Search the Blog
Categories
Subscribe
Archives
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
Author Archives: Christa Burns
Join the Nebraska CatExpress Group
If your library needs basic copy cataloging and MARC record delivery for up to 7,000 titles per year, OCLC CatExpress may be right for you. CatExpress provides web-based copy cataloging, with limited editing capabilities, at a low, flat-fee subscription price. And, when you join the Nebraska Group, you will receive discounted pricing on your CatExpress Subscription.
Even if you have little or no cataloging experience, you’ll be amazed at how simple it is to use CatExpress with minimal training. And since it’s a Web-based product, there is no special software to install or maintain.
CatExpress accesses records in WorldCat, the OCLC Online Catalog, which contains over 270 million bibliographic records. By accessing WorldCat through CatExpress, you have available to you records for all formats, including sound recordings (spoken and music), videos, electronic resources, journals, maps, and microforms. You can achieve hit rates of over 98 percent for English-language materials – all through an easy-to-use Web interface. You also may expand your resource sharing capabilities by adding your own holdings information to bibliographic records.
With CatExpress, you have…
• Full search capabilities in WorldCat
• The ability to set or delete holdings in WorldCat
• Delivery of OCLC-MARC records for you to load into your local system
• Affordable, predictable pricing options for all sizes of libraries
To learn more about CatExpress, to see the discounted Group pricing, and to join the Nebraska CatExpress Group, go to the NLC’s CatExpress webpage.
Posted in General, Library Management
Leave a comment
Scholarships available to attend the 2012 ARSL Annual Conference
The Association for Rural & Small Libraries is now accepting applications for three scholarships to attend the 2012 ARSL Annual Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, to be held September 27-29, 2012. 
The Dr. Bernard Vavrek Scholarship will go to a current LIS student. It includes conference registration, hotel, $500 stipend and a free one-year membership in ARSL.
The Founders Scholarship and the Ken Davenport scholarship will go to a current library professional. They include conference registration, hotel, a $500 stipend and a free one-year membership in ARSL. The definition of a “Library Professional” is a library staff member working in a small and/or rural library. A degree or certification is not required.
Candidates do not need to be members of ARSL; however membership is encouraged.
Visit the ARSL Scholarship webpage for more information and the scholarship application.
Posted in Education & Training, General
Leave a comment
Participate now in public library ebook research
Posting on behalf of Larra Clark, ALA representative to the Library Advisory Group and Associate Director of the ALA Program on America’s Libraries for the 21st Century :
The ALA, IMLS, COSLA and other library leaders are advisors on a national research effort studying the changing role of public libraries in the digital age, as well as the experiences and expectations of public library users. The Bill & Melinda Gates Fou
ndation has funded the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project to conduct surveys and provide analysis related to reading and e-reading; the changing world of public library services and the choices public libraries must make; and a typology of who does – and does not – use public libraries. As many of you know, Pew is a national leader in this kind of research, and their reputation and reach are high and wide – and the Project is interested in learning about the work and opinions of public librarians. We believe this effort will provide the kind of data-based information public libraries are demanding to proactively meet changing community needs and advocate for the future.
And, like all research efforts, it can’t happen without you. The first major report in this series was just released and examined the “rise of e-reading” and how people find and consume long-form digital content. That report is available online at libraries.pewinternet.org.
The next report in this research series will look specifically at people’s experiences in public libraries, especially their use of e-books and other digital services. To inform this research, Pew is supplementing its usual nationally representative phone surveys with two online surveys to draw out the deeper, richer stories behind the data:
1. The first survey is targeted at librarians and other people who work at public libraries that lend e-books. We’d like your input; please take the survey!! It is available here: http://libraries.pewinternet.org/participate/survey/e-book-lenders and takes about 15 minutes. To log in, please use your preferred email address as your username; the password is PEWLIBS.
2. The second survey is for patrons who check out e-books from their local public library. It is available here: http://libraries.pewinternet.org/participate/survey/e-book-borrowers. It also takes about 15 minutes. This survey is not password protected.
Pew has created a brief message (available below) that you can share via your website, e-newsletters, social media and other dissemination methods, as well as a flyer and code that can be used to embed the survey on your library’s website. To get the Web code and/or flyer, please contact Kathryn Zickuhr at kzickuhr@pewinternet.org.
The surveys will be live April 16 through May 18, and the next report will be available this summer. Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, will provide an update on the Pew library research on Sunday, June 24, at the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim.
Thank you in advance for your participation in and support of this effort!
Patron message template:
Have you ever checked out an e-book from your public library?
The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, a non-profit research organization in Washington, DC, is conducting an online survey of public library patrons who borrow e-books. If you have checked out or downloaded e-books from a public library, please consider taking Pew Internet’s survey, available at the link below. All responses will be confidential, although your answers may be quoted anonymously in a future report. The survey should take about 15 minutes.
To take the survey, visit: http://libraries.pewinternet.org/participate/survey/e-book-borrowers
The Pew Internet Project will also be doing broader surveys of public library patrons general, as well as people (including non-library-users) who own e-readers or tablet computers. If you want to participate in those, you can sign up to be notified of future surveys here.
To learn more about the Pew Internet Project’s research on e-reading and public libraries, which is entirely free and available to the public, visit libraries.pewinternet.org.
Posted in Books & Reading, Technology
Leave a comment
Nebraska Learns 2.0: Make a Movie and Fix Copyright
Nebraska Learns 2.0 is the Nebraska Library Commission’s ongoing online learning program. It is a self-discovery program which encourages participants to take control of their own learning and to utilize their lifelong learning skills through exploration and PLAY.
Each month, we offer you an opportunity to learn a new Thing (or lesson). You have all month to complete that Thing and receive one CE credit. You may choose which Things to do based on personal interest and time availability. If the Thing of the month doesn’t interest you or if you are particularly busy that month, you can skip it.
The Thing for April is: Make a Movie with Xtranormal.
What I really want to do is…direct! Well, now you can. And you don’t even need to leave your library to do it. For this month’s Thing, we will learn how to use Xtranormal to create an online animated movie to promote your library and its services.
Another facet of Nebraska Learns 2.0 is BookThing. Each month we pick a single title that we feel has relevance to librarianship and/or information theory. Some of the titles will be very obviously related, while others may not seem so on the surface but there is a connection. Your assignment will be to read the book and create a blog post answering some questions about the title.
The BookThing for April is: “How to Fix Copyright” by William Patry.
If you are new to Nebraska Learns 2.0, your first assignment is to sign up to participate. This program is open to ALL Nebraska librarians, library staff, library friends, library board members and school media specialists.
We hope you’ll join your library colleagues in the fun as you learn about new and exciting technologies!
Next week’s NCompass Live: Live from Computers in Libraries! SPECIAL TIME – 2:15pm CT
Join us for next week’s NCompass Live at a SPECIAL TIME – 2:15-3:00pm Central Time.
Tech Talk with Michael Sauers: Live from Computers in Libraries! The Next (Big) Thing on Wednesday, March 21, 2:15-3:00pm Central Time.
This episode of Tech Talk will be broadcast live from the Computers in Libraries 2012 conference in Washington, DC. Usually, in this monthly feature of NCompass Live, the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Michael Sauers, discusses recent tech news. But this month we have something special for you. We are proud to bring you a live broadcast of one of the conference sessions!
The Next (Big) Thing
Sometimes, it can be most helpful just to hear what libraries are thinking of doing next, as well as visions of the next BIG thing. A small panel of BIG thinkers share brief thoughts on what the BIG things for libraries will be in the next few years, then participants share their institutions’ plans for next week, next month, and next year. Have your notepad or mobile device of choice ready to jot down potential collaborators.
Panelists:
- David Lee King, Digital Branch Manager, Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library and Publisher, davidleeking.com
- Helene Blowers, Director, Digital Strategy, Columbus Metropolitan Library
- David Stern, Associate Dean for Public Services, Illinois State University
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
DDC Abridged Edition 15 now available
Abridged Edition 15, the latest print edition of the DDC, is now available!
New features include:
- Many new topics and significant updates to selected fields
- A complete overhaul to the representation of groups of people
- Elimination of dual headings and unbalanced spans
- Cessation of partial abridgement of parallel notation
To learn more, view the archived webinar of the DDC Abridged 15 Sneak Preview, recorded on February 7, 2012.
Save money by ordering your copy of Abridged Edition 15 through the Nebraska Dewey Group Purchase.
The Nebraska Dewey Group offers discounted pricing on the print versions of the Abridged Edition 15 and the 23rd edition of the unabridged DDC, as well as the web-based, enhanced versions of the DDC database through WebDewey and Abridged WebDewey.
For all the details, including pricing and order forms, visit the Dewey Group website.
Posted in General, Library Management
Leave a comment
E-rate: Form 471 Deadline and Online Training Resources
Just a reminder…the deadline to submit your E-rate Form 471 is Tuesday, March 20, 2012.
E-rate Application Filing Window Dates:
The Form 471 application filing window for Funding Year 2012 opened at noon EST on Monday, January 9, 2012 and will close at 11:59 pm EDT on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. The filing window will be open for 72 days.
IMPORTANT: Before you file your Form 471, check your Form 470 Receipt Notification Letter for your Allowable Contract Date. 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. Your Form 470 Receipt Notification Letter tells you the first date you are allowed to submit your 471 – that is your Allowable Contract Date. Note: This Letter was mailed to you and is on yellow paper for the 2012 Funding Year.
So, do you need help completing your forms? Do you have questions about E-rate? You’re in luck! The recording of December’s “E-rate: Basic Training” online session is now available.
Description: 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 assist schools and libraries in the United States to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. Christa Burns, State E-rate Coordinator for Libraries, will cover the basics of E-rate and any changes that have been made to the program this year. This session will be useful to libraries who have never applied for E-rate, libraries who are new to E-rate and current E-rate libraries who just want a refresher on what E-rate is all about.
Also, the WebJunction webinar, “E-rate: Form 471 and Beyond!“, has very good instructions, tips and tricks for submitting your Form 471. I recommend viewing the archived webinar and its PowerPoint presentation and related links, too.
If you have any questions or need any assistance with your E-rate forms, please contact Christa Burns, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.
E-rate: Form 470 Deadline and Online Training Archives
Just a reminder…the deadline to submit your E-rate Form 470 is Tuesday, February 21, 2012.
E-rate Application Filing Window Dates:
The Form 471 application filing window for Funding Year 2012 opened at noon EST on Monday, January 9, 2012 and will close at 11:59 pm EDT on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. The filing window will be open for 72 days. This makes February 21, 2012 the last POSSIBLE date to post a Form 470 on USAC’s website, meet the 28-day posting requirement for the competitive bidding process, and submit a Form 471 by the filing window closing date.
So, do you need help completing your forms? Do you have questions about E-rate? You’re in luck! The recording of December’s “E-rate: Basic Training” online session is now available.
Description: 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 assist schools and libraries in the United States to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. Christa Burns, State E-rate Coordinator for Libraries, will cover the basics of E-rate and any changes that have been made to the program this year. This session will be useful to libraries who have never applied for E-rate, libraries who are new to E-rate and current E-rate libraries who just want a refresher on what E-rate is all about.
If you have any questions or need any assistance with your E-rate forms, please contact Christa Burns, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.
Lied Scottsbluff Public Library named one of the Top 10 Children’s Libraries by Livability.com
Scottsbluff made the list!
Lied Scottsbluff Public Library in Scottsbluff, NE has been named one of the Top 10 Children’s Libraries by Livability.com, a national website that highlights more than 500 of America’s best places to live.
Livability.com editors looked at 500 communities across the country to find the best libraries for kids. The children’s libraries selected not only look amazing, they also offer great programs and get kids excited about reading, learning and exploring. Editors consulted several nationally recognized authorities on the subject of libraries and children’s literature, including the American Library Association, to determine criteria for the ranking. Among them: the library’s responsiveness to community’s needs.
“[A library] should be responsive to its community rather than beholden to some kind of national standard,” said Roger Sutton, editor in chief of The Horn Book, which reviews and tracks children’s and young adult literature. “The best libraries pay attention to their communities and the best librarians are those who really pay attention to the child in front of them, as well as the child who is not there but should be.”
The Lied Scottsbluff Public Library was chosen for its visually appealing spaces for children, full range of programs, large collection of books, integration of new technologies and proven success in getting kids to engage. Read more about why they made the list.
Congratulations to the Lied Scottsbluff Public Library!
Nebraska Learns 2.0: Share Your Interests With Pinterest
Nebraska Learns 2.0 is the Nebraska Library Commission’s ongoing online learning program. It is a self-discovery program which encourages participants to take control of their own learning and to utilize their lifelong learning skills through exploration and PLAY.
Each month, we offer you an opportunity to learn a new Thing (or lesson). You have all month to complete that Thing and receive one CE credit. You may choose which Things to do based on personal interest and time availability. If the Thing of the month doesn’t interest you or if you are particularly busy that month, you can skip it.
The Thing for February is: Share Your Interests With Pinterest.
This month’s Thing is written by guest blogger Mary Sauers of the Lincoln City Libraries. “I generally don’t get on Facebook much, but I DO browse Pinterest a LOT. It’s a fun, EASY way to see and share recipes, fashion, decorating, crafts, people, places, animals, and things.”
If you are new to Nebraska Learns 2.0, your first assignment is to sign up to participate. This program is open to ALL Nebraska librarians, library staff, library friends, library board members and school media specialists.
We hope you’ll join your library colleagues in the fun as you learn about new and exciting technologies!
Posted in Education & Training, Technology
Leave a comment
Nebraska Learns 2.0: BookThing #1: Too Big to Know
Nebraska Learns 2.0 is the Nebraska Library Commission’s ongoing online learning program. It is a self-discovery program which encourages participants to take control of their own learning and to utilize their lifelong learning skills through exploration and PLAY.
One facet of the program is BookThing. Each month we pick a single title that we feel has relevance to librarianship and/or information theory. Some of the titles will be very obviously related, while others may not seem so on the surface but there is a connection. Your assignment will be to read the book and create a blog post answering some questions about the title.
The BookThing for February is: Too Big to Know: Rethinking Knowledge Now That the Facts Aren’t the Facts, Experts Are Everywhere, and the Smartest Person in the Room is the Room by David Weinberger.
You will earn 2 CE credits for reading this title and creating a 300 word blog post or a three minute video, that you then post to your blog.
If you are new to Nebraska Learns 2.0, your first assignment is to sign up to participate. This program is open to ALL Nebraska librarians, library staff, library friends, library board members and school media specialists.
We hope you’ll join your library colleagues in the fun as you discover new books to read!
Posted in Books & Reading, Education & Training
Leave a comment
Nebraska Learns 2.0: Say Hello to BookThing
Starting in February, we’re going to be running a second parallel program within Nebraska Learns 2.0. The regular program of online “Things” will continue as usual, but we’ll also be running a new program, called “BookThing”.
Each month we’ll pick a single title that we feel has relevance to librarianship and/or information theory. Some of the titles will be very obviously related, while others may not seem so on the surface but there is a connection.
Your assignment will be to read the book and answer the following questions:
- What did you / what can librarians learn from this book?
- How might the focus of this book impact library service?
- How might the focus of this book impact library users?
Each title will be assigned a variable number of CE credits based on the length of the book. To earn the CE credits, participants must either write a blog post answering those three questions (minimum of 300 words) or create a video (YouTube or other video service of your choice) of at least three minutes long answering those three questions, which is then posted to your blog.
If you’ve previously read the month’s choice, that’s great! You don’t have to re-read the book, unless you really want to. You are still welcome to participate by writing your post or creating your video about the book. You will only earn CE credit if you’ve not previously earned CE credit for that title.
BookThing was inspired by Michael Stephens.
Posted in Books & Reading, Education & Training
Leave a comment
E-rate Update: Form 471 Application Filing Window and Online Session Recording Now Available
Just a reminder…the Form 471 application filing window for Funding Year 2012 will open at noon on Monday, January 9, 2012.
E-rate Application Filing Window Dates:
The Form 471 application filing window for Funding Year 2012 will open at noon EST on Monday, January 9, 2012 and will close at 11:59 pm EDT on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. The filing window will be open for 72 days. This makes February 21, 2012 the last POSSIBLE date to post a Form 470 on USAC’s website, meet the 28-day posting requirement for the competitive bidding process, and submit a Form 471 by the filing window closing date.
So, do you need help completing your forms? Do you have questions about E-rate? You’re in luck! The recording of December’s “E-rate: Basic Training” online session is now available.
Description: 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 assist schools and libraries in the United States to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. Christa Burns, State E-rate Coordinator for Libraries, will cover the basics of E-rate and any changes that have been made to the program this year. This session will be useful to libraries who have never applied for E-rate, libraries who are new to E-rate and current E-rate libraries who just want a refresher on what E-rate is all about.
If you have any questions or need any assistance with your E-rate forms, please contact Christa Burns, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.
Nebraska Learns 2.0 has moved!
With the new year comes changes, and in this case the change is that we’ve moved the Nebraska Learns 2.0 blog in-house and onto the Commission’s WordPress installation. The URL for this program going forward is http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/nelearns Please update your bookmarks and RSS subscriptions accordingly.
For continuity’s sake, all of the content and comments from the original blog has been copied over to the new site. The original site will continue as is, so as to continue to support any links from other sites that have been created.
Nebraska Learns 2.0 is the Nebraska Library Commission’s ongoing online learning
program. The goal of our program is to encourage participants to experiment with and learn about the new and emerging technologies that are reshaping the way people, society and libraries access information and communicate with each other. Nebraska Learns 2.0 is a self-discovery program which encourages participants to take control of their own learning and to utilize their lifelong learning skills through exploration and PLAY.
Each month, we offer you an opportunity to learn a new Thing (or lesson). You have all month to complete that Thing and receive one CE credit. You may choose which Things to do based on personal interest and time availability. If the Thing of the month doesn’t interest you or if you are particularly busy that month, you can skip it.
The Thing for January is: Keeping up with RSS.
To start out the new year on Nebraska Learns 2.0, we’re going to revisit a topic that we’ve mentioned previously, but want to remind you about again – RSS. You may already know about RSS and be using it every day. And that’s great! If you are a current RSS user, jump down to the Assignment and share how you’re using it with your colleagues. If you’re new to RSS, you’ll learn how you can benefit from this technology.
If you are new to Nebraska Learns 2.0, your first assignment is to sign up to participate. This program is open to ALL Nebraska librarians, library staff, library friends, library board members and school media specialists.
We hope you’ll join your library colleagues in the fun as you learn about new and exciting technologies!
Posted in Education & Training, General, Technology
Leave a comment
Win a Scholarship to the PLA 2012 Conference
A Special Opportunity for Small/Rural Library Professionals: Win a PLA 2012 Scholarship!
Gale, a part of Cengage Learning, is partnering with WebJunction to offer fully paid scholarships for two small/rural library professionals to attend the Public Library Association 2012 Conference, March 13-17, Philadelphia.
These unique scholarships will cover each winner’s conference registration as well as transportation to and from Philadelphia and onsite lodging. If needed, Gale will even cover the cost of temporary staffing at the winners’ libraries to help while they’re away!
This competition is open only to small and/or rural libraries (serving populations of 50,000 or less).
How to Apply:
Gale and WebJunction are looking for two candidates who can wow the judges with a brief essay (no more than 500 words) on one of two topics below by January 18, 2012. Please provide real life examples when answering one of these two questions.
How will attending PLA 2012 help me or my library bridge the digital divide for our patrons?
OR
How will attending PLA 2012 help me increase innovative or unique advocacy efforts to demonstrate value in my community?
Access the application form and general rules. Applications are due January 18, 2012. Winners will be notified no later than the week of January 30, 2012. Questions? Contact Gale.
Posted in Education & Training, General
Leave a comment
Join the Nebraska Dewey Group Purchase
Join the Nebraska Dewey Group Purchase and save money on the print and web versions of the DDC!
Dewey in Print
The Nebraska Dewey Group includes the print versions of the Abridged Edition (1 volume) of the Dewey Decimal Classification and the 23rd edition of the unabridged Dewey Deci
mal Classification (4 volumes). NOTE: OCLC is currently out of stock of Abridged Edition 14. Abridged Edition 15 is expected to publish in early 2012.
OCLC is offering 10% off of the original price on the DDC in print.
If your library is interested in ordering the DDC in print, you will find Pricing information on the online Book Order Form.
For more information about the DDC, please visit Dewey Services.
Dewey on the Web
Now your library can benefit from web-based access to an enhanced version of the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) database through WebDewey or Abridged WebDewey. OCLC is offering a discounted price to users who join the Nebraska Dewey Group.
WebDewey and Abridged WebDewey, which correspond to the unabridged and abridged print editions, are updated regularly, bringing you ongoing updates implemented by the Dewey editorial team almost as soon as they occur. The Web versions also offer additional electronic functionality not available in the print editions to make your classification work more efficient.
The new WebDewey & Abridged WebDewey Group subscription year runs from January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012. Libraries may join the WebDewey & Abridged WebDewey Group at any time. Midyear subscriptions will be prorated. Orders must be received by the 15th of the month for a start date of the 1st of the following month.
If your library is interested in subscribing to WebDewey or Abridged WebDewey, you will find Pricing information on the online WebDewey Order Form.
To see WebDewey in action, try the WebDewey 2.0: an overview demo.
If you have any questions about these Dewey products or the Nebraska Group, please contact Christa Burns, 402-471-3107, or 800-307-2665.
NOTE: Libraries who wish to order any Dewey product do not have to be members of OCLC. Any library can subscribe – Dewey products are available to both OCLC member and non-member libraries.
Posted in General, Library Management, Technology
Leave a comment
Lessons from Learning 2.0
Michael Stephens has recently written a great post about the Learning 2.0 program on LibraryJournal.com:
It’s been five years since Helene Blowers and the staff at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, NC, debuted Learning 2.0—a self-directed exploration of emerging technologies shared via a Creative Commons license. The program has been touted as transformational for libraries—a method of moving libraries forward into a future of 21st-century innovation. Blowers noted on her blog, librarybytes, in 2009 that close to 1000 institutions worldwide had offered some form of the program…
…Fostering a true “learning organization” is not done in just ten or 12 weeks, but the seeds planted by Learning 2.0 can prove fruitful if nurtured. Libraries that have offered Learning 2.0 are best served by continued exploration via more “things” offered monthly… [emphasis added]
Read the full article on LibraryJournal.com
And then, if you haven’t already, head over to Nebraska Learns 2.0 and join your library colleagues in participating in our ongoing online learning program!
E-rate Form 471 Application Filing Window Dates Announced
From the USAC website :
FY2012 Form 471 Application Filing Window Dates Announced
The Form 471 application filing window for Funding Year 2012 will open at noon on Monday, January 9, 2012 and will close at 11:59 pm EDT on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. The filing window will be open for 72 days.
Be sure to review the FY2012 Eligible Services List for details on products and services that are eligible for E-rate discounts in FY2012, and continue to check the USAC website for additional details.
We will issue the customary Letter to the Field around the time that the FCC Form 471 application filing window opens to provide filing information and deadline reminders related to the window.
Meanwhile, keep the following in mind:
- You can file an FCC Form 470 now if you are ready to do so; you don’t need to wait for the window to open. To file an FCC Form 470 online, go to the Apply Online page and click on the “Create Form 470″ button.
- You must wait 28 days after the 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.
- Tuesday, February 21, 2012 is the last day to post an FCC Form 470 to the USAC website or issue an RFP and still complete all of these actions before the window closes.
- If you file your FCC Form 470 on paper, we need to RECEIVE it by Tuesday, February 14, 2012 to give us time to complete data entry before February 21, 2012.
- Item 21 attachments to the FCC Form 471 must be submitted by the close of the filing window. If you file your Item 21 attachment online, you must click on the “Submit” button at the bottom of the last page before the window closes. OTHERWISE YOUR ITEM 21 ATTACHMENT WILL NOT BE SENT TO US.
You can find additional program guidance documents in the Reference Area of the USAC website.
Posted in Library Management
Leave a comment
E-rate: Basic Training – Online session added
An additional online session has been added to the “E-rate: Basic Training” schedule. The Lincoln session on November 29 will also be held online, as a live, interactive broadcast of the in-person session being held in Lincoln.
Description: 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 assist schools and libraries in the United States to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. Christa Burns, State E-rate Coordinator for Libraries, will cover the basics of E-rate and any changes that have been made to the program this year. For the in-person sessions, there will also be hands-on time, when you can get assistance completing your E-rate forms. This session will be useful to libraries who have never applied for E-rate, libraries who are new to E-rate and current E-rate libraries who just want a refresher on what E-rate is all about.
Dates and locations:
- November 28 – John A. Stahl Library, West Point
- November 29 – Nebraska Library Commission, Lincoln and Online, GoToWebinar
- December 2 – Online, GoToWebinar
To register for any of these “E-rate: Basic Training” sessions, go to the Nebraska Library Commission’s Training & Events Calendar and search for ‘e-rate’.
E-rate: Basic Training Scheduled
“E-rate: Basic Training” has been scheduled in locations across the state and online.
Description: 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 assist schools and libraries in the United States to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. Christa Burns, State E-rate Coordinator, will cover the basics of E-rate and any changes that have been made to the program this year. For the in-person sessions, there will also be hands-on time, when you can get assistance completing your E-rate forms. This session will be useful to libraries who have never applied for E-rate, libraries who are new to E-rate and current E-rate libraries who just want a refresher on what E-rate is all about.
Dates and locations:
- November 7 – Western Nebraska Community College, Sidney
- November 8 – University of Nebraska at Kearney
- November 10 – Northeast Community College, Norfolk
- November 28 – John A. Stahl Library, West Point
- November 29 – Nebraska Library Commission, Lincoln
- December 2 – Online, GoToWebinar
To register for any of these “E-rate: Basic Training” sessions, go to the Nebraska Library Commission’s Training & Events Calendar and search for ‘e-rate’.
