Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Foundation

SEE SCHEDULE O.PARTNER WITH DONORS TO ENRICH LIVES, FOSTER LIFELONG LEARNING AND ENGAGE OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC LIBRARY.

PROVIDED SUPPORT TO THE LIBRARY TO FUND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND TECHNOLOGY. MAJOR EXAMPLES OF PROGRAMS INCLUDED: MARION COUNTY INTERNET LIBRARY: A COLLECTION OF ONLINE DATABASES WHICH WAS SEARCHED MORE THAN 470,000 TIMES. DIGITIZATION PROJECTS: WITH THE FOUNDATION'S SUPPORT, THE LIBRARY CONTINUED ITS WORK TO DIGITIZE THE HISTORY OF THE INDIANAPOLIS PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, ALONG WITH UPDATES TO EXISTING DIGITAL COLLECTIONS. DIGITAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF INDIANAPOLIS: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE POLIS CENTER AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY-PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS, THE LIBRARY CONTINUED TO DEVELOP AND PUBLICLY LAUNCHED THE DIGITAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF INDIANAPOLIS. AXIS 360: THE LIBRARY ADDED TITLES TO ITS E-BOOK AND E-AUDIOBOOK PLATFORM FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS THAT CAN BE SHARED AMONG SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC PATRONS.

PROVIDED SUPPORT TO THE LIBRARY TO FUND A SERIES OF FREE PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH EFFORTS DESIGNED TO HELP CHILDREN BECOME MORE CAPABLE, ENTHUSIASTIC READERS AND SAVVY, PRODUCTIVE USERS OF TECHNOLOGY. OFFERED AT ALL 24 LIBRARY LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THESE PROGRAMS ARE HIGHLY ACCESSIBLE AND REACH UNDERSERVED AUDIENCES AS NEARLY 25% OF MARION COUNTY CHILDREN LIVE IN POVERTY. MAJOR EXAMPLES OF PROGRAMS INCLUDED: SUMMER READING PROGRAM: THIS PROGRAM, WHICH REWARDS CHILDREN FOR READING OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS, ENROLLED 19,000 YOUTH PARTICIPANTS WHO READ MORE THAN 13.5 MILLION MINUTES. READING READY: THIS MULTI-FACETED INITIATIVE HELPS CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE DEVELOP EARLY LITERACY AND TECHNOLOGY SKILLS NEEDED FOR A SUCCESSFUL START IN SCHOOL. SPECIFIC PROGRAMS OFFERED IN 2021 INCLUDED: ON THE ROAD TO READING--EACH MONTH, THE LIBRARY PROVIDED STORY PROGRAMS TO APPROXIMATELY 50 HOME AND FAITH-BASED DAYCARES IN LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME AREAS; EACH SESSION CONSISTED OF A STORY PROGRAM AND A DELIVERY OF BUNNY BAGS FILLED WITH PICTURE BOOKS FOR THE CHILDREN TO ENJOY BETWEEN VISITS; STAFF MEMBERS HAVE CONTINUED MATERIALS DELIVERY AND CREATED SPECIAL STORY TIME KITS FOR PROVIDERS TO USE WHEN STAFF COULD NOT VISIT BECAUSE OF PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS. PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS/READING READY TIME - BECAUSE IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING WAS STILL PAUSED IN SPRING 2021 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, THE LIBRARY PROVIDED VIRTUAL PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS; THROUGH A COMBINATION OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND A NEW, EVERY-FRIDAY SERIES FOR TEACHERS CALLED READING READY TIME, PRESCHOOLERS COULD EXPERIENCE ART, MUSIC, SPORTS AND MORE; IN THE FALL, PROGRAMMING RESUMED IN PERSON BRIEFLY BEFORE BEING MOVED BACK TO A VIRTUAL FORMAT TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFER. 1,000 BOOKS BY KINDERGARTEN--FAMILIES WERE ENCOURAGED TO READ 1,000 BOOKS TO YOUNG CHILDREN BEFORE THEY ENTER KINDERGARTEN; THE PROGRAM WAS MOVED TO TRACKING IN AN APP AND WAS REBRANDED TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE; THIS PROGRAM REACHES FAMILIES ACROSS MULTIPLE YEARS. STAFF--PRIVATE FUNDS SUPPORTED THE LIBRARY'S HERBERT SIMON EARLY LITERACY SPECIALIST WHO OVERSEES AND EVALUATES READING READY PROGRAMMING.

PROVIDED SUPPORT TO THE LIBRARY BY FUNDING PROGRAMS HIGHLIGHTING THE CULTURES AND UNIQUE COMMUNITIES IN INDIANAPOLIS. EXAMPLES OF MAJOR PROGRAMS INCLUDED: MEET THE ARTISTS: THIS PROGRAM CELEBRATED THE ARTS, CULTURE, AND HERITAGE OF THE CITY'S AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, THE EVENT WAS HELD IN A VIRTUAL FORMAT WITH A SERIES OF RECORDED PERFORMANCES, AUTHOR TALKS AND ART WORKSHOPS TO ENGAGE WITH AUDIENCES INSTEAD OF A LARGE IN-PERSON EVENT. ART AND MUSIC WORKSHOPS: SUMMERTIME WORKSHOPS WERE HELD IN PERSON FOR CHILDREN TO EXPLORE VARIOUS ART FORMS AND ACTIVITIES AS PART OF THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM. CONCERT SERIES: MUSICIANS FROM THE INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND OTHER LOCAL MUSIC GROUPS PERFORMED FREE CONCERTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AT CENTRAL LIBRARY AND OTHER BRANCHES AND THROUGH VIDEO RECORDINGS BROADCASTED ONLINE. THESE CONCERTS EXPOSED PATRONS TO A VARIETY OF MUSIC STYLES IN A FREE AND OPEN SETTING. CENTER FOR BLACK LITERATURE & CULTURE: A DEDICATED SPACE AT CENTRAL LIBRARY CELEBRATED THE VIBRANT HERITAGE AND TRIUMPHS OF THOSE BORN OF AFRICAN ROOTS AND PROVIDED A PLACE FOR ALL WHO ARE INTERESTED IN EXPLORING THIS RICH CULTURE AND HERITAGE THROUGH COLLECTIONS, RESOURCES, AND PROGRAMS.

PROVIDED SUPPORT TO THE LIBRARY TO FUND FREE PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS TO HELP BOLSTER WORKPLACE SKILLS, PROVIDE TRAINING WITH THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY OR PROVIDE OUTLETS FOR LEARNING ABOUT TOPICS THAT ARE OF GENERAL INTEREST. MANY OF THE LIBRARY'S LIFELONG LEARNING PROGRAMS OCCUR IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF ADULTS LIVING IN POVERTY OR WITH HIGH RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT. MAJOR EXAMPLES OF PROGRAMS INCLUDED: NONPROFIT WORKSHOPS: PROGRAMS HELD AT CENTRAL LIBRARY AND VIRTUALLY PROVIDED INFORMATION ABOUT FUNDRAISING, BOARD GOVERNANCE, PROGRAM EVALUATION AND MORE FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN STARTING A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OR ONGOING LEARNING FOR THOSE WHO WORK IN NEW OR SMALL ORGANIZATIONS. ADULT SUMMER READING PROGRAM: ADULTS ENGAGED IN PLEASURE READING AND CIVIC ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS REGISTERING TO VOTE, TO FOSTER ONGOING LEARNING AND A LIFELONG LOVE OF READING. TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS: ADULTS PARTICIPATED IN PROGRAMS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY IN A VARIETY OF FORMATS. PROGRAMS INCLUDED COMPUTER CLASSES TAUGHT IN SPANISH AND WORKSHOPS AT A VARIETY OF SKILL LEVELS FOR ADULTS EXPLORING CODING. BRANCH PROGRAMS/INITIATIVES: SUPPORTED PROGRAMS THAT WERE SPECIFIC TO THE NEEDS OF BRANCH COMMUNITIES WHICH INCLUDED WORKSHOPS ON GARDENING, COOKING AND CRAFTS WITH TAKE-HOME KITS; AQUARIUM MAINTENANCE; ADDITIONAL BRANCH MATERIALS/BOOKS PURCHASED THROUGH MEMORIAL GIFTS; AND OTHER ENHANCEMENTS TO LIBRARY PROGRAMS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC ART OUTSIDE CENTRAL LIBRARY AND NEW AUTHOR NAME ENGRAVINGS INSIDE. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR LIBRARY STAFFING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLEMENTING THE AFOREMENTIONED PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIBRARY STAFF. THE FOUNDATION ALSO SUPPORTED AWARDS AND RECOGNITION ACTIVITIES TO SHOW APPRECIATION TO LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.