Calendar

Upcoming

July 23-27 - Teaching Teachers to Teach Kurt Vonnegut workshop, free to high school teachers. 

November 11th, 2012 – In honor of Vonnegut’s birthday, we’ll host a national symposium on the mental health of our war veterans. This thought-provoking and important event will bring key experts and other voices to Indianapolis to discuss this issue. Among many speakers, Vietnam veteran and author Thom Steinbeck will participate as well as Kurt Vonnegut’s son, physician Mark Vonnegut.

May 31st - San Francisco ALA conference

The KVML will be represented at a panel discussion at the annual ALA conference by three members of the KVML board. The topic of discussion will be the recent book, So It Goes, a biography of Vonnegut.

April 14th - Night of Vonnegut

The KVML will host its annual gala at the Athenaeum Theater starting at 7:30 p.m. Jim Lehrer will give the keynote address. Mad Magazine senior editor Joe Raiola will perform his one-man comedy act, The Joy of Censorship, and scholarships and writing awards will be given to two local high school students.
For tickets, please visit: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2621988438

Feb 2- Feb 4th - Super Bowl weekend

The KVML will have extended hours from 10-8 p.m. each day with live music in the evenings to welcome our Super Bowl visitors.

February 11 - Indiana Civic Day, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Sponsored by
Center for Inquiry-Indiana
Indiana Chapter Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Morning Session: Indiana State House, North Atrium, 402 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN

Afternoon Session: Indiana State Library, 315 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN
Free Parking: West Section of the Indiana State House parking lot, north of the State House off Ohio Street. Enter the building at the north entrance only. Walk across Senate Avenue to the west for the afternoon session at the Indiana State Library.

Admission
CFI Friends of the Center and AU Members–$15.00

Public: $20.00

Fulltime Students: $10

Fulltime Student FOCs: $5

Box Lunch: $10.00

Register here

Registration, free continental breakfast, socializing, and browsing of materials begins at 8:00 am. The program will begin promptly at 9:00 am.
Weather Advisory: In case of severe weather, the conference will be canceled only if the streets and venues are closed. If in doubt, call 317-797-5892 the morning of the conference.

To make sure that you are aware and informed about issues in Indiana so that you can be active in promoting your point of view, attend Indiana Civic Day on February 11, 2012. Learn how your Indiana State Legislature works and about these important issues: Reproductive Rights, LGBT Rights, and School Vouchers. See the schedule for the day and pictures/biographies of the awesome speakers who will be participating below.

Participation will be limited to the first 150 people who register. Don’t delay. Register today to attend this important conference.
Schedule

Location: Indiana State House, 402 West Washington Street.

8:00-9:00 am–Registration, free continental breakfast, socializing, and browsing of materials

9:00—Welcome—Reba Boyd Wooden, Executive Director, Center for Inquiry|Indiana

9:15-10:00–Ronald A. Lindsay, CEO of Center for Inquiry: Secularism and Human Dignity

10:00-10:45–Barry Lynn, Executive Director, Americans United for Separation of Church and State: It’s Religion, Stupid…Not the Economy.

10:45-11:30–David Sklar, Director of Government Affairs, Jewish Community Relations Council: How a Bill Really Becomes a Law in Indiana

11:30-12:30–Betty Cockrum, CEO, Planned Parenthood of Indiana: You and Your Legislator. In Your Doc’s Office. In Your Bedroom.

Location: Indiana State Library, 315 West Ohio Street.

12:30—Box Lunches (Must be ordered and paid for by February 6.)

1:30-2:30–Rick Sutton, President, Indiana Equality Action: Equal Justice for ALL–That Means EVERYbody!

2:30-3:30–Dialogue on School Vouchers: Robert Enlow, President & CEO, Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice and Joel Hand, Attorney, Indiana Coalition for Public Education. Moderator: Reba Boyd Wooden, Executive Director, Center for Inquiry-Indiana.

4:30—Reception at Center for Inquiry-Indiana, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A. (Free but must make reservation by February 6.)

7:00—Dinner at Sahm’s Café and Tavern, 433 North Capitol Avenue. (Limit 60 people. Must make reservation by February 6. Pay at restaurant.)

IDADA First Friday at the KVML February 3, 6:00-9:00 p.m. 

The Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library will host Pamela Bliss, creator of the Kurt Vonnegut mural located on the side of the Massala Building, 345 Massachusetts Avenue, Indianapolis. Ms. Bliss will discuss what led her to paint large imagery murals as well as the process of painting murals. She also will explain how she was selected for the prestigious 46 for XLVI mural project and touch on how 46 for XLVI is similar to the Works Progress Administration murals from the 1930s. Ms. Bliss’s talk begins at 6:15PM. In addition, the newly acquired Schehr collection (containing first edition Vonnegut books and magazines) and additional new Vonnegut artifacts will be on display throughout the evening.

Vonnegut Library Holds All-Day First Anniversary Celebration on January 28 

To celebrate the first anniversary of its opening, The Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library will host a day of informative and entertaining events on Saturday, January 28. Programs begin at 1PM EST and are held at the library located at 340 N. Senate Avenue in Indianapolis.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS TO ATTEND THESE EVENTS!

(All events are free to the public unless otherwise noted.)

All day: View the library’s newest acquisition, the Schehr Collection, which contains Vonnegut’s first edition books and magazines.

1PM: Japanese Americans held in internment camps during World War II share their stories of life in the camps. The panelists will touch on the subjects of war, peace, loss, and healing. The Vonnegut Library began an exploration of these themes in November 2011 with a screening of the award-winning documentary The Cats of Mirikitani and an exhibition of the art of former internee, Jimmy Mirikitani.

2PM: Liza Newman, granddaughter of famous Hoosier radical and labor organizer Powers Hapgood, discusses her grandfather’s amazing life and also his connection to Kurt Vonnegut. Hapgood was the inspiration for the Kenneth Whistler character in Vonnegut’s Jailbird.

3PM: A string quartet from Butler University’s School of Music will provide live music.

4PM: Kevin Schehr recalls the stories behind some of the rare Vonnegut items in the Schehr Collection held at the library.

7PM: The Heartland Actors Repertory Theatre (HART) will present a staged reading of Vonnegut’s only play, Happy Birthday, Wanda June. Tickets are $45.00 per person. Seating for this event is limited, so act now!
7:00pm-7:30pm, Cocktail reception
7:30pm, Reading starts
8:25pm, Intermission
8:45pm-9:30pm, Acts II & III
(reading times are approximate)
To order tickets, go to http://www.eventbrite.com/org/435374436?s=1687503.

Past

January 6th - First Friday event6 p.m.

Vonnegut Library Holds Fundraiser at Morty’s Comedy Joint, December 2nd at 8 p.m.

Enjoy a night of great comedy and benefit The Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library at the same time! Don’t miss a chance to see nationally known comedian Dave Goldstein at Morty’s Comedy Joint, 3625 E. 96th St., Indianapolis. Show time is 8PM on December 2. Proceeds from online ticket sales for this show will be donated to the KVML.
Ticket prices start at $15.00.

Get your tickets online at http://mortyscomedy.com/show.cfm?id=100874&cart. Be sure to click “Add Coupon” and enter “Library” in the promo code box when ordering online to receive your discount and ensure proceeds benefit KVML.

For more information about this event, contact the library via phone at 317.652.1954, e-mail info@vonnegutlibrary.org, or visit the web site at http://www.vonnegutlibrary.org/.

 Watch the Film The Cats of Mirikitani and Hear Director Linda Hattendorf Discuss the Making of the Film
November 25th at 8:00 p.m.

Join the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library in a celebration of art and the human spirit as the KVML proudly presents both an Indianapolis showing of the award-winning film The Cats of Mirikitani and a discussion with the film’s director on November 25th, 2011, at the Athenaeum Theater, 401 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN.

The film, an official selection at over 75 film festivals, follows the journey of Japanese American artist Jimmy Mirikitani from the perspective of the filmmaker, Linda Hattendorf. who opens her apartment to the homeless artist after the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attack on New York. The film is a wonderful blend of beauty, humor, tragedy, and loss. Mirikitani’s experiences allow for an intimate exploration of the lingering wounds of war and the healing power of art. The Cats of Mirikitani is a heartwarming affirmation of humanity that will appeal to all lovers of peace, art, and cats.

To purchase tickets for the film and the discussion, go to http://www.mirikitani.eventbrite.com or contact the library at info@vonnegutlibrary.com or by phone at 317.652.1954.

Vonnegut on the Body: A Spirit and Place Festival Event Friday, November 11th

Join us at the Frank and Katrina Basile Theater for an evening of art, music, and literary discussion. This event will be a celebration of Kurt Vonnegut on his birthday:11/11/11. Every year, the Spirit & Place Festival chooses a different theme. This year’s theme is “The Body” and our event will include Vonnegut’s great, witty comments on the body, be it human or Tralfamadorian. A panel discussion hosted by Lou Harry of the Indiana Business Journal will include Hoosier author Dan Wakefield (Going All the Way and an upcoming work of collected letters of Kurt Vonnegut) and Vonnegut scholars Rodney Allen (Conversations with Kurt Vonnegut), Marc Leeds (The Kurt Vonnegut Encyclopedia), David Hoppe (NUVO), and Gregory Sumner (Unstuck in Time, which will be released on this day at a free event at the KVML at 5 p.m.).
The Butler School of Music will perform pieces that Vonnegut helped to write along with Butler’s conductor, Richard Clark.
Vonnegut’s artwork that relates to the body will be on display, as well.
Please join us for this unforgettable event that! The Vonnegut Library is thrilled to be part of the Spirit & Place Festival.

Get Tickets

Gregory Sumner Book Release Friday, November 11th at 5:00 p.m.

Gregory Sumner’s Unstuck in Time will be released at a free event at the KVML at 5 p.m.

Poet Laureates to Speak at KVML First Friday, November 4th 

The Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library will host three noted poets, including two past Poet Laureates of Indiana and the current Poet Laureate of Wisconsin, on November 4th, 2011, as part of Brick Street Poetry. The program will consist of Joyce Brinkman, Norbert Krapf, and Bruce Dethlefsen presenting poems on the theme of “Community” and will begin at 5:30 pm as part of IDADA’s First Friday Art Tour.

 Creating Community Through Words Saturday, November 5th at 10 a.m. 

On Saturday, November 5th, Joyce Brinkman will be back at the KVML to lead a conversation entitled Creating Community Through Words.

 Author Karl Zimmer to Speak at Vonnegut Library
October 27th at 12:30 p.m.

The Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library (KVML) is pleased to announce that author Karl Zimmer will be speaking at the KVML on Thursday, October 27^th at 12:30 p.m. about his book Spreading the Word.

Upon hearing about the KVML’s response to the banning of Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five in a Missouri High School, Zimmer mentioned his own experience with censorship. Members of the Vonnegut Library agreed this story should be heard by others. Zimmer has graciously agree to share his account of his attempts get American books to readers from Iceland to West Africa during his career in international book sales. This is a fascinating and intriguing story of a World War II Navy veteran trying to spread literacy while raising a family as he worked on multiple continents.

Songwriter and Author Joe Henry to Speak at the KVML

October 15, 2011

The Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library is pleased to announce that songwriter and author Joe Henry will be speaking at noon on October 15th at the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library. Henry has worked with horses all his life, while at the same time writing song lyrics for artists ranging from John Denver, Frank Sinatra and Olivia Newton-John to, more recently, Garth Brooks and Rascal Flatts. Henry was a student of Kurt Vonnegut’s at the Iowa Writer’s Workshop. His book, Lime Creek, was recently published by Random House. Along with the writer’s workshop, Henry attributes much of his learning to his many years as a laborer, rancher, and professional athlete.

In addition to his many music awards, Henry received a National Conservation Achievement Award from the National Wildlife Federation “for the celebration of the natural world in his work,” and the Colorado Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. Lime Creek is his first work of fiction.

Henry will share details of his experience with Vonnegut as well as other aspects of his career. There will be a book-signing event following his discussion. This free event is open to the public.

IDADA First Friday

Friday, October 7th, 6pm

John Clark will be speaking at 6 p.m. at the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library as part of the IDADA First Friday arts series. Clark will tell the story of how a 1991 encounter with his literary hero Kurt Vonnegut led — through a series of plot twists worthy of an early Vonnegut short story — to the famous author’s contribution of a rare, personalized drawing and message to Clark’s fledgling magazine pLopLop. A slideshow will illustrate Vonnegut’s influence on local independent do-it-yourself publishing focused not on making money but on “making one’s soul grow.” Clark will open up the microphone to members of the audience who would like to share a poem or share a story about Vonnegut.

Clark is a writer, artist, photographer, editor and a founding member of the Big Car arts collective. He established GeekSpeak Unique Press in 1990. In 1991 he met Kurt Vonnegut and also published the first issue of pLopLop Magazine. Clark’s writing appears in a variety of independent micro press publications and his paintings are frequently included in group shows at the Indie Indy art gallery.

Baltimore Book Festival

September 23-25 in Baltimore

KVML Executive Director Julia Whitehead will be discussing the KVML at 1 p.m. to an audience at theBaltimore Book Festival. The KVML will set up a booth at the festival that will be staffed by the Baltimore Chapter of the KVML. The booth will include books, those KVML typewriter t-shirts that you love, and other merchandise as well as information about the KVML. The Baltimore Chapter will also host a book club meeting during the festival itself. More details will be added soon.

Banned Book Week

September 24th – October 1st

All around the country, events will take place to focus on banned books. Representatives from the KVML have been invited to a variety of library’s to speak about the recent banning of Slaughterhouse Five. KVML will also host our own events. Please check back soon for updated information.  Receive a 10% discount on copies of Cat’s Cradle andSlaughterhouse-Five, two of Vonnegut’s most challenged novels , as well as newly design library t-shirts and book bags.

Tuesday, September 27th – Sarah Ockler Author Visit

Sarah Ockler, author of the often-challenged title Twenty Boy Summer, will discuss her book and censorship, specifically the recent book ban at a Republic, Missouri, high school that banned her book and Slaughterhouse-Five.“Book banning is inexcusable, but I’m proud to be in such good company,” Ockler said. “There are so many options for entertainment and distraction today — video games, television, social networking, text messaging. A teen’s desire to read books must be cherished and championed, not limited or controlled. Galapagos was the first Vonnegut novel I ever read, and the connection is clear: book banning is another example of our big, overly complex brains mucking things up.”

Tuesday, September 27th – Pulaski County Public Library, 5:30pm

KVML Executive Director Julia Whitehead will be discussing the KVML at the Pulaski County Public Library (121 S. Riverside Drive, Winamac, Indiana)

Thursday, September 29th – Dr. William Rodney Allen Skype Session, 8pm

Springfield-Greene County Library, Brentwood Branch, 2214 Brentwood Blvd., Springfield, Missouri Contact Community Relations at (417) 616-0564, or Banned Books Week chairperson Gay Wilson at (417) 616-0560.  Skype with Dr. William Rodney Allen, author of Conversations with Kurt Vonnegut and a Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library board member. He will discuss the ban of Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five by the school board in nearby Republic, Missouri

Bookclub: Indianapolis

Thursday, September 22, 2011 11:30 a.m. at KVML

The Indianapolis Branch of the KVML Book Club will meet on Thursday, September 22 at the Emelie Building in downtown Indianapolis (340 N. Senate Avenue) at 11:30 a.m. As part of Banned Book Week, the group will stray from Vonnegut to cover an author more frequently banned… Mark Twain. We will be studying Huckleberry Finn. Please join us, even if you haven’t read it in a while. Please contact bookclub-indianapolis@vonnegutlibrary.org for more information.

IDADA First Friday

Friday, September 2

KVML will have extended hours from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. At 6 p.m., KVML intern Jada Nobis will present a new exhibit on Cat’s Cradle. This display looks specifically at how the novel Cat’s Cradle has greatly influenced musicians and the music that they create. The display includes an overview of Cat’s Cradle, information about the novel’s connection to numerous musicians, and an audio component, which allows visitors to listen to music that was written by musicians influenced by this novel.

Following Jada’s presentation, Hoosier author Chris Edwards will be giving a short talk about Kurt Vonnegut’s approach to freethinking and will be discussing and signing his new book, Spiritual Snake Oil: Fads & Fallacies in Pop Culture.

KVML Book Club (Indianapolis) – August - Deadeye Dick

The Indianapolis Branch of the KVML Book Club will meet on Thursday, August 25th at the Emelie Building in downtown Indianapolis (340 N. Senate Avenue) at 11:30 a.m. The book up for discussion will be Deadeye Dick. Please join us, even if you haven’t read it in a while. Please contact bookclub-indianapolis@vonnegutlibrary.org for more information.

KVML Book Club (Baltimore) – April - While Mortals Sleep

The Baltimore chapter meets on Thursday, April 28 to discuss five stories in While Mortals Sleep, a 2011 collection of Vonnegut’s previously unpublished short stories. We are also discussing the biography, We Never Danced Cheek to Cheek, by Vonnegut’s high school classmate, Majie Alford Failey. Please contact bookclub-baltimore@vonnegutlibrary.org for directions.

Night of Vonnegut – April 16

The 2nd Annual Night of Vonnegut Event, was held on April 16 7pm at The Marott (2625 N. Meridian).  It was a wonderful night of music and remembrances of Kurt to help support the library.

KVML Book Club (Indianapolis) – March – Cat’s Cradle

The Indianapolis Branch of the KVML Book Club will meet on Thursday, March 31st at the Emelie Building in downtown Indianapolis (340 N. Senate Avenue) at 11:30 a.m. The book up for discussion will be Cat’s Cradle. Please join us, even if you haven’t read it in a while. Please contact bookclub-indianapolis@vonnegutlibrary.org for more information.

KVML Book Club (Baltimore) – March – Dead Eye Dick

The Baltimore Chapter of the KVML Book Club will meet again on Thursday, March 24th to discuss Dead Eye Dick. Please contact bookclub-baltimore@vonnegutlibrary.org for directions.

KVML Book Club (Baltimore) – February – Mother Night

The Baltimore Chapter of the KVML Book Club will meet again on Thursday, February 24 to discuss Mother Night. KVML Advisory Board member Jane Wehrle – a community advocate, writer, artist, and KVML President Julia Whitehead’s former high school teacher in Irmo, South Carolina – serves as the book club’s president. For more information email Jane at choirjw@aol.com

KVML Book Club (Indianapolis) – February – The Sirens of Titan

The Indianapolis Branch of the KVML Book Club will meet on Thursday, February 24th at the Emelie Building in downtown Indianapolis (340 N. Senate Avenue) at 11:30 a.m. The book up for discussion will be The Sirens of Titan. Please join us, even if you haven’t read it in a while.

Breakfast of Champions – March 5

A fundraiser for the KVML. Join us for food, coffee and a fun reading of one of Vonnegut’s finest works from 11am to 5pm at Bookmama’s in Irvington. 10% of book sales will go to the KVML.

Grand Opening – January

The KVML will be hosting a Grand Opening Event on Saturday, January 29 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at The Emelie Building (340 N. Senate Avenue) in downtown Indianapolis. Please join us at noon for our ribbon-cutting ceremony with John Lechleiter, CEO of Eli Lilly and Company. The opening ceremony will be followed by a book signing and talk with Kurt’s lifelong friend Majie Failey, author of the new book about their friendship, We Never Danced Cheek to Cheek. The rest of the afternoon will feature musical performers as well as a discussion with Heather Augustyn, one of the last persons to interview Kurt. All events are free and open to the public.

Baltimore Bookclub First Meeting

KVML Book Club (Baltimore) – January – Slaughterhouse-Five

The Baltimore Branch of the KVML Book Club will meet again on Thursday, January 20 to discuss Slaughterhouse-Five and review the 1972 film adaptation. KVML Advisory Board member Jane Wehrle – a community advocate, writer, artist, and KVML President Julia Whitehead’s former high school teacher in Irmo, South Carolina – serves as the book club’s president. For more information, e-mail Jane at choirjw@aol.com.

KVML Book Club (Indianapolis) – January – Player Piano

The Indianapolis Branch of the KVML Book Club will meet on Thursday, January 27th at the Emelie Building in downtown Indianapolis (340 N. Senate Avenue) at 11:30 a.m. The book up for discussion will be Player Piano. Please join us, even if you haven’t read it in a while. UPDATED

Unstuck in Time: Rochester’s Connection to Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five – June 8, 2010

The Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library will be sponsoring a free public lecture on June 8 by noted historian Grant Holcomb who will tell the story of the real-life soldier who Vonnegut used as the model for Billy Pilgrim, the central character in his classic novel “ Slaughterhouse-Five.”

The Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library lecture will be held on June 8 at 7 p.m. at the Athenaeum, 201 E. Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN 26204. Over the years, Vonnegut has said that the Billy Pilgrim character in his book was based on a young Rochester, New York man who, like Vonnegut, served in the 106th Infantry, was captured by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge and held as a POW in Dresden, Germany. Unlike Vonnegut, however, the real-life Edward R. Crone did not survive the war and, unlike Billy Pilgrim, he did not return to upstate New York to marry and raise a family.
During his lecture, Holcomb will discuss Crone’s early years in Rochester, his service during the war (including the bombing of Dresden), his relationship to the character in the Vonnegut novel and how it took his parents five years after the war to locate their son’s body in order to bring him home for burial in Rochester. Holcomb worked with Kurt Vonnegut on developing this presentation on Crone and is coming to Indianapolis to share insights into this important character in Vonnegut’s work.

About Grant Holcomb

Holcomb is the Mary W. and Donald R. Clark Director of the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester, NY. Born and raised in California, Holcomb received his B.A. in History from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Art History from the University of Delaware. He taught at Mount Holyoke College (1972-1979) before returning to California to begin his museum career at the San Diego Museum of Art where he served as curator and later Assistant Director. He assumed the directorship of the Memorial Art Gallery at the University of Rochester in 1985.

Holcomb was a Kress Fellow at the National Gallery of Art, has been the recipient of fellowships and grants from the American Council of Learned Societies, the National Endowment for the Arts, Henry Francis DuPont Winterthur Museum and the New York State Council on the Arts, among others. He has written a number of articles, essays and exhibition catalogs on 19th and 20th century American art. He is married and the father of five children.

RSVP for this special event by e-mailing.

Night of Vonnegut Event – May 8, 2010

A “Night of Vonnegut” benefit event will be held on May 8th at 7 p.m. at the Theatre in the Historic Athenaeum in Indianapolis. The event will include dinner provided by the Rathskeller, jazz by the Tim Brickley Trio, a Vonnegut look-alike contest, dramatic readings of Vonnegut work by local actors, a panel discussion of “My Friend Kurt” by those who knew him well, a silent auction of a piece of Vonnegut art, and a “Family Feud” style Vonnegut trivia game. Tickets are $75 each with discounts for students.

The KVML presents “Conversations with Rodney Allen” – February 18, 2010

William “Rodney” Allen, scholar and author of “Conversations with Kurt Vonnegut,” will be traveling from Louisiana to Indianapolis to share his insights into Vonnegut’s life and works. After speaking to 9th Grade students at Shortridge High School earlier in the day, Allen will deliver a speech tailored for adults to supporters of the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library at the historic Athenaeum at 7 p.m. on February 18th.

Allen earned his Ph.D. in English at Duke University and taught at the University of Mississippi until he and his wife moved to Natchitoches, LA in 1983. They both work at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, a state-run residential program for gifted students from all over the state They have two daughters. Allen’s publications include his first book, Walker Percy: A Southern Wayfarer, and two books on Kurt Vonnegut, Conversations with Kurt Vonnegut (interviews) and Understanding Kurt Vonnegut. Allen’s latest book is The Coen Brothers: Interviews, and his next will be on the writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson, whose most recent film was There Will Be Blood. Allen is a member of the Board of Directors of the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library.

This event is sponsored by the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library, a public benefit, nonprofit organization championing the literary, artistic, and cultural contributions of the late writer, artist and Indiana native Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. The Library is creating a library that will also serve as a cultural and educational resource center, functioning as a museum, art gallery, and reading room for readers, writers, and students. In addition, the library will support language and visual arts education for the local community. This free event is open to the public, but anyone interested in attending must RSVP by contacting Julia Whitehead at julia.whitehead@vonnegutlibrary.org.

1st Annual Meeting – November 14, 2009

The Vonnegut Library Board of Directors kicked off the first Annual
Meeting on November 14th at the office of Krieg DeVault Law Firm in
Indianapolis. Nonprofit consultant Jessica White facilitated a
strategic planning discussion in which participants shared new ideas
for the library, and each attendee left with an understanding of how
he or she fits into the organization. The group decided to focus on
three major areas in 2010. These include:
(1) The library (determining its location, collection, programs)
(2) fundraising
(3) visibility
Some of the new ideas that came out of the discussions include an
Indianapolis book fair, dramatic readings and plays, a video of Kurt’s
life and interviews with those who knew him, a digital archive when we
have documents and other personal items, and Facebook and other social
media (facebook.com/Vonnegut library). The group is especially
interested in partnering with arts and literary organizations to help
raise the cultural tide in Indianapolis and to promote Kurt’s works in
high schools and universities.

The GermanFest – October 10, 2009

The first annual Indianapolis GermanFest, our public debut, was a
great success for the Vonnegut Library. It was a gorgeous day, and
Corey Dalton and Julia Whitehead were happy to discover that we were
setting up our booth right next to one of the food vendors. This was
great as folks had to walk by us to get to their sausages. Corey and
Julia were later joined by Kip Tew, K.C. Norwalk, Keri Young, Diana
Brown, Kelli Norwalk, and Rebeccah Glass, who volunteered to staff the
booth and share information about the library. We were also very close
to the stage, which meant that we were in a great spot to take in the
yodeling contest and the waltzing couples. We regret that we missed out on seeing the wiener dog race, as apparently
there were dozens of dachshunds entering the competition.

We met many, many folks that day who were either huge Vonnegut fans or
completely unfamiliar with him and his work, people of all ages. It
was a delight to speak with both types of individuals as some left the
table with their curiosity piqued and others left excited about the
library plans.

Attendees generously donated to the library, and we were grateful for
each contribution, whether it was $5 or $100.

If you haven’t visited us on Facebook yet, please check us out at
facebook.com/Vonnegutlibrary to see photos of the GermanFest. There
was one gentleman at the GermanFest with “So It Goes” tattooed on his
arm. We loved it!