Around 30 years ago, Librarians began to purchase a small supply of reading glasses for use in the Library. Staff realized that many of the customers who borrowed glasses could not afford to buy pairs for themselves. As demand grew, the Library looked for a way to allow customers to keep their glasses. The Library found an affordable solution, purchasing discounted pairs through the eyeglass recycling program at the Lions Club. 

Last August, Sharon Marsh, a faculty member at Ivy Tech Community College and employee of the IU School of Optometry, overheard a Library customer request a pair of reading glasses from a Library employee. In the Optometric Technology program at Ivy Tech, Marsh teaches a class where students make glasses with reconditioned frames and optical quality lenses. Marsh reached out to Community Engagement Librarian, Bobby Overman, to see if the Library would be interested in receiving donations of these glasses.  Read more about Reading Glasses Available at the Library

The Library catalog will have an updated look and new features beginning May 19. Some of the new functionality you can look forward to follows.

Responsive Design

The Library catalog will responsively adjust for desktop computer screens, tablets, and phones by resizing and reordering the display according to your screen size, enhancing the user experience. This means that you will be able to read and navigate the site with minimum resizing and scrolling. Previously, patrons were directed to either a full-site catalog or a mobile catalog depending on their device.

One-Click Hold Requests

When logged into your account, you will be able to place hold requests with one click. When available, the "One-Click Request" button will appear on the search result and full title display pages for single titles (underneath the “Place Hold” button—which will still be available should you want to select an alternate location). Read more about Updated Library Catalog