Opening the First Autism Certified Library Branch in Indiana
The Indianapolis Public Library

Join us in congratulating The Indianapolis Public Library for opening its new Fort Ben Branch Library — the first autism-certified library in Indiana!

The Indy Autism Project and Easterseals Crossroads sponsored the Fort Ben Branch, allowing staff to undergo necessary training in educational, behavioral, social and emotional needs of individuals on the autism spectrum. Additionally, the library offers sensory-friendly amenities and programming and events catered to individuals with autism and other sensory processing disorders — which earned the library international accreditation for autism through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES).

Dawn Hawkins, a Lawrence resident, brought her one-year-old daughter to the grand opening and said many people in the community have been waiting for this for a long time. Although her family lives between two other branches — and have already visited them twice in the week leading up to the opening — Hawkins said she is excited about having a new library close to home that caters more toward kids.

“I can’t wait to see what happens over the course of the next few months, but I can already tell that people are really excited for this,” Hawkins said. “I know that people have been waiting a really long time, so it just it feels really good for it to finally be here and for it to finally be done.”

Read the full story on The Indianapolis Recorder.

New Exhibit Pays Tribute to Hamiltonian Holocaust Survivors
Hamilton Public Library

Kaye Prince-Hollenberg, a Hamilton Public Library librarian and genealogist, stumbled upon a 1984-published booklet in the library called "Holocaust Recollections" and was inspired to create a new exhibit. The booklet tells the stories of 10 Hamiltonians who survived the Holocaust.

It would take more than three years for Prince-Hollenberg to find the “appropriate time,” but holding to her vision has culminated in a new exhibit at the Hamilton Public Library’s central branch that pairs the Holocaust recollection booklet with the library’s 2023 Hamilton Reads pick, Gary Barwin’s Nothing the Same, Everything Haunted. The exhibit includes two glass display cases located on the library’s third floor, the first highlighting the Holocaust experiences of four of the 10 survivors whose stories are included in the publication.

The, booklet, which has now been digitalized, is freely accessible to anyone via the HPL’s Internet Archive portal (archive.org/details/hamiltoncollection) but the actual display, which includes additional biographical information and photographs, of Helen Vine, Jack Rosen, Paul Bogart and Rena Freeman that Prince-Hollenberg found in the Spectator archives is well worth a visit to the library.

Read the full article in Hamilton Jewish News.

Gun Violence Prevention and Education Program Expanded
Anne Arundel County Public Library

Free gun safety locks are now available at all 15 Anne Arundel County Public Library branches. The program, led by the Department of Health’s Gun Violence Intervention Team (GVIT) in partnership with the library, is the first of its kind in Maryland and was first launched in April. The goal of the program is to mitigate the risk of harm or death by providing a free resource to gun owners that ensures firearms are secured.

“Anne Arundel County was the first in the state to pilot this gun violence prevention program and it has seen huge success,” said County Executive Steuart Pittman. “I want to thank the Department of Health and the library system for expanding this successful program to all library branches so we can continue to keep our communities safe.”

In addition to receiving a gun lock, gun owners will receive manufacturer instructions on how to use the gun lock, and materials with information about safe gun storage, suicide prevention resources and other valuable information.

Read the full press release.

New Programming for Pre-School, Second Grader Literacy
New Orleans Public Library

Three new programs though the New Orleans Public Library are helping to develop literacy among children. Readers 2.0 is a free field trip program for New Orleans public school second graders designed by education experts at the library and the Louisiana Children's Museum. The library, LCM and the city Office of Youth and Families are teaming up for the project.

Two additional playtime programs are also kicking off this fall. "Loose Parts Play" and the "Let's Play series" will encourage children to learn about the world around them, develop language skills and build their vocabulary, express themselves, and develop other skills that are important to becoming ready to learn to read.

Learn more at NOLA.com.