By Catherine E. Porter
marketing and communication ’16
JAN. 11 – The Trine University LINK Sponsel Library was selected to receive the Next
Indiana Bookshelf, a collection of 13 titles designed to spark conversation during
the 2016 Indiana Bicentennial. In a competitive application process, the LINK was
chosen to receive one of 55 sets awarded in 42 counties across the Hoosier state.
The Next Indiana Bookshelf was created by Indiana Humanities and the Indiana Center
for the Book and is designed to encourage thinking and discussion about the present
and future of Indiana. The collection features 12 books including Hoosier classics
such as “Raintree County,” the writings of Kurt Vonnegut and the poetry of Etheridge
Knight, as well as contemporary books like “The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf” and “Invincible,
Indiana.”
Additionally, the LINK received a poster of “The Indiana Chant,” written for the bicentennial
by South Bend, Ind.-based children’s author April Pulley Sayre. Teachers and librarians
are encouraged to use the chant for readings and performances in the weeks and months
leading up to Statehood Day on Dec. 11, 2016.
“We are making a number of plans for the bicentennial in collaboration with the Department
of Humanities and Communication, so we are thrilled to receive the Next Indiana Bookshelf.
We hope to use the bookshelf not only in a bicentennial library display, but also
in a Next Indiana book club to talk about who Hoosiers are, how Indiana is changing
and how we envision our state going into the future,” said Heather Howard, information
services librarian at Trine. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to see the books at
the LINK in the Rick L. and Vicki L. James University Center, 720 Thunder Drive. Hours
are 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 9 p.m.
Sunday. The library will be closed from Jan. 16-18, March 5-13 and March 25-27.
The Next Indiana Bookshelf is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services,
administered by the Indiana State Library.