IndyPL Blog

If you are a serious researcher, curious traveler, or proud resident, these links will help you explore Indiana and Indianapolis from collections of digitized photos and artifacts to letters, old newspapers articles, and more. Browse them from home or take an afternoon to visit the Indianapolis Special Collections Room at Central Library where you will find all things Indiana and Indianapolis complete with a beautiful sixth floor view of downtown Indianapolis.

Indianapolis Public Library Resources

Digital Indy Archives: Yearbooks, arts organizations, civic organizations, public safety, neighborhoods, newsmagazines all accessible online.

Hoosier State Chronicles
250+ scanned and searchable newspapers from every county in Indiana, with the earliest starting in 1804.

Indianapolis Star (1903-2004)
A full-text version of the Indianapolis Star from 1903-1922 including photographs, ads, obituaries, and marriage announcements.

Indianapolis Star (1991-Present)
Full-text coverage from the Indianapolis Star back to 1991, including obituaries, but excluding paid advertisements and freelance writers.

Recommendations about Indiana and Reading Recommendations about Indianapolis
IndyPL Staff Reading Recommendations cover history, sports, art, nature, hoosier authors, and more.

Local Newspapers

Central Library has Indianapolis newspapers on microfilm from about 1822 to the present. You may access the microfilm collection in person during library hours.
Indianapolis Star (1903-2004) A full-text version of the Indianapolis Star from 1903-1922 including photographs, ads, obituaries, and marriage announcements.
Indianapolis Star (1991-Present) Full-text coverage from the Indianapolis Star back to 1991, including obituaries, but excluding paid advertisements and freelance writers.
Indianapolis Star ProQuest Online Database: Access 1903-present via indypl.org with a library card.
The Weekly View Published be Eastside Voice Community News Media for 24 zip codes in from Downtown Indy East to Greenfield, North to Lawrence, Geist, and Broad Ripple, and South to Beech Grove, New Pal & Southport.
La Voz de Indiana La Voz de Indiana Bilingual Newspaper serves all communities by concentrating on the Hispanic and American markets. As the “only” bilingual publication in the state of Indiana , La Voz is published in both Spanish and English. Their goals are to Embrace Diversity by promoting understanding and improve communication between people.
The Free Soil Banner The Free Soil Banner was published in Indianapolis from 1848 to 1854. Other cities had newspapers by the same name, but the Indiana version was edited by Lew Wallace and William B. Greer, and reportedly funded by Ovid Butler, the founder of North Western Christian University, later renamed Butler University.

Museums

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis Archive
Physical Collection: Photos and historic documents pertaining to Indianapolis history.
Digital Collection: 1,000 artifacts from the museum. Selected objects range from Social Studies to Science to Geography with a particular emphasis on Indiana.

Indiana Medical History Museum
Physical Collection: The foremost institution in the region for medical history interpretation and preservation.

Indianapolis Firefighters’ Museum
Physical Collection: Indianapolis fire service history through exhibits, photographs, artifacts, log books, and more.
Digital Collection: Materials include photographs, logbooks, yearbooks, scrapbooks and other items the Museum has collected over the years.

Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newsfields
Stout Reference Library and Archives
Physical Collection: Indiana Artist Files, history of Oldfields estate, Art Association of Indianapolis to Newfields history, various arts-related manuscript collections.
discovernewfields.org/research/libraries | discovernewfields.org/archives
Digital Collection: Selections from online manuscript collections.

Indianapolis Resources

Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
Physical Collection: Physical collection detailing the life of the 23rd President of the United States.
Digital Collection

Historic Indianapolis
Online Blog: A blog about historic events in Indianapolis.

Indianapolis Long Ago
Facebook Group: Photos and history from fans of Indianapolis history.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
Digital Collection: All things Indianapolis police history in photographs, video, and artifacts including arrest logs from the early 1900s, information about some of the very first policewomen, mug shots from the turn of the century, IPD personnel records, and video footage of Indianapolis policing from the 1980s and 1990s.

Indy Nostalgia
Facebook Group: Photos and history from fans of Indianapolis history.

Invisible Indianapolis
Online Blog: Research blog detailing race, heritage, and community memory in Indianapolis.

Irvington Historical Society
Physical Collection: Property, school and family records related to Greater Irvington.

State Resources

Indiana Album
Digital Collection: Images from private collections across the state; based in Indianapolis.

Hoosier State Chronicles
Digital Collection: Newspaper from across Indiana. Indianapolis papers include: Recorder, Sentinel, News, Daily Herald, Journal, Leader.

Indiana Historical Society
Physical Collection: Physical collections of print materials, photographs, Digital Collection: Bass Photograph Collection, Civil War, correspondence, clubs.

Indiana Landmarks
Physical Collection: Preserving the built environment of Indiana.

Indiana Memory Digital Collection: Aggregator of statewide digital collections.

Indiana State Archives
Physical Collection: City records, land records, neighborhood records, meeting minutes, etc.

Indiana State Library
Physical Collection: Genealogy and Rare Books and Manuscripts Finding Aids | Manuscript Catalog.
Digital Collection: Photographs, maps, manuscripts, broadsides, pamphlets, periodicals, government documents, genealogy materials.
Digital Collection: Indiana State Library Historical Bureau; Indiana State Historical Markers on a variety of Marion County topics.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Online Database: Database of historic properties and cemeteries within Indianapolis.

Colleges & Universities

Butler University
Digital Collection: Materials from Butler University Special Collections and Archives.

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Digital Collections: Speedway, Benjamin Harrison presidential site, LGBTQ+, City Directories, Sanborn Maps, Crispus Attucks Museum.

Other Community Resources

National Historic Geographic Information System (NHGIS)
Digital Collection: Historic census tract-level census data available in GIS formats.

The Polis Center
Online Databases: Data visualization, aggregation, statistics and informational databases.

UIndy Mayoral Archives
Digital Collection: Includes archives for L. Keith Bulen, Richard G. Lugar, William H. Hudnutt, Stephen Goldsmith.

Tags History, Homework Help, Local History

Here are six tips for finding books by Black authors, including a convenient list of authors linked directly to our catalog for placing requests or checking out e-books or audiobooks. Find compelling fiction and nonfiction by both contemporary and classic Black authors, including books in every genre from literary fiction to romance, to science fiction to personal memoirs, whether you are looking for a thrilling page turner are recognized prize-winner!

1. Visit the Center for Black Literature & Culture at Central Library.

The Center for Black Literature & Culture (CBLC) is home to our largest collection of materials by Black authors. Take as long as you’d like to browse this collection that features authors whose work impacts local, national, and global culture in literature, sports, business, politics, science, and music. Also don’t miss the CBLC’s website, The Power of Black Voices. This online collection includes artifacts, photographs, and articles across many categories including Black Literature and The African Diaspora. The CBLC can provide both in-person and online help finding books by Black authors.

2. Read an award winner.

Make a selection from some of the most distinguished honors in literature. The Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) Literary Award, the NAACP Image Awards for Literature, and the Earnest J. Gaines Literary Award all recognize excellence in writing by Black authors. To place convenient requests browse the winners in our catalog:

3. Borrow e-books or downloadable audiobooks

Browse OverDrive’s African American Fiction and African American Nonfiction collections of e-books and downloadable audiobooks. If you have never borrowed from OverDrive or used the OverDrive Libby app before, both OverDrive browser directions and Libby app directions are available as well as an OverDrive video tutorial and Overdrive/Libby Support.

Need more help? Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text or email Ask-a-Librarian. The Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch and listen on a PC, tablet or phone.

Screenshot of four book covers that display from a search in the Libby app.

4. Get reading recommendations from IndyPL staff

Click on a featured booklist to get reading recommendations or see all our staff book lists featuring Black authors.

5. Use your IndyPL Library card to login to Novelist Plus

Find recommendations, read-alikes, series lists, reviews, and lists of award-winning books by Black authors on Novelist Plus. Finding books by Black authors is as easy as selecting a category and then browsing through the choices.

Here is a sample listing from the Novelist category Black Creators in Comics to show a star rating and the option to “Check Availability” to see if it is available to borrow from IndyPL.

Sample listing from Black Creators in Comics from Novelist Plus.

6. Subscribe to the Black Literature Newsletter from NextReads

Receive reading recommendation in your inbox monthly for recent novels featuring stories by Black authors. Book suggestions are linked to our catalog for easy requesting. It’s FREE! See a sample issue and Subscribe to Next Reads today!

Black Authors

Tags Authors, Black History

When it comes to researching business topics or events, the Indianapolis Public Library has plenty of resources to help you find the information you need. Whether you are researching industry price fluctuations for an academic paper or learning how to use SWOT analysis for your business plan, you can access thousands of magazines, journals, reports and studies. The Library offers patrons three ways to electronically access business periodicals:

the OverDrive Libby app which allow you to read e-magazines on your device(s)
the OverDrive website where you can read business and financial e-magazines on your computer’s browser, and
online databases which are accessible through the Library’s website

Each option is described below.

Downloadable Business Periodicals:

The Indianapolis Public Library subscribes to many magazines in digital, downloadable e-book format. Borrow and download as many digital issues as you like! Business titles include:

Kiplinger’s
The Economist
Entrepreneur
Home Business magazine
MIT Sloan Management Review
Money Magazine
Inc.
Fast Company
Adweek

Read business and financial e-magazines on your computer’s desktop, click here. Use the Libby app and read e-magazines on your device(s), download the OverDrive Libby app here.

See the full list of digital magazines available to borrow, click here.

Use an online database provided by the Indianapolis Public Library, go to the Library’s Research page. Scroll down to the section labeled “Filter Resources by Category” and click on either “Business & Nonprofit” or “Magazines & Newspapers” as shown in the screenshot below underlined in red.

Click on the database of your choice. Note you will be prompted to enter your IndyPL library card number to access a database.

Business Journal Databases:

Academic Search Premier
This multidisciplinary database provides academic subject coverage in social sciences, humanities, general science, and education.

Business Source Complete
Scholarly journals and business magazines covering management, finance, economics, accounting, and international business.

Entrepreneurial Studies Source
Business journals, reference books, case studies, and company profiles for researchers in entrepreneurship and small business.

Newspaper Source Plus
Full text selections from over 180 regional U.S. newspapers, international newspapers, newswires, newspaper columns, and other sources. Updated daily.

Regional Business News
Business news stories updated daily from all regions of the world. This database includes the Indianapolis Business Journal. To see the list of all available publications within this database, click on “Publications” in the top left corner of the landing page for “Regional Business News,” as shown in the screenshot below.

Small Business Reference Center
Contains consumer and small business reference books, business videos, and information on how to create business plans.

Print Periodicals:

The Indianapolis Public Library has a great number of business periodicals in multiple formats. Print-based periodicals are available with up to three previous years’ issues available in sturdy magazine file boxes directly behind the display shelves. For the more popular magazines, many years of previous issues are also available as hardbound volumes.

At Central Library, all current print magazines can be found on the 3^rd floor in the DVD/CD/Periodicals room. Print magazines must be used on-site and cannot be borrowed from the Library.

Business magazines currently available in print include:

Ad Age
Barron’s
Bloomberg BusinessWeek
Entrepreneur
The Economist
Fast Company
Harvard Business Review
Inc.
Wired

Our business librarians are available to assist with your questions. Please contact us at 317-275-4100.

More Business Resources from IndyPL:

Tags Business Skills

Whether you need data on steel pricing trends, annual revenues for Fortune 1000 companies, or sales data for your competitors within Marion County, you have a wealth of digital resources available for free at the Indianapolis Public Library. We offer our patrons access to business databases that focus on everything from business to genealogy, and languages to science. Most databases can be accessed from outside the Library, if you have a current IndyPL library card.

How to Access Online Business Databases

To use an online database provided by The Indianapolis Public Library, go to the Library’s Research & Learn page. Then scroll down to the section labeled “Filter Resources by Category” and click on either “Business & Nonprofit” or “Magazines & Newspapers” as shown in the screenshot below underlined in red.

Business resources filter example from the database page.

After looking through one of the categories, select the database of your choice. Note you will be prompted to enter your IndyPL library card number to access a database.

For entrepreneurs and business owners, or anyone interested in business topics, here are some of the business databases available. If you would like assistance working with any of the databases, our business librarians are available to help. Please contact us at 317-275-4100.

Featured Business Databases

Small Business Reference Center
This database offers exclusive full-text results for hundreds of business periodicals, full-text reference books, and business videos. This resource also offers access to complete business plans, state-specific resources, and much more.

Morningstar Investment Research Center
Morningstar has been and continues to be one of the premiere names in investment research. More than just a massive financial data set, this resource also offers a wide variety of tools and options to learn more about all aspects of investing. It is appropriate for everyone from novice investors to experienced investors. There are tutorial videos, analyst reports, market outlook reports, and financial data for researching specific companies. Virtual education courses cover topics such as funds, bonds, ETFs, and building a portfolio.

Data Axle Reference Solutions (formerly Reference USA)
This is one of the most popular databases used by business patrons. It contains directories of both businesses and adult consumers in the US and Canada. The business database includes extensive information on over 60 million current US businesses and over 300 million historical businesses. Consumer data covers over 300 million US individuals. Data Axle also has sections on new businesses, healthcare providers, and even job postings. Data Axle is highly useful for researching potential business customers and competitors, and creating custom lists of sales prospects.

Plunkett Research Online
If you are researching a specific industry or company, Plunkett provides detailed data including industry analytics and company financials. Plunkett also provides industry-specific glossaries, overview videos for individual industries, video tutorials on how to research using Plunkett, and a tool for generating custom data reports.

Patents & Trademarks

Patent & Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) at IndyPL
Is your business really starting to take off and you want to trademark your business name before somebody else takes it? Do you have an idea for a product, but you need to find out if anybody has already come up with that same idea? Then you need to use our patent and trademark resources.We receive materials from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. These resources include help guides, videos, search software, and the full text of United States patents. We also have special, dedicated computers available to the public to help you do your patent searches.

e-Books & Newspapers

Gale Reference e-Books
This database offers 30 business-specific, full-text eBooks, including Business Plans Handbook, and Small Business Sourcebook.

Wall Street Journal Online (1889-2004) and (1984-Present)
Access articles from the Wall Street Journal from 1889 through today.

Legal Resources

Legal Forms Database
This database provides an extensive collection of authentic, professional legal documents. The forms are available in multiple formats, such as Word documents and PDFs, and can be downloaded or printed for immediate use. The legal forms can be searched by general terms or specific keywords, and Indiana-specific forms are available. This database also includes templates for many different kinds of business letters and worksheets, including competitor analysis, startup costs, target market analysis, and more.

Legal Information Reference Center
This database offers access to ebooks for small businesses, including Legal Guide for Starting and Running a Small Business, Incorporate Your Business, Profit from Your Idea, and more.

More Business Resources from IndyPL

Our business librarians are available to assist with your questions. Please contact us at 317-275-4100.

Tags Business Skills

Snuggle up with your favorite little Valentine and enjoy the story Welcome to the Party, a love letter welcoming a child into the family and into the party of life. This Valentine for small children is read aloud by the book’s author, Gabriella Union. Listed below are more favorite Valentine video read alouds, some @home activities and a list of Valentine favorites about love and Valentine’s Day you can check out with your indyPL library card. We love books and we love sharing them with you! Enjoy Valentine’s Day storytime online!

Talk!

After listening to the story, talk about some of the things that happened in it.

Why is there a party happening?
Who is the guest of honor?
Do you like to snuggle? Who do you snuggle with?

Read!

Use your indyPL Library Card to check out books about Valentine’s Day at any of our locations, or check out Valentine’s Day e-books and audiobooks from OverDrive Kids right to your device! If you have never used OverDrive before, you can learn how to use it for both e-books and audiobooks.

Click on the book covers below to listen to more Valentine’s Day video read aloud stories right now! It’s Valentine’s Day storytime online! Did you like these? You can find more stories at Free Video Read Alouds and enjoy even more themed reading and activity fun at IndyPL’s DIY Online Storytimes at Home.

title - I'm Going to Give You A Bear Hug!

Valentine Picture Books to Check Out with your IndyPL Library Card and Share with your Favorite Little Crush

List Cover Images - Valentine Picture Books to Share with your Favorite Little Crush Snuggle up and read every day but especially on Valentine’s Day! Here are some all-time picture book favorites with the biggest awwww and the biggest laughs.

Sing!

Sing your heart out to ‘Buddy Like You’ with PAW Patrol!

Write!

Find some crayons or makers to color a picture, practice writing the letters, or see if you can follow your way through a maze without getting stuck.

Play!

Grab your favorite Valentine and take a walk and read a story as you go! We invite you to visit StoryWalk® in Ruckle Street Park at 3025 Ruckle Street. Stroll through the park and read a book displayed in mounted frames. Or Skip. Or gallop!

Join Us for In-Person Storytime!

Event: Reading Ready Time – Nutcracker Fun
Date & Time: Wednesday, November 20, 12:00am
Location: Online
Description: Children 3-6 are invited to a virtual Library visit! The Indianapolis Ballet shares the story of The Nutcracker followed by a dance lesson.  On your toes, everyone!  Visit https://bit.ly/readingreadytime for this program.
No Registration Required.

Event: Storytime at Warren – Baby & Toddler
Date & Time: Wednesday, November 20, 10:15am
Location: Warren Branch
Description: Babies and toddlers up to 36 months and their adults are invited for stories, songs, toys, and more.
No Registration Required.

Event: Storytime at Fort Ben – Preschool
Date & Time: Wednesday, November 20, 10:30am
Location: Fort Ben Branch
Description: Preschoolers and their caregivers are invited for stories, songs, and fingerplays followed by an art and craft time.
No Registration Required.

Need Help?

Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text, or email Ask-a-Librarian. The Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch and listen on a PC, tablet or phone.

Tags Holidays & Seasons, Storytime Online

This photo from the Library of Congress shows the delivery of two turkeys to President Herbert Hoover in 1929. According to White House History, the tradition of sending a Thanksgiving turkey to US Presidents goes back many years. John F. Kennedy was the first President to pardon a turkey. A pardon means showing leniency, in other words, he didn’t eat it! Pardoning the turkey eventually became an annual event for United States Presidents. You might wonder what happened to all those pardoned turkeys? I found out they have gone to several different places including George Washington’s Mount Vernon and Disney World!

There have been many United States Presidents, more than 40, so there are a lot of oddball traditions and just plain funny stories about their quirky habits. There are even more stories about their pet projects and special accomplishments. Check out some of these books to find out behind-the-scenes stories that probably won’t make it on your social studies test!

Would you like to learn about how presidents get elected? Take a look at Elections for Kids to see books, databases, websites, and artifacts that will help learn more or do research to answer homework questions about elections.

You can start by looking at this voting machine that is an Artifact from The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. It was used by voters in Indianapolis from the 1930s through the 1980 election. Look at more elections artifacts from the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis’ Collection.

Websites, Activities & Printables:

PBS: The Race is On! – includes an FAQ to answer questions like, what do donkeys and elephants have to do with it?
The Library of Congress: Elections…the American Way
PBS Kids: The Democracy Project
Zoom: Elections 101
National Archives: US Electoral College
IndyPL Kids’ Blog: Unique Stories of the U.S. Presidents

NoveList K-8: Stories about Elections is a database you can use in any IndyPL Library Branch or at home to learn about elections for kids. Login using your library card number. Novelist will show you fiction chapter books and picture books you can read about elections. Click on “Check the Library Catalog” to see if IndyPL has the book.

Unique Stories About U.S. Presidents

Unique often equals funny! All the astonishing accomplishments and silly details fit to print about which President sang with his pet parrot, which one took dancing lessons, which one got a speeding ticket on a horse, and which one ran down Pennsylvania Avenue (the street in front of the White House) chasing after a goat! Hint: the goat one is the President from Indiana!

Title - President Taft Is Stuck in the Bath

Title - The President Sang Amazing Grace

Tags History, Homework Help

We think outside the box and outside Library walls. The Library promotes the joy and power of sharing books by providing access to books and resources outside our buildings and electronically , 24/7.

“Monument” Art Installation and Book Share Station at Central Library

Brian McCutcheon created “Monument” for The Public Collection, a public art and literacy project developed by Rachel M. Simon with support from the Herbert Simon Family Foundation. Installations took place on Monument Circle from August 2015 to September 2019.

The art exhibit doubles as a book share station. The books are free and available to everyone. Borrow and return books supplied and stocked by The Library at your leisure. You don’t need a library card!

Quote at the top: “A public library is the most enduring of memorials, the trustiest monument for the preservation of an event or a name or an affection; for it, and it only, is respected by wars and revolutions, and survives them.” ~Mark Twain, 1894

The reinstallation was made possible by the Herbert Simon Family Foundation, Buckingham Foundation, and Friends of the Library through gifts to The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation.

Ruckle Street Pocket Park Storywalk®

In partnership with the Mapleton-Fall Creek Development Corporation, the InfoZone branch placed a StoryWalk® in the Ruckle Street Pocket Park as a unique way to encourage families to read and exercise together. Laminated story pages are available at various points along the path, following the natural progression of the story. Learn more about how to take a walk, and read a story as you go!

Download & Stream

Take us with you anytime, anywhere with millions of e-books, movies, music, and more to choose from! Download & stream instantly for free with your Library card!

Learn on Demand

Did you know the Library offers free on-demand video streaming classes and learning modules? Add a new skill, polish a skill that needs an update, or just try something for fun! Learn at your own pace. All you need is a Library card! If you haven’t explored these fantastic learning opportunities yet, start right here! Don’t have a Library card yet? Find out how to get one here.

Research Databases

Do homework, research your project or hobbies, take an online class, or learn a language with our Research databases anytime, anywhere with your Library card!

Tags e-Books & Streaming

January marks Data Privacy Month, an international initiative designed to empower individuals and encourage businesses to prioritize privacy, safeguard data, and build trust. Throughout the month, we invite you to participate in various library events that focus on teaching you how to protect your personal information and enhance your digital security. Explore our range of activities and learn valuable strategies to keep your data safe.

Explore our comprehensive listing of computer and technology classes to find sessions tailored to enhancing your data security knowledge. If you want to broaden your tech skills, start with our keyboarding improvement classes. These classes offer a solid foundation for advancing your technological proficiency.

Explore these insightful books from our collection to deepen your understanding of personal data security. Each title offers valuable information on protecting your personal information and navigating the complexities of digital security. By reading these books, you can gain practical knowledge and strategies to safeguard your data in today’s connected world. Dive into our curated selection to start enhancing your data privacy awareness and skills today.

Keep It Private – Data Privacy

Everything you do online generates data. Discover how your data is used and steps you can take to control how it is shared and used. Gain an understanding of the privacy/convenience tradeoff around online data, how to manage your privacy online, and steps you can take to protect your online data.

Title - Algorithmic Rights and Protections for Children

Title - 200+ Ways to Protect your Privacy

Title - Privacy, Data Harvesting, and You

Programs

Online safety is very important to keep your personal information secure. Using strong and unique passwords, and turning on two-factor authentication, helps protect your accounts from being hacked. Be careful about sharing personal details or clicking on links that look suspicious, as these can lead to scams and malware. Keeping your software and apps updated is also crucial to prevent security problems. Staying up-to-date on the latest online threats and safety tips can help you stay secure while using the internet. The Library regularly offers classes to help you learn about online safety with practical tips and hands-on practice.

Tags Computers & Technology, Holidays & Seasons

Join author Virginia Loh-Hagan as she reads aloud from her book PoPo’s Lucky Chinese New Year, a story about the traditional customs of the month-long celebration of Lunar New Year. It’s Chinese New Year storytime online!

Talk!

After listening to the story, talk about some of the things that happened in it.

Who is PoPo?
Where did PoPo travel from to come celebrate Chinese New Year?
What does PoPo say happens if you wash your hair on New Year’s Day?
Would you eat your noodles broken, or whole?
What two colors did Po Po use in the directions they made?

Read!

Use your indyPL Library Card to check out books about Chinese New Year at any of our locations, or check out Chinese New Year e-books and audiobooks from OverDrive Kids right to your device. If you have never used OverDrive before, you can learn how to use it for both e-books and audiobooks.

Click on a book cover below to enjoy four more video read alouds featuring stories by Grace Lin, Demi, Ji-li Jiang, and Virginia Loh-Hagan. It’s Chinese New Year storytime online, and more! Did you like these? You can find more stories at Free Video Read Alouds and enjoy even more themed reading and activity fun at IndyPL’s DIY Online Storytimes at Home.

Chinese New Year Books to Check Out with your IndyPL Library Card

List Cover Images - Lunar New Year Books for Kids Celebrate Chinese New Year and learn about Chinese culture! Stories about the Zodiac animals, family traditions and the foods that surround the holiday.

Sing!

Tasty dishes, good luck wishes, Happy Lunar New Year! Join Sesame Street at the Lunar New Year parade and sing along to this exciting Happy Lunar New Year song!

Write!

Find some crayons or makers to color a Chinese New Year picture, practice writing the letters, or see if you can follow your way through a maze without getting stuck.

Play!

Here are some craft and pretend play ideas to enjoy during your Chinese New Year celebration.

Join Us for In-Person Storytime!

Event: Reading Ready Time – Nutcracker Fun
Date & Time: Wednesday, November 20, 12:00am
Location: Online
Description: Children 3-6 are invited to a virtual Library visit! The Indianapolis Ballet shares the story of The Nutcracker followed by a dance lesson.  On your toes, everyone!  Visit https://bit.ly/readingreadytime for this program.
No Registration Required.

Event: Storytime at Warren – Baby & Toddler
Date & Time: Wednesday, November 20, 10:15am
Location: Warren Branch
Description: Babies and toddlers up to 36 months and their adults are invited for stories, songs, toys, and more.
No Registration Required.

Event: Storytime at Fort Ben – Preschool
Date & Time: Wednesday, November 20, 10:30am
Location: Fort Ben Branch
Description: Preschoolers and their caregivers are invited for stories, songs, and fingerplays followed by an art and craft time.
No Registration Required.

Need Help?

Tags Holidays & Seasons, Storytime Online

Recent events have sparked a troubling resurgence of fear and unrest, driven by a series of racist attacks targeting Black individuals across the nation. We firmly denounce the senseless violence that led to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Dreasjon Reed, and countless other Black lives lost to racial injustice. Our commitment to addressing these issues reflects our dedication to advocating for justice, equality, and an end to systemic racism.

As a public service institution, we owe it to our community to be introspective and address inequities that exist within our organization. Additionally, we are committed to using our position to help those seeking knowledge on these subjects to find understanding.

The Indianapolis Public Library has joined 163 (as of 6/2/2020) other public libraries across North America and signed on to the Urban Libraries Council Statement on Race and Social Equity.

Urban Libraries Council Statement on Race and Social Equity

As leaders of North America’s public libraries, we are committed to achieving racial and social equity by contributing to a more just society in which all community members can realize their full potential. Our libraries can help achieve true and sustained equity through an intentional, systemic, and transformative library-community partnership. Our library systems are working to achieve equity in the communities we serve by:

Eliminating racial and social equity barriers in library programs, services, policies, and practices
Creating and maintaining an environment of diversity, inclusion, and respect both in our library systems and in all aspects of our community role
Ensuring that we are reaching and engaging disenfranchised people in the community and helping them express their voice
Serving as a convener and facilitator of conversations and partnerships to address community challenges
Being forthright on tough issues that are important to our communities

Libraries are trusted, venerable, and enduring institutions, central to their communities and an essential participant in the movement for racial and social equity.

– Urban Libraries Council (ULC) Statement on Race and Social Equity

Our Commitment to Racial Equity

As part of our commitment to the spirit and intent of this statement, we want to share some additional actions we have recently taken and are committed to undertake in the near future:

Evaluating through an equity lens partnerships and community engagement, staff development, hiring practices, programs, collections, services, messaging, and organizational policies and procedures.
Working to execute the full recommendations of findings from the City of Indianapolis Disparity Study and implementing policies with our Board of Trustees as a result.
Offering racial equity and implicit bias training opportunities to staff.
Suspending the accrual of all fines and fees until further notice.

We recognize that we are in the beginning stages of addressing racial equity both within our organization and within our community. We acknowledge the work we must undertake to do more and to do better. We will work alongside our community to foster understanding and communication about systemic racism and white privilege and the deep impact they have had on all of us.

The Library’s mission is to enrich lives and build communities through lifelong learning. We achieve this through sharing, curating, and fostering environments for our community to absorb and utilize information.

We are compiling a list of books, websites, and resources to help the community process recent events, talk to children, and begin conversations whose goals are the actions that result in change and healing. We will continue to add resources in the coming days and weeks.

Booklists and Resources

To Learn More:

Resource: The National Museum of African American History and Culture Web Portal Talking About Race “Talking about race, although hard, is necessary. We are here to provide tools and guidance to empower your journey and inspire conversation.”
Resource: Desmond Tutu Peace Lab Center Statement and Resources.
Resource: TED talks to help understand racism in America
Check out the library’s collection of Kanopy Streaming Videos focused on social and systemic injustice and racism in America.

For Sharing with Children and Teens:

Resource: We Need Diverse Books “Imagine a world in which all children can see themselves in the pages of a book.” We Need Diverse Books is an organization that promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people.
Resource: We Stories We Stories engages White families to change the conversation about and build momentum towards racial equity in St. Louis.
Resource: EmbraceRace Resources to help raise a generation of children who are thoughtful, informed, and brave about race.

Fairy tale classics like The Princess and the Pea change when set in new locations or told from unique perspectives. La Princesa and the Pea retells this classic tale in Peru. Here, a princess proves her authenticity by sensing a single pea hidden beneath a pile of mattresses.

There are lots of stories like The Princess and the Pea that kids can rattle off without even thinking very much. The Three Little Pigs, The Three Bears, and Cinderella are so widely known that children everywhere recognize them. When told in different locations, these stories take on unique variations that reflect the local land and culture.

Juana Martinez-Neal, the illustrator of La Princesa and the Pea, won the 2018 Pura Belpré Award for her exceptional portrayal of cultural identity through illustration. This award recognizes the best work depicting Latino cultural experiences. In La Princesa and the Pea, Martinez-Neal’s illustrations feature authentic Peruvian weaving, similar to the artifacts at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

As you read the story, examine the illustrations to discover the weaving process. Meanwhile, the tale of the princess unfolds alongside the depiction of a Peruvian setting and the experiences of a young lady there. In addition, classic tales told in this manner offer a chance to see your own culture reflected or explore a different culture. Check out more from the list below!

Use your indyPL Library Card to check out fairy tale classics at any of our locations, or check out e-books and e-audiobooks from home right to your device. Need help? Call or ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or text a librarian at 317 333-6877.

Here are some favorite classic tales and traditional stories told with details and cultural traditions of the American Southwest, Mexico, Central or South America.

Title - The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred

Tags Hispanic/Latino, Holidays & Seasons