First Lady Maureen Braun To Be Recognized With A 2026 Special Advocacy Award By Indiana Library Federation

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First Lady Maureen Braun, recipient of the 2026 ILF Library Advocacy Award for Exceptional Impact.

Indiana First Lady Maureen Braun honored by ILF for advancing early literacy and statewide access to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN, UNITED STATES, November 10, 2026 /EINPresswire / -- For Immediate Release

First Lady Maureen Braun to be recognized
with a 2026 Special Advocacy Award
by Indiana Library Federation

Maureen Braun (Jasper) will be recognized by the Indiana Library Federation (ILF) with the 2026 Library Advocacy Award for Exceptional Impact at the 2026 Annual Conference: Libraries at the Crossroads of Learning, on November 10, 2026, at 10 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency, Second Floor Regency Ballroom, 1 S. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46204.

The Indiana Library Federation is pleased to announce Indiana First Lady Maureen Braun as the recipient of the 2026 ILF Library Advocacy Award for Exceptional Impact for her leadership in securing funding and building statewide support for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. The award recognizes her advocacy, collaborative leadership, and unwavering commitment to advancing early literacy across Indiana.

“I am truly honored and grateful to the Indiana Library Federation for this recognition. I am especially thankful to the many libraries, community partners, and generous supporters who came together to ensure Indiana's children have access to books and the opportunity to develop a lifelong love of reading.” - First Lady Maureen Braun

The award recognizes First Lady Braun's instrumental role over the past two years in ensuring the survival and expansion of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Indiana. Traditionally funded through a cost-sharing partnership, with 50% provided at the state level and 50% secured locally, the program faced a critical turning point when state funding was eliminated during the last budget cycle.

In response, First Lady Braun spearheaded a major philanthropic effort to secure the vital resources needed to sustain the initiative. Her leadership successfully united public libraries, community organizations, community foundations, and corporate and individual philanthropic partners to fill the funding gap, effectively preserving monthly book deliveries for families across the state.

That commitment has produced an extraordinary achievement. In April 2026, Indiana reached 100% statewide access to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, making the program available to every Hoosier child from birth through age five. Today, approximately 165,000 children are enrolled, representing 40% of Indiana's eligible children. This milestone reflects not only the power of partnerships and philanthropy, but also the lasting impact of a leader who recognizes that investing in children is investing in Indiana's future.

"First Lady Maureen Braun recognizes that books open doors to opportunity, imagination, and lifelong learning," said Julie Wendorf, Co-Chair of the Indiana Library Federation Advocacy Committee and Immediate ILF Past President. "By championing this cause and inspiring widespread philanthropic support, she has preserved one of Indiana's most impactful early literacy initiatives. Her vision ensures that countless children can begin their educational journeys with the gift of reading, one book, one child, and one family at a time."

Austin Stroud, President of the Indiana Library Federation, added, "First Lady Braun's leadership demonstrates the power of collaboration and a shared commitment to literacy. Her efforts have helped ensure that more Hoosier children have access to early learning opportunities, creating a lasting impact on families and communities across Indiana. ILF is honored to recognize her exceptional advocacy."

The ILF Library Advocacy Award for Exceptional Impact recognizes individuals whose leadership and advocacy create meaningful, lasting improvements for Indiana libraries and the communities they serve. Through her dedicated service, First Lady Braun has strengthened community partnerships, advanced early childhood literacy, and helped ensure that young Hoosiers have the opportunity to discover the joy of reading from the very beginning.

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About: ILF is the statewide nonprofit organization for all library types: academic, public, school, special and library supporters. It is the largest organization of its kind in Indiana, boasting more than 2,000 personal, institutional, library trustee and business affiliate contributing members. For more information, visit .

Macoy Riley
Indiana Library Federation
+1 219-200-1895
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