Join us for a presentation about the 2026 Unearth a Story “dinosaur” theme, including suggested resources for planning and other general information.
Date Recorded: 1/7/2026
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Beth Yates, Indiana State Library
Resources:
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
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
Date Recorded: 10/23/2025
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Crystal Ballard, TeachingBooks
We’re compelled, as librarians, to try and answer to all of our communities’ needs. But with growing demands and tightening budgets, it becomes increasingly challenging to stretch our capacities. Sometimes all we have to be is the connectors! Community Outreach Manager Katie Reineke will discuss ways the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library Outreach Department has leveraged successful community partnerships by connecting subject experts to their residents. She will also share clever tools EVPL Outreach has applied to continuously expand its reach with the same staff and budget for 3 years. 1 hr / 1 LEU
Date Recorded: 9/4/2025
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Katie Reineke, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library
Resources:
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.
Date Recorded: 8/7/2025
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Crystal Ballard, TeachingBooks
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
Resources: Thematic Programming for Multicultural Celebrations slides
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
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.
Date Recorded: 3/26/2025
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Indiana Youth Institute staff
Resources:
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.
Resources:
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
Resources: