Weekly View » Indianapolis Public Library

Beatz & Bookz Summer Reading Program Big Success

Weekly View — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 05:09:35 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — Improving the language and reading skills of Indianapolis children underscored activities during The Indianapolis Public Library’s 2015 Summer Reading Program, “Beatz & Bookz,” which concluded on July 25. Initial totals show the incentive-based program at all Indy Library locations and Beech Grove Public Library attracted 57,463 young readers and families, exceeding an average of 56,357 participants for the past five years.
“Beatz & Bookz” allowed readers to earn points for their reading activity to be exchanged for prizes donated by community businesses and organizations. The program’s music theme was inspired by the long-term support of 92.3 WTTS, whose Rock to Read concerts have generated nearly $100,000 for Library programs since 2007. One incentive for participants was a chance to win two $529 scholarships good toward a college savings account courtesy of CollegeChoice Direct 529 Savings Plan and CollegeChoice CD 529 Savings Plan.
Initial figures indicate notable participation increases over 2014 at several locations, including the College Avenue Branch (1,813 participants — up 4.2%), Central Library (1,841 — 6.5%), Franklin Road Branch (4,728 — 6.3%), Fountain Square Branch (1,312 — 5.8%), Irvington Branch (2,111 — 5.6%), and the Southport Branch (4,300 — 12.2%). Library bookmobiles registered 11,112 children, up 11%.
To learn more about Indy Library programming for children and families, call 275-4099 or visit www.indypl.org.

Winners and Finalists Chosen for 2015 Indiana Authors Award

Weekly View — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 05:10:10 +0000

INDIANA — For the first time, two poets have been selected as winners of the Indiana Authors Award. Purdue University professor Marianne Boruch is the winner of the $10,000 National Author prize given by the 2015 Eugene & Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award. Adrian Matejka, Lilly Professor/Poet-in-Resident at Indiana University-Bloomington, has been named the Regional Author winner, earning him a $7,500 prize. The National and Regional winners, along with finalists in the Emerging Author category, will be honored at the 7th annual Indiana Authors Award Dinner on October 10 at Central Library in Indianapolis.
This annual award program recognizes Indiana authors’ contributions to the literary landscape in Indiana and across the nation. The Eugene & Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award is a program of The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation and is funded through the generosity of The Glick Fund, a fund of Central Indiana Community Foundation.
Award nominations were submitted from across the state in early spring. Any published writer who was born in Indiana or has lived in Indiana for at least five years was eligible. An eight-member, statewide Award Panel selected the National and Regional winners and the three Emerging Author finalists from the pool of publicly nominated authors. Emerging Author finalists are Laura Bates, Skila Brown and Clifford Garstang.
Individual and full table tickets are available for the Award Dinner. Funds raised by the Dinner will benefit the Library Foundation. The public is also invited to participate in the free 2015 Indy Author Fair on October 10 at Central Library, which will include author talks and workshops for writers and book lovers of all ages, led by faculty of the Indiana Writers Center and other special guests.
For additional information about the Indiana Authors Award and festivities, visit indianaauthorsaward.org.

Summer Reading Program Continues Through July 25

Weekly View — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 05:09:44 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — It’s not too late for children of all ages and families to tune up their reading performance and pump up the volume for reading during The Indianapolis Public Library’s 2015 Summer Reading Program, “Beatz & Bookz.” Registration continues through July 25 at all IndyPL branch locations, Central Library and the Beech Grove Public Library.
Readers earn points for all books read, regardless of difficulty level, to be exchanged for prizes donated by community businesses and organizations. Those seeking greater rewards can choose from a list of notable Bonus Books. Prizes include tickets to an Indianapolis Indians game during Library Night on Monday, July 20 at 7 p.m. Game passes also are redeemable for admission to any Sunday – Thursday Indians baseball game.
Participants also can enter to win a drawing for two $529 scholarships good toward a college savings account courtesy of CollegeChoice Direct 529 Savings Plan and CollegeChoiceCD 529 Savings Plan.
For more information on the 2015 program, call 275-4099 or visit www.indypl.org.

Applause!: July 10-17

Weekly View — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 05:08:39 +0000

• Partners for Animal Welfare Society (P.A.W.S.) is offering residents of Hancock County and surrounding areas a low cost alternative to getting cats spayed/neutered for as little as $5 per cat through the P.A.W.S. $5/$10/$15 Feline Fix program. Bring in 1-3 cats and the cost is $15 per cat. For 4-7 cats, the cost is $10 per cat. For 8 or more cats, the cost is only $5 per cat. Each cat is spayed/neutered, given a three year rabies vaccine and treated for fleas. Any healthy cat or kitten that weighs at least 3 pounds qualifies. Feral (wild) cats are welcome. Reservations are required. To reserve an appointment, e-mail pawshancock@aol.com or call the P.A.W.S. office at 317-318-9483. E-mails receive a faster response. For more information, visit www.pawshancock.org
• Caulk of the Town is October 24. NEAR (Near East Area Renewal) looking for Near Eastside homes to weatherize, volunteers, and gracious sponsors to be part of the continued revival of the area. Please mark the date and plan to join us as a volunteer — individually or form a small team — on Saturday, October 24, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Volunteer sign up is now active online at www.nearindy.org/projects/caulk-of-the-town/. In addition, if you are a Near Eastside homeowner needing anything from caulking to a replacement furnace (or know someone who does), please apply online. The application can be found at www.nearindy.org/caulk-of-the-town-homeowner-form/
• The Indianapolis Public Library is seeking input on a major renovation slated for the Southport Branch. There will be a meeting July 14 at the branch, 2630 E. Stop 11, at 7 p.m. The library was built in 1974, and this will be its first major renovation.
• The Indianapolis Symphonic Band will perform at Fort Harrison State Park July 18 at 7:30 p.m. The program will feature Hoosier composers. The program is free with park admission, $7 per car with Indiana state license plates. The park is located at 6000 N. Post Rd. in Lawrence.
• IPL is helping neighbors save energy and money with their energy assessment program. Get a free home energy assessment from a professional energy advisor. For more information, visit www.iplpower.com/heapromotion/
• Plan 2020 is seeking “love letters” to the city of Indianapolis. Submit your own letter, in 300 words or fewer, for possible publication by mail to The Hall, 202 N. Alabama St., Indianapolis IN 46204 or via e-mail at loveindy@plan2020.com
• Common Threads Quilt Guild will meet July 15 at 9:30 a.m. at Mt. Comfort Methodist Church. The guest speaker will be Sonia Brown, author of Dreaming in Color, who will give a presentation on how to make a prize-winning quilt. The church is located just north of I-70 on Mt. Comfort Rd. exit 96.
• Save the Date: There will be a Near Eastside Neighborhood Summit on Thurs., July 30 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the East 10th UMC at East 10th St. and Keystone. There will be a discussion of the Quality of Life Plan, an update on the Promise Zone, and much more. Admission is free. Visit neareastplan.org for more information.

Public Input Sought for East Washington Expansion and Renovation

Weekly View — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 05:10:09 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — The public can help shape plans for the first major expansion in the storied history of the East Washington Branch of The Indianapolis Public Library during a series of public meetings beginning on Thursday, July 9 from 4:30 – 6 p.m. at the library branch located at 2822 E. Washington St.
Opening in 1910, the East Washington Branch is one of two remaining Indianapolis public libraries constructed from funds provided by industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The other is the Spades Park Branch at 1801 Nowland Ave. The 5,600-square-foot East Washington Branch will undergo a 2,200-square-foot expansion and renovation to provide an accessible entrance, elevator and restrooms; a new computer lab; improved public meeting room space; and increased access to the collection. The last renovation of the East Washington Branch interior occurred in 1978, which involved reconfiguring interior stairways, updating the heating and air conditioning systems, adding new lighting, and remodeling bathrooms. The current project will incorporate energy and water conservation practices and maintain the historic integrity of this Carnegie library.
The $2.4 million project is the first in a series of new capital projects undertaken as part of the Library’s Strategic Plan through 2020. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2016, with estimated completion in November 2016. The project architect is Mohler Architects of Lafayette.
The public meetings, which continue on Thursday, August 6 and Thursday, September 3 from 4:30 – 6 p.m., will allow individuals to share their views with the architect and Library officials on what the historic library can become in providing services to the community. In addition to the Library’s parking lot, overflow parking is available in the adjacent Englewood Church lot.
For more information on this and other IndyPL capital projects, visit www.indypl.org.

Applause!: April 10-17

Weekly View — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 05:08:31 +0000

• The Color the World with Love mural project wants to thank all that supported the project to win the March Pitch Feast put on by Dreamapolis. A special thank you goes out to the youth group from Edna Martin Christian Center, and artists Andrew Severns and Izaak Hayes for their involvement in the current mural project happening on E. 9th Street in the Rivoli Park Neighborhood. For more information visit the project website at www.colortheworldwithlove.com.
• The Indianapolis Public Library will present a variety of special activities for all ages during National Library Week, April 12 – 18. This year’s celebration, “Unlimited possibilities @ your library,” recognizes the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians and to promote the use and support of all types of libraries. As a special offering throughout the week, the Indy Library will give each person who applies for a new Library card, or renews or replaces their card, a free “go green” tote. To learn more about free National Library Week events, contact your local branch or visit www.indypl.org.
• The Pennsy Trail work along Ritter is starting. DPW will close part of Ritter Ave., limiting it to northbound traffic only, then close the NB lane and restrict it to SB traffic only in the near future. They expect to complete this leg of the project around June 8, then start work on the Bonna Ave. portion. After the Ritter portion is completed, DPW will turn their attention to the Bonna Ave. section that will run east from Ritter to Audubon, then to connect to the existing trail.
• Thank you to the road crews who did a terrific job fixing the “Boneshakers” around the city. There have been some real improvements in many of the major thoroughfares.
• The Great Indy Cleanup in Little Flower will be April 11 at 9 a.m. Meet at the Church, 4720 E. 13th St. KIB will supply gloves and equipment, including trash bags. If you are new to the neighborhood, this is a great way to get acquainted!
• NoExit Performance will present “Moby Dick” April 17-25 at the Wheeler Arts Community, 1035 Sanders St. NoExit’s productions are always thought-provoking and unique. Times are at 8 p.m. Fri. and Sat. performances, 6 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $23 or $13 for students and seniors, and are available online at Brown Paper Tickets (www.brownpapertickets.com).
• Congratulations to the winning alliance of Cyber Blue from Perry Meridian High School, Kil-a-Bytes from Lawrence North High School, and Panther Tech from Western High School in Kokomo for being the winning alliance at the FIRST Robotics Competition held at Warren Central April 3-4. The teams will move on to compete in the FIRST World Championship in St. Louis. Also qualifying for the competition is team Digital Goats from Walker Career Center.

Job Skills Programs Funded for Lawrence Township Libraries

Weekly View — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 05:10:30 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Public Library and the Lawrence Township Trustee’s Office have announced a township grant in the amount of $8,000 to fund needed job skills training at the Lawrence Branch Library, 7898 N. Hague Road, and the East Thirty-Eighth Street Branch, 5420 E. 38th Street.
Funding will support a new program of computer training and workforce development at the Lawrence Branch, as well an existing Job Center at the East Thirty-Eighth Street branch that offers one-on-one assistance with job search strategies, resume development, interviewing skills and instruction on basic computer skills. The East Thirty-Eighth Street Job Center is one of nine such sites at IndyPL locations which served 6,139 individuals in 2014.
Programs to enhance job skills at the Library support its mission to promote literacy, strengthen Indianapolis businesses and neighborhoods, and serve as a community center for lifelong learning. In addition to the Job Center, the Library provides free basic computer and advanced application classes at most of its locations.
For more information about specific program offerings, patrons are encouraged to contact their local branch or visit www.indypl.org. For more information about the Lawrence Township Trustee’s Office, please visit www.lawtwp.org.

Indy Library Partners with City and Wildlife Service to Grow Birding in Indy

Weekly View — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 05:10:09 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Public Library is partnering with the City’s Office of Sustainability and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to introduce Indy’s kids and families to the fun of urban bird watching. Through the City’s BirdIndy program, the Office of Sustainability is providing birding kits for educators, naturalists, youth leaders, and bird watching enthusiasts.
The kits include bird watching essentials such as binoculars, field guides, activity books, and Audubon bird calls. Kits for larger groups are also available and feature curriculum guides for students in preschool through fourth grade. Larger kits also feature materials for groups participating in service learning projects.
Birding kits will be available to rent at no cost at 6 locations: Central Library, 40 E. St Clair Street; Glendale Branch, 6101 N. Keystone Ave.; Irvington Branch, 5625 E. Washington Street; Garfield Park Branch, 2505 E. Shelby Street; Spades Park Branch, 1801 Nowland Ave.; and Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center, 6515 Delong Road.
Funding for the BirdIndy program is provided to the City through a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). In 2013, the City launched the Indy Birding Trail. The trail is designed to guide residents and visitors to 35 of the City’s best areas for bird watching. Through the Indy Birding Trail, city parks, green spaces, and environmentally conscious institutions throughout the city are celebrated as havens for biodiversity within an urban setting. The Indy Birding Trail is supplemented by the BirdIndy website, mobile application and trail guide, which will be available online and at sites along the trail.
For more information about the City’s BirdIndy program, visit indy.gov/birdindy

Nominations Open for Library’s African-American Exhibit

Weekly View — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 06:09:05 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — Nominations of local African-American women are being sought from March 8 – 22 for a nationally-touring exhibition, “Women of a New Tribe,” that will appear in Indianapolis August 3 – September 26, 2015 at Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair Street.
The exhibit, created by noted North Carolina photographer Jerry Taliaferro, is a photographic study of the beauty, strength and impact of 60 representative African-American women from across the country. A popular feature of the exhibit is the inclusion of portraits of women from the hosting community.
The selection committee will consider African-American women who possess strength and beauty through their community and family service. Nominees can be family, friends, volunteers or professionals who have a positive impact on individuals, help those around them in the neighborhood, create positive change or further important community issues. Those selected will be notified by May 1.
Nomination forms may be picked up at any Indy Library location or accessed online at www.indypl.org and returned to any Library location by March 22.

Indy Library Cited for Excellence in Financial Reporting

Weekly View — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 06:09:26 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — For the 24th consecutive year, The Indianapolis Public Library has received the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.
The Library has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR).
Citizens can view the Library’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report online at www.indypl.org.