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Category Archives: General
Library Program Performers Database
Take a look at the Library Commission’s new “Nebraska Library Program Performers Database.” It is designed for Children’s and Teen librarians to recommend and seek performers for their libraries’ events.
All listed performers have been recommended by a Nebraska library following a successful event. We currently have 25 entries and would like to expand this list. Librarians are encouraged to click on the link to “submit performers you would recommend” to continue to increase the number and variety of choices listed. Performers from neighboring states who are willing to travel to regions of Nebraska are welcome as well.
We do plan to add a bit more information in the future, such as one or more stars for range of fees and other costs, as well as the distance the performer is willing to travel. If you have suggestions for possible fields to add to the information included, send your ideas to Sally Snyder. No promises, but we will consider additional ideas.
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Nebraska Libraries Urged to Apply for Citizens Save Libraries Grant by May 5
Applications for cycle two of the Citizens-Save-Libraries grants from United for Libraries, made possible by a grant from the Neal-Schuman Foundation, are due May 5.
The 10 libraries that are selected will receive two days of onsite consultation by advocacy experts, who will help friends of the library groups, library directors and trustees develop individual blueprints for advocacy campaigns to restore, increase or save threatened library budgets.
Among the criteria to apply is a willingness to “pay it forward” by sharing what is learned with others in their states through presentations at local conferences, articles written for the state library association journal and a willingness to answer questions and support other advocacy campaigns via digital media and Skype. The first 10 libraries were selected in 2013.
As part of the grant, a Citizens-Save-Libraries Power Guide that lays out a step-by-step blueprint for libraries to follow in generating advocacy campaigns is available to all libraries at no cost. The Power Guide is available at www.ala.org/united/powerguide.
To apply for the grants, visit www.ala.org/united/grants_awards/neal-schuman.
The Neal-Schuman Foundation, established in 2000 by Neal-Schuman Publishers‘ founders Patricia Glass Schuman and John Vincent Neal, strives to aid and promote charitable research and education for the improvement of libraries. An active American Library Association member and past president (1991-92), Schuman founded the Library Advocacy Now program and co-founded the Library Champions program.
United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association that supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries. United for Libraries 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 or to join United for Libraries, visit the United for Libraries website or contact Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org.
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Join us April 22 for a Webinar Discussion on the Regional Library Systems Configuration Task Force Preliminary Report
Rod Wagner, Nebraska Library Commission Director, and Richard Miller, Nebraska Library Commission Library Development Director, will summarize the report of recent Regional Library Systems Configuration Task Force discussions and will solicit questions and comments from Nebraska library staff and board members.
State and federal budget cuts over several years and flat funding in recent years prompted discussions among regional library system directors, system board members, and Nebraska Library Commission staff to address funding constraints and regional organization. Those discussions resulted in formation of the Regional Library Systems Configuration Task Force. The Task Force recommended options for reducing the number of regional systems from the current six to five or four regions. The March 14, 2014 report of this task force can be accessed at: http://nlc.nebraska.gov/systems/
Participants in this Webinar discussion will be encouraged to provide input via live chat or microphone connection. For more information contact Richard Miller, Nebraska Library Commission Library Development Director, richard.miller@nebraska.gov, 800-307-2665, or 402-471-3175.
This Webinar will be broadcast live on April 22, 2014 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website or use the World Clock Time Zone Converter. In the Time Zone Converter, NCompass Live is broadcast from U.S.A – Nebraska – Lincoln.
This webinar will be presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. It will be recorded and archived. Registration is not required to view the archived recording, but GoToWebinar login instructions are sent to registered attendees after registration for the session closes on April 20, 2014. 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 AT: http://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/calendar/eventshow.asp?ProgId=13080
UNL Libraries Visiting Scholar Program on Research Sharing, April 22
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries invites you to a lecture and panel discussion on Tuesday, April 22, 2014, provided by the 2014 Visiting Scholar.
Dr. Karla Strieb, a librarian and faculty member at the Ohio State University, will look at current trends and developments in the evolving environment for research sharing. Funder requirements for sharing research findings and even research data continue to increase, especially when taxpayers are footing the bill. The implications and options for research libraries to advance research sharing will be discussed using the experiences of the Ohio State University to highlight issues and opportunities.
The lecture: “The Times, They are a-Changin’: Funder Requirements for Research Sharing” is scheduled at 10:00 a.m. in Room 202 in the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln City campus.
At 2:00 p.m. in the afternoon, also in Room 202, Dr. Strieb will be joined by a panel of University of Nebraska faculty and administrators to discuss current efforts at UNL to comply with the mandate.
Both the lecture and panel discussion are free and open to the public, so please make plans to join us.
Campus maps:
http://parking.unl.edu/maps/VisitorGuestParkingCityCampus.pdf
For more information, contact:
Ted Naylor
Academic Activities Committee
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries
402-472-3412
tnaylor2@unl.edu
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Young Nebraskans Win Writing Competition
Young Nebraska writers will receive Letters about Literature award certificates from Gov. Dave Heineman on April 9, 2014 at a proclamation-signing ceremony celebrating National Library Week, April 13-19, 2014. Letters about Literature is a national reading and writing promotion program. Nearly 50,000 adolescent and young readers nationwide in grades 4 through 12 participated in this year’s Letters about Literature program, more than 400 of them from Nebraska. The competition encourages young people to read, be inspired, and write back to the author (living or dead) who had an impact on their lives.
This annual contest is sponsored nationally by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. The Center for the Book was established in 1977 as a public-private partnership to use the resources of the Library of Congress to stimulate public interest in books and reading. The Nebraska competition is coordinated and sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book, Nebraska Library Commission, and Houchen Bindery Ltd.
Young Nebraska writers to be honored are:
Winners
- Brianna Wilson, Big Springs, for a letter to Charles Bukowski about You Get So Alone at Times That It Just Makes Sense
- Sydney Kohl, Lincoln, for a letter to Gary Soto about A Fire in My Hand
- Christopher Penas-Hull, Lincoln, for a letter to Jules Verne about 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Alternate Winners
- Thomas D’Aquila, Elkhorn, for a letter to Art Spiegelman about Maus
- Wyatt Liewer, O’Neill, for a letter to Gary Paulsen about Brian’s Hunt
- Madeline Walker, Lincoln, for a letter to Sharon Draper about Out of My Mind
The students wrote personal letters to authors explaining how his or her work changed their view of themselves or the world. They selected authors from any genre, fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic. Winners were chosen from three competition levels: upper elementary, middle, and secondary school.
The Nebraska winners will be honored at a luncheon and receive cash prizes and gift certificates. Their winning letters will be placed in the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors at Bennett Martin Public Library in Lincoln. They will advance to the national competition, with a chance to win a trip to Washington, D.C. for themselves and their parents. For more information see http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/programs/LAL.html.
The Nebraska Center for the Book is housed at the Nebraska Library Commission and brings together the state’s readers, writers, booksellers, librarians, publishers, printers, educators, and scholars to build the community of the book, supporting programs to celebrate and stimulate public interest in books, reading, and the written word. The Nebraska Center for the Book is supported by the Nebraska Library Commission. As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, bringing together people and information.
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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.
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Map Exhibit
Did you know there are over 5,500 items in Nebraska Memories? Having that many items is wonderful and I’m always wanting to add more however unless you make a conscious effort to look at everything you may not see each of these 5,500+ items.
One addition we made as part of the roll out of the New Memories was to add the map exhibit on the home page. This new exhibit provides us with a way to highlight some of the items included in Nebraska Memories. Periodically we will change the images to highlight different collections, items and topics. To learn more about the highlighted items click anyplace on the map to display the map exhibit page. Here you will find a list of the items currently being highlighted and links to the full records for each item that includes additional information and a larger version of the item.
The current exhibit of 13 items highlights some of the snow and winter scenes found in Nebraska Memories. While you may be thinking it’s time to update the images and get rid of snow I want to point out the photo titled Crawford business area, blizzard of 1927. Someone has written the date April 18-’27 on the front of it. Because the snow piles are so high I was curious to know how much snow Crawford received around this time period so I did a few quick searches and located the digitized version of the book Climatological data Nebraska Section, Volumes 24-32 by the National Climatic Center, National Climatic Data Center (U.S.). The climatological date for the month of April 1927 starts on page 15 of this document. While I did not find the total snowfall for Crawford I did find this: “The average for the Northwest Division of the State was 21 inches, which is the greatest April fall in that Division during the 38 years of record.” Going back to page 13 of the same document it shows that the Northwest Division had already received an average of 16.2 inches of snow in March. These numbers could explain the large piles of snow visible in the picture.
For those of you who have had enough snow don’t worry we are working on a new map exhibit to go up in April. This new exhibit will be snow free. It will include a picture of Grandpa using his “Waterloo” to plow a field, a group of folks celebrating National Air Mail Week 
and more than one graduating class. When you see the new exhibit don’t forget all you need to do to learn more about any of the featured photos is to click on the map.
Visit Nebraska Memories to search for or browse through many more historical images digitized from photographs, negatives, postcards, maps, lantern slides, books and other materials.
Nebraska Memories is a cooperative project to digitize Nebraska-related historical and cultural heritage materials and make them available to researchers of all ages via the Internet. Nebraska Memories is brought to you by the Nebraska Library Commission. If your institution is interested in participating in Nebraska Memories, see http://nlc.nebraska.gov/nebraskamemories/participation.aspx for more information, or contact Beth Goble, Historical Projects Librarian, or Devra Dragos, Technology & Access Services Director.
Nominate Books Now for the 2014 Nebraska Book Awards
The 2014 Nebraska Book Awards program, sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book (NCB) and Nebraska Library Commission will recognize and honor books that are written by Nebraska authors, published by Nebraska publishers, set in Nebraska, or relate to Nebraska.
Books published in 2013, as indicated by the copyright date, are eligible for nomination. They must be professionally published, have an International Standard Book Number (ISBN), and be bound. Books may be entered in one or more of the following categories: Nonfiction, Fiction, Children/Young Adult, Cover/Design/Illustration, Anthology, and Poetry. Certificates will be awarded to the winners in each category. Award winners will be presented at the Fall 2014 Nebraska Center for the Book’s Book Awards Celebration and Annual Meeting in Lincoln.
The entry fee is $40 per book and per category entered. Deadline for entries is June 30, 2014. For more information, including entry forms, see http://www.centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/awards/nebookawards.html or contact Mary Jo Ryan, maryjo.ryan@nebraska.gov, 402-471-2045, 800-307-2665, for print information. Enter by sending the entry form (http://www.centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/docs/BookAwardsEntry.pdf), three copies of the book, and the entry fee to NCB Book Awards Competition, Nebraska Library Commission, The Atrium, 1200 N Street, Suite 120, Lincoln, NE 68508-2023.
The Nebraska Center for the Book is housed at the Nebraska Library Commission and brings together the state’s readers, writers, booksellers, librarians, publishers, printers, educators, and scholars to build the community of the book, supporting programs to celebrate and stimulate public interest in books, reading, and the written word. The Nebraska Center for the Book is supported by the Nebraska Library Commission. As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, bringing together people and information.
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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases
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Celebrate National Library Week April 13-19
Looking for ways to promote National Library Week, April 13–19? Librarians can encourage local celebrities, library staff, and library supporters to snap a selfie with the Lives change @ your library word balloon and share their story of how the library has changed their life. Camera-shy supporters can are also encouraged to tweet their change using the hashtags #liveschange and #nlw14. There are also free downloadable tools available on the NLW website. All participants will be entered into a grand-prize drawing for a Kindle Fire HDX.
Nebraska Librarians Invited to Free Webinar: The Copyright Conundrum
Tune in Thursday, April 10 at 1 p.m. Central, Noon, Mountain time for this free, streaming video broadcast that you can view from your home, library or on-the-go. Copyright issues pose many challenges for librarians. In an era when we rely increasingly on electronic materials while still making use of traditional resources, our picture of rights and responsibilities can get cloudy. In “Copyright Conundrum” a panel of experts will discuss the challenges we face and strategies you can use to help navigate copyright in this rapidly evolving area. Speakeers include:
- Rebecca Butler, Professor in the Department of Educational Technology, Research, and Assessment, College of Education, at Northern Illinois University, author of Copyright for Teachers and Librarians in the 21st Century
- Sandra Aya Enimil, Head of the Copyright Resources Center at The Ohio State University Library
- Carrie Russell, Director, Program on Public Access to Information, Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) of the American Library Association
- Laura Quilter, Copyright and Information Policy Librarian at the UMass Amherst Librarie
AL Live is an immediate and effective way to get to the heart of the real issues in libraries. With the help of real-time technology, it’s like having your own expert on-hand. We look forward to your joining us. To receive e-mail reminders, register at http://goo.gl/2G50AD, or go to www.americanlibrarieslive.org at the time of the event. If you’re unable to attend live, this event will be recorded and available at www.americanlibrarieslive.org shortly after it concludes. Please comment below to share a receint copyright question that you dealt with.
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Let’s Dance!
Since prehistoric times people have danced. Whether celebrating at special occasions, preserving their cultural heritage, or just having a good time, Nebraskans like to dance. In Nebraska Memories you can find some great examples.
Folk dancing was popular at the Nebraska State Normal Schools in Kearney and Wayne. In the photo above from the University of Nebraska Kearney collection young women are participating in a May Pole Dance. In this picture from the Wayne State College collection a Folk Dancing Class is performing. When these women graduated and began teaching, they probably taught their students to folk dance.
Speaking of having a good time, by the early 20th century, establishments like the Soukup and Petrzilka Tavern in Brainard had sprung up in many Nebraska towns. The white building attached to the back of the tavern in this pre-1911 photo from the Boston Studio collection was a dance hall. Can’t you imagine the patrons dancing to a Czech polka band and enjoying the Storz beer advertised on the outside wall of the tavern?
The Durham Museum Collection includes the two photos below. The 1939 picture on the left makes me wonder if the folks watching the band at the ballroom at Klug Park were there to jitterbug. They certainly are packed into the room, which must have been pretty hot on that July day! 
The couple on the right at a 1938 dance at the Logan Hotel are more formally dressed at what was probably a private party.
Visit Nebraska Memories to search for or browse through many more historical images digitized from photographs, negatives, postcards, maps, lantern slides, books and other materials.
Nebraska Memories is a cooperative project to digitize Nebraska-related historical and cultural heritage materials and make them available to researchers of all ages via the Internet. Nebraska Memories is brought to you by the Nebraska Library Commission. If your institution is interested in participating in Nebraska Memories, see http://nlc.nebraska.gov/nebraskamemories/participation.aspx for more information, or contact Beth Goble, Historical Services Librarian, or Devra Dragos, Technology & Access Services Director.
Posted in General, Information Resources, Nebraska Memories, Technology
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National Archives to release more Clinton records
The National Archives plans to make public another 4,000 pages of documents from the Clinton White House on Friday, including previously unreleased records related to Vice President Al Gore’s 2000 presidential campaign and the 2000 recount in Florida.
The Clinton Presidential Library intends to make a second batch of records available to the public, part of about 30,000 pages of documents expected to be released from Bill Clinton’s administration in the coming weeks. The records have been highly anticipated as former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton considers a 2016 presidential campaign.
The National Archives said Friday’s installment will include a variety of topics, including the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, papers from health care adviser Ira Magaziner, the transition to the presidency of George W. Bush and records related to terrorism, including the Khobar Towers bombing in 1996.
The archives said other topics would include British Prime Minister Tony Blair, disability rights and documents from several presidential speechwriters.
The former secretary of state’s potential White House campaign has sparked interest in memos and records from her husband’s administration during the 1990s along with her work in public service. Clinton, a former New York senator, is the leading Democratic contender to succeed President Barack Obama should she seek the presidency again.
A first wave of documents released in February provided insight into the Clinton administration’s concern over the failed health care overhaul plan, which Hillary Clinton helped lead, and showed how advisers to the first lady tried to shape her public image. Magaziner was a top Clinton adviser during the health care effort so the new documents could offer more insights into that period.
The papers may also reveal details on the twilight of the Clinton administration, as Gore sought the presidency but ultimately lost to Bush despite winning the popular vote. The records could provide a behind-the-scenes look at how the White House viewed the recount saga in Florida and the abbreviated transition that took place before Bush’s inauguration.
Another topic of interest will involve records related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Congress passed the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992, which established an assassination records review board during the Clinton administration to carry out release of records.
About 5 million pages of documents from the Kennedy assassination have been released thus far and all records are to be released by 2017, with some exceptions.
The Clinton records were previously withheld by the National Archives because they were exempt from disclosure under restrictions related to appointments to federal office and confidential advice among the president and his advisers.
Once the restrictions expired in January 2013, the National Archives notified Obama and Clinton’s offices that they intended to release the records so both offices could decide whether to invoke executive privilege on some records. Both offices recently signed off on the release of the documents.
For this story and much more, visit The National Archives.
Reprinted from The AP/Washington Post .
New Pew Study on Libraries
Yesterday, Pew Research Center released “From Distant Admirers to Library Lovers–and beyond,” a study that concentrates on how people feel about and interact with public libraries. The report creates a typology which “describes nine groups of Americans that reflect different patterns of public library engagement” from Library Lovers, about 10% of the population, and Information Omnivores, 20% of Americans, to Off the Grid, 4%.
The “Summary of Findings” offers a quick look at the typologies and some conclusions about broader trends, such as:
- most Americans do not feel overwhelmed by information,
- that library use is often tied to life stage or circumstance, and
- that many people need and want trusted helpers in finding information.
This report is the third in a trilogy of studies on libraries. The first report, “The Rise of e-reading” was released in April 2012, the second, on library services, came out in January 2013.
Small Business Administration Grants Available
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today that it will award grants to state and local economic development agencies, business development centers, colleges and universities to support programs for innovative, technology-driven small businesses under SBA’s Federal and State Technology (FAST) partnership program. Applications for the grants are open now through April 11.
The FAST Program is designed to stimulate economic development among small, high technology businesses through federally-funded innovation and research and development programs like the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR). The project and budget periods are for a 12-month period.
FAST may provide up to $100,000 per award to pay for outreach and technical assistance to science and technology-driven small businesses. The program places particular emphasis on helping socially and economically disadvantaged firms compete in the SBA’s SBIR and STTR programs.
FAST funding awardees must demonstrate in their proposals how they will help support areas such as:
- small business research and development assistance,
- technology transfer from universities to small businesses,
- technological diffusion of innovation benefiting small businesses,
- proposal development and mentoring for small businesses applying for SBIR grants; and,
- commercializing technology developed through SBIR grants.
Proposals will be considered from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. Only one proposal per state may be submitted. Proposals must be submitted to http://www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m on April 11.
Proposals will be evaluated by a panel of SBIR program managers. The SBA, the Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation will jointly review the panel’s recommendations and make awards based on proposal merit. The grant requires varying levels of matching funds from each participating state and territory.
Companies supported by the SBIR and STTR programs often generate some of the most important breakthroughs each year in the U.S. For example, about 25 percent of R&D Magazine’s Top 100 Innovations come from SBIR-funded small businesses.
For more information about the SBIR and STTR programs, visit SBA’s website at: http://www.sba.gov/about-sba-services/7050.
Junior First LEGO League Grant for Public Libraries — Application Due April 4
The STAR (Science-Technology Activities and Resources for Libraries) Library Education Network (STAR_Net), in partnership with Junior FIRST® LEGO® League (Jr.FLL®), is proud to announce a grant program aimed at building participation in Jr.FLL in public libraries nationwide. For more information about Jr.FLL, visit http://www.juniorfirstlegoleague.org.
This solicitation is open to all public libraries in the United States. Preference may be given to libraries in the following regions where Jr.FLL Affiliate Partners are already established, but other locations are welcome and encouraged to apply: Delaware, New Mexico, Southern California, Rhode Island, Utah, Missouri, Ohio, Central Texas, Virginia, South Carolina, and Illinois.
Libraries chosen to participate in this program will receive approximately $2,500 in LEGO materials, participation fees and other support.
The deadline is April 4, 2014. To apply, visit http://community.starnetlibraries.org/grant-opportunities/. If you have difficulty accessing or sending the application, please contact Anne Holland as soon as the issue arises (aholland@spacescience.org or 720-974-5876).
This pilot program will include a strong research and evaluation component, so libraries should be willing and able to participate in online, in-person and phone surveys related to the project. This pilot program will provide mandatory training, materials and miscellaneous expense reimbursement (such as program fees) to 17 libraries. Libraries not chosen for the program are still encouraged to participate in Jr.FLL.
All applying libraries should join the STAR_Net Online Community at community.starnetlibraries.org to participate in discussions about the program, and gain access to materials developed in support of the program.
In addition to participation in research and evaluation, libraries will be responsible (with help from regional partners as allowed) for recruiting 5 teams (of 2-6 children) and 5 coaches (1 coach per team, all “lead” coaches must be 18+, assistant coaches can be younger).
Government Printing Office Offers Free Ebooks
The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) is expanding its ebook program to allow free public access to titles in the GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP), a finding tool for federal historical and current publications. About 100 ebooks are now available for download, with new additions each month.
Through the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP), the GPO distributes certain government documents freely to 1,200 U.S. libraries. The GPO’s expanded ebook program meets the growing needs of the FDLP.
The CGP provides the option to find nearby Federal depository libraries that have specific publications as part of the FDLP and also offers direct links to publications that are online. Topics include the military, agriculture, science, health, and national security.
“Expanding eBooks is another example of GPO’s commitment to serving as the digital information platform for the Federal Government,” says Davita E. Vance-Cooks, public printer of the United States and the GPO’s CEO. “GPO and the library community will continue to work together to provide the public with greater access to Government information in multiple formats.”
Survey of Current Business to be published online only
The monthly Survey of Current Business is Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)’s definitive source of information about its economic accounts. Articles in the Survey present the latest national, international, regional, and industry estimates; describe the methodologies used to prepare the estimates; provide information about major revisions; discuss on-going innovations; and generally keep users up to date on relevant BEA issues and initiatives. Each issue includes numerous tables and charts of various economic estimates. Each issue also includes a message from BEA’s director.
Beginning with the February 2014 issue, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) will discontinue publishing paper copies of the Survey of Current Business. BEA will continue to publish the Survey as a free online publication on its Web site (www.bea.gov). In recent years, usage of the print publication has declined, and budgetary pressures have increased, resulting in the decision to maintain the online publication only.
Sign up for email notifications when each issue of the Survey is available is on www.bea.gov.
Paper copies of SCB issues through February 2014 will continue to be available from the Government Documents collection at the Nebraska Library Commission.
Data Doodles: Ebook Statistics
I recently found some interesting data about eBooks from the “Internet Waves” column in the Jan/Feb issue of Information Today.
4,350: the number of ebook titles made available by the average public library 1
76.3%: the percentage of public libraries in the U.S. that lend ebooks (57% in Nebraska) 2
3.2: the average number of ebooks purchased per month by library ebook patrons 3
$11.50: the average consumer price for an ebook 4
$63.00: the average price of an ebook purchased by a library 4
- http://www.economist.com/news/international/21573966-e-books-mean-plot-twist-public-libraries-and-publishers-folding-shelves
- Hoffman, Judy, John Carlo Bertot, and Denise M. Davis. Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study 2011-2012. Digital supplement of American Libraries magazine, June 2012. Available at http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/4673a369.
- http://www.overdrive.com/news/new-findings-reaffirm-library-borrowers-are-also-buyers/
- http://www.americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blog/year-ebook-price-comparisons-has-anything-changed
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Immigration and Citizenship Information and Resources
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) have recently entered into a partnership to provide immigration and citizenship information and resources to public libraries across the country. This agreement is founded upon the recognition that libraries serve as a vital resource for immigrant communities. Through the partnership, USCIS and IMLS seek to ensure that libraries have the necessary tools to refer their patrons to accurate and reliable sources of information on immigration-related topics.
For a general overview of the agreement and how libraries can get involved, I encourage you to visit the USCIS Citizenship Resource Center where you’ll find a section of the site dedicated to libraries (http://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/organizations/libraries). On this page, librarians can find information on upcoming USCIS webinars, download educational resources, register for email alerts, and identify contact information for local USCIS Community Relations Officers who can help facilitate opportunities for further engagement.
Nebraska Students Invited to Participate in Video Contest
AASL nationwide video contest asks students how school libraries change lives. The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), in collaboration with ProQuest, Abrams, and SchoolTube, announces the launch of the School Library Month 2014 student video contest “Lives Change @ your library.” Contestants are urged to let loose their creativity and use humor, drama, music and/or special effects to illustrate how the school library program changes a student’s life. Contest rules and eligibility can be found at www.ala.org/aasl/slm/2014/video.
“The theme for this year’s School Library Month, ‘Lives Change @ your library,’ is perfect for a student video contest,” said Gail Dickinson, AASL president. “School libraries change lives by teaching students to think critically, apply knowledge learned to new situations, share knowledge with others, and pursue personal growth. I look forward to seeing how our most important stakeholder – the student – interprets the influence their school library program has in their life.”
Submissions for the video contest will be accepted through April 15, and winners will be announced during School Library Month on April 29. Contest judges will select three winners from all entries received. Only one winner per school will be awarded. Prizes will be awarded to both the student videographer and the student’s school library program. The student prize is a full set of School Library Month spokesperson Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid books provided by Abrams. The school library program will receive a one-year subscription to CultureGrams, an online database from ProQuest that brings the world to the library and classroom. In addition to earning prizes, the winning videos will be featured on the AASL, ProQuest, and SchoolTube and websites and social networking platforms.
The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library field.
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Training Opportunities at Nebraska Museums Association Annual Meeting and Conference
Charles “Chuck” Schroeder, newly hired executive director of the UNL Rural Futures Institute will headline the Nebraska Museums Association annual meeting and conference April 1 and 2 in Cozad, The Palisade native and former museum director will engage museum staff and volunteers in considering ways their organizations can help rethink and revitalize rural life.
Other sessions include a collections care clinic with objects conservator Deborah Long of the Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center in Omaha, who will help diagnose particular storage and deterioration problems on April 1. Librarians who are interested in attending only the conservation workshop are encouraged to see details on the NMA website.
Roundtable sessions on grant funding, heritage tourism, agricultural history, social media for museums and more are scheduled for April 2. Tours of museums in the area will feature stops at the 100th Meridian Museum, the Robert Henri Museum & art in the Wilson Library & Homestead Bank in Cozad; the Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles and the Dawson County Historical Society in Lexington; the Pony Express Station, Gothenburg Historical Society and the Sod House Museum in Gothenburg.
A $45 NMA member registration fee includes an evening reception on April 1 at Cozad’s Chipper Hall and breakfast and lunch on April 2. Non-member registration is $60. Blocks of rooms are available at group rates through March 11 in Cozad, Gothenburg,and Lexington. For more details, visit www.nebraskamuseums.org
The Nebraska Museums Association brings together individuals and organizations engaged in providing educational experiences, preserving collections, and connecting people with museum resources related to art, history, science, natural history, and the humanities across the state. It provides workshops, conferences, on-line resources and discussion groups to help museum staff and volunteers create strong public service to their communities.
Lynne Ireland
Deputy Director
Nebraska State Historical Society
PO Box 82554
Lincoln, NE 68501
p: (402) 471-4758
f: (402) 471-3100
lynne.ireland@nebraska.gov
Your Nebraska source for the histories we share
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