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Author Archives: Christa Porter
E-rate Form 471 Application Filing Window Now Open
The Form 471 application filing window for Funding Year 2019 opened today at noon EST and will close on Wednesday, March 27 at 11:59 pm EDT. You may now log on to the E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and file your FCC Form 471 for FY2019.
This makes Wednesday, February 27, the deadline to post your Form 470 to the USAC website, meet the 28-day posting requirement for the competitive bidding process, and submit a Form 471 by the filing window closing date.
However, we do not recommend waiting until the last day to submit your Form 470! If there are any issues that day, like the E-rate servers are slowed down because it is the last day to submit, or you can’t submit the form due to reasons on your end, such as illness, weather, power outage, etc., then you would miss the deadline and lose out on E-rate altogether. So, get your E-rate Form 470 submitted as soon as possible!
IMPORTANT: Before you file your Form 471, check your Form 470 Receipt Notification for your Allowable Contract Date – the first date you are allowed to submit your 471. Do not submit your 471 before that date! Remember, after you submit your Form 470, you must wait 28 days to submit your Form 471. Note: This Notice is now emailed directly to you. You can also find it within the EPC portal in your News feed.
Do you need help completing your forms? Do you have questions about E-rate? You’re in luck!
USAC has Form 471 resources on their website:
- Basic information about Applying for Discounts
- Video Tutorials
And more recorded webinars, demos, and training materials are available on the NLC E-rate webpage.
If you have any questions or need any assistance with your E-rate forms, please contact Christa Porter, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.
NCompass Live: 2019 One Book One Nebraska: ‘This Blessed Earth’
Celebrate the joint 2019 One Book One Nebraska and All Iowa Reads selection, This Blessed Earth with Ted Genoways on the next FREE NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, January 16, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.
In this fifteenth year of One Book One Nebraska, we’re partnering with All Iowa Reads to inspire libraries and other literary and cultural organizations to plan activities and events to encourage all Nebraskans and Iowans to read and discuss the same book. Join us to hear more about this dual state reading promotion activity, sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book, Humanities Nebraska, Iowa Center for the Book, State Library of Iowa, and the Nebraska Library Commission.
We are very pleased to announce that our featured guest will be Ted Genoways, author of the 2019 selection, This Blessed Earth: A Year in the Life of an American Family Farm.
Join Nebraska Library Commission Director Rod Wagner, Nebraska Library Commission Communication Coordinator Tessa Terry, Christine Walsh, Nebraska Center for the Book President, and Becky Faber, Nebraska Center for the Book Board Member, to:
- Learn about how to create a successful local reading promotion using Nebraska’s year-long, statewide celebration featuring This Blessed Earth, by Ted Genoways.
- Brainstorm strategies to read and discuss This Blessed Earth.
- Find tools to help engage your community in local activities to encourage them to come together through literature to explore this work in community-wide reading programs.
- Learn about the 2019 Celebration of Nebraska Books, which will celebrate this book, along with the winners of the 2019 Nebraska Book Awards.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Feb. 6 – You Make Me Want To Break Out
- Feb. 20 – Crafting Relevant Community Partnerships Using Archives
- Feb. 27 – Future Ready Nebraska and the Digital Learning and Ed Tech Plan
- March 20 – Reading Diversely
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Books & Reading, Education & Training, Nebraska Center for the Book, Programming
Tagged #OBON2019, NCompLive
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NCompass Live: Graphic Novel Collection and Programming
Join us for the next FREE NCompass Live webinar, ‘Graphic Novel Collection and Programming’ on Wednesday, January 9, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.
Learn new resources to find widely-appealing graphic novel selections for all age groups, toddler through teen. Join Russ Harper, Youth Services Specialist at Omaha Public Library, as he makes core collection recommendations, discusses top sellers, and how to find the hot new thing. Includes programming tips for both American comics and manga fans!.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Jan. 16, 2018 – 2019 One Book One Nebraska: This Blessed Earth
- Feb. 6, 2019 – You Make Me Want To Break Out
- Feb. 20 – Crafting Relevant Community Partnerships Using Archives
- Feb. 27 – Future Ready Nebraska and the Digital Learning and Ed Tech Plan
- March 20 – Reading Diversely
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Books & Reading, Education & Training, Programming, Youth Services
Tagged NCompLive
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Friday Reads: Hogfather, by Terry Pratchett
If it’s the end of the year, then it must be Hogswatch! 
But, the Hogfather is missing! How can we have Hogswatch without him? Not to worry, Death is here to save the day, filling in for him so that all the children will still get their gifts. What could possibly go wrong?
Hogfather is the 20th book in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. And it’s one of the most entertaining, in my opinion. If you haven’t read any Discworld books yet, that’s OK. This one can be read on its own. There’s enough detail and explanation to understand what’s happening. But, for those of you new to this series, Discworld is a magical world, filled with witches, wizards, dragons, trolls, and dwarfs. Physically, it’s a flat disc, sitting on the backs of four enormous elephants, which are standing on the back of an enormous turtle slowly swimming through space. You will recognize some similarities to our world, but since it does have magic, things are quite different.
It’s almost Hogswatchnight, and while Death is keeping up with some of the Hogfather’s duties, there’s still the problem of what happened to him. Luckily, Death’s granddaughter Susan is also on the case. While Death is trying to ensure that people will keep believing in the Hogfather, she’s trying to find him. It turns out that there will be more serious problems than a lack of gifts without a Hogfather. Belief in him also happens to be important to keep other parts of the world working properly. In order to save the Hogfather and Hogswatch, Susan must deal with the “Oh God” of Hangovers, interfering wizards, the realm of the Tooth Fairy, and Mister Teatime, an assassin who insists that his name is pronounced ‘teh-ah-tim-eh’.
As with all of the Discworld books, Hogfather is both a comic fantasy and a satirical commentary on our world. But, this novel also deals with the nature of belief and how important it can be to us, whether we realize it or not. It’s the kind of book you will need to read more than once to absorb the depth and meaning of the storytelling.
If you’re looking for a really fun seasonal read that will restore your faith in humans, Hogfather is the book for you. HAPPY HOGSWATCH!
Pratchett, Terry. Hogfather. New York: Harper, 1996.
NCompass Live: Best New Teen Books of 2018
What are the ‘Best New Teen Books of 2018?’ Find out on the first FREE NCompass Live webinar of 2019! Join us on Wednesday, January 2, 2019, 10:00am – 11:00am CT, for ‘Best New Teen Books of 2018: Popular Teen Novels – New Books They Need to Read’.
Learn about qualities of books that teens are reading, and the titles Nebraska teens are seeking at their libraries. The presenters will discuss new books that are popular with teens in their communities and describe the qualities these titles possess that make them good choices for many libraries.
Presenters: Jill Annis, School Librarian, Elkhorn Grandview Middle School; Sally Snyder, Coordinator of Children and Young Adult Library Services, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Jan. 9, 2019 – Graphic Novel Collection and Programming
- Jan. 16, 2018 – 2019 One Book One Nebraska: This Blessed Earth
- Feb. 6, 2019 – You Make Me Want To Break Out
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
E-rate Form 471 Application Filing Window Dates Announced
From the USAC website:
FY2019 Application Filing Window Dates Announced
The FCC Form 471 application filing window for Funding Year 2019 will open Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at noon EST and close Wednesday, March 27, 2019. You can read the USAC announcement for full details.
To prepare for the window opening:
- If you haven’t already done so, file your FCC Form 470 now! You don’t need to wait for the window to open.
- To file your FCC Form 470, log into the E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC). You must wait 28 days after your FCC Form 470 is posted to the USAC website before you can close your competitive bidding process, select a service provider, sign a contract (if applicable), and submit an FCC Form 471. If you issue an RFP after the FCC Form 470 is posted, you must wait 28 days from the release of the RFP to select a service provider.
- Wednesday, February 27 is the deadline to post your FCC Form 470 to the USAC website or issue an RFP and still complete all of these actions before the window closes.
- Log-in or create your account in the E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and then review, update or assign user rights for anyone who will need access for FY2019. Review your EPC profile and confirm all of your information is accurate including your organization’s name, address, and other details. Your profile is now unlocked and available for you to insert any further updates but will be locked again on January 15, 2019 at 11:59 PM EST. Libraries should confirm their square footage, main branch, and public school district of the main branch information is correct and that any bookmobiles or kiosks are included.
You can find additional resources and instructions for using the EPC on the USAC website and on the NLC’s E-rate website.
Please contact Christa Porter if you have any questions or need any assistance submitting your E-rate forms.
Posted in Library Management
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NCompass Live: Talking Books and Duplication on Demand!
Hear about ‘Talking Books and Duplication on Demand!’ on the next FREE NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, December 26, 2018, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.
Imagine if there were no books on your library shelves, and instead books were custom-made for every patron, printed and conveniently bound together during their visit. Something along those lines is being implemented with the digital talking books circulated at the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service. Tune in to find out about the technology behind this change, and its advantages and disadvantages for patrons and staff as we begin this adventure together!
Presenter: Scott Scholz, Director, Talking Book and Braille Service, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Jan. 2, 2019 – Best New Teen Books of 2018: Popular Teen Novels – New Books They Need to Read
- Jan. 9, 2019 – Graphic Novel Collection and Programming
- Jan. 16, 2018 – 2019 One Book One Nebraska: This Blessed Earth
- Feb. 6, 2019 – You Make Me Want To Break Out
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
‘E-rate: What’s New for 2019?’ Recording now available
The recording of the E-rate: What’s New for 2019? online session is now available.
What is E-rate? How can my library benefit from E-rate? How do I apply for E-rate?
E-rate is a federal program that provides discounts to schools and public libraries on the cost of their Broadband, Fiber, and Wi-Fi Internet access and Internal Connections, such as wiring, routers, switches, and other network equipment, in order to make these services more affordable.
The E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC) is your online portal for all E-rate interactions. With your organizational account you can use EPC to file forms, track your application status, communicate with USAC, and more.
What does your library need to know to use EPC? In this workshop, Christa Porter, Nebraska’s State E-rate Coordinator for Public Libraries, will cover the basics of the E-rate program and show you how to access and use your account in EPC to submit your Funding Year 2019 E-rate application.
If you have any questions or need any assistance with your E-rate forms, visit the NLC E-rate webpage or please contact Christa Porter, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.
NCompass Live: A Textbook Program is NOT for Us! Re-Imagining Failure Into New Possibilities
Learn why ‘A Textbook Program is NOT for Us!’ on the next FREE NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, December 19, 2018, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.
‘A Textbook Program is NOT for Us! Re-Imagining Failure Into New Possibilities’
Sometimes, despite all our efforts, projects fail. We’re here to tell you that’s okay. In 2017, the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Criss Library created a Textbook Reserves Pilot Project. At the time we weren’t sure it would work out. We were optimistic, though. After all, we had plenty of evidence that said it would work: our literature review had examples of successful textbook programs. Our data showed textbook prices rising. We met with advisors across our campus who said students desperately needed textbooks to succeed. We had buy-in from library administrators, the bookstore, and student government, but something just didn’t click. In this program, we share the top reasons why we think our textbook pilot project failed, how the lessons learned during our pilot helped as UNO Libraries created an Open Educational Resource initiative, and why failure should always be embraced throughout your organization.
Presenters: Heidi Blackburn, STEM and Business Librarian, UNO Criss Library; Tammi Owens, Outreach and Instruction Librarian, UNO Criss Library.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Dec. 26 – Talking Books and Duplication on Demand!
- Jan. 2, 2019 – Best New Teen Books of 2018: Popular Teen Novels – New Books They Need to Read
- Jan. 9, 2019 – Graphic Novel Collection and Programming
- Feb. 6, 2019 – You Make Me Want To Break Out
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
NCompass Live: Summer Reading Program 2019: A Universe of Stories!
Check out next year’s ‘Summer Reading Program 2019: A Universe of Stories!’ on the next FREE NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, December 12, 2018, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.
Next summer will bring plenty of opportunities to talk about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) ideas, especially with science and outer space as the new topic for the Summer Reading Program. Learn about quality books to consider for your library’s collection and start planning for “A Universe of Stories,” in celebration of the historic 1969 landing on the moon. Kids will be clamoring for both fiction and nonfiction titles as they dream about traveling in space.
Presenter: Sally Snyder, Coordinator of Children and Young Adult Library Services, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Dec. 19 – A Textbook Program is NOT for Us! Re-Imagining Failure Into New Possibilities
- Dec. 26 – Talking Books and Duplication on Demand!
- Jan. 2, 2019 – Best New Teen Books of 2018: Popular Teen Novels – New Books They Need to Read
- Jan. 9, 2019 – Graphic Novel Collection and Programming
- Feb. 6, 2019 – You Make Me Want To Break Out
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Call for Speakers: Big Talk From Small Libraries 2019
The Call for Speakers for Big Talk From Small Libraries 2019 is now open!
This free one-day online conference is aimed at librarians from small libraries; the smaller the better! We are looking for speakers from small libraries or speakers who directly work with small libraries. Small libraries of all types – public, academic, school, museum, special, etc. – are encouraged to submit a proposal. We’re looking for seven 50-minute presentations and five 10-minute “lightning round” presentations.
Do you offer a service or program at your small library that other librarians might like to hear about? Have you implemented a new (or old) technology, hosted an event, partnered with others in your community, or just done something really cool? The Big Talk From Small Libraries online conference gives you the opportunity to share what you’ve done, while learning what your colleagues in other small libraries are doing. Here are some possible topics to get you thinking:
- Unique Libraries
- Special Collections
- New buildings
- Fundraising
- Improved Workflows
- Staff Development
- Advocacy Efforts
- Community Partnerships
- That great thing you’re doing at your library!
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2019 will be held on Friday, February 22, 2019 between 8:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (CT) via the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Speakers will be able to present their programs from their own desktops. The schedule will accommodate speakers’ time-zones.
If you are interested in presenting, please submit your proposal by Friday, January 18, 2019.
Speakers from libraries serving fewer than 10,000 people will be preferred, but presentations from libraries with larger service populations will be considered.
This conference is organized and hosted by the Nebraska Library Commission and is co-sponsored by the Association for Rural & Small Libraries.
NCompass Live: Best New Teen Books of 2018
New Date! 
“Best New Teen Books of 2018: Popular Teen Novels – New Books They Need to Read” has been rescheduled for January 2, 2019.
You can register for this new date at http://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/calendar/eventshow.asp?ProgID=17897
UPDATE: This week’s NCompass Live, “Best New Teen Books of 2018: Popular Teen Novels – New Books They Need to Read” has been postponed.
We have just been informed that Nebraska State Offices will be closed on Wednesday, December 5, to observe a National Day of Mourning for Former President George H.W. Bush. NCompass Live is the Nebraska Library Commission’s weekly webinar series and as a Nebraska state agency, the Library Commission will now be closed on Wednesday.
We are working to reschedule this NCompass Live and will announce as soon as we have a new date.
Check out the ‘Best New Teen Books of 2018: Popular Teen Novels – New Books They Need to Read’ on the next FREE NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, December 5 January 2, 2019, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.
Learn about qualities of books that teens are reading, and the titles Nebraska teens are seeking at their libraries. The presenters will discuss new books that are popular with teens in their communities and describe the qualities these titles possess that make them good choices for many libraries.
Presenters: Jill Annis, School Librarian, Elkhorn Grandview Middle School; Sally Snyder, Coordinator of Children and Young Adult Library Services, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Dec. 12 – Summer Reading Program 2019: A Universe of Stories!
- Dec. 19 – A Textbook Program is NOT for Us! Re-Imagining Failure Into New Possibilities
- Dec. 26 – Talking Books and Duplication on Demand!
- Jan. 2, 2019 – Best New Teen Books of 2018: Popular Teen Novels – New Books They Need to Read
- Jan. 9, 2019 – Graphic Novel Collection and Programming
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
NCompass Live: Public Library Survey Using Bibliostat
Check out the new ‘Public Library Survey Using Bibliostat’ on the next FREE NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, November 28, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.
Every year, the Nebraska Library Commission participates in a national program of public library data collection called the Public Library Survey. This session will provide an overview of the data collection program, and specifically the data collection tool used in Nebraska, Bibliostat. This year, NLC will be using a new version of Bibliostat. The survey runs from mid-November to mid-February every year. The survey is required for Nebraska accredited libraries, and unaccredited libraries are eligible for a one-time grant (Dollar$ for Data) if they complete the survey online via Bibliostat.
Presenter: Sam Shaw, Planning and Data Services Coordinator, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Dec. 5 – Best New Teen Books of 2018: Popular Teen Novels – New Books They Need to Read
- Dec. 12 – Summer Reading Program 2019: A Universe of Stories!
- Dec. 19 – A Textbook Program is NOT for Us! Re-Imagining Failure Into New Possibilities
- Jan. 9, 2019 – Graphic Novel Collection and Programming
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
NCompass Live: Best Practices for Digital Collections
Join us for the next NCompass Live, ‘Best Practices for Digital Collections’, on Wednesday, November 21, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.
To enhance access to their diverse materials, libraries are digitizing those materials and making them freely available online as digital collections on digital platforms. These collections provide another way for libraries to re-envision their materials and make them relevant to their communities. This presentation will cover best practices for creating and preserving digital collections, including workflows, standards, and staffing. It will also discuss the policies which should be developed for building successful digital collections, as well as the privacy issues which should be considered. In this presentation, individual digital collections from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Creighton University Law Library, including the Omaha Oral History Collection and the Delaney Tokyo Trial Papers, will be demonstrated.
Presenters: Corinne Jacox, Catalog/Reference Librarian, Creighton University Law Library & Yumi Ohira, Digital Initiatives Librarian, UNO Criss Library.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Nov. 28 – Public Library Survey Using Bibliostat
- Dec. 5 – Best New Teen Books of 2018: Popular Teen Novels – New Books They Need to Read
- Dec. 12 – Summer Reading Program 2019: A Universe of Stories!
- Dec. 19 – A Textbook Program is NOT for Us! Re-Imagining Failure Into New Possibilities
- Jan. 9, 2019 – Graphic Novel Collection and Programming
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
NCompass Live: Reading Reflections – What Kids Are Reading Now: Best New Children’s Books of 2018
Join us for the next NCompass Live, ‘Reading Reflections – What Kids Are Reading Now: Best New Children’s Books of 2018′, on Wednesday, November 14, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.
Learn about qualities to look for in books children are reading, and the titles Nebraska children are seeking at their libraries from public and school librarians in the state. The presenters will discuss titles that are popular with children in their communities and the qualities of those titles that make them good choices for many libraries.
Presenters: Dana Fontaine, Librarian, Fremont High School; Sally Snyder, Coordinator of Children and Young Adult Library Services, Nebraska Library Commission: Karla Wendelin, Co-founder, Nebraska Golden Sower Award Program.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Nov. 21 – Best Practices for Digital Collections
- Nov. 28 – Public Library Survey Using Bibliostat
- Dec. 5 – Popular Teen Novels – New Books They Need to Read: Best New Teen Books of 2018
- Dec. 12 – Summer Reading: The Next Frontier!
- Dec. 19 – A Textbook Program is NOT for Us! Re-Imagining Failure Into New Possibilities
- Jan. 9, 2019 – Graphic Novel Collection and Programming
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
NCompass Live: Letters About Literature: Read. Be Inspired. Write Back.
Join us for the next NCompass Live, ‘Letters About Literature: Read. Be Inspired. Write Back.’, on Wednesday, November 7, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.
Letters About Literature is a Library of Congress national reading and writing competition that asks young people in grades 4 through 12 to write to an author (living or deceased) about how his or her book affected their lives. This session will provide helpful information and resources for teachers and librarians interested in the competition. It will also cover the new online submission process and be an excellent opportunity to ask questions about the entire competition process.
Presenters: Tessa Terry – Communications Coordinator, Nebraska Library Commission; Laureen Riedesel – Director, Beatrice Public Library and Nebraska Letters About Literature Coordinator; Christine Walsh – Assistant Library Director, Kearney Public Library and Nebraska Center for the Book President; Richard Miller – Letters About Literature Judge for Nebraska.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Nov. 14 – Reading Reflections: What Kids Are Reading Now
- Nov. 21 – Best Practices for Digital Collections
- Nov. 28 – Public Library Survey Using Bibliostat
- Dec. 5 – Popular Teen Novels: New Books They Need to Read
- Dec. 12 – Summer Reading: The Next Frontier!
- Dec. 19 – A Textbook Program is NOT for Us! Re-Imagining Failure Into New Possibilities
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
‘E-rate: What’s New for 2019?’ Workshops Scheduled
‘E-rate: What’s New for 2019?’ has been scheduled in locations across the state and online.
What is E-rate? How can my library benefit from E-rate? How do I apply for E-rate?
E-rate is a federal program that provides discounts to schools and public libraries on the cost of their Broadband, Fiber, and Wi-Fi Internet access and Internal Connections, such as wiring, routers, switches, and other network equipment, in order to make these services more affordable.
The E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC) is your online portal for all E-rate interactions. With your organizational account you can use EPC to file forms, track your application status, communicate with USAC, and more.
What does your library need to know to use EPC? In this workshop, Christa Porter, Nebraska’s State E-rate Coordinator for Public Libraries, will cover the basics of the E-rate program and show you how to access and use your account in EPC to submit your Funding Year 2019 E-rate application.
Dates and locations:
- November 27 – Columbus Public Library
- November 29 – Lexington Public Library
- November 30 – Lied Scottsbluff Public Library
- December 4 – Seward Memorial Library
- December 11 – Online, GoToWebinar
To register for any of these sessions, go to the Nebraska Library Commission’s Training & Events Calendar and search for ‘e-rate 2019’.
NCompass Live: Teaching Digital Literacy in Your Library
Join us for the next NCompass Live, ‘Teaching Digital Literacy in Your Library’, on Wednesday, October 31, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.
We all know that librarians are the information superheroes of the world. It’s only natural that we would hold the key to digital literacy!
When the topic is raised, people think of everything from learning e-readers, to practicing web safety, or building a website. This is all part of learning how to find, use, create and share digital content. The fun part is that digital literacy is always going to mean different things to different people. The trick is to find free resources library patrons will want to use.
This webinar will help you prepare to teach digital literacy in your library. Tune in to find out:
- What is digital literacy?
- How digital literacy is evolving
- Using free, existing resources to save time
- Deciding what to teach in your library
- Catering to a wide variety of patron needs
- Working with local schools
It’s time to put on your Digital Literacy cape and prepare your library for the future!
Presenter: Amanda Sweet, Technology Innovation Librarian, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Nov. 7 – Letters About Literature: Read. Be Inspired. Write Back.
- Nov. 14 – Reading Reflections: What Kids Are Reading Now
- Nov. 28 – Public Library Survey Using Bibliostat
- Dec. 5 – Popular Teen Novels: New Books They Need to Read
- Dec. 12 – Summer Reading: The Next Frontier!
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
NCompass Live: Strategies for Identifying Fake News
Join us for the next NCompass Live, ‘Strategies for Identifying Fake News’, on Wednesday, October 24, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.
With the proliferation of fake (or, at least, dubious) news, students need to know the strategies necessary to be a good consumer of information. This involves fine-tuning their critical thinking skills and using prior knowledge when determining the validity of research information. This presentation will give school librarians ideas and information they can incorporate in their information literacy curriculum.
Presenter: Judy Henning, Assistant Professor – School Library Program, University of Nebraska at Kearney.
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
$10,000 American Dream Adult Literacy Grants Available
The American Library Association (ALA) and Dollar General Literacy Foundation invite public libraries to apply for grants to expand services for adult English language learners or adults in need of basic education and workforce development.
Up to 16 grants of $10,000 each will be awarded. Public libraries are eligible if they serve adult English language learners and are located within 20 miles of a Dollar General Store, distribution center or corporate office. Visit the Dollar General Store Locator to check eligibility.
Read the project guidelines and apply online by Dec. 14, 2018.
ALA will host a free webinar at 1 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, Oct. 24, for people interested in learning more about the American Dream grants. Register for the webinar here. (Note that the webinar will be recorded and available for free viewing on ALA’s Programming Librarian website.)
The American Dream Literacy Initiative strives to develop tools and resources for libraries and library staff to provide effective literacy services to adult English language learners in their communities and across the country.
Since 2008, 188 libraries in Dollar General communities have initiated or expanded literacy services for adult English language learners. The grants allow libraries to augment their print and digital English as a second language (ESL) collections; increase computer access and training; provide job training; hold English language learning (ELL), general educational development (GED) and citizenship classes; and raise the visibility of services for immigrant populations.
American Dream libraries build replicable programs, develop coalition-building strategies, and provide annotated lists of vetted resources for libraries across the country. ALA shares the libraries’ successes and strategies through the website, on webinars, and at state, regional and national conferences.
The American Dream Literacy Initiative is made possible through the generous support of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. It is administered by ALA’s Public Programs Office and Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services.
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