JUNE 2015 Volume III, Issue I
BETWEEN THE COVERS
JUNE 2015 STATE LIBRARIAN OF INDIANA Jacob Speer STATE LIBRARY FOUNDATION BOARD Robert G. Barcus, President Mary Ellen Backer Joyce Brinkman Dr. James P. Fadely Jonathan J. Myers, Esq. Sarah W. Otte, MLS Sandy Sawyer
President’s Corner:
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Foundation Welcomes New Board of Directors
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Final Destination Springfield A Country Mourns its Leader
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Recalculating: The Genesis of Turn-by-Turn Direction
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State Library Prepares for Bicentennial Celebration
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Bicentennial Events Already Under Way
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Access to Public Records Enhanced Through Digital Partnership
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Genealogy Website Again Named Nation’s Best
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Remembering the Palm Sunday Tornados
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Meet Indiana’s 34th State Librarian
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EDITOR/DESIGNER Drew Griffis CONTRIBUTORS Ryan Brown Connie Bruder Andrea Glenn Monique Howell Chandler Lighty Jacob Speer
THE INDIANA STATE LIBRARY
Open for Exploration
ON THE COVER: Lincoln’s funeral in Indianapolis (4/29/1865). Courtesy of Allen County Public Library’s “Lincoln Library Photographs.” Available at indianamemory.org
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The Indiana State Library was established in 1825 and houses vast collections with over two million volumes and three million manuscripts, as well as thousands of maps, federal documents, microfilm, and more. Just as the Library of Congress serves as the historical repository for our nation, the State Library is responsible for collecting and preserving all types of information and data about Indiana. The State Library proudly maintains two of the largest Indiana history and genealogy collections in the world. Discover the Indiana State Library and unearth centuries of historical Hoosier treasures. www.islfoundation.org
JUNE 2015
LIBRARY WELCOMES NEW DIRECTOR, LOOKS TOWARD INDIANA BICENTENNIAL
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‘m proud to lead one of Indiana’s oldest state agencies and one that provides great resources and services that benefit current and future generations of Hoosiers. The State Library’s vast collections document our state’s history and our librarians and staff do a tremendous job ensuring that the collection is discoverable and useable and work to preserve these resources for future generations. As we approach our state’s bicentennial next year, the State Library will play an important role in the celebration. The additions of the government visitor center on the first floor and the young reader’s center on the second floor are exciting developments for the library. Each will raise the visibility of the State Library and introduce our resources to more people. And, while we physically preserve and share our invaluable collections, we digitally preserve a seemingly endless volumes of historic documents and newspapers through award-winning services indianamemory.org and newspapers.library.in.gov, among others. In this magazine, we will highlight the numerous programs we will lead as partners of the Indiana Bicentennial. Our focus is preserving this unique moment in Indiana history just as it was accomplished in 1916. This is a great opportunity to provide future generations of Hoosiers an opportunity to understand and appreciate the knowledge and legacy Indiana’s forefathers left for us as we embark upon this third century of statehood. We’re in a great position to be a leader in these efforts. Our ongoing preservation Indiana history, coupled with a complete complement of statewide youth programming can ensure the State Library reaches thousands of Hoosiers. I encourage you to visit indiana2016.org to learn more about how you can get involved in this collective effort.
THE INDIANA STATE LIBRARY 315 W. Ohio St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 Phone: (317) 232-3675 I’d like to again express my appreciation for the opportunity to lead the State Toll Free: (866) 683-0008 Library, especially during this pivotal time in our state’s history. The future of www.library.IN.gov the State Library and libraries are bright in Indiana as we continue to offer resources and services that enable life-long learning, bridge the digital HOURS OF OPERATION divide and provide both entertainment and enlightenment. (all times Eastern): M, Tu, W, F: Sincerely, 8:00 AM—4:30 PM Th: 8:00 AM—7:00 PM Jacob Speer Sat: 8:00 AM—4:00 PM State Librarian of Indiana
www.library.in.gov
JUNE 2015
www.islfoundation.org
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