Ivy Tech Indianapolis is hosting a special Book Fair from August 14 to 23, offering a unique opportunity for students, faculty, staff, and the broader Indianapolis community to expand their personal libraries—for free! This exciting event is being held at two locations: the Julia M. Carson Learning Resource Center on the downtown campus and the library at the Fairbanks Building at Lawrence, with doors open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
This Book Fair is more than just a chance to pick up a good read; it's part of a larger initiative by the library team at Ivy Tech Indianapolis to ensure that valuable resources remain in the hands of those who will benefit most from them. Over the past summer, the library staff has been working diligently to assess the library’s collection. As part of the preparation for the future merger of the Learning Resource Center and Lawrence Library into one centrally located library at the downtown Ivy Tech Indianapolis campus, the team carefully reviewed their entire collection to retain the most relevant, up-to-date, and well-circulated books.
Through this effort, the team identified over 11,000 books that were no longer needed in their existing collection. But rather than sending these books to a landfill, the library staff committed themselves to finding new homes for them within the Ivy Tech and Indianapolis communities.
“As you might imagine, librarians love books. The team was horrified by the thought of so many books in good condition going to the trash when we knew our Ivy Tech and Indianapolis community would enjoy them,” Natasha Synowka, director of library and tutoring services, shared.
Throughout the summer, over 4,000 books were rehomed via free book carts placed in classrooms and the Bowens Commons, as well as shelves set up outside the Lawrence library.
Now, with the launch of the Book Fair, 7,000 books are available between the two library locations. These books span various genres and topics, ensuring there’s something for everyone—from literary classics and cookbooks to exam preparation guides and children’s stories.
Natasha expressed her hope that visitors to the Book Fair will find titles that resonate with their interests and aspirations.
“My hope is that our students, faculty, staff, and community find titles that they see themselves reflected in and that resonate with their interests and goals, whether that is to develop new skills, explore curiosities and literary classics, prepare for certification exams, discover new recipes to share with loved ones, or to foster the love of reading among children,” she said.
In addition to the Book Fair, the library encourages visitors to explore and check out materials from the remaining collection, which has been intentionally curated to meet the needs and interests of the Ivy Tech Indy community.
The Ivy Tech Indianapolis Book Fair is not just an event; it’s a celebration of learning, community, and the love of books. Whether you're looking to expand your personal library or discover something new, this is an opportunity you won’t want to miss.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.
