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.
Indiana library employees who would like to contribute a guest blog, please send an email with an idea.
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Free training for librarians and library employees on LinkedIn Learning
Indiana Library Passport
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.
Submissions now being accepted for Statehood Day Essay Contest
The Indiana Center for the Book, a program of the Indiana State Library and an affiliate of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, is once again hosting the Statehood Day Essay Contest, an essay contest for Indiana’s fourth graders to commemorate Indiana’s 210th Statehood Day on Friday, Dec. 11. The theme of this year’s contest is “Proud to be an American, Proud to be a Hoosier!” The theme can encompass a wide range of subjects, including history, geography, tourism, famous people or anything a student is proud of relating to Indiana. Three winners will be selected. Winners will receive an Indiana529 deposit of $529 made possible by the Indiana
Education Savings Authority. Winners will also be honored at a Statehood Day ceremony.
The competition is open to any Indiana fourth grade public, private or homeschooled student in the 2026-2027 school year. Essays should be well organized, reflect the “Proud to be an American, Proud to be a Hoosier!” theme and must range from 100 to 300 words, handwritten or typed.
Essays must be submitted with an entry form. Individual entries should use the 2026 Individual Entry form. For individual entries, the following information should be included with each essay: student name, hometown and school, if applicable. Class sets should use the 2026 Group Entry Form. In addition, the following information should be included with each essay for class sets: student names, teacher name and school name. All information on how to enter can be found on the contest website.
North Webster Community Public Library seeking volunteers
From assisting with children’s summer programming to supporting the Friends of the Library book sales, volunteers at the North Webster Community Public Library contribute countless hours behind the scenes to help the library serve its community. Their efforts include weeding and maintaining the library’s landscaping, cleaning DVDs, relabeling and shelving books, dusting shelves, assembling children’s craft projects and completing many other tasks that keep the library running smoothly.
The library is seeking volunteers of all ages who are interested in giving back to the community. Adult volunteers can assist with a variety of projects based on their interests and the library’s current needs. The library also offers a Junior Volunteer program for youth ages 10 and older, providing an opportunity to gain valuable job experience while making a positive impact on the community.
Community members looking for another way to support the library are also invited to join the Friends of the Library. The dedicated volunteer organization plays a vital role in supporting library programs, services and special projects throughout the year.
Those interested in volunteering can call the library at 574-834-7122.
Featured Indiana State Library kit: 'ABCs'
The Indiana State Library’s Indiana Young Readers Center provides five types of kits for use by public library youth librarians and teachers across the state: Book Club kits, LEGO kits, DUPLO kits, Storytime kits and Indiana Escape Experience kits. Every other week, the Wednesday Word will feature one of these kits.
This week's featured kit is the "ABCs" Storytime kit, which includes eight books focusing on letters and reading. The kit contains a set of giant foam magnetic uppercase and lowercase letters and a set of felt uppercase and lowercase letters that includes felt digraphs and blends. The kit also has an “Alphabet in Action” music CD and an alphabet treasure hunt game with sparkly letters and jewels. Every kit includes a teacher’s or librarian’s guide full of ideas for use with groups of children.
Welcome to Digital Collection Highlights. Every other week, librarians at the Indiana State Library share images from the library's ever-growing digital collections. Visit the Digital Collections
page to view the latest additions.
Back to school fashions
As children and teenagers head back to school, many will show up in brand new clothes, sporting the latest in youth fashion. Back to school shopping has been big business for decades.
The August 1946 issue of Ayrograms - the employee newsletter for the L.S. Ayres Company - depicts preparations for the department store’s efforts to ensure that local youth had access to the latest, hippest styles. A trio of local young women were on hand to serve as fashion “experts” and a mannequin named Maggie stood alert, displaying cleverly crafted outfits to all who roamed the aisles. A small fashion show was held “complete with mike and timely platters,” which in modern parlance simply means it involved the use of a microphone and was accompanied by popular music.
The full issue can be viewed in the Indiana State Library’s digital collections.
Constitution Day Trivia scheduled for Sept. 15
Join the Indiana State Library on Tuesday, Sept. 15, to celebrate Constitution Day with a lunchtime trivia showdown. The fun and fast-paced trivia game will focus on the U.S. Constitution, American history and civics.
Participants will test their knowledge and are encouraged to compete with friends and coworkers. Whether participants are history buffs or just in it for fun, this event is a great way to honor the founding document of our Nation.
The program will take place in the History Reference Room at the Indiana State Library, located at 315 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis, from 12-1 p.m. Participants can join a team, or gather their own team and register together.
The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Click here to register.
