Indiana Libraries and Literacy Symposium

• For school, public, and academic librarians.  
• For civic and community organizations and service providers.
• For educators and civic and community engagement enthusiasts.
• For all who care about civics and civic literacy in Indiana.

Libraries serve a critical role in citizens’ literacy development from birth to adulthood as conveners of communities and providers of democratic spaces for gathering and learning. The 2024 Indiana Libraries and Literacy Symposium will focus on the ways libraries can support their communities’ understanding of, and engagement in, their civic duties. Included is a hands-on workshop for enacting local change through civic awareness and action and a replicable curriculum kit for offering the same workshop at one’s library or organization. Come network with civic-minded professionals from across Indiana. 

Sessions and Speakers: 

Registration and breakfast begins at 9:30 am, Formal programming runs 10:20 am – 3:00 pm, After hours field trip 3:00-4:00 pm

Session One: 

• My Rolodex Workshop: Developing (and Teaching) Strategic Outreach to Tackle Community Concerns
  • Mary Evangeliste, Library Science Professor teaching librarians about civic literacy at the iSchool,  San José State University 

Session Two: 

• Civics Curriculum: Development, Implementation, and State Standards Alignment
  • Dr. Elizabeth Osborn, Indiana University Center on Representative Government and Co-Director of iEngage, a youth civics summer camp.

Session Three: Panel: The Intersection of Libraries and Civic Literacy: Applications and Insights from the Field and Community

• Moderator: Chad Heck, Chief Technology Officer MSD Pike Township
• Dr. Terri Jett, Director of the Hub for Black Affairs and Community Engagement, Butler University and host of WFYI’s Simple Civics
• Raenell Smith, School Library Media Specialist, Whiteland Community High School and Indiana State Teachers Association leader
• Zoe Mayhook, Assistant Professor Purdue University Libraries and librarian liaison for the Purdue Civics Knowledge Test
• Jos Holman, County Librarian, Tippecanoe County Public Library

After Hours Field Trip: 

• A short walk to IUPUI University Library's Ruth Lilly Special Collections and Archives to view:
  • The National Service Archives,  and
  • Faces in the Crowd: Indiana and the Political Process, an Indiana Historical Society traveling exhibit that shares the story of individual citizens in the crowd - each of whom play a crucial role in ensuring the electoral process works.