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Author Archives: Christa Porter
NCompass Live: Transforming Library Staff Learning Through Technology Skills Assessments
Learn about technology skills assessments that you can modify to fit your library’s needs on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘Transforming Library Staff Learning Through Technology Skills Assessments’, on Wednesday, June 14, at 10am CT.
Technology skills assessments are tools used by supervisors and managers to gauge competency in key subject matter areas. These assessments can be powerful tools for identifying common skills gaps, allowing libraries to make objective decisions on how best to close those gaps. Even more concerning is that frequently these technology skills gaps are related to proficiencies in areas with large impact to your organization, such as cybersecurity and cloud computing, making these gaps detrimental if unaddressed. By utilizing technology skills assessments, libraries are able to take factual data into account when deciding how to best train their staff.
We conducted pre-training technology skills assessments for library staff in several libraries, identifying the common gaps of knowledge among staff members. We then provided free training, and followed up by conducting post-training technology skills assessments to ensure that staff increased their knowledge. Staff reported that they felt more comfortable helping patrons and students with their technology issues, and supervisors reported that they had more confidence in their staff’s ability to both use technology and assist patrons and students with their technology needs.
In this session, we will provide attendees with a sample technology skills assessment that you can modify to fit your needs. We will also provide a list of resources for free technology training. In addition, you’ll learn how to conduct the post-training technology skills assessment, and how to determine if more training is needed.
Presenters: Regina Burgess, Director of Professional Development, Panhandle Library Access Network, Inc. and Diana Silveira, Novare Library Services.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- June 21 – Nebraska Public Library Laws: Chapter 51 and Beyond
- June 28 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Secure Computers For Public Use
- July 5 – One Book for Nebraska Kids & Teens 2023
- July 12 – A Library Centennial Celebration in Photos and Memories
- July 19 – Nebraska Open Meetings Act: 2023 Overview and Updates
- July 26 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Internet Filtering For E-Rate CIPA Compliance And Cybersecurity
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, 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 GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
4imprint Grants for Promotional Items
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries at http://nlc.nebraska.gov/grants/index.aspx
Every business day, 4imprint’s one by one® charitable program provides several $500 in-kind grants for promotional items to various 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, religious organizations, and registered Canadian nonprofits. In order to apply for a donation you must be employed by or be a member of the Board of Directors of the organization.
They grant one donation per 12 months to a particular organization. But, if you are denied a donation, you may re-apply after 6 months.
To apply, submit an application at least two months before your event, to allow time for order, imprint, and delivery, at https://onebyone.4imprint.com
See the lists of previous grants awarded at https://onebyone.4imprint.com/recipients/2023
Posted in Grants, Library Management, Programming, Public Relations
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NCompass Live: In Search of the Obscure – Using Library & Online Sources to Find Resources that are Out of the Ordinary
Learn some resources and tactics for finding unusual materials on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘In Search of the Obscure – Using Library & Online Sources to Find Resources that are Out of the Ordinary’, on Wednesday, June 7, at 10am CT.
As more of the world has moved on-line, researchers are discovering items that they didn’t know were out there. We will share with you resources and tactics for finding unusual materials. For example, international libraries are open to sharing their collections but have unique challenges. Individual and regional libraries are creating online digital collections that can be accessed for free. We’ll also share some sites that you’ll want to avoid because they specialize in pirated information.
Presenters: Michael Straatmann, Associate Director for Collection Management; Joyce Melvin, ILL Manager; Amy Heberling, Borrowing/Resource Sharing Associate, University Libraries, University of Nebraska – Lincoln.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- June 14 – Transforming Library Staff Learning Through Technology Skills Assessments
- June 21 – Nebraska Public Library Laws: Chapter 51 and Beyond
- June 28 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Secure Computers For Public Use
- July 5 – One Book for Nebraska Kids & Teens 2023
- July 12 – A Library Centennial Celebration in Photos and Memories
- July 19 – Nebraska Open Meetings Act: 2023 Overview and Updates
- July 26 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Internet Filtering For E-Rate CIPA Compliance And Cybersecurity
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, 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 GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Public Library Accreditation 2023 Workshop Recording now available
The recording of the Nebraska Library Commission’s ‘Public Library Accreditation 2023’ online workshop is now available on the Accreditation webpage.
The purpose of Nebraska Public Library Accreditation is to encourage excellent library service in Nebraska communities. The guidelines used to evaluate libraries and their services are community-based, so libraries need to know their communities’ needs in order to provide appropriate library services that meet those unique needs. That’s where Community Needs Response Planning comes in!
In this workshop, Christa Porter, NLC’s Library Development Director, will answer all of your accreditation questions, such as:
- What is Nebraska Public Library Accreditation?
- What are the benefits of accreditation?
- How does my library become accredited?
- What’s a Community Needs Response Plan? And why does my library need one?
Public Library Directors, Staff, and Library Board Members are encouraged to attend.
If you have any questions or need any assistance with your Accreditation or Community Needs Planning, please contact Christa Porter, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.
NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech: Bots for the Community!
Join us to hear how the FarmBot project, ‘Harvest at the Library’, was born on next week’s ‘Pretty Sweet Tech’ NCompass Live webinar, ‘Bots for the Community!’, on Wednesday, May 31, at 10am CT.
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.
Hear how a FarmBot had an impact on the community and how the library launched videos to teach people how the bot works (in-person programs were not open yet at the library). Lou shares the excitement of harvesting the very first carrot from the FarmBot!
Guest Presenters: Dan Lou, Library Program Coordinator, Palo Alto City Library; Susan T. Cheng, Lead Mentor, Space Cookies FIRST Robotics Competition Team 1868, Adult Co-Leader, Space Cookies Girl Scout Troop 62868; and Navika S., Space Cookies FIRST Robotics Competition Team 1868, Space Cookies Girl Scout Troop 62868.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- June 7 – In Search of the Obscure – Using Library & Online Sources to Find Resources that are Out of the Ordinary
- June 14 – Transforming Library Staff Learning Through Technology Skills Assessments
- June 21 – Nebraska Public Library Laws: Chapter 51 and Beyond
- June 28 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Secure Computers For Public Use
- July 5 – One Book for Nebraska Kids & Teens 2023
- July 12 – A Library Centennial Celebration in Photos and Memories
- July 19 – Nebraska Open Meetings Act: 2023 Overview and Updates
- July 26 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Internet Filtering For E-Rate CIPA Compliance And Cybersecurity
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, 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 GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Programming, Technology, Youth Services
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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Over $9 Million in E-rate Funding Awarded to Nebraska Schools and Public Libraries
As of May 25, USAC has released four Waves of Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDLs) for E-rate Funding Year 2023. These Waves include $9,119,082.78 in funding commitments for 410 Nebraska school and public library applicants.
Congratulations to all Nebraska schools and public libraries who have been funded!
A list of public libraries who have received E-rate funding is on the NLC E-rate webpage. The 2023 list will be updated as new funding waves are announced.
If you haven’t received your FCDL yet, don’t panic! There are many more weekly Waves to come as USAC processes more applications. This is just the start of Funding Year 2023, more approvals are coming.
When your FCDL is ready, it will be attached as a printable PDF to the email notifying you that your FCDL has been issued. It will also be available in the Notifications section of your EPC account, but you are no longer required to log into your EPC account to view it.
IMPORTANT: As soon as you receive your FCDL, you should immediately go on to the next step in the E-rate process, filing your Form 486. This form is submitted in your EPC account. Information and instructions on how to do that can be found on the USAC website.
If you have any questions or need any assistance with your public library’s E-rate forms, visit the NLC E-rate webpage or contact Christa Porter, State E-rate Coordinator for Public Libraries, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.
Is Your Public Library the ‘Best Small Library in America’?
Calling all libraries serving communities of 25,000 or less!
Library Journal is now accepting applications for the Best Small Library in America Award, made possible by Ingram. Library Journal‘s annual award for the Best Small Library in America was founded in 2005 to encourage and showcase the exemplary work of these libraries. It honors the U.S. public library that most profoundly demonstrates outstanding service to populations of 25,000 or less.
The deadline to nominate your library is June 26, 2023.
This is an amazing opportunity to show off your great rural or small library. Anyone can nominate a library – the library administration itself, patrons, members of the community, library peers, etc.
Judges want to hear about how, in the last two years, you have raised the profile of the library in your community, reached out to new users and remote users, impacted literacy in the community, and used technology to support and grow patron access to materials and information. Share your innovative approaches to traditional problems, including seemingly small fixes that work, and specific innovations that can be readily adopted by other libraries of all sizes.
The winner will be announced at the 2023 Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) Conference, September 20-23, 2023 in Wichita, KS, and thanks to support from ARSL, will receive a scholarship to attend and the opportunity to speak.
The winning library will receive a $5,000 cash award, and two finalist libraries will receive $1,000 each. All three will be featured in the September 2023 issue of Library Journal and online.
Nominate your favorite Nebraska library today! Learn more about the guidelines and submit your nomination on the Best Small Library in America Award website.
Posted in General, Library Management, Public Relations
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NCompass Live: La Biblioteca Es Para Ti – Building Community Relationships in a Different Language
How can you build community partnerships in a different language? Find out on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘La Biblioteca Es Para Ti – Building Community Relationships in a Different Language’, on Wednesday, May 24 at 10am CT.
Hear one library’s experience with outreach to their Spanish-speaking population. Learn how to build a relationship with an underserved population so your library can add value to ALL of your community.
Presenter: Jenny White, Library Director, Schuyler (NE) Public Library.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- May 31 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Bots for the Community!
- June 7 – In Search of the Obscure – Using Library & Online Sources to Find Resources that are Out of the Ordinary
- June 14 – Transforming Library Staff Learning Through Technology Skills Assessments
- June 21 – Nebraska Public Library Laws: Chapter 51 and Beyond
- June 28 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- July 5 – One Book for Nebraska Kids & Teens 2023
- July 12 – A Library Centennial Celebration in Photos and Memories
- July 19 – Nebraska Open Meetings Act: 2023 Overview and Updates
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, 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 GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Library Management, Programming, Public Relations
Tagged NCompLive
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Apply for PLA Digital Literacy Workshop Incentives
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
With support from AT&T, the Public Library Association (PLA) is offering incentives for public libraries to teach digital literacy workshops for library patrons and community members. Applications are open now through June 2, 2023, for the below incentives.
PLA Digital Literacy Workshop Incentive
Offers incentives of $6,000 to conduct workshops using DigitalLearn training materials designed to help patrons build skills and confidence using technology.
Offers incentives of $1,500 to conduct the new Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Basics workshop designed to help families and households learn about ACP and how to apply for the benefit.
About PLA’s Collaboration with AT&T
Community members come into public libraries every day, hoping to complete life tasks many of us take for granted, but sometimes lacking the basic computer skills needed to accomplish them. PLA offers digital literacy programs to help you help patrons reach their goals. A national PLA collaboration with AT&T has added both content and local partnership opportunities to encourage public libraries and other community partners to promote and teach digital skills together using the DigitalLearn platform!
With support from AT&T as part of AT&T Connected Learning and the company’s commitment to bridge the digital divide, PLA has been able to add and update more than a dozen online DigitalLearn courses, and develop 9 new complete training packages. Materials are available in both English and Spanish. All DigitalLearn materials are free to use.
Posted in Education & Training, Grants, Technology
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NCompass Live: Read the Rainbow: Serving the LGBTQ+ Community in Your Library
LGBTQIA…BCDEFG? What do all those letters even mean, and why should you care? Find out on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, on Wednesday, May 17 at 10am CT.
Join Lane for a primer on all things LGBTQ, and learn about how (and why) you can begin to build a more inclusive and welcoming library for both customers and staff, and why it matters.
Presenter: Lane Gibson, Library Service Associate, Gere Branch Library, Lincoln (NE) City Libraries.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- May 24 – La Biblioteca Es Para Ti – Building Community Relationships in a Different Language
- May 31 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Bots for the Community!
- June 7 – In Search of the Obscure – Using Library & Online Sources to Find Resources that are Out of the Ordinary
- June 14 – Transforming Library Staff Learning Through Technology Skills Assessments
- June 28 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- July 5 – One Book for Nebraska Kids & Teens 2023
- July 19 – Nebraska Open Meetings Act: 2023 Overview and Updates
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, 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 GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Books & Reading, Education & Training, Library Management, Programming, Public Relations
Tagged NCompLive
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Libraries Defying the Odds: Nomination Period is OPEN
Library Journal and Gale are pleased to announce the inaugural Libraries Defying the Odds award, created to help address the needs of public libraries in a continuously changing landscape.
As libraries confront obstacles that range from natural disasters to inadequate infrastructure to intellectual freedom challenges, many have used creative problem solving, activated community support, forged strong partnerships, and otherwise found new ways to overcome these barriers and meet the needs of the people they serve.
The 2023 Libraries Defying the Odds award will provide $10,000 to a U.S. public library that is stepping up for its community and staff in the face of adversity—and to celebrate library workers providing services, programming, and collections for those who need them most. The award will be based on need and the nature of the work done.
One winning library will receive $10,000 in grant money from Library Journal and Gale and will be profiled in the July issue of Library Journal and online. Honorable mentions may also be named and briefly profiled in the same issue.
Click here for more information.
Deadline to submit: May 13, 2023
Posted in General, Grants
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NCompass Live: The 2023 Public Library Accreditation Process
Get a head start on ‘The 2023 Public Library Accreditation Process’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, May 10 at 10am CT.
The 2023 Nebraska Public Library Accreditation process opens on July 1. If your library is up for re-accreditation this year, join us for a short refresher on the process. Or, if your library is not currently Accredited, attend this session to explore the possibility of becoming an Accredited Public Library. In this general overview, you will learn why Accreditation is important and what it can do for your library. We’ll also show you the Application Form, and explain how it relates to the required Community Needs Response Plan. Public Library Directors, Staff, and Library Board Members are encouraged to attend.
Presenter: Christa Porter, Library Development Director, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- May 17 – Read the Rainbow: Serving the LGBTQ+ Community in Your Library
- May 24 – La Biblioteca Es Para Ti – Building Community Relationships in a Different Language
- May 31 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Bots for the Community!
- June 7 – In Search of the Obscure – Using Library & Online Sources to Find Resources that are Out of the Ordinary
- June 14 – Transforming Library Staff Learning Through Technology Skills Assessments
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, 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 GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
NCompass Live: Public Libraries & Wikipedia: Creative Collaborations
Learn about the Wikipedian in Residence program at the Kansas City Public Library on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘Public Libraries & Wikipedia: Creative Collaborations’, on Wednesday, May 3 at 10am CT.
Kansas City Public Library hosted the first Wikipedian in Residence (WiR) at a public library in the country. Explore what a WiR is, how WiRs collaborate with community members and GLAM institutions (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums), and why collaborations between Wikipedia and public libraries are mutually beneficial and have an impact.
Kim Gile, Director of Branch Services & Engagement, will reflect on the residency at KCPL and give an update on the Library’s Wikipedia journey that started in 2018.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- May 10 – The 2023 Public Library Accreditation Process
- May 17 – Read the Rainbow: Serving the LGBTQ+ Community in Your Library
- May 24 – La Biblioteca Es Para Ti – Building Community Relationships in a Different Language
- May 31 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Bots for the Community!
- June 7 – In Search of the Obscure – Using Library & Online Sources to Find Resources that are Out of the Ordinary
- June 14 – Transforming Library Staff Learning Through Technology Skills Assessments
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, 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 GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Technology
Tagged CILDC, NCompLive, prettysweettech
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Friday Reads: The Ancient One by T.A. Barron
Today is Arbor Day – go out and plant a tree! To celebrate the day, I decided to read a book about saving trees. Giant, magical redwood trees.
The Ancient One, by T.A. Barron is the second book in a trilogy about the adventures of thirteen year old Kate, but it is an entirely stand-alone novel. You don’t need to read the other books in the series to understand and enjoy this one.
Kate is visiting her Great Aunt Melanie, who lives in a rural town in Oregon where logging companies have done so much clear cutting of the forest that they are running out of trees to cut down, and work is almost impossible to find anymore. Tensions are high and many citizens are angry about the loss of income.
But, a new source of trees has recently been discovered – an ancient redwood forest in the Lost Crater, a previously inaccessible extinct volcano. Aunt Melanie has been working to protect the trees from the loggers – they may be the oldest redwoods on the planet and they were a sacred place to a lost Native American tribe, the Halamis.
Aunt Melanie is quite the mysterious figure, loving and supportive, but also full of secrets. There’s something just a bit different about her. And she has a special connection to her walking stick, with its carved owl’s head handle. Strange things seem to happen when she is around. As Kate is being chased by some boys in town, she trips and falls, but the boys keep running right past her, as if they didn’t see her laying in the mud, as if she wasn’t even there. And suddenly, Aunt Melanie is there, dismissing Kate’s confusion and making curious comments about being … invisible?
Kate and Aunt Melanie hike into the Lost Crater, to hopefully stop the loggers from cutting down the redwoods. When Kate must return to the redwood grove to retrieve Aunt Melanie’s accidentally left behind walking stick, she is transported back in time, where she becomes involved in a battle to save the same forest from an evil force.
I truly enjoyed this fantasy novel with its strong environmental message, it’s a combination that I haven’t read before. The world of the past is well developed and Kate’s encounters, unfortunately, mirror the struggles in our own time over climate change. It will definitely make you think about nature and how we should be protecting it, for our future.
Posted in Books & Reading, Youth Services
Tagged #arborday, #FridayReads, Friday Reads, FridayReads
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NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech – Computers in Libraries 2023 Highlights & Trends
Highlights and Trends from Computers in Libraries 2023 will be shared on next week’s Pretty Sweet Tech NCompass Live webinar, on Wednesday, April 26 at 10am CT.
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.
Computers in Libraries is the world’s leading technology and innovation conference for librarians! In this session I will cover come of the awesome ideas, tools, tips and tricks of the trade I picked up while in D.C. this year. I was a moderator for one of the tracks this year, so some of the highlights are skewed heavily towards UX Design and Website Revamps, but that is not a bad thing!
Here’s a preview of some of the trends I will cover:
- New User Experience Library Trends
- Partnerships to Expand Services
- Workforce Development & Business Librarianship
- Techy Goodness (obviously!)
I hope to see you there! As a side note, if you’re looking for more emerging tech trends in the library, check out Computers in Libraries magazine.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- May 3 – Public Libraries & Wikipedia: Creative Collaborations
- May 10 – The 2023 Public Library Accreditation Process
- May 17 – Read the Rainbow: Serving the LGBTQ+ Community in Your Library
- May 24 – La Biblioteca Es Para Ti – Building Community Relationships in a Different Language
- May 31 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Bots for the Community!
- June 7 – In Search of the Obscure – Using Library & Online Sources to Find Resources that are Out of the Ordinary
- June 14 – Transforming Library Staff Learning Through Technology Skills Assessments
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, 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 GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Technology
Tagged CILDC, NCompLive, prettysweettech
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Proposals for United for Libraries Virtual: Trustees – Friends – Foundations – DEADLINE EXTENDED to April 25
The deadline to submit proposals for the 2023 United for Libraries Virtual: Trustees – Friends – Foundations from Aug. 1-3, the fourth annual virtual conference for library Trustees, Friends, Foundations, and staff who work with them, has been extended to Tues., April 25.
United for Libraries Virtual is an interactive, three-day virtual event featuring expert speakers on current topics facing library Trustees, Friends, Foundations, and staff who work with them. Programming runs from 11:00 am Eastern to approximately 4:00 pm Eastern daily with scheduled breaks. Registrants may participate in some or all program sessions live, and/or watch recordings on-demand.
Past program topics have included fundraising, board development, EDI/social justice, advocacy, policies, and more. All accepted program speakers will receive FREE registration for 2023 United for Libraries Virtual.
For more information, contact:
Jillian Wentworth
Manager of Marketing & Membership
(she/her/hers)
United for Libraries
The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations
A division of the American Library Association
312-280-2160
Website: www.ala.org/united
News & Updates: united.ala.org
NCompass Live: Creative Aging Arts Program for Nebraska Libraries
Learn how to host a Creative Aging Arts Program for older adults at your public library, with grants available from the Nebraska Arts Council, on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, April 19 at 10am CT.
A happy surprise during the Nebraska Arts Council’s pilot year of the Creative Aging Arts Program (CAAP) was the interest shown by public libraries around our state and engagement with them. Now in its second year, CAAP is going strong, with grants available to libraries throughout Nebraska. These grants support sequential, interactive workshops that are led by teaching artists who’ve completed training to work with older adults. Join us to learn about why the Nebraska Arts Council (NAC) supports creative programming that engages older adults. We’ll also share experiences from libraries that have already hosted artist residencies, learn about the variety of visual and performing artists who are involved in this program, and discuss the grants that are available to libraries and how to apply for those grants.
Join NAC Program Specialist Anne Alston and NAC Program Coordinator Joshua Brown, as well as the Lincoln Lied Township Library Director, Wendy Ketelsen – who is also a CAAP artist herself!
- Hear what NAC has learned about the importance of socialization and creative skill building for older adults.
- Tell us about programming that you would like to see in YOUR libraries.
- Learn about the steps involved with applying for a grant, hiring an artist, and hosting a series of artist-led workshops for older adults.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- April 26 – Pretty Sweet Tech – Computers in Libraries 2023 Highlights & Trends
- May 3 – Public Libraries & Wikipedia: Creative Collaborations
- May 10 – The 2023 Public Library Accreditation Process
- May 17 – Read the Rainbow: Serving the LGBTQ+ Community in Your Library
- May 24 – La Biblioteca Es Para Ti – Building Community Relationships in a Different Language
- May 31 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Bots for the Community!
- June 7 – In Search of the Obscure – Using Library & Online Sources to Find Resources that are Out of the Ordinary
- June 14 – Transforming Library Staff Learning Through Technology Skills Assessments
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.
Union Pacific Foundation: 2023 Community Ties Giving Program
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries at http://nlc.nebraska.gov/grants/index.aspx
The Union Pacific Foundation’s 2023 Community Ties Giving Program aims to build safe, prosperous, vibrant, and inclusive communities where Union Pacific Railroad operates, primarily in the midwestern and western United States. Through the Community Ties Giving Program, Local Grants from $2,500 to $25,000 provide support to local nonprofit organizations spread widely across Union Pacific’s footprint. A map and list of eligible communities is available on the Union Pacific website.
The application deadline is May 31, 2023.
Funding is provided for direct services and efforts that build the capacity of organizations focused on the following causes: Safety, Workforce Development, Community Spaces, Environmental Sustainability, and Local Needs. Libraries fall under the Community Spaces funding priority – supporting the local economy by building and enhancing community spaces that contribute to the distinct identity of a city or town, creating diverse and inclusive destinations where families, businesses, and visitors want to be.
Within each focus area, the aim is to support programs and organizations working to advance the diversity, equity, and inclusion of underrepresented populations:
“Vibrant, diverse and inclusive communities are essential in attracting businesses and tourism, and establishing a desirable place for skilled workers and their families to call home. Just as the railroad opened avenues for sharing different cultures and experiences, we seek to ensure all residents within our operating locations – particularly underrepresented populations, BIPOC communities, and people with disabilities – have equitable access to special places in the community that celebrate cultural diversity, artistic expression, our natural environment, and the social interactions that enrich our lives.”
Visit the Union Pacific website for the Application and grant guidelines.
Posted in Grants, Programming
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ALA Great Stories Club Grants for Teens – New theme: “Imagining Tomorrow: Building Inclusive Futures”
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries at http://nlc.nebraska.gov/grants/index.aspx
ALA invites library workers to apply for “Imagining Tomorrow: Building Inclusive Futures.” This brand-new series in ALA’s Great Stories Club will feature science fiction books that explore questions of equity, identity, and alternate futures.
Applications are due May 10, 2023. For more details and to apply, visit the website: https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/greatstories/apply
This GSC theme asks: How can we imagine and dream of our shared futures together, alongside each other, in order to create better tomorrows? The books in this series point toward the ways that we might build shared futures while acknowledging the lessons of our origin stories.
Participating libraries will work with small groups of approximately 10 teens; provide four theme-related books for each participant to keep as their own; and convene opportunities for exploration and discussion of relevant humanities content among peers. Book discussions will be led by an experienced programming librarian, often in cooperation with staff from a partner organization or department, such as teachers and counselors.
Libraries will receive 11 paperback copies of up to four books on the reading list to use in reading and discussion groups; a programming grant of up to $500; a virtual orientation training workshop for library project directors; and additional resources, training, and support from ALA’s Public Programs Office.
Applications will be accepted from all types of libraries (public, school, academic, special, etc.) in the United States and its territories that are located within an organization that reaches underserved, under-resourced, and/or at-risk teens (e.g., alternative high school, juvenile detention facility, tribal library) or working with a partner organization that reaches underserved, under-resourced, and/or at-risk teens.
Public Library Accreditation 2023 Workshops Scheduled
‘Public Library Accreditation 2023’ workshops are now open for registration! All workshops will be held online only, via GoTo Webinar. To register for a session, go to the Nebraska Library Commission’s Training & Events Calendar and search for ‘accreditation 2023’.
NOTE: This online workshop is being offered on several days and at varied times, to give attendees multiple opportunities to find a convenient time to attend. The same information will be provided at each workshop, so you only need to register for one session. A recorded version will also be made available after all of the live sessions have been held.
The purpose of Nebraska Public Library Accreditation is to encourage excellent library service in Nebraska communities. The guidelines used to evaluate libraries and their services are community-based, so libraries need to know their communities’ needs in order to provide appropriate library services that meet those unique needs. That’s where Community Needs Response Planning comes in!
In this workshop, Christa Porter, NLC’s Library Development Director, will answer all of your accreditation questions, such as:
- What is Nebraska Public Library Accreditation?
- What are the benefits of accreditation?
- How does my library become accredited?
- What’s a Community Needs Response Plan? And why does my library need one?
Public Library Directors, Staff, and Library Board Members are encouraged to attend.
Dates and times:
- May 16 – 1:00-4:00pm Central / 12:00noon-3pm Mountain
- May 18 – 9:30am-12:30pm Central / 8:30-11:30am Mountain
- May 23 – 9:30am-12:30pm Central / 8:30-11:30am Mountain
- May 24 – 1:00-4:00pm Central / 12:00noon-3pm Mountain
To register for a session, go to the Nebraska Library Commission’s Training & Events Calendar and search for ‘accreditation 2023’.
