Advocacy Updates from Indiana Library Federation
April 30, 2018
The 2018 primary election is May 8
The Indiana Primary is next Tuesday, May 8 . Below are a few key links:

Indiana Voter Information Guide in English and Guide en espanol
You may also call 1-866-IN-1-VOTE (866-461-8683).
Attention, Academics: Information for College Students
Schools and Counties are seeking approvals through referenda.
Controlled projects are proposed by:
  • Alexandria Community School Corporation (Madison Co)
  • Anderson Community School Corporation (Madison Co)
  • Goshen Community Schools (Elkhart Co)
  • Hancock County (security & judicial center)
  • Northwest Allen County School Corporation (Allen Co)
School tax levies are proposed by:
  • Anderson Community School Corporation (Madison Co)
  • Avon Community School Corporation (Hendricks Co)
  • Crown Point Community School Corporation (Lake Co)
  • Goshen Community Schools (Elkhart Co)
  • Lake Central School Corporation (Lake Co)
  • MSD of Warren Township (Marion Co)
  • Smith-Green Community School Corporation (Whitley Co)

TIP: There are special requirements for advocacy during an election year. Libraries may not support or oppose any candidate or party. When inviting candidates to a function, be sure to invite all the candidates, even if they do not attend. ILF will provide additional information in the coming months.
School Library Census Sneak Peek Preview on May 8
Join us for a virtual preview on Tuesday, May 8 . We will hold two virtual exchanges: one at 4pmET/3pmCT  and another at  8pmET/7pmCT  . You must register for access to the phone number and internet link. It is best to view on a computer with access to Adobe Connect.

During the session, we will: review the preliminary data; identify areas for deeper study in a second phase of research; and outline our next steps for ILF outreach, professional development, communications and advocacy.

Indiana General Assembly back to work May 14
The Indiana General Assembly will convene on Monday, May 14, for a special session to complete selected bills that did not pass before the deadline in March. See materials about the Special Session .

The governor’s to-do items listed below were included in the final versions of the following bills: SB 242, HB 1230, HB 1315 and HB 1316.
Schools and School Safety
  • Deliver on the governor’s request for additional funding for the Indiana Secured School Fund by providing $5 million now and for fiscal year 2019. These additional funds will allow the state to provide increased financial support for school safety to more schools.
  • Allow school corporations to obtain funding advances of up to $500,000 for school security equipment and capital purchases. Total advances may not exceed $35 million.
  • Provide Muncie schools a one-time $12 million loan to remain operational and make needed capital improvements.
Federal Compliance Issues
  • Update the state’s tax code to conform with federal tax changes by updating state’s conformity date to Feb. 11, 2018. Indiana’s current conformity date is fixed by statute at Jan. 1, 2016. If the state’s conformity date is not updated, taxpayers will calculate their taxes twice to file—once under 2018 rules for federal taxes and once under 2016 rules for state taxes.
  • Comply with IRS rules to protect federal taxpayer information and assure access to federal tax data.

HB 1316 is language to provide a sales tax exemption for sales of the following property by a public library (or a charitable organization formed to support a public library): (1) Items in the library's circulated and publicly available collections, including items from the library's holdings. (2) Items that would typically be included in the library's circulated and publicly available collections and that are donated by individuals or organizations to a public library (or to a charitable organization formed to support a public library). 

Federal Advocates: National Library Legislative Day is May 8
As a part of National Library Legislative Day , American Library Association is providing ways for you to support federal advocacy from home. Because Indiana holds its primary election on NLLD and all our members of Congress will be home in Indiana, we will extend our federal advocacy all week.

ALA is suggesting three asks for NLLD:
  • House & Senate: Reauthorize the Museum and Library Services Act (S. 2271)
  • House & Senate: Fully Fund LSTA and IAL for FY 2019
  • House & Senate: Visit a library, see broadband access in action

If you take action based on ALA materials, please review our letters below about federal funding. Watch our social media and future communications.

Last week, ILF sent letters to our two senators: Sen. Joe Donnelly (D) and Sen. Todd Young (R). In March, ILF sent letters to all the Indiana members of the House of Representatives, requesting they sign on to the "Dear Appropriator" letter and continue their support of funding for Indiana libraries. Note that we highlight uses of the federal funding by district. You may view our letters by clicking on each member's name: Rep. Pete Visclosky (CD1, D), Rep. Jackie Walorski (CD2, R), Rep. Jim Banks (CD3, R), Rep. Todd Rokita (CD4, R), Rep. Susan Brooks (CD5, R), Rep. Luke Messer (CD6, R), Rep. Andre' Carson (CD7, D), Rep. Larry Bucshon (CD8, R), and Rep. Trey Hollingsworth (CD9, R).

Many thanks to Sen. Joe Donnelly and Rep. Andre' Carson for signing on to the Dear Appropriator letters for federal library funding . Thanks to Sen. Todd Young for his attention to the Marrakesh Treaty to expand access for people with print-disabilities as discussed during the April 18 hearing. And thanks to l ongtime NLLD attendees Robin Crumrin of ISU and Terry Rhienheimer of Middlebury Public Library who will participate in ALA meetings.

Contact us for help with inviting your member of Congress to visit your library this spring.
Governor's Workforce Cabinet - Do they know you?
Governor Eric Holcomb has appointed 13 members to the newly created  Governor's Workforce Cabinet . The group will assess and potentially realign workforce development programs and services in the state. The cabinet will also be responsible for developing the state's first career coaching and navigation program, while also assessing career and technical education outcomes. The governor's new appointees include:
  • Jená Bellezza (Crown Point), vice president of strategic partnerships and branding for the Indiana Parenting Institute
  • Amy Brown (Elkhart), vice president of Flexible Concepts Inc.
  • Jason Ells (Indianapolis), senior vice president of Custom Concrete
  • Christine Ernst (Indianapolis), president of Trans-Plants Inc.
  • Mark Kara (Hobart), assistant to the coordinator for Local 150 Operating Engineers
  • Paul Perkins (Jeffersonville), president of Amatrol Inc.
  • Brad Rhorer (Lafayette), senior manager of Subaru of Indiana
  • Rebecca Schroeder (Albion), president of Whiteshire Hamroc
  • Bob Stutz (Indianapolis), CEO of Salesforce Marketing Cloud
  • Alan Taylor (New Albany), director of career and technical education for Prosser Career Education Center
  • Tony Vespa (Indianapolis), founder of Vespa Group
  • Bruce Watson (Fort Wayne), director of facilities for Fort Wayne Metals
  • Maurice Coates Jr. (Evansville), president of CK United 

The first meeting will be held 9:30am-11am on Tuesday, May 1. View the livestream .
If you have a relationship with any of the appointees , please email us .
In case you missed our End-of-Session Wrap Up
In case you missed our ILF Virtual Legislative Update in March, here are the slides . Be sure to read the Bose Report for March 16 and consider the activities on the Call To Action last page.

At left - Members of the ILF Advocacy/Legislative Committee
Indiana Library Federation key links
The ILF 2018 Policy Priorities include a continued focus on broadband expansion initiatives, lifelong learning initiatives and support for effective school libraries and certified librarians in K12 education.

You might also review the Indiana Adult Literacy Study which is referenced in the policy priorities. Or check to see if your county is complete in the ILF School Library Census .

Working closely with ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom , we also remind you to report challenges to the ALA office and allow them to share the aggregated information with us or email us an update--even when the challenge is resolved positively.
Legislative Updates from Bose Public Affairs
Matt Long serves as our primary account manager with Bose Public Affairs , our contracted firm for government affairs and lobbying. Through our contract, we have access to the entire team of government affairs experts.

See the March report from Bose Public Affairs for a summary of news from the Statehouse. (Remember that Bose Reports require your ILF Member Login. Contact us if you forgot your login or password.)