Untitled Document

The Indiana Center for the Book is currently seeking judges for this year’s Letters About Literature competition. Letters About Literature is a national reading-writing contest sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, in cooperation with the Indiana Center for the Book, and in partnership with Target Stores. Students in grades 4 through 12 are invited to write a personal letter to an author, living or dead, from any genre, explaining how that author's work changed the student's way of thinking about the world or themselves. This program promotes reflective writing.

Approximately 1,500 Indiana students enter the contest annually. However, judges will only be required rate semifinalist essays in one category, which averages 30-35 essays per level, per judge. The deadline to submit essays for this year’s contest is December 12. Judges will receive their semifinalist essays and judging materials in early February and submit their winners the following month.

If you are interested in being a judge for the 2009 contest, Contact Drew Griffis at agriffis@library.in.gov or 317-650-6158. Visit the Indiana Center for the Book's website learn more about Letters About Literature and other Center programs.

ILF Shares Updates for Annual Conference

Courtesy of the Ind. Library Federation

Over 850 people have registered for the ILF Annual Conference in November! Have you registered yet? Visit the Conference website for more information and to register. Registration deadlines are November 1 for mailed or faxed applications and November 5 for online registration.

Silent auction items are still needed! Please consider donating an item as proceeds benefit student scholarships. For more information contact Leslie Sutherlin at Kathy Hicks-Brooks.

ILF relies on its volunteers for help at the conference. Assistance is still needed for the silent auction, conference store and especially registration on November 15, 16 & 17. The shortest shift is an hour. Please consider volunteering your time and contact Kay Martin or Mary Clare Speckner.

Upcoming Awards Highlight Libraries, Professionals

PLA Accepting Applications for Annual Awards

The Public Library Association (PLA) is now accepting applications for the 2011 PLA Awards. Members can nominate their colleagues and libraries for PLA Awards through December 1, 2010.This year PLA is offering nine awards/grants designed to highlight the best in public library service and to honor those bringing innovation, creativity, and dedication to public libraries. Many of the awards include an honorarium; please visit the website for awards details.'

Library Journal Seeks Best Small Library in America

Library Journal's annual award for the Best Small Library in America, cosponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was founded to encourage and showcase the exemplary work of these libraries. Now in its seventh year, the award honors the public library that best demonstrates outstanding service to populations of 25,000 or less. The deadline to apply is November 5, 2010.

The winning library will receive a $15,000 cash award, a feature story in the February 1, 2011, Library Journal, membership and conference costs for two library representatives to attend the PLA Biannual Conference in 2012 in Philadelphia, PA, and a gala reception at the conference. Starting with this year's award, two additional finalist libraries will be awarded a $5,000 cash award in addition to the other perks mentioned above and a special mention in Library Journal.

ALA on Lookout for High-Tech Libraries

The American Library Association (ALA) Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) is once again soliciting nominations for best library practices using cutting-edge technology. Last year, OITP’s America’s Libraries for the 21^st Century Subcommittee launched the “cutting-edge” contest to showcase libraries that serve their communities with novel and innovative methods and to provide the library community with some successful models for delivering quality library services in new ways.

Nominations should be sent to the American Library Association, Office for Information Technology Policy, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, 1st Floor, Washington, D.C. 20009 or to ainouye@alawash.org by November 1, 2010. Details for the nomination process are available on the OITP website.

2011 LSTA Guidelines Delayed Until Dec.

The 2011 LSTA grant guidelines and application materials are expected to be available in mid-December. Libraries interested in applying for a LSTA sub-grant may refer to the 2010 guidelines to prepare 2011 applications.

Please check the State Library's LSTA website, or contact LSTA Grant Consultant Jennifer Clifton for more information.

---------------------------

UPCOMING EVENTS & WORKSHOPS

National Friends of the Library Week
ALTAFF is coordinating the fifth annual National Friends of Libraries Week, October 17-23. The celebration recognizes the efforts of friends groups and encourages participation.

Evergreen Indiana Circulation Training
When: Wednesday, Oct. 20
@ 9:00 AM
Where: Indiana State Library

Indiana Genealogy & Local History Fair
When: Saturday, Oct. 23
@ 9:00 AM
Where: Indiana State Library

Evergreen Cataloging Roundtable
When: Wednesday, Oct. 27
@ 10:00 AM
Where: Kendallville PL & Jackson Co. PL

Kapco Book Repair Workshop
When: Wednesday, Oct. 27
@ 2:00 PM
Where: Knox Co. PL

Kapco Book Repair Workshop
When: Thursday, Oct. 28
@ 9:00 AM
Where: Madison-Jefferson County Public Library

IOLUG Fall Program
When: Friday, Nov. 5
Where: Indiana Wesleyan University - Indianapolis

ILF Annual Conference
When: November 15-17
Where: Indianapolis Convention Center

View more LEU opportunities from LYRASIS & WJ-IN

--------------------------

Find us on:

© 2010 Indiana State Library. All rights reserved. The trademarks used herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.
Indiana State Library, 315 W. Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202. www.library.IN.gov

The Wednesday Word is a free publication of the Indiana State Library, distributed weekly in an electronic format.
Past issues are archived at the State Library's Newsroom.