Search the Blog
Categories
- Books & Reading
- Broadband Buzz
- Census
- Education & Training
- General
- Grants
- Information Resources
- Library Management
- Nebraska Center for the Book
- Nebraska Memories
- Now hiring @ your library
- Preservation
- Pretty Sweet Tech
- Programming
- Public Library Boards of Trustees
- Public Relations
- Talking Book & Braille Service (TBBS)
- Technology
- Uncategorized
- What's Up Doc / Govdocs
- Youth Services
Archives
Subscribe
Author Archives: Christa Porter
NCompass Live: ConnectEd Nebraska – Wireless Internet for Students
Learn how K-12 schools across Nebraska are enabling seamless wireless internet access across the state, and how libraries can participate in ConnectEd Nebraska on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, September 22 at 10am CT.
ConnectEd Nebraska is a collaborative initiative between the State of Nebraska, University of Nebraska, and Nebraska Department of Education, to bring eduroam wireless to all Nebraska K-12 schools, libraries, and museums for free.
Following a successful rollout in Utah, Nebraska and Arizona are the next two states to continue this educational wireless initiative. With simple configuration of your wireless infrastructure, students will be able to connect to the internet seamlessly and securely. Attend this NCompass Live session to learn what eduroam is, which Nebraska communities have deployed eduroam, and how you can get involved.
More information is available at https://connectednebraska.com/
Presenter: Brett Bieber, Director of Security Engineering, University of Nebraska
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Sept. 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech – Gadgets & Gizmos Aplenty: Makerspace Edition
- October 6 – The Queer Omaha Archives: The First Five Years
- October 13 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!
- October 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- November 3 – Letters About Literature
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.
Apply for a ‘Let’s Talk About It: Women’s Suffrage’ Grant
ALA has announced a new grant for libraries designed to spark conversations about American history and culture through an examination of the women’s suffrage movement.
Through Let’s Talk About It (LTAI): Women’s Suffrage, participants will read a series of books curated by humanities scholars and discuss the people and events from this often under-taught part of U.S. history.
Twenty-five libraries will be selected to receive a $1,000 stipend to support programming costs, ten copies of five themed books, access to programming guides and support materials, virtual training on the LTAI model, a suite of online resources and more.
Applications will be accepted from September 1 to December 1, 2021. Library workers can apply online at ala.org/ltai.
Originally launched by ALA for libraries in 1982, Let’s Talk About It is a reading and discussion program that involves groups of people reading a series of books selected by national project scholars and discussing them in the context of an overarching theme. The format for a Let’s Talk About It program involves a ten-week series. Every two weeks, a discussion group meets with a local humanities scholar to discuss one of the five books in the theme.
The following books have been selected by the LTAI: Women’s Suffrage project scholars:
- The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote by Elaine Weiss
- Women Making History: The 19th Amendment Book, essays compiled by the National Park Service
- Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality for All by Martha S. Jones
- Ida B. the Queen: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells by Michelle Duster
- The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
To qualify for this grant, the applying institution must be a library (public, tribal, school, academic, or special) residing in the U.S. or U.S. territories.
LTAI: Women’s Suffrage is supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). To explore resources from past LTAI themes, visit the project website.
Posted in Grants, Programming
Leave a comment
United for Libraries Learning Live, Sept. 14 Learning Live: ‘Celebrating National Friends of Libraries Week’
All Nebraska public libraries are members of United for Libraries through the Statewide Group Membership purchased by the Nebraska Library Commission. The Commission provides this membership to ensure that public library staff members, Friends, Trustees, and Foundations can take advantage of United for Libraries’ services to enhance fundraising, advocacy, and public awareness.
United for Libraries’ monthly virtual series, Learning Live, will continue with “Celebrating National Friends of Libraries Week” on Tuesday, Sept. 14, at 1 p.m. Central / 2 p.m. Eastern. The Learning Live program is presented free to United for Libraries group and Statewide members. Register here.
Featured presenters will include Jonathan Haupt, executive director at Pat Conroy Literary Center in Beaufort, South Carolina, and Marlena White, president of the Friends of South Carolina Libraries (FOSCL).
Learn about the history of National Friends of Libraries Week and ideas for celebrating, including the upcoming “I Was Born to Be in a Library” Virtual Tour & Discussion led by the Pat Conroy Literary Center in partnership with Friends of South Carolina Libraries (FOSCL). United for Libraries staff will provide resources, tips, and ideas for National Friends of Libraries Week.
The Pat Conroy Literary Center is a registered United for Libraries Literary Landmark.
Jonathan Haupt is the executive director of the nonprofit Conroy Center and the former director of the University of South Carolina Press. He is co-editor with Nicole Seitz of the anthology Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy, the recipient of 17 book awards. He is the host of the Live from the Pat Conroy Literary Center podcast on the Authors on the Air Global Radio Network and an associate producer of the TELLY Award-winning ETV author interview program “By the River.” In 2020, Haupt was recognized with the Doug Marlette Literacy Leadership Award presented by Pulpwood Queens, the largest book club in the U.S.
Marlena White has more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit management. She was the Director of the Friends of the Lexington Main Library in Lexington, South Carolina for 15 years and now serves as the Financial Services Manager for a nonprofit management firm in Columbia, South Carolina. Marlena is a graduate of several leadership programs and was the 2019 recipient of the United for Libraries/ThriftBooks grant to attend the ALA Conference in Washington, D.C. She has volunteered with the Friends of South Carolina Libraries since 2016 and currently serves as their Board President.
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center is South Carolina’s first affiliate of the American Writers Museum and second American Library Association Literary Landmark. Through its interpretive center, year-round educational programs, and annual literary festival, the Conroy Center preserves and continues the literary legacy of Pat Conroy (1945–2016) as a teacher, mentor, advocate, and friend to readers and writers alike. To learn more about the Conroy Center, please visit in person at 601 Bladen St., Beaufort, South Carolina, or online at www.patconroyliterarycenter.org.
The Friends of South Carolina Libraries is a statewide volunteer-run nonprofit organization created in the late 1980’s to help foster, create, and support local Friends of the Library groups, and to provide networking opportunities for these groups to work together for the support of library services throughout the State of South Carolina. FOSCL hosts both in-person and virtual education and advocacy programs (including an annual conference), and also offers grants and recognition awards in support of Friends of the Libraries across the Palmetto State. Learn more about FOSCL at www.foscl.org.
United for Libraries Learning Live sessions take place on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Each month’s session will cover a hot topic of interest to Trustees, Friends and/or Foundations, followed by a Q&A and/or discussions. Sessions are open to all personal and group members of United for Libraries.
United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ala.org/united/ or call 312-280-2160.
2022 Internship Grants Now Available
Applications for Nebraska Library Commission Internship Grants for 2022 are now available!
Accredited Nebraska public libraries are invited to apply for up to $1,000 to fund a high school or college intern in 2022. Applicants may partner with other types of libraries to provide a variety of work settings – partnerships with other public, school, academic, or special libraries are encouraged.
The deadline to submit an application is November 5, 2021.
This internship program works to introduce high school and college students to the varied and exciting work of Nebraska libraries. The internships are intended to function as a recruitment tool, helping the student to view the library as a viable career opportunity while providing the public library with the finances (up to $1,000 per library or branch) to provide stipends to the student interns. In the past student interns have helped the libraries expand programs, complete projects, improve websites, and expand social media use, while bringing fresh ideas into the library.
To learn more, watch the recording of the NCompass Live webinar, NLC Grants for 2022.
If you have any questions please contact Christa Porter, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.
NCompass Live: Manga and Graphic Novels in Your Library
Graphic novels and manga are everywhere: TV series, movies, and now coming to a library near you! Learn how to get started with ‘Manga and Graphic Novels in Your Library’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, September 8 at 10am CT.
Starting a collection or updating your holdings can be a challenge in this medium. Which superhero do I follow? Should I start purchasing this manga or wait until it’s complete? Graphic novels and manga are a great addition to any library, but it can feel intimidating to purchase items for this collection without having a knowledge base to work with. This presentation will cover what exactly makes up a comic or manga, the different types and genres, how to get started with your collection, and the logistics of getting into this particular art form.
Presenter: Brooke Zarco, Library Director, Blair Public Library & Technology Center.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Sept. 15 – Library School Now – Library Workers Talk about Their Library Science Coursework
- Sept. 22 – ConnectEd Nebraska – Wireless Internet for Students
- Sept. 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- October 6 – The Queer Omaha Archives: The First Five Years
- October 13 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!
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: NLC Grants for 2022
Do you have a program or project you would like to see funded? Learn how to apply for the ‘NLC Grants for 2022’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, September 1 at 10am CT.
The Nebraska Library Commission is making funding available for four grants for 2022: Library Improvement Grants, Youth Grants for Excellence, Internship, and Continuing Education & Training.
Join Christa Porter, Sally Snyder, and Holli Duggan, from the Nebraska Library Commission’s Library Development Team, as they provide an overview of the grants, including new eligibility requirements and grant guidelines, the application process and grant review, timelines and deadlines. They will also share some tips on writing effective grants.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Sept. 8 – Manga and Graphic Novels in Your Library
- Sept. 15 – Library School Now – Library Workers Talk about Their Library Science Coursework
- Sept. 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- October 6 – The Queer Omaha Archives: The First Five Years
- October 13 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!
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 Education & Training, Grants, Programming, Youth Services
Tagged NCompLive
Leave a comment
NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech – Tech-Friendly Book Club Ideas
The best way to learn about technology is to read about it! Get some ‘Tech-Friendly Book Club Ideas’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, August 25 at 10am CT.
Even if they are not all going to make it themselves, people are infinitely curious about robots, computers, artificial intelligence, mixed reality, and all the tech that is changing the world. While libraries can’t be expected to teach all of this directly, books can help tackle the big stuff! Over the years I tracked the books I used to learn about all my favorite tech and practiced with different discussion questions and ways to talk about tech.
By the end of this session you will have:
- A list of recommended titles for book clubs & discussion
- Tech topics to tackle in book groups
- Ideas for wraparound activities
- Book groups as market research
I focus mainly on options for adults and teens in this session, but harvested some options from people who specialize in K-12 to help out the kids!
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.os Live shows:
- Sept. 1 – NLC Grants for 2022
- Sept. 8 – Manga and Graphic Novels in Your Library
- Sept. 15 – Library School Now – Library Workers Talk about Their Library Science Coursework
- Sept. 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- October 6 – The Queer Omaha Archives: The First Five Years
- October 13 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!
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, Pretty Sweet Tech, Technology
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
Leave a comment
2022 ARPA Library Improvement Grants Now Available
The Nebraska Library Commission (NLC) is pleased to announce the availability of Library Improvement Grants to legally-established public libraries, tribal libraries, and institutional libraries in Nebraska, through a competitive grant process. The purpose of the Library Improvement Grants is to facilitate growth and development of library programs and services, by supplementing local funding with federal funds designated for these purposes.
This year’s funding is provided from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), as administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). ARPA is the result of the federal stimulus bill passed by Congress. Nebraska has received a one-time award of $2,422,166. A portion of that amount will be available via these competitive grants.
Some of the usual rules and requirements for Library Improvement Grants will be suspended for this year only:
- No local match is required.
- All legally established public libraries are eligible, both accredited and unaccredited, as well as tribal libraries and State run institutions.
Online applications will be accepted through 11:59 PM (CT) on October 7, 2021 and recipients will be notified of funding by October 29, 2021.
Visit the grant webpage for the full grant details and the online application form.
And to learn more, sign up for the September 1 NCompass Live webinar, NLC Grants for 2022.
NCompass Live: One Book for Nebraska Kids & Teens
Wouldn’t it be great if kids all over Nebraska were talking about books? Hear about the Nebraska Library Commission & the Regional Library Systems’ program where kids can all read and discuss the same book on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, August 18 at 10am CT.
Join Sally Snyder, the NLC’s Coordinator of Children and Young Adult Library Services, and Aimee Owen, Information Services Librarian, to learn all about the One Book for Nebraska Kids and Teens program. Our 2021 titles are: One Book For Nebraska Kids – Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson, and One Book For Nebraska Teens – Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson. And the 2022 titles have been selected: One Book For Nebraska Kids – The Adventures of Beanboy by Lisa Harkrader, and One Book For Nebraska Teens – Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- August 25 – Pretty Sweet Tech – Tech-Friendly Book Club Ideas
- Sept. 8 – Manga and Graphic Novels in Your Library
- Sept. 15 – Library School Now – Library Workers Talk about Their Library Science Coursework
- Sept. 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- October 6 – The Queer Omaha Archives: The First Five Years
- October 13 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!
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.
Register today for United for Libraries Virtual, Aug. 17-19
NOTE: All Nebraska public libraries are members of United for Libraries through the Statewide Group Membership purchased by the Nebraska Library Commission: http://nlc.nebraska.gov/trustees/altaff/ The Commission provides this membership to ensure that public library staff members, Friends, Trustees, and Foundations can take advantage of United for Libraries’ services to enhance fundraising, advocacy, and public awareness.
Registration is open for “United for Libraries Virtual: Trustees – Friends – Foundations” Aug. 17-19, 2021! Now in its second year, this interactive three-day virtual event will feature expert speakers on current topics facing library Trustees, Friends, Foundations, and staff who work with them.
Those with libraries in MA, MD, MI, NE, SC, SD and TX can register for the highly discounted rate of $69 individual/$199 group (up to five)!
The virtual event will allow attendees to:
- Participate in live Q&A sessions with presenters.
- Network with colleagues across the country in roundtable discussions.
- Enjoy exclusive access to keynote speakers and authors.
- Receive a certificate of attendance (for live participation or on-demand viewing).
- Access all session recordings for one year.
Featured program topics will include:
- What’s More Punk than the Public Library? Fundraising as a Friends Group
- Policies and Practices for LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Libraries: What Trustees Need to Know
- Auditing Diversity in Library Collections
- Advocating in Advance: Keeping Ahead of Legislation and Local Initiatives
- How to Be an Inclusive Leader: Your Role in Creating Cultures of Belonging Where Everyone Can Thrive
- Life Cycle of a Board Member – How to Build a Powerhouse Board
- Gala Author Tea sponsored by Data Axle Reference Solutions
To view the full conference schedule and register for United Virtual, visit https://www.ala.org/united/events_conferences/virtual
United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations is a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. To join, please visit https://www.ala.org/united/ or call (800) 545-2433, ext. 2161.
Posted in Education & Training, Public Library Boards of Trustees
Tagged #UnitedVirtual21
Leave a comment
NCompass Live: The Kreutz Bennett Donor-Advised Fund: Grants to Nebraska’s Small-Town Public Libraries
Is your library in a Nebraska community with a population under 3,000? The Kreutz Bennett Donor-Advised Fund is for you! Learn how to apply for this funding opportunity on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, August 11 at 10am CT.
Since 2012, the Kreutz Bennett Donor-Advised Fund has granted over $665,000 to Nebraska’s small-town public libraries through a term endowment established by the late Shirley Kreutz Bennett, a lifelong educator originally from Harvard, Nebraska. Thanks to this generous support, dozens of libraries have launched projects to repair, renovate, or replace existing facilities, create programs that enhance library services, and importantly, prepare libraries, boards and directors to become accredited, which opens the door to increased state funding.
A Fund Advisory Committee composed of Ms. Kreutz Bennett’s nieces and nephews recommends matching grants each year to libraries serving communities with populations under 3,000. Due to the effort’s tremendous success over the past decade, the Fund is close to spending down available money. This could be the last year the opportunity is available. Join us to learn how your library can apply for this grant opportunity.
Presenters: Kristine Gale, Community Impact Coordinator, Nebraska Community Foundation; Christa Porter, Library Development Director, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- August 18 – One Book for Nebraska Kids & Teens
- August 25 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- Sept. 15 – Library School Now – Library Workers Talk about Their Library Science Coursework
- Sept. 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- October 6 – The Queer Omaha Archives: The First Five Years
- October 13 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!
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.
ARSL Conference Early Bird Registration
Get Ready for The Biggest Little Library Conference!
Early Bird Registration for the 2021 Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) Conference is open! The conference will be held at the Nugget Resort in Reno/Sparks, Nevada, from October 20-23. From now through August 24 August 17 conference attendees can register at reduced Early Bird rates.
Early Bird Registration Rates:
- ARSL Members: $275
- Nonmembers: $350
- Advocates*: $225
After August 24 August 17 attendees can register at the regular registration rates.
Regular Registration Rates:
- ARSL Members: $350
- Nonmembers: $425
- Advocates*: $275
*Advocates include library Trustees, Board Members, Friends, and Volunteers.
Preconference workshops are back for in-person attendees this year! These workshops are priced separately from general conference attendance and will take place on Wednesday, October 20. Check out the Program Descriptions page for full workshop details!
4-Hour Workshops (8:30 AM – 12:30 PM) | ARSL Members: $65 | Nonmembers: $85
- Tools For The Good Life
- Backyard Explorers: Citizen Scientists in Training at the Library
- Library Space: A Planning Resource for Librarians
3-Hour Workshops (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM) | ARSL Members: $50 | Nonmembers: $70
- The Post-Pandemic Library: What Will Be Different?
- Measuring the Digital Divide
- Effective Staff Development on Any Budget: Learn Something New Every Day
- Misinformation Escape Room
There will also be a limited selection of virtual offerings for those who can’t make the trip this time.
Virtual Attendance Rates:
- ARSL Members: $50
- Nonmembers: $75
- Advocates: $25
NCompass Live: Small Libraries Will Save the World! Implementing Sustainability at the Library
It’s true! Small Libraries Will Save the World! Learn how on this weeks’ NCompass Live webinar, ‘Implementing Sustainability at the Library’ on Wednesday, August 4 at 10am CT.
Concerned about climate change but not sure what you can do? Help your library “go green” by leveraging the secret super power of small, rural and under-resourced libraries everywhere: the make-do mindset! Forget LEED building certifications, we’ll show you how your library can adopt systems that align your shoestring budget with tips on everything from sustainable programming practices, operational approaches, environmental partnerships, as well as easy (and cost-saving!) eco-friendly swaps based on the experience of one library’s mission to be a community leader in reducing its environmental impact.
Presenter: April Griffith, Library Director, Eureka Springs (AR) Carnegie Library.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- August 11 – The Kreutz Bennett Donor-Advised Fund: Grants to Nebraska’s Small-Town Public Libraries
- August 18 – One Book for Nebraska Kids & Teens
- August 25 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- Sept. 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- October 6 – The Queer Omaha Archives: The First Five Years
- October 13 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!
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.
Apply Now: Round 3 of Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries
The American Library Association (ALA) invites library workers to apply for round 3 of the Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Focus on Small and Rural Libraries grant.
Up to 100 libraries will be awarded in this round of grantmaking, part of ALA’s longtime community engagement initiative. Applications are due Thursday, September 16.
Participating libraries will receive training in how to lead conversations, a skill vital to 21st-century librarianship. Library workers will complete a free ALA e-course on basic facilitation skills; host at least one conversation with community members on a chosen topic; and receive $3,000 to support community engagement efforts. Grant funds may cover a range of expenses, including staff time and collections and technology purchases.
Libraries that previously were awarded LTC: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries grants are eligible to apply for additional funding to expand their previously awarded projects.
Over 500 public, academic, school and tribal libraries representing 48 U.S. states have been awarded in the past year, including 13 Nebraska libraries. View the full list.
Some Nebraska examples:
- Neligh Public Library is hosting a series of programs and book discussions called ‘Perspectives on Race: Attempting to Understand the History and Reality of Being a Person of Color in the United States’.
- St. Edward Public Library is holding a Heritage Fair in celebration of the many ethnic backgrounds that make up their community.
- Ravenna Public Library hosted a conversation about food insecurity in their community and started a community garden.
- Valentine Public Library’s project, ‘Online Snare-Cyber Smart’, is a collaborative effort with the Valentine Police Department, Cherry Co Sheriffs Department, and the Valentine Public Library to increase awareness and the sharing of information regarding Cyber Security and Awareness to decrease victimization.
A sampling of projects that libraries across the country will undertake in 2021:
- Jaffrey (New Hampshire) Public Library hosted a discussion following a virtual panel about gender identity that helped dispel myths and overcome differences.
- Sitka (Alaska) Public Library will draw from rural Alaska’s powerful history of past epidemics — including tuberculosis and smallpox outbreaks that heavily impacted Native Alaskans — to have conversations about the COVID-19 pandemic, offer historical context, and build upon oral histories previously collected by the library.
- Pottsboro (Texas) Area Library led talks about emergency preparedness after a winter storm left their community without electricity and water for days.
- Working with local teens, Anne West Lindsey District Library (Carterville, Illinois) facilitated a conversation with local leaders that helped the community keep at-risk young people fed.
In September 2020, ALA announced plans to award nearly $2 million to small and rural libraries in 2020 and 2021 to help them address issues of concern in their communities. Up to 650 U.S. libraries in small and rural communities will receive $3,000 to tackle issues ranging from media literacy to COVID-19 safety to unemployment. The initiative is part of ALA’s longtime commitment to preparing library workers for the expanding role of libraries.
The opportunity is open to libraries serving small and/or rural communities in the U.S. and U.S. territories. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) defines small communities as those with a legal service area population of 25,000 or less and rural communities as those more than, or equal to, five miles from an urbanized area.
Since 2014, ALA’s community engagement initiative, Libraries Transforming Communities, has re-imagined the role libraries play in supporting communities. Libraries of all types have utilized free dialogue and deliberation training and resources to lead community and campus forums; take part in anti-violence activities; provide a space for residents to come together and discuss challenging topics; and have productive conversations with civic leaders, library trustees and staff.
Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries is offered in partnership with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL).
Questions? Contact ALA’s Public Programs Office at publicprograms@ala.org.
Posted in Education & Training, Grants
Leave a comment
Free Poster Exhibition from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum
In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum is offering libraries a free digital poster exhibition, “September 11, 2001: The Day That Changed the World.”
September 11, 2001: The Day That Changed the World is a downloadable educational exhibition that presents the history of 9/11, its origins, and its ongoing implications. It explores the consequences of terrorism on individual lives and communities at the local, national, and international levels, and encourages critical thinking about the legacy of 9/11.
Request your free download to receive:
- 14 captivating digital posters, ready to print, featuring archival photographs and images of artifacts from the Museum’s permanent collection
- An invitation to a free virtual training, including a live virtual tour of the Museum and information on how to use the Museum’s online resources to supplement the exhibition
- Access to the 9/11 Primer, an online collection of resources for educators and online learners, to help you supplement the exhibition
NOTE: A limited number of printed poster sets are available to libraries with limited resources or technological barriers. Printed posters will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis and will be shipped, free of charge, to libraries. Printer poster requests must be received by August 6.
Librarians and educators are eligible. Questions? Contact posterexhibition@911memorial.org.
This poster exhibition has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Posted in Education & Training, Programming
Leave a comment
NCompass Live: Marketing & Follow-Up: Teaching Technology in the Library Series (Part 4)
Make sure to do your ‘Marketing & Follow-Up’ when you are ‘Teaching Technology in the Library’. Learn how on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, June 28 at 10am CT.
This four-part webinar series works with the Teaching Technology in the Library course offered by the Nebraska Library Commission. The course is designed to help libraries connect communities with technology and digital skills that matter at home, work, school and everywhere in between. The webinar series will introduce the topics and framework used in the course.
Course materials are available for free to libraries in and out of Nebraska. Only Nebraska libraries will be able to take the materials for CE credit towards Nebraska Public Librarian certification. One credit is earned by attending the introductory webinar, additional credits are earned by completing the course materials and contributing to a shared digital skills resource. Tackling technology is easier when we all work together!
This is the fourth webinar in the series.
Here is a preview of the online course. The Overview is available now. Course content will become available by the start of each webinar as the material is continuously piloted and tested. Your feedback is greatly appreciated to make sure these materials work for as many people as possible. I look forward to teaching and learning with everyone!
Other sessions in the ‘Teaching Technology in the Library’ series:
- Session 1 Recording: Who is Learning & Why?
- Session 2 Recording: How Do People Learn?
- Session 3 Recording: Finding Partners & Preparing Staff
Presenter: Amanda Sweet, Technology Innovation Librarian, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- August 4 – Small Libraries Will Save the World! Implementing Sustainability at the Library
- August 11 – The Kreutz Bennett Donor-Advised Fund: Grants to Nebraska’s Small-Town Public Libraries
- August 18 – One Book for Nebraska Kids & Teens
- August 25 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- Sept. 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- October 6 – The Queer Omaha Archives: The First Five Years
- October 13 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!
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.
Friday Reads: Post-Apocalyptic Nomadic Warriors by Benjamin Wallace
What does a librarian do after the apocalypse? He becomes a post-apocalyptic nomadic warrior, of course!
Post-Apocalyptic Nomadic Warriors, by Benjamin Wallace, is the first book in a series, the Duck & Cover Adventures. There are 5 novels in the series, plus an anthology of short stories.
You would think that, seven years after nuclear bombs and chemical weapons destroyed civilization, there would be plenty of work for such a person. Chaos reigns, food and medicine is scarce, mutants and cannibals are around every corner! And don’t forget the Super Smart Bears. Right? That’s what we’ve all been told an apocalypse would bring.
But, no, not this apocalypse. Things are actually going…OK. Most people have gathered together into safely walled communities, growing plenty of food, governing themselves with few issues. The Librarian believes that they need his help anyway, and travels from town to town with his female mastiff, Chewy, offering to save them from whatever they might need saving from. He tries to convince the town of New Hope, Texas that they need to hire him. But, he’s told they’re doing just fine and don’t require the Librarian’s services, literally throwing him out the front gate.
The Librarian isn’t the only post-apocalyptic nomadic warrior around, though. His rival, Logan, has also come to New Hope. And he tells the town that there actually is a roving band of killers out there, and they may be on the way to New Hope next.
Will the Librarian or Logan be the savior of New Hope? Is there really a silver lining in an apocalypse? And how smart are Super Smart Bears anyway?
If you’re looking for a quick, fun read that doesn’t take the apocalypse too seriously, this book is for you.
United for Libraries Learning Live, June 27 – Gift Acceptance Policies Part 2: Advice From the Pros
All Nebraska public libraries are members of United for Libraries through the Statewide Group Membership purchased by the Nebraska Library Commission. The Commission provides this membership to ensure that public library staff members, Friends, Trustees, and Foundations can take advantage of United for Libraries’ services to enhance fundraising, advocacy, and public awareness.
United for Libraries’ monthly virtual series, Learning Live, will continue with “Gift Acceptance Policies Part 2: Advice from the Pros for Writing Your Policy” at 2 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, July 27. The Learning Live program is presented free to United for Libraries group and Statewide members.
This session is a follow-up to June’s Learning Live, “Gift Acceptance Policies I: When ‘Free’ Isn’t Free.” Featured presenters will include Alan T. Shuckrow, shareholder at Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky, and Clare D. Membiela, library law consultant at Library of Michigan.
United for Libraries members can register for this session, and for access to the recording of Part 1, at https://airtable.com/shrNWC0KRwvDL5Zv8
Find out how to craft or revise your library or group’s gift acceptance policy and legal considerations associated with such policies. Participants will learn how to ensure they are prepared for navigating how to handle proposed gifts and donations. The presenters will conduct a Q&A session, so bring your questions on this topic.
Alan T. Shuckrow is a shareholder at the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania law firm Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky (“SMGG”). From 2014-2019, he served as SMGG’s president and managing shareholder and currently serves on the Executive Committee as the firm’s counsel. His experience ranges from municipal and education law to civil litigation and real estate. His clients include non-profit and for-profit organizations and governmental entities. SMGG represents the two largest libraries in the Greater Pittsburgh area.
As the library law consultant at the Library of Michigan, Clare Membiela helps public libraries understand and manage legal issues that impact library services. Before joining the Library of Michigan in 2016, Membiela was the associate director for library and instructional support for the Western Michigan University Cooley Law School Libraries. Before moving to Michigan, she worked at the University of Miami Law Library as the head of reference services. Prior to her academic library work, she worked for two major law firms as a librarian in its Miami offices. She has an MLS. from Southern Connecticut State University, a JD from the University of Miami, and 30 years of law library experience. She is excited about helping public libraries by connecting them to the legal information they need.
United for Libraries Learning Live sessions take place on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Each month’s session will cover a hot topic of interest to Trustees, Friends and/or Foundations, followed by a Q&A and/or discussions. Sessions are open to all personal and group members of United for Libraries.
United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ala.org/united/ or call 312-280-2160.
NCompass Live: Accessing Census Data
Explore U.S. Census Bureau data tools and resources on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, July 21 at 10am CT.
Introduction to U.S. Census Bureau Data Products and Tools, American Community Survey Concepts and Profiles, and new data access platform data.census.gov. The purpose of this informational data session is to acquaint organizations to Census data tools and data.census.gov. By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to access Quick Facts, American Community Survey (ACS) Narrative Profile, and Data Social/Economic Profiles, which provides quick and easy access to select statistics collected by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Presenter: Blanca E. Ramirez-Salazar, Partnership Specialist, Dallas Regional Census Center/Field Division/Denver Region, U.S. Census Bureau.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- July 28 –Marketing & Follow-Up: Teaching Technology in the Library Series (Part 4)
- August 4 – Small Libraries Will Save the World! Implementing Sustainability at the Library
- August 11 – The Kreutz Bennett Donor-Advised Fund: Grants to Nebraska’s Small-Town Public Libraries
- August 18 – One Book For Nebraska Kids & Teens
- October 6 – The Queer Omaha Archives: The First 5 Years
- October 13 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!
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: History Nebraska: Taking History Online
Join us to hear how History Nebraska is ‘Taking History Online’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, July 7 at 10am CT.
As a strategic goal of our agency, History Nebraska is undertaking significant efforts to provide access to historical collections for Nebraskans, regardless of where they live. One such initiative is to digitize our newspaper collections through a partnership with Newspapers.com. We have also been scanning microfilmed probate records from county courthouses, select manuscript collections, and some county and community histories. For years, we have been digitizing our vast photograph collections, as well as our audio/visual collections. Tune in to learn how and when we plan to make these available to the public.
Presenters: Jill Dolberg, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer, and Lindsey Hillgartner, Digital Archivist, History Nebraska.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- July 14 –Finding Partners & Preparing Staff: Teaching Technology in the Library Series (Part 3)
- July 21 – Accessing Census Data
- July 28 –Marketing & Follow-Up: Teaching Technology in the Library Series (Part 4)
- August 4 – Small Libraries Will Save the World! Implementing Sustainability at the Library
- August 11 – The Kreutz Bennett Donor-Advised Fund: Grants to Nebraska’s Small-Town Public Libraries
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.
