Patrons to Pay to Park at Renovated Central Library

A brief public ceremony followed by an afternoon of special activities for all ages will highlight the Grand Opening of the newly-transformed Central Library, 40 East St. Clair Street, Indianapolis, from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday (9 December). Following the dedication, citizens will get their first look at such features as the high-tech Learning Curve for children and families, the Indianapolis Special Collections Room, the restored Reading Room in the Cret Building, the expansive Computer Training Lab, and a collection of over 700,000 books and audio-visual materials. Library staff will be available to help guide patrons throughout the new 293,000-square-foot facility. In addition to the south entrance of the Cret Building, there are public doors on 9th Street and from the new underground parking garage, located on Pennsylvania Street, immediately south of 9th Street. Parking in Central Library’s garage will be free on Grand Opening Day – which obviously signals that parking in that garage will NOT be free on any other day. Boo, hiss! says this Indianapolis Observer, who enjoyed the free parking in the lots next to the un-transformed Central Library.

IPS Students to be "Science Bound"

Rolls-Royce in Indianapolis will announce an endowment for the Science Bound Program tomorrow, according to Inside INdiana Business. Officials from Rolls-Royce, the Science Bound Program and Purdue University will all be on hand Tuesday (27 November). Successful Science Bound students in the Indianapolis Public Schools receive a full-tuition scholarship to Purdue University for a degree in the sciences.

NASCAR: "From Indy to the Carolinas"

In May 2008, Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis and Winston-Salem State University will team up to offer "From Indy to the Carolinas", a two-week summer session course built around the strengths of the motorsports curricula of the two universities: the operations and management of motorsports at Winston-Salem State; and the engineering and technology of motorsports at IUPUI. Open to students from both universities, the summer course begins in Winston-Salem, N.C., with a week of management-related classes and activities, along with racing events such as the NASCAR All-Star Race at Lowes Motor Speedway. The final week of the course features motorsports engineering and technology classes at IUPUI, and trips to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for final car testing and other events associated with the Indianapolis 500.

Canal Walk Upgrade in the Works

The oldest portion of the downtown canal walk could soon get a $3.2-million upgrade, according to Indianapolis Business Journal's blog. The city is finalizing plans for new pavement, stairs, retaining walls, lighting and railings along the canal between Ohio and West streets. The Metropolitan Development Commission is scheduled Wednesday (21 November) to approve a bid from Smock Fansler Corporation to replace the crumbling pavers and stairs, along with a new elevator and water feature at Ohio Street and the canal. Many of the limestone pavers will be replaced with granite. The project will take about eight months to complete and could begin in the next few months.

Indy's International Festival!

16-18 November 2007
See website for details!

Survey: Residents feel less safe downtown

The Indianapolis Business Journal reports today that fewer people feel safe downtown, particularly after dark, according to the latest annual survey from the Department of Tourism, Conventions and Event Management at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis. Seventy-five percent feel safe downtown compared to 83 percent two years earlier, the survey found. After dark, only 34 percent feel safe; that figure declined from 44 percent in the 2005 survey. However, most respondents gave the city high marks for cleanliness, friendly people and cultural attractions.

Tuesday is Election Day: VOTE!

Be sure that you're ready to cast your ballot on Tuesday in the Municipal General Election. There's information on voting here. To find your polling place, start here.

But, whatever you do, get out and vote!

UIndy's Prof. Graham Receives Award for Book

University of Indianapolis political science Professor Stephen A. Graham (pictured) has received an international award for his biography of a noted Christian missionary, according to the UIndy News Bureau. Graham’s 2005 book Ordinary Man, Extraordinary Mission explores the life and work of E. Stanley Jones, who went to India in 1907 as a Methodist missionary and later became an itinerant evangelist, campaigner for social justice and supporter of India’s effort to win independence from the British Empire. Published by Abingdon Press, the book was selected for the 2007 John Pollock Award for Christian Biography, presented by Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School. The award, which carries a cash prize, was established in 2001 and named for the British author of more than 30 books on religion.