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
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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
The Fort Ben Branch of the Indianapolis Public Library was given the opportunity to become a Certified Autism Center through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) in 2023 when the branch first opened. Branch Manager, Shelby Peak, and Children’s Librarian, Sarah Tadsen, both disability advocates in their community, will share Fort Ben’s story of pursuing accreditation and the impact this process has had on the branch staff, the local community, and the entire IndyPL system.
Shelby Peak is the Branch Manager of the Fort Ben Branch of the Indianapolis Public Library, the library’s newest branch location which opened to the public in August of 2023. She has been in multiple youth services roles for IndyPL over the last ten years across the system. While working with youth, she noted the challenges with developing sustainable programs and services for patrons with disabilities and sensory sensitivities and realized how it is overlooked in the design and management of programs and services for patrons, staff, and volunteers. Her experience and relationships with the local disability community contributed to her input for the new library during construction. She is a current board member for the Lawrence Advisory Council on Disabilities and helps host their annual Disability Resource Fair at the library.
Sarah Tadsen is a children’s librarian at the Fort Ben Branch of the Indianapolis Public Library. Starting as a shelving page in 2015, she has been in multiple roles at IndyPL during her nearly ten years with the system. Since she discovered the inequities faced by library users with disabilities and the lack of accessible services, she has been an outspoken advocate for accessibility. She is the Communications Chair for the Lawrence Advisory Council on Disabilities and a member of the disability community.
Date Recorded: 7/9/2025
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenters: Shelby Peak / Branch Manager and Sarah Tadsen / Children’s Librarian both of Fort Ben Branch of the Indianapolis Public library
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
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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
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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
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