Indiana State Library Foundation, Inc.

04/24/2026

VOLUNTEER AT THE INDIANA STATE Indiana State Library

Indiana State Library
The Indiana State Library Volunteer Program allows the public to take a behind the scenes look at the State Library. Volunteering at the State Library is also an excellent opportunity to gain valuable work experience in the field of library science.

Volunteers have the opportunity to work with the Indiana State Library’s many historic collections, all housed in a beautiful 1930s Art Deco building in downtown Indianapolis. Our hours are flexible, and we can accommodate almost any schedule. We even have positions which allow volunteers to work from home for even more flexibility. A background in library science or history is not necessary, and the library will provide any training needed for a volunteer position.

To see current positions, please visit our Volunteer Opportunities page: https://www.in.gov/library/about/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities/

04/24/2026

Indiana Center for the Book celebrates National Library Week with Library of Congress card catalog kiosk at IIndiana State Library

The Indiana Center for the Book - an affiliate of the Library of Congress Center for the Book located within the Indiana State Library - has received one of 56 card catalogs brought out of retirement by the Library of Congress and distributed through its Center for the Book affiliate network. The card catalog has been transformed into a Library of Congress information kiosk to help remind library patrons that the Library of Congress is a library for all.

Every card catalog kiosk features signage that indicates the card catalog was once in active use at the Library of Congress and explains its history and original purpose. The front of each drawer includes the name of a Library of Congress service or program. Inside each of the 15 drawers is a card containing a brief description of the featured initiative, along with a QR code leading to the page on the Library of Congress website that contains more information.

“We've had many people stop by and look through the drawers and share that there are many things that they didn't realize the Library of Congress did or offered,” said Tammie Buchanan, Indiana Young Readers Center librarian and director of the Indiana Center for the Book. “The kids have enjoyed using a parent's phone to scan the QR codes and then they discuss what they find. It's great way to celebrate National Library Week!"

The card catalog information kiosk can be found in the Indiana Young Readers Center at the Indiana State Library, located at 315 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis.

National Library Week runs from Sunday, April 19, through Saturday, April 25. This year's theme is "Find Your Joy."

04/17/2026

INDIANA LIMESTONE

One of Indiana’s most famous exports is undoubtedly its limestone. Found in abundance in south central Indiana, it has been used to construct many buildings throughout the world, including the Indiana Capitol and the Indiana State Library.

One of the largest limestone providers continues to be the Indiana Limestone Company. Originally located in Bedford, the company was officially incorporated on April 14, 1926. An image from the Indiana State Library’s digital collection shows large limestone columns being prepared for transport. The photo is taken from a multi-volume scrapbook set showcasing the quarrying, transportation and uses of Indiana limestone with many images attributed to the Indiana Limestone Company.

04/17/2026

Government Information Day 2026 In-Person
Friday, May 15th, 8:30am TO 3:45PM IN-PERSON EVENT

Government Information Day 2026 is a free one-day conference that promotes federal, state, and local government information and resources. Indiana public librarians can also earn LEUs at the event. The event is free to attend, and offers a great learning opportunity for librarians, library staff, information professionals, and members of the public. Registration for in-person attendance is free and required.

The Indiana State Library is proud to announce Director Hugh Halpern, U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO), as the Government Information Day 2026 keynote speaker. As the Agency’s chief executive officer, Director Halpern is responsible for overseeing the publishing and printing information for the three branches of the Federal Government. He is the 28th person to lead GPO since the agency was created by Congress on March 4, 1861, the same day Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as the 16th President of the United States. President Donald Trump nominated Mr. Halpern to be GPO Director on October 17, 2019, and the U.S. Senate confirmed him on December 4, 2019.

To Register: https://isl.libcal.com/event/16636455

04/08/2026

Genealogy for Night Owls Returns May 21, 2026, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Indiana State Library. Register on our events page!
https://isl.libcal.com/event/16558630

This free research event at the Indiana State Library features extended hours and one-on-one consultation sessions with representatives from various local historical, genealogical, and lineage organizations. Registration is free and required.

Schedule of Events
5:10 Library tour
5:30 Presentation – Unique Items from the Library Collections
5:45 Research on your own
5:45 Ask-an-Expert sessions begin
7:00 Ask-an-Expert sessions end
8:00 Genealogy for Night Owls ends

The tour and Ask-an-Expert sessions are optional, so you may spend the entire evening on your research if you prefer.

The Ask-an-Expert sessions are only 15 minutes in length, so please try to have questions prepared in advance.

The library tour is about 20 minutes in length and will cover the materials available for genealogy researchers at the Indiana State Library.
Genealogy Division librarians will be on hand to answer questions concerning the collection as well as research and reference questions. They can also assist you in locating materials. The second floor microfilm area will be open and staffed by librarians from the Indiana Division. The Rare Books and Manuscripts and Reference Divisions will not be open during Genealogy for Night Owls and we will not be able to retrieve manuscript collections during this event.

04/02/2026

02/26/2026

Hiram Rhodes Revels was sworn in as a U.S. Senator from Mississippi on this date 156 years ago, the first African American to serve in the U.S. Congress.

Revels attended Indiana’s Union Literary Institute in Randolph County and a Quaker seminary in Union County. He also served as an African Methodist Episcopal pastor in Richmond and Terre Haute.

His biography can be found in the U.S. Senate Historical Office blog, and an extended biography can be found on the U.S. House website. The National Park Service writes about his life’s devotion to public service here. His time in the Senate was short, but he made a historical impact during Reconstruction.

02/09/2026

What is INSPIRE?
INSPIRE is a free collection of online academic databases and information resources exclusive to Indiana residents.

For over 20 years, INSPIRE has provided full-text magazine and journal articles, websites, pamphlets, images, almanacs, historic newspapers, multimedia, library catalogs, and much more. Today, the abundance of unvetted internet content can be overwhelming—INSPIRE users can browse confidently knowing that all content is reliable, scholarly, and peer-reviewed.

CLICK SPACE BELOW TO VIEW VIDEO - NOT SURE WHY THE LINK DOESN'T SHOW UP HERE!

01/22/2026

The Grand Army of the Republic

After the end of Civil War, many veterans formed various state and local fraternal organizations in order to keep in touch with each other. The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) emerged as most influential, being founded on April 6, 1866, in Decatur, Illinois. It was founded on the principles of “fraternity, charity and loyalty.” At its peak in 1890, the GAR. had about 410,000 members. In Indiana, the last survivor of the GAR was John Christian Adams, who died in 1949 in Jonesboro, at the age of 101. The national group lasted until 1956 when it was dissolved after the last veteran died.

Morton Post No. 1, in Terre Haute, created its charter in 1879, with many others following shortly thereafter: Gen. Joe Canby Post 2, Brazil; Logan Post No. 3, Lafayette; John C. Fremont Post No. 4, Covington; Pap Thomas Post 5, Greensburg; James H, Emmett Post No. 6, Wabash; McPherson Post No. 7, Crawfordsville; Auten Post No. 8, South Bend; Gen. Steele Post No. 9, Rockville; Captain Floyd Post 10, Annapolis; Greencastle Post No. 11; and Sugar Greek Post No. 12; Macksville. After these 12 posts, many followed and spread across Indiana until all counties were represented. Eventually, there were a total of 592 posts at their peak.

This post was written by Christopher Marshall, digital collections coordinator for the Indiana Division at the Indiana State Library. 1.8.2026

Further Reading
“History of the Grand Army of the Republic in Indiana”
“Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) 1866-1956”
Woman’s Relief Corps
“Regimental reunions of Civil War veterans”

01/22/2026

The Indiana State Library hosts many digital collections beyond its own collections. The items come from libraries, museums and historical societies across Indiana and can be searched in Indiana Memory.

One of the newest collections is “Cornerstone of Columbus, Indiana -- 301 Washington Street.” (see photo)

A late-19th century brick building adorned with the words Irwin’s Bank, located at 301 Washington St. in Columbus, tells the story of the Irwin-Sweeney-Miller family in Bartholomew County. For the last 200 years, the Irwin-Sweeney-Miller family has contributed to shaping Columbus with much involvement in the city’s business, religion, politics, art and philanthropy.

Beginning as a digital exhibit in 2017, the new collection was created by the Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives (CIAA). In 2018, the CIAA became part of the Bartholomew County Public Library.

The digital exhibit and the digital collection have more than 300 items, which are held by the CIAA, the Bartholomew County Public Library and the Bartholomew County Historical Society. Included in the collections are photographs featuring the Irwin-Sweeney-Miller family and the interior and exterior of the building; postcards of Columbus; material sample cards; pamphlets; documents relating to the building’s history; ephemera; and artifacts. They all tell the story of an important Columbus family and building.

This post was written by Christopher Marshall, digital collections coordinator for the Indiana Division at the Indiana State Library.