Take It, Make It: Thanksgiving

Beginning on Monday, November 2, we will have a Thanksgiving Take It, Make It Activity available at both branches! Take It, Make It activities are projects that can be done at home with materials you can pick up at the library! You can also request curbside pick up. Just call 812-926-0646 (Aurora) or 812-954-4151 (Dillsboro) and let us know how many of the activities you need for your family!

Stop by the Aurora or Dillsboro Library November 2nd through the 25th to pick up the supplies to make this tremendous turkey! All the paper pieces and the googly eyes will be provided in your packet, but you will need glue to put it all together.

If you want your turkey to be featured on our social media, send a picture to Ms. Stephanie at stephanie@eapld.org. Please be sure to include if we have permission to share your picture and name on our Facebook page. Pictures must be submitted by November 30, 2020.

Indiana Author Awards

The Eugene and Marilyn  Glick  Indiana Authors Awards celebrate the best books by Indiana authors written in eight different categories and published during the previous two years.You can check out these books in print at either the Aurora Public Library or the Dillsboro Public Library. If you prefer to read or listen digitally, just download the titles from the Indiana

Attucks by Phillip HooseChildren’s Award

Attucks! tells the true story of the all-Black Crispus Attucks High School basketball team that broke the color barrier in segregated 1950s Indiana. By winning the 1955 state championship, 10 teens—including eventual college and NBA star Oscar Robertson—shattered the myth of Black inferiority. Hoose is a widely acclaimed author of books, essays, stories, songs and articles, including the National Book Award-winning Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice.

 

 

 

Fiction AwardThe Life List of Adrian Mandrick by Chris White

A pill-popping anesthesiologist and avid birder embarks on a quest to find the extremely rare Ivory-billed Woodpecker only to become stranded in the thick swamplands of Florida’s panhandle. There he confronts past and present failures, the cost of his obsessions and what’s truly important in life. Although White is a widely performed and award-winning playwright and screenwriter (as well as an actor and vocalist), The Life List of Adrian Mandrick is her first novel.

 

 

 

Pimp My Airship by Maurice BroaddusGenre Award

Indianapolis is recast as a steampunk, sci-fi landscape in Broaddus’ work where themes of power, racism and mass incarceration of people of color are explored. The fast-paced adventure through an alternative Indy follows an unlikely trio of Black compatriots into a battle for control of the nation and the soul of their people. Born in London, England, Broaddus has lived most of his life in Indianapolis.

 

 

 

 

Non-Fiction Award The Book of Delights by Ross Gay

A collection of essays written over the course of a tumultuous year, The Book of Delights reminds readers of the purpose and pleasure of praising, extolling and celebrating ordinary wonders. A New York Times best-seller and product of a commitment to write daily essays about life’s simple delights, the essays in The Book of Delights are funny, philosophical and moving.

 

 

 

 

Sightseer in This Killing City by Eugene GloriaPoetry Award

Set in the aftermath of presidential elections in the U.S. and Philippines, Sightseer in This Killing City is an argument for grace and perseverance in an era of bombast and bullies. The John Rabb Emison Professor of Creative and Performing Arts and English Professor at DePauw University, Gloria is the author of three other books of poems.

 

 

 

 

 

Young Adult Award All the Things We Do in the Dark by Saundra Mitchell

Told through the eyes of a teenage girl, All the Things We Do in the Dark, finalist for a Lambda Literary Award, addresses challenging issues affecting young people—including rape, PTSD, mental health and victim blaming—and the many ways people work through trauma. Mitchell, a Greenwood, Ind.-based author of young-adult novels, anthologies and nonfiction series, has seen more than 400 of her screenplays produced as films in conjunction with Dreaming Tree Films.

 

 

Emerging Author Award

For fans of Wild, a searing memoir about one woman’s road to hope following the death of her troubled brother, told through the series of cars that accompanied her.

Growing up in a blue-collar family in the Midwest, Melissa Stephenson longed for escape. Her wanderlust was an innate reaction to the powerful personalities around her, and came too from her desire to find a place in the world where her artistic ambitions wouldn’t be thwarted. She found in automobiles the promise of a future beyond Indiana state lines.

Try Out Our Book Discussion Group!

Have you ever thought about joining a book discussion group? Although the Aurora Public Library District is not having in-person programs at the present time, you can still try it out by joining us on Friday, December 4th for a Zoom Book Discussion of The Good Sister by Gillian McAllister. The discussion will be led by Ron Nicholson of Ivy Tech. Here’s what you need to do to participate:

  • You can pick up a copy of the book at the Aurora Public Library or at the Dillsboro Public Library. You can also download an ebook or e-audiobook from the Indiana Digital Download Center.
  • Email Peggy at peggy@eapld.org to register for the discussion. This is necessary so we can email you an invitation to the Zoom discussion.
  • If you haven’t used Zoom before, you’ll need to download the Zoom app on your home computer, tablet, phone, or other device.
  • At 1 pm on December 4th, go to the link in your Zoom invitation to join Ron and the other participants. The discussion usually lasts around an hour and a half.
  • Enjoy meeting some new friends and sharing your thought on this book title.

The Good Sister by Gillian McAllister

Here’s how a reviewer described the book in Publisher Weekly magazine.

“British author McAllister makes her U.S. debut with this riveting psychological thriller set in Brighton, England. Sisters Martha and Becky Blackwater have always been best friends. When work takes Martha to Greece and her husband, Scott, is going to be out of town on business, Becky agrees to look after their eight-week-old baby, Layla, who suffers from reflux and cries almost constantly. Lyla dies while under Becky’s care, an apparent victim of SIDS, but an investigation points to suffocation as the cause of death. When Becky is charged with murder, she claims innocence. The family torn asunder, Becky moves in with her parents while out on bail; Martha and Scott, both consumed by guilt, remain at home. The sisters don’t see each other for nine months, until the trial begins. During the trial, scrutiny of the sisters’ relationship leads to some startling revelations. Authentic courtroom scenes, intricate family dynamics, the conflicts of motherhood, and a shocking ending all add up to a winner.”

If you have any questions about how you can participate in the virtual event, just call Peggy at 812-926-0646.

We Care Packages for U.S. Troops


The Aurora and Dillsboro libraries are acting as drop off locations for donations for United States troops through We Care. Just bring your donations to either building November 2nd through the 14th and drop them off in our marked tubs! The donations will be collected, packaged, and shipped off to our troops!


We Care is specifically looking for:

Chapstick

Baby Wipes (packs of 100 or less)

Tooth Paste

Tooth Brushes

Granola Bars

Protein Bars (Nature Valley or Cliff)

Rice Krispy Treats

Pringles

Combos

Poptarts

Hard Candy & Gum (Please no Candy Canes)

Raisins

Powder or Liquid Drink Mixes to be Used in Water Bottles (Kool-Aid, Country Time, Crystal Light, Mio, etc.)

Foil Packs of Tuna

Tuna or Chicken Salad Kits

Beef Jerky

Slim Jims

Small Cans or Bags of Nuts

Trail Mix/ Granola


 

Election Day Information 2020

The 2020 General Election is on November 3rd! Do you have your voting plan in place? Now is the time to make sure that you have all the needed documentation, find your polling location and hours, and if needed, apply for a mail-in ballot. Here’s some helpful information to help you with your voting plan! You can also check out the resources at https://www.findlaw.com/voting/indiana-voting-guide.html

Voting Rights

The Constitution of the United States of America says that you have the right to take part in civic life.

  1. If you are registered to vote in Indiana, you have the right to vote in this election.
  2. You have the right to vote by yourself or with help and you can select who you want to assist you.
  3. Even if you have a conservator, you may vote unless a court specifically said you cannot.
  4. You have the right to vote the way you want.
  5. You have the right to get help if someone tries to stop you from voting.
  6. You have the right to be shown how to make your choices on your ballot.
  7. If you are waiting in line when the poll closes, you must be allowed to vote.

Dearborn County Polling Locations

Polling locations in Dearborn County will be open from 6 AM until 6 PM on Election Day. Registered voters may vote at any one of these ten locations. Locations will have all voter information and ballots for the entire county. Every polling location will have 4-6 sign-in lines and an average of 14 machines to vote on.

Dillsboro Civic Center

9824 Central Avenue

Dillsboro, IN 47018

First Baptist Church of Aurora

6060 Blair Dr.

Aurora, IN 47001

Agner Hall

145 Speedway Dr.

Lawrenceburg, IN 47025

Tanner Valley Methodist Church

19235 State Route One

Lawrenceburg, IN 47025

Willie’s in HVL

19325 Schmarr Dr.

Lawrenceburg, IN 47025

Dearborn Hills United Methodist Church

25365 Stateline Rd.

Lawrenceburg, IN 47025

St. John Catholic Church

25743 State Route One

Guilford, IN 47022

St. Martin Catholic Church

8044 Yorkridge Rd.

Guilford, IN 47022

Manchester Firehouse

7893 State Route 48

Aurora, IN 47001

Moores Hill Senior Center

16610 N. Broadway St.

Moores Hill, IN 47032


Accessibility at the Polls

  1. The site should have clearly marked, accessible parking.
  2. If the main entrance is not accessible, there must be a clearly marked accessible entrance.
  3. One must be able to enter the site without difficulty.
  4. The path from the entrance to the voting area should be level and clear of obstacles.
  5. At least one voting machine should be accessible to people with disabilities.
  6. Accommodations should be available to allow individuals with blindness or low vision to cast their vote privately.
  7. Wheelchair users or individuals who cannot stand for long periods of time should be accommodated to be allowed to sit while voting.
  8. If assistance is needed to vote, one must be allowed to designate a person to assist, provided that person is not your employer or union representative.

What to Bring to the Polls

Indiana law requires residents to present a government-issued photo identification before casting a ballot at the polls on Election Day. Your photo identification must meet all of the following four criteria to be acceptable for voting purposes:

  1. Display your photo; AND
  2. Display your name, and the name must conform to your voter registration record; AND
  3. Display an expiration date and either be current or have expired sometime after the date of the last General Election; AND
  4. Be issued by the State of Indiana or the U.S. government.

In most cases, an Indiana driver license, Indiana photo ID card, Military ID or U.S. Passport is sufficient.

If you are unable or unwilling to present ID meeting these requirements, you may cast a provisional ballot. If you cast a provisional ballot, you have until noon 10 days after the election to follow up with the county election board and either provide the necessary documentation or affirm one of the law’s exemptions applies to you.


New Voting Machines

Dearborn County has purchased new voting machines and adopted a new way of voting on election day. Voting will be done electronically on these new machines. You can visit the Dearborn County Elections page for instructional videos on the new machines.


Absentee Voting

Can’t make it the polls on November 3rd? No problem! Indiana has three methods of absentee voting available to its residents: in-person early voting, absentee voting by mail, and absentee voting by travel board. You can learn more about absentee voting and how to apply here.

 

 

Take It, Make It: Halloween

Back by popular demand! Beginning on Tuesday, October 13th we will have a special Halloween Take It, Make It Activity available at both branches! Take It, Make It activities are projects that can be done at home with materials you can pick up at the library! You can also request curbside pick up. Just call 812-926-0646 (Aurora) or 812-954-4151 (Dillsboro) and let us know how many of the activities you need for your family!

Pick up your supplies to create a fun and spooky witch just like Ms. Stephanie’s! The paper pieces will be provided in your packet, but you will need glue to put it together and a marker, pen, or crayons for the mouth and eyes.

If you want your witch to be featured on our social media, send a picture to Ms. Stephanie at stephanie@eapld.org. Please be sure to include if we have permission to share your picture and name on our Facebook page. Pictures must be submitted by October 31, 2020.

Indiana Absentee Ballot 2020

The General Election is coming up! If you can’t make it to the polls on November 3rd, you can vote absentee in one of three ways.

In-Person Absentee Voting

State law requires counties to make in-person absentee voting available for 28-days before the election, ending at noon (local prevailing time), the date before the election. In addition, all Indiana counties must make in-person absentee voting available the two Saturdays immediately before the election. County officials will have applications or electronic Poll Books at early voting locations so there is no need to file an ABS-In Person application before your visit.

Dearborn County Early Voting Locations & Hours

Bright Fire House

Open Saturday, October 24th from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Dillsboro Civic Center

Open Saturday, October 24th from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Dearborn County Clerk’s Office Administration Building

Open Tuesday, October 6th through Friday, October 30th from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

and Saturday, October 24th from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

and Monday, November 2nd from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM


Absentee Voting by Mail

Qualifications

To vote absentee-by-mail in Indiana, a voter must be able to personally mark their own ballot and sign their name to the completed ballot security envelope and have a reason to request an absentee vote-by-mail ballot:

  1. You have a specific, reasonable expectation that you will be absent from the county on Election Day during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open (6 am until 6 pm).
  2. You have a disability.
  3. You are at least 65 years of age.
  4. You will have official election duties outside of your voting precinct.
  5. You are scheduled to work at your regular place of employment during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open.
  6. You will be confined due to illness or injury or you will be caring for an individual confined due to illness or injury during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open.
  7. You are prevented from voting because of a religious discipline or religious holiday during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open.
  8. You are a participant in the state’s address confidentiality program.
  9. You are a member of the military or a public safety officer.
  10. You are a “serious sex offender” as defined in Indiana Code 35-42-4-14(a).
  11. You are prevented from voting due to the unavailability of transportation to the polls.

How to Apply for a Vote-by-Mail Ballot

To vote absentee by mail, a voter must first complete an ABS-Mail application before each election. The application to request a vote-by-mail ballot must be received not later than 11:59 PM on October 22, 2020 for the November election. The county or the state must have the application in their possession by this deadline; any application received after this deadline – even if it’s postmarked before the deadline – cannot be processed.

To get the ABS-Mail application, voters can:

  1. Download and print the form
  2. Call their county election official or the Indiana Election Division at (317) 232-3939 for an application to be mailed
  3. Visit their county election office or election division to pick-up an application in-person

Voters can turn in their application:

  1. Online at indianavoters.com by logging in to their “my voter portal page” by entering the requested information exactly as it appears on their voter registration record. When on the main landing page, the voter selects the “ABS-Mail” option and enters the information as prompted. After clicking “submit,” a confirmation screen appears that allows the voter to download and retain a copy for their records. There is no need to sign and return the online submission since the system applies the voter’s registration signature to the application on the back-end.
  2. By mail or hand-delivery. Physical addresses to the county election boards are found on the back of the ABS-Mail application. Please contact their office directly to determine office hours. Remember, if you take custody of another’s absentee ballot application, you are to deliver it to the election official not later than noon, ten (10) days after receiving it OR the application deadline, whichever comes first.
  3. By email. This requires the voter to print, sign, and scan or photograph their absentee ballot application and send it to the county official or the Indiana Election Division at elections@iec.in.gov.

A voter with disabilities may request that another person sign the voter’s name on their behalf on the application. The person providing the assistance may not be the voter’s employer or union representative and must complete the affidavit of assistance found on the application. If the assistor is the voter’s power of attorney (POA), the POA paperwork should be submitted with the application.

Returning your Absentee-By-Mail Ballot

If your application is reviewed and approved by bi-partisan county election officials, a ballot packet is mailed to you. This packet will include your ballot, the absentee voter bill of rights, and a first class postage pre-paid return security envelope.

The voter must be able to personally mark their own ballot but may have assistance with placing the ballot inside the envelope and sealing it. (Be sure the assistor completes the affidavit of assistance!) The voter should sign the ballot (or make their mark) on the signature line. A voter’s power of attorney (POA) may attest to the voter’s signature but is to enclose their POA with the ballot materials inside the security envelope and complete the affidavit found on the absentee return envelope.

County election officials must receive an absentee-by-mail ballot not later than noon (local prevailing time) on Election Day, November 3, 2020. County election officials must have possession of the ballot by this deadline; postmarks – even if dated on or before the date of the election – cannot be considered timely.

Finally, pursuant to state law, only the voter, the voter’s attorney-in-fact, a bonded courier, or a member of the voter’s immediate household may hand-deliver a completed absentee ballot to the county election board. Any person other than the voter doing so is to complete the ABS-19 affidavit.


Travel Board

Qualifications

Absentee voting by travel board is an option for some voters to have a bi-partisan team deliver the voter’s ballot and assist the person with completing their ballot during the 19-day period before the election. In order to vote absentee-by-traveling board, one of the following must apply:

  1. The voter expects to be confined, due to illness or injury, or the voter expects to be caring for a confined person at a private residence, on Election Day.
  2. The voter is a voter with disabilities and believes their polling place is not accessible to them.
  3. The voter is physically unable to complete the ballot and sign the affidavit on their own.

How to Apply to Vote by Travel Board

Voters voting by traveling board must complete an ABS-Traveling Board application before each election. The application to request a travel board must be received not later than noon (local prevailing time) on November 2, 2020.

To get the Travel Board application, voters can:

  1. Download and print the form
  2. Call their county election official or the Indiana Election Division at (317) 232-3939 for an application to be mailed
  3. Visit their county election office or election division to pick-up an application in -person

Voters can turn in their applications:

  1. Online at indianavoters.com by logging in to their “my voter portal page” by entering the requested information exactly as it appears on their voter registration record. When on the main landing page, the voter selects the “ABS-Traveling Board” option and enters the information as prompted. After clicking “submit,” a confirmation screen appears that allows the voter to download and retain a copy for their records. There is no need to sign and return the online submission since the system automatically applies the voter’s registration signature to the application.
  2. By mail or hand-delivery. Physical addresses for the county election boards are found on the back of the ABS-Mail application. Please contact their office directly to determine office hours. And remember, if you take custody of another’s absentee ballot application, you are to deliver it to the election official not later than noon, ten (10) days after receiving it OR the application deadline, whichever comes first.
  3. By email. This requires the voter to print, sign, and scan or photograph their absentee ballot application and send it to the county official or the Indiana Election Division at elections@indy.gov.

Please include a phone number or email address on the traveling board application! County officials must be able to contact the voter to schedule a mutually agreeable time for the bi-partisan team to deliver the ballot to the voter and provide assistance, when requested. Including a way to contact the individual in the most efficient manner is helpful to everyone.