The Indiana State Library holds collections that are significant and important to both the history of Indiana and also the United States. The Library’s holdings consist of a wide variety of different materials, such as maps, documents, photographs, books, paintings, and fine art. Caring for these collections is what the ISL Preservation Division is tasked with, both preventing damage from happening and repairing damage when it happens. This talk will focus on both an introduction to the field of Art Conservation and the work of the Indiana State Library Preservation Program.
Presenter: Seth Irwin, Conservator / Indiana State Library
Date Recorded: 2/24/2021
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Hoosier State Chronicles, Indiana’s statewide historical digital newspaper program, and Indiana Memory, a digital library containing materials from institutions across the state, are free resources from the Indiana State Library. This session will cover how researchers can use both collections, including search techniques, item descriptions, and application with other source repositories.

Birth and death information forms the core of genealogical research. But finding that information can be difficult, particularly if your ancestor lived in the time period before mandatory government-issued vital records. In “From Cradle to Coffin,” we will explore the many different record types that include birth and death information and provide research tips on how to find these records.
In this program, we will explore how to use newspapers more effectively to research family history. Using newspaper columns, obituaries, death notices, and articles, you can better piece together family ties during times when other types of records did not exist. Newspaper digitization is a new technology that we will discuss, as well. The Indiana State Library has the world’s largest collection of Indiana newspapers. If you would like to find out how to utilize this vast collection to help with your research, plan to attend this webinar.
Join us as Chris Lafave of the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library and Professor Johnathan Eller of the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies explain how their organizations celebrate the lives and works of two often-banned authors. They’ll share their experiences and best practices when it comes to banned books, information about their outreach services, and details on how Vonnegut Library and Bradbury Center are celebrating Banned Books Week.
Jim Corridan, commissioner for Indiana Archives and Records Administration, presents on records retention and the tasks of archives and records administration.
Researching family histories can be fun, exciting, and provide a rewarding experience, but where does a novice researcher start? The genealogy librarians at the Indiana State Library have created an introductory level webinar, Genealogy 101. This webinar is designed with the novice researcher in mind and will help you start your journey. Topics to be covered include: the first steps, what information can be found in different record sets, and common mistakes or pitfalls to avoid.