to read together or on their own will be shared.
Date Recorded: 10/29/20
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Jayne Walters / West Indianapolis Branch Manager and Maggie Ward / Outreach Services Manager – Indianapolis Public Library.
Jayne Walters of the Indianapolis Public Library presents a collection of broad and inclusive LGBTQIA+ titles for teen and tween readers. Books representing many identities and orientations are presented with an eye to presenting a fuller picture of the queer experience– and most importantly, toward the inclusion of multiple voices on each topic
Date Recorded: 10/27/20
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Jayne Walters / West Indianapolis Branch Manager
In this webinar, Katie Lehman of the Muncie Public Library’s Ready Readers program will explore a variety of methods used by the program to engage children in reading in creative and fun ways. Participants will learn different ways that these approaches can be incorporated into their own library’s programming.
Katie Lehman is the founding leader of the Muncie Public Library’s Ready Readers program, a free one-on-one literacy training and reading tutoring service for children ages 1-12. She has spent the last 10 years working with children in various settings including preschools, after school programs, and libraries.
The Reimagining School Readiness Toolkit is a suite of research-backed resources created for library staff to help families prepare children ages 0 to 8 for success in school and in life. Through an interactive presentation with hands-on activities, this training will introduce library staff to the research, practical implications, and resources offered in the toolkit, which is available in its entirety for free online. Participants will understand key findings from current cognitive and developmental psychology research, reflect on the implications of those findings for their daily work, and gain practical ready-to-implement ideas for activities, as well as resources for staff training and for parents/caregivers. You will benefit from this workshop if you work with children ages 0 to 8 and their families and would like to learn more about how to offer research-backed programming in your library!
Date Recorded: 9/16/22 and 9/17/2022
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Beth Yates / ISL Children’s Consultant and Suzanne Walker / Indiana Young Reader’s Center Librarian and Director of the Indiana Center for the Book
Getting public library cards into the hands of all students can be a challenge. Find out how two libraries worked with their local schools to do just that during this webinar. First the Jasper County Public Library will share how they began providing Digital Access Cards to their middle and high schools, then Hamilton East Public Library will detail how they began allowing students to use their student ID as their library card number. Both libraries have significantly increased students’ access to their collections by working directly with school librarians and administrators.
Date Recorded: 12/5/17
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Patty Stringfellow, Rebecca Amalong/ Jasper County Public Library and Julie Walstra / Kankakee Valley High School and Lori Holewinski, Molly Mrozowski, Anna Sayres / Hamilton East Public Library and Terri Zabonick / Fall Creek Intermediate School
Hancock County Public Library Children’s Librarian Bambi Pea acts as a liaison between HCPL and the district’s schools. In this webinar, she’ll share successful ideas for school collaborations and visits, offer advice on how to initiate and maintain relationships with teachers and administrators, and provide insight into making it work from a public library’s perspective.
Date Recorded: 10/24/17
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Bambi Pea / Hancock County Public Library Children’s Librarian
Join Deb Gaff, youth services librarian at the Bartholomew County Public Library—and former teacher—as she discusses the STEAM programs she does for students both in school and at BCPL. First she shares valuable strategies for establishing a relationship with schools and explains how BCPL got started with these initiatives. Then she highlights her programs, including Coder Dojo, working with robots, a Nick & Tesla book club, and more.
Join us a Robyn Young, Avon High School Librarian and ILF Past-President 2017, shares the scoop on what school librarians do as well as the challenges they face. She’ll offer suggestions for public librarians approaching school media specialists with partnership ideas, discuss the types of partnerships that schools are most receptive to, and share information about successful public library partnerships in which she has participated.
Date Recorded: 9/28/17
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Robin Young / Avon High School Librarian and ILF Past-President 2017
Participants will gain a foundational understanding of the Science of Reading and the theoretical models aligned with the Science of Reading. Presented by Shaiya Badgley and Paulina Jarrett, literacy specialists from the Indiana Department of Education Literacy Center.
Join us as staff from About Special Kids offers tips and suggestions for interacting with patrons who have special needs. About Special Kids is Indiana’s Parent to Parent organization that works throughout the state to give support, answer questions and provide information and resources to families of children with special needs.
Date Recorded: 9/26/17
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Jane Scott (Deputy Director) and Lisa Kutschera (Parent Liaison) / About Special Kids
From inception to completion, two librarians share their experiences with an IMLS Sparks grant. Shawnee Branch of Allen County Public Library received $23,421 to encourage positive interactions between adults and their young children and promote early learning. From story walks to yard signs and outreach to adults in parks, thrift stores and the farmers’ market, library staff spread the word. Did anyone get the message? Watch and find out!
“This project is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.”
Date Recorded: 11/17/16
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Pamela Martn-Diaz, Shawnee Branch Manager and Early Literacy Coordinator and Heather Grady, Shawnee Branch Assistant Manager and Children’s Librarian at the Allen County Public Library
Are you new to doing storytime? Join Beth Yates, ISL Children’s Consultant, as she walks you through the whys and hows of storytime for birth through preschool-aged children. What should you consider? How do you select books? Where can you find ideas? The content of this webinar is focused on new storytime providers. *Please note that the audience discussion at the end was not recorded.*
Date Recorded: 4/19/22
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Beth Yates, Children’s Consultant / Indiana State Library
Learn how to discover exceptional texts to support and supplement science of reading instruction. While underscoring phonics, phonological awareness, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, Indiana residents can now use the Indiana State Library INSPIRE-licensed TeachingBooks to identify popular picture books by more than a dozen phonics and phonetical awareness classifications (vowel and consonant sounds, alliteration, rhyming, and more). Additionally, you’ll have worksheets for each book to extend reading instruction in the library, home, or classroom.
Date Recorded: 8/21/2024
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Kym Davick and Mary Ellen Graf, TeachingBooks
In addition to the families that already homeschool in your community, others are considering this path to stay home and educate their children in response to COVID-19 as a health precaution or in anticipation of guidelines provided by local school districts. Libraries are able to support parents and caregivers with learning at home as they face challenges new to them.
Date Recorded: 9/3/20
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Suzanne Walker / Indiana State Library and Shelby Peak / Indianapolis Public Library
We all know that there are outdated and racist classics on our shelves. These books reflect a homogenous past, yet they still thrive in an ostensibly multicultural present. How do we hold fast to intellectual freedom while solidifying our commitment to diversity and inclusiveness?
Nashville Public Library spent a year asking that question and the resulting work can be replicated by other libraries seeking to apply an anti-racist lens to their collections. Join us as Klem-Marí Cajigas and Lindsey Patrick-Wright offer insight and suggestions for us to re-evaluate our own collections. This webinar was previously presented as a session at both TLA’s 2019 Annual Conference and at the 2020 PLA Conference, and for the Tennessee State Library & Archives.
Presenters:
Klem-Marí 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, after more than a decade of academic training in Religious Studies and Ministry, including doctoral work at Vanderbilt University.
Lindsey Patrick-Wright was formerly the Youth Services and Continuing Education Coordinator for TSLA. She has been at Nashville Public Library for 9 years now, first managing the Children’s Department and is currently managing the Southeast Branch.
Learn about TALK: Text and Learn for Kindergarten, a text messaging program based on Every Child Ready to Read that empowers parents and caregivers to prepare their little ones for school success by sending easy, fun activity suggestions they can do at home.
In partnership with the Indiana State Library and Midwest Collaborative for Library Services, with funding from an IMLS National Leadership grant, TALK is now available in Indiana. Originally developed and tested by libraries in Washtenaw County, Michigan with IMLS/LSTA funds distributed through the Library of Michigan, TALK is currently being used by many public libraries in Michigan to reach parents they might not see at library storytimes. Learn details about the service, the toolkits, and how you can use text messaging to help improve school readiness in your community.
Date Recorded: 11/2/22
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Jodi Krahnke, Head of Youth Services and Angie Martin-Schwarze, TALK Program Assistant / Ypsilanti District Library (Michigan)
Join trainers from TeachingBooks/Book Connections to learn more about the customizable tools available on Book Connections that support your collection development and patron engagement. Discover features to help analyze and generate reports that provide data insights into the genre, cultural, and curricular classifications represented in your collections. Book Connections, a children’s and young adult literacy resource, is licensed by INSPIRE, a Service of the Indiana State Library for all Indiana residents.
Date Recorded: 4/12/2021
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Alyssa Yokota-Bryon, M.Ed., Implementation & Training Specialist and Kym Davick, Director of Implementation & Educational Support / TeachingBooks/Book Connections
Why do teens behave the way they do? Why should we welcome them when they are loud and messy? What’s the best way to interact with them? Teen librarians are not the only staff members that deal with teens so it’s good for all staff members to have these tips in their toolbox. We’ll share some teen development basics and highlight some tips for smooth teen interactions at this session.
Date Recorded: 9/17/21
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Beth Yates, Children’s Consultant / Indiana State Library
The Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award is terrific, not only because it introduces parents and children ages 0-5 to high quality picture books perfect for the youngest among us, but also because it can easily be applied to early literacy standards like those developed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. NAEYC is a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research. Join NAEYC member and Indianapolis Wayne Township preschool evaluation teacher, Jeanne Baldwin, to learn more about NAEYC’s early literacy standards, including information about duel language learners. We will also discuss how the Firefly books and programs can support the NAEYC standards. Suzanne Walker, Firefly Chair and Indiana Young Readers Center Librarian will facilitate a discussion throughout the event. 1hr / 1 LEU.
About Jeanne:Jeanne Baldwin works at Wayne Township Preschool in Indianapolis. She has degrees in Early Childhood and Special Education. She has worked in early childhood settings for 25 years, including public and private schools, Head Start, First Steps, and childcare ministries, working directly with young children and providing education and training for teachers and caregivers. Jeanne works as a member of the Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award committee. She is a member of the Central Indiana First Steps planning council, the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Council for Exceptional Children, and is currently reviewing proposals for the Division of Early Childhood’s national conference.
About Suzanne:Suzanne Walker received her Masters of Library Science from Indiana University. She is currently the Indiana Young Readers Center Librarian and Director of the Indiana Center for the Book, an affiliate of the Library of Congress. She coordinates Indiana’s Letters About Literature competition annually. Suzanne judged the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards in 2013 and 2014 and the Indiana Poetry Out Loud competition in 2017. Most recently she was a judge for the 2020 Indiana Authors Awards and the 2021 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award. She has presented numerous times at Indiana Library Federation’s District conferences, annual conferences, and youth conferences.
Date Recorded: 6/8/21
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Jeanne Baldwin / Wayne Township Preschool in Indianapolis and Suzanne Walker / Indiana State Library, Indiana Young Readers Center and Director of the Indiana Center for the Book
Looking to integrate more authentic children’s programming for Juneteenth, Hispanic Heritage Month, AAPI, and more? Learn about how a thematic programming formula can help your library plan and facilitate children’s programs for cultural recognition and heritage months. Join us for a robust listing of programming examples for year round: from food to art, from storytimes to STEM, and more.
Date Recorded: 4/8/2025
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Justine Carlotta, MLIS, is the Children’s Department Manager of Westchester Public Library
The Indiana State Library offers book club kits, storytime kits, Lego and Duplo kits, Escape Room kits, and NASA Science kits. Join us to learn how to use the new kit checkout system with live demonstrations.
Date Recorded: 3/25/2025
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Suzanne Walker, Director – Indiana Center for the Book and Indiana Young Reader Center Librarian Librarian, Kara Cleveland, Professional Development Office Supervisor, Indiana State Library
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
Are you worried about getting children and teens back into the library post-COVID? You aren’t alone! A community-based approach will help you expand your reach to patrons new and old, so in this webinar we’ll talk about Community Asset Mapping, a strategy that will help you discover and develop new partnerships.
Date Recorded: 10/19/21
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Beth Yates, Children’s Consultant / Indiana State Library and Christy Franzman, Teen Coordinator / Hamilton East Public Library
You were a hard-working youth librarian. Now, you’re a youth services manager moving at the speed of light. Experienced or just starting out, everyone needs a support network. Join us for this Q&A-based webinar, where three current youth services managers (and one children’s consultant/ex-manager) share their tips & tricks about time management, coping with staffing dynamics, and handling change.
Date Recorded: 4/24/19
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Beth Yates / Indiana State Library and Alyssa Morgan / Morgan County Public Library and Casey O’Leary / Mooresville Public Library and Cathy Riley / Hancock County Public Library