April 8, 2026
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Indiana library jobs
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In the news
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Upcoming workshops and important dates
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Registration for annual Indiana Genealogical Society conference closes this weekend
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North Webster Community Public Library to host Vietnam photographer
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Indiana Archives and Records Administration celebrates Records and Information Management Month
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Property tax bills
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Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library receives Community Partner in Excellence Award
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This week's new Indiana library jobs |
| Those who would like their Indiana library job posting to be listed in the Wednesday Word must submit the position and its description to the Indiana State Library. Click here for submission guidelines and to submit. |
| Is your library making news?
Email news links for inclusion in the Wednesday Word's "In the news" section.
To be featured in the Wednesday Word, please email a press release and a photo. |
Follow the Indiana State Library's blog for weekly posts covering all aspects of the State Library.
Indiana library employees who would like to contribute a guest blog, please send an email with an idea. |
Miss an issue of the Wednesday Word?
Back issues of the Wednesday Word are available here. |
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Free training for librarians and library employees on LinkedIn Learning |
The Indiana Library Passport, a creative digital experience that encourages everyone to visit libraries across the Hoosier state, is open to Indiana residents and outside visitors alike. The passport has more than 170 libraries and branches to explore.
Read more about the passport here. Libraries interested in joining the Indiana Library Passport – free of cost – should contact the communications director at the Indiana State Library. |
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Registration for annual Indiana Genealogical Society conference closes this weekend |
The Indiana Genealogical Society's (IGS) Annual Conference, themed "Roots of a Nation," will be a two-day event held on Friday, April 17, and Saturday, April 18, at the Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library and remotely via Zoom.
Sessions include "Beginning AI for Genealogists: Can It Make Your Life Easier?;" "New Facility and Records of the Indiana State Archives;" "Resources and Services of the Indianapolis City-County Archive;" "Indiana Online Resources: From the Indiana Historical Society and Beyond," "First Boat, Second Boat: German Immigration Overview;" "Revolutionary Headlines: Nuggets Well Beyond the War of Independence;" "Into Indiana: Mid-Atlantic Launching Pads into the Midwest;" and "Tips, Tricks and Full Text: Unlocking Image-Only Resources."
According to the society's webpage, "IGS has been at the forefront of efforts to make Indiana’s historical records more accessible to the public by indexing and digitizing records."
Cost of registration is $40 per day. All sessions are eligible for LEUs for Indiana library staff. Click here to read more - including session descriptions - and to register.
The Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library is located at 1120 Stafford Road in Plainfield. |
North Webster Community Public Library to host Vietnam photographer |
On Tuesday, April 21, at 10:30 a.m., the North Webster Community Public Library will host “Saigon Revisited,” presented by Goshen photographer Mark Kurtz.
During the Vietnam War, Kurtz spent time in Saigon capturing images of daily life in the city. Rather than documenting the conflict itself, he turned his lens toward the ordinary moments unfolding around him. His photographs offer a rare and personal glimpse into the everyday lives of people in Vietnam during a turbulent period in history.
In the presentation, Kurtz will share his photographs and recount the stories behind them, offering insight into the people and culture he encountered during his time in Saigon.
The program is intended for adults ages 18 and older, though children and grandchildren ages 10 and up are welcome to attend with an adult. To register, contact the library at 574-834-7122 or visit the library's public events calendar. |
Indiana Archives and Records Administration celebrates Records and Information Management Month |
April is Records and Information Management Month and the Indiana Archives and Records Administration (IARA) is celebrating with a variety of activities. Themed "Spring Cleaning," these activities offer researchers an opportunity to organize their records and utilize record retention resources.
Each week in April, the IARA's webpage will add new resources, such as a records cleanup checklist and a records health check: self-assessment. The
public libraries record retention schedule can also be found on the webpage.
Additionally, IARA will offer pre-recorded mini-webinars. The Spring Clean Mini-Webinar Series will include "Understanding Retention Schedules," "Top Five Records Cleanup Tips," "Email Management Made Simple" and "Disaster Preparedness for Public Records." Please note that the 15-minute webinars do not meet the time threshold for LEU eligibility for Indiana library staff. The webinars can be viewed here when available.
"The information contained in all of the Records and Information Management Month resources - including the mini-webinars - directly pertains to all public libraries, as it will assist them, as government entities, in managing their public records and understanding their statutory records management responsibilities. It will also help them improve efficiency in information governance. The resources are relevant for all public servants who support Hoosiers," said Meaghan Fukunaga, director of records and information management and assistant director of the Indiana Archives and Records Administration.
Questions about county and local records management can be submitted via email. Questions about state records management can also be submitted via email. |
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Upcoming workshops and important dates |
U.S. 250 Trivia
When: April 14, 12-1 p.m.
Where: Indiana State Library
Youth Services Virtual Roundtable
When: April 15, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Where: Online
Professional Development Roundtable
When: April 16, 2-3 p.m.
Where: Online
What's Up Wednesday - From Grant to Gathering Place: A Library Placemaking Journey
When: May 13, 10-11 a.m.
Where: Online
Webmaster Roundtable
When: May 19, 2-3 p.m.
Where: Online
2026 Public Library Budget Workshop
When: May 21, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Indiana State Library
2026 Public Library Budget Workshop - Online
When: May 21, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Online
Genealogy for Night Owls
When: May 21, 5-8 p.m.
Where: Indiana State Library
What's Up Wednesday - Microsoft Teams for Libraries
When: May 27, 10-11 a.m.
Where: Online
Indiana State Library Lunch and Learn Series: Help with Statistical Research
When: June 9, 12-1 p.m.
Where: Indiana Stare Library and online
What's Up Wednesday - Roll for Instruction! Game Based Training for Librarian Development
When: June 10, 10-11 a.m.
Where: Online |
| Welcome to the Government Information Minute. Every other week, government information librarians at the Indiana State Library cover current resources on governmental data at the state, national and international levels, all to keep the public well-informed. Follow the Indiana State Data Center on
Facebook and Twitter and feel free to leave comments and suggestions. |
In Indiana, Sunday, May 10, is the deadline for paying semi-annual property tax bills. Individual property tax bills are calculated by the county auditor and mailed by the county treasurer. Property taxes assessed for a year are due in two equal installments on May 10 and Nov. 10 of the following year. The Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) explains more in their online Citizen's Guide to Property Tax.
If taxpayers have questions about when they will receive property tax bills, or have other questions related to tax bills, it is best to contact the county treasurer or the county auditor. To find contact information for local officials, please see the officials database search on the DLGF page. DLGF also provides an online search form to look up and view current and past years’ property tax bills.
Use the Indiana Gateway for Local Government Units Taxpayer Portal to access information about how taxes and other public dollars are budgeted and spent by Indiana's local units of government. There are additional reports, data and status maps posted on the DLGF website. For more information, contact the
Indiana Department of Local Government Finance. |
| Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library receives Community Partner in Excellence Award |
On Wednesday, March 18, at the Mishawaka Business Association 2026 Annual Dinner, the Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library (MPHPL) received the Community Partner in Excellence Award. Accepting the award on behalf of the library were board of trustees president Jenny McNeil and library director Donna Meeks.
The award is presented to a Mishawaka community organization that demonstrates a strong commitment to partnering with local individuals and businesses while meeting the needs of residents.
"MPHPL was selected for this recognition not only for supporting individuals with access to essential community resources, but also for opening doors to businesses, meetings and community gatherings that add value to every Mishawaka resident," said Mishawaka Business Association executive director Felicia Seals-Buchanan.
"Thank you to the Mishawaka Business Association for this honor, and to our community for making our work possible," the library said in a statement.
According to its "Long-Range Plan," the Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library inspires and empowers its community by connecting patrons to literature, information, ideas and new experiences for lifelong enrichment. |
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