The 2025 FY public library survey data are now available on the NLC website. Thanks to all of you who submitted your statistics. Historical data (back to 1999) are also available on our website. The next survey cycle begins in November, but you should be collecting those statistics now.
‘Public Library Accreditation 2026’ workshops are now open for registration!
To register for a session, go to the Nebraska Library Commission’s Training & Events Calendar and search for ‘accreditation 2026’. All workshops will be held online only, via GoTo Webinar.
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 be available after all of the live sessions have been held.
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? Why does my library need one?
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 guide you through Community Needs Response Planning and applying for Public Library Accreditation.
Public Library Directors, Staff, and Library Board Members are encouraged to attend.
Dates and times:
June 2 – 1:00-4:00pm Central / 12:00noon-3pm Mountain
June 4 – 9:30am-12:30pm Central / 8:30-11:30am Mountain
June 9 – 9:30am-12:30pm Central / 8:30-11:30am Mountain
June 10 – 1:00-4:00pm Central / 12:00noon-3pm Mountain
Rob-See-Co, an independent seed company located in Elkhorn, Neb. is proud to announce the continuation of its Rural Library Grant program.
Applications are due June 30, 2026.
Originally launched in 2023 to commemorate the company’s 10th anniversary and honor Agnes Robinson’s dedication to the rural library in Waterloo, NE, the program continues to hold special meaning. Agnes, great-grandmother of Jim Robinson, CEO of Rob-See-Co, was a passionate advocate for rural libraries. Today, the program extends support to libraries across rural communities within the company’s footprint.
Previous grant recipients have used funding to expand book collections, digitize local newspapers, enhance children’s programming, and develop makerspaces.
“The grant funding we received made it possible for us to create a ‘pop-up town,’ a versatile resource we’ve already planned to use in multiple ways,” said Mandy Cook, Marysville Public Library Director. “Encouraging children to engage in imaginative play is incredibly important—it supports speech, overall development, and even early literacy skills. We are truly grateful to Rob-See-Co for providing us with the opportunity to make a meaningful impact through outreach in our small town.”
In 2026, Rob-See-Co will award ten $500 grants for a total of $5,000 to selected rural libraries across CO, IA, KS, MD, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, OK, PA, SD, TX and WI. Funds may be used for core educational, preservation and interpretive purposes, including collection development, facility improvements, traveling exhibits, guest speakers, staff training, programming, and publications.
“These grants reflect our ongoing commitment to the dealers, distributors, growers, and communities we serve, while honoring my family’s legacy and the history of Rob-See-Co,” said Robinson. “We’re proud to continue investing in rural libraries that play such an important role in our communities.”
Libraries can visit https://rsclibrarygrant.com/ to apply. Applications are due by June 30. Grant recipients will be announced on October 1, 2026.
Emergencies can occur with or without warning. Prepare for the unexpected on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘Emergency Management in Libraries’ on Wednesday, April 22 at 10am CT.
Through proper planning and exercising, libraries have the potential to become more resilient when facing potential threats.
Emergencies/disasters can be either natural or man-made resulting in severe or minimal impact. Therefore, taking an all-hazards approach to emergency preparedness will help mitigate and reduce impact of these events. In addition to ensuring a state of readiness for the organization, having a well-established emergency preparedness program can ease anxieties and feelings of uncertainty for staff and patrons. If the staff is properly trained on how to respond during times of emergency they will respond appropriately and be better prepared both at work and at home. Patrons visiting the libraries will be in better hands if the staff is knowledgeable of the organization’s emergency procedures.
In this presentation, I will emphasize the importance of developing an emergency preparedness program and available resources, illustrate how to identify potential risks, and how to assess their impacts. I will also discuss various plans such as emergency operation plans and continuity of operations. We will also look at mitigation strategies to reduce future impacts and strengthen security.
April 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Computers in Libraries 2026 Highlights & Trends
May 6 – The 2026 Public Library Accreditation Process
May 13 – Play, Explore, Learn: Building Early Literacy Through Station-Based Programs
May 20 – Engaging New Voices in Advocacy: Youth, Trustees, and Everyday Patrons
May 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech
June 3 – Libraries and Friends of the Library: How to Stay Friends
June 10 – Law for Librarians
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.
Library Journal‘s award for the Best Small Library in America was founded in 2005 to encourage and showcase the exemplary work of these libraries. Sponsored by the Junior Library Guild, this year’s award will honor 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 March 31, 2026.
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 winning library will be featured in the August 2026 issue of Library Journal and online.
Nominate your favorite Nebraska public library today! Learn more about the guidelines and submit your nomination on the Best Small Library in America Award website.
Learn about the benefits of library tours on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘Tour de Force: Build Bridges by Leading Tours of Your Library’, on Wednesday, March 4 at 10am CT.
By inviting community partners to visit the library for a tour, you can show them the many unique ways that libraries positively impact communities. Library tours are a powerful tool to build relationships, gain support, and publicize the library’s programs and services. I started leading tours at my library as a way to orient new board members, and now we invite everyone from the police chief to senators to look “behind the scenes” at the library. As a result, we have gained new advocates and deepened the support of those who already love the library! Leading a tour of your library is a quick, free, manageable way to build wide community support.
March 18 – Modernizing a Small Library on a Small Budget: Systems, Culture, and Community in Year One
March 25 – Pretty Sweet Tech
April 8 – Programming with Purpose: Adult Programs and Community Partnerships
April 22 – Emergency Management in Libraries
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.
Join us tomorrow for the 15th annual Big Talk From Small Libraries online conference. Registration is still open, so head over to the Registration page and sign up!
We have a full agenda for the day, with speakers from academic and public libraries presenting on a wide variety of topics specifically tailored for small libraries: intellectual freedom, mental health, food insecurity, STEAM, serving disabled patrons, school/university/public library partnerships, a Tiny Art Show, and much more.
And, Nebraska library staff and board members can earn 1 hour of CE Credit for each hour of the conference you attend! A special Big Talk From Small Libraries CE Report form has been made available for you to submit your C.E. credits.
This event is a great opportunity to learn about the innovative things your colleagues are doing in their small libraries serving fewer than 10,000 people.
So, come join us for a day of big ideas from small libraries!
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Christa Porter
402-471-3107
800-307-2665
$20,000in Internship Grants Awarded to Nebraska Public Libraries
The Nebraska Library Commission recently awarded Nebraska Library Internship Grants totaling $20,000 to eighteen Nebraska public libraries. These internship grants will support public library interns who will contribute to the scope and value of the diverse programs and activities in Nebraska’s public libraries.
“The internships are a great opportunity for students to get involved in library work. Beyond earning money and gaining valuable work experience, the student is exposed to the broad range of library services and programming. Internships provide an opportunity for the student to view the library as a viable and satisfying career choice. In addition, interns bring a fresh perspective and their own unique talents to the library,” said Nebraska Library Commission Director Rod Wagner.
Student interns will learn about library work as they shadow staff, assist with day-to-day library operations, and implement special projects. Some of the activities that students will participate in include:
Summer Reading Programs for youth, teens, and adults
Public relations: website, social and print media, designing and posting flyers and other forms of marketing
Various programming: Story hour, movie days, craft days, junior book talks, Lego Club, puzzle contest, preschool story time, after school programs, STEM activities, gaming setups
Creating new teen programming
Attending library board meetings
Partnerships with other libraries, Community College, Head Start, County Extension, Child Development Center, and Senior Center
The following 18 Nebraska public libraries were awarded 2026 internship grant funding:
Atkinson Public Library Alice M. Farr Library, Aurora Axtell Public Library Bayard Public Library Dundy County Library, Benkelman Central City Public Library Crawford Public Library Crete Public Library Elgin Public Library Greenwood Public Library Lincoln City Libraries – Charles H. Gere Branch Library and South Branch Library, Northeast Service Unit – Victor E. Anderson & Bethany Branch Libraries, Bennett Martin Public Library, Youth Services Outreach, Bess Dodson Walt Branch Library, Eiseley Branch Library & Williams Branch Library Madison Public Library Morrill Public Library Cordelia B. Preston Memorial Library, Orleans Ponca Carnegie Library Shelton Public Library Maxine White-Sutherland Public Library Verdigre Public Library
Funding for the project is supported and administered by the Nebraska Library Commission, in partnership with the Nebraska Library Systems.
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.”
Nebraska’s Regional Library Systems consist of four non-profit corporations governed by boards representative of libraries and citizens in the region. The four systems were established to provide access to improved library services through the cooperation of all types of libraries and media centers within the counties included in each System area.
Sponsored by the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) and the Nebraska Library Commission, this free one-day online conference is tailored for staff from small libraries – the smaller the better! All of our presenters are from libraries serving fewer than 10,000 people. This event is a great opportunity to learn about the innovative things your colleagues are doing in their small libraries.
Everyone is welcome to register and attend, regardless of how big or small your library. But, if your library serves a few hundred to a few thousand people, this is the day for you!
It’s time to submit the Public Library Survey! Learn about Nebraska’s New Data Collection Tool for the Survey on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, February 25 at 10am CT.
Every year, the Nebraska Library Commission participates in a national program of public library data collection called the Public Library Survey.
In 2025, the Library Commission developed a homegrown online program to collect the data, switching from the Bibliostat platform. The questions and data collected remain the same, but the survey will look different on the new platform. This workshop will provide an overview of the data collection program and cover the basics of the new data collection tool used in Nebraska.
Submitting this annual statistical survey is required for Accredited Public libraries. Unaccredited public libraries are also encouraged to complete the survey and are eligible for a payment of $200 through the Dollars for Data program. The deadline to complete the 2025 Public Library Survey is April 1, 2026.
Presenter: Sam Shaw, Planning and Data Services Coordinator, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
March 4 – Tour de Force: Build Bridges by Leading Tours of Your Library
March 18 – Modernizing a Small Library on a Small Budget: Systems, Culture, and Community in Year One
March 25 – Pretty Sweet Tech
April 8 – Programming with Purpose: Adult Programs and Community Partnerships
April 22 – Emergency Management in Libraries
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.
This makes Wednesday, March 4, the deadline to post your Form 470 to the USAC website, meet the 28-day posting requirement for the competitive bidding process, and submit a Form 471 by the filing window closing date.
However, we do not recommend waiting until the last day to submit your Form 470! If there are any issues that day, like the E-rate servers are slowed down because it is the last day to submit, or you can’t submit the form due to reasons on your end, such as illness, weather, power outage, etc., then you would miss the deadline and lose out on E-rate altogether.
So, if you haven’t already done so, and you are not exempt, get your E-rate Form 470 submitted as soon as possible!
IMPORTANT: Before you file your Form 471, check your Form 470 Receipt Notification for your Allowable Contract Date – the first date you are allowed to submit your 471. Do not submit your 471 before that date! Remember, after you submit your Form 470, you must wait 28 days to submit your Form 471. You can find your Notification within the EPC portal in your News feed.
Do you need help completing your forms? Do you have questions about E-rate? You’re in luck!
Today’s E-rate Special Edition News Brief has detailed tips and instructions, as well as information about upcoming online training opportunities from USAC.
And more recorded webinars, demos, and training materials are available on the NLC E-rate webpage.
If you have any questions or need any assistance with your E-rate forms, please contact the State E-rate Coordinator for Public Libraries in Nebraska, Christa Porter, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.
The schedule for the 15th annual Big Talk From Small Libraries online conference is now available!
You will find all the details on the Schedule page. Information about our presenters is available on the Speakers page.
If you haven’t registered yet, now is the time to jump over to the Registration page and sign up – the conference is free and open to anyone in the world to attend! Please be aware that all times are listed in US Central Time – UTC-6.
You are welcome to watch as an
individual or to host a group viewing of the conference. If several staff
members from the same library want to attend, you can just register for one
seat and have staff members view/listen together via one workstation.
You can also host a viewing party this same way and invite staff from other libraries. For any group viewings, if you know who will be there, you can list your Additional Attendees on your one registration or you can send us a list after the event. Be sure to take all necessary health and safety precautions into account when planning group viewings.
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2026 will be held on Friday, February 27, 2026 between 8:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (CT) via the GoTo Webinar online meeting service.
Are you considering building a new library or renovating your current library? Hear about one library’s experience ‘Navigating New Building Projects’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, January 14 at 10am CT.
Public library building and renovation projects are often once-in-a-generation events. Staff and leaders may never have done a similar project and may never do one again, making it imperative for libraries to learn from one another.
Our library opened the doors to its new building on April 1, 2024, after raising more than $3.3 million to help fund construction. After an overview of this project and process, I’ll discuss ways to help manage input, communication, and expectations during the building process, and share practical lessons learned about fundraising, moving, and building design.
Jan. 21 – 2026 One Book One Nebraska: ‘The Antidote: A Novel’
Jan. 28 – Pretty Sweet Tech: How to Build a Virtual Makerspace
Feb. 4 – Homesteading at Your Library
Feb. 11 – Empowering Families Through Literacy: Tools and Strategies from Nebraska’s Statewide Initiative
Feb. 18 – Communicating Your Library’s Value and Getting your Board “On Board” to Help!
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.
The FCC Form 471 Application Filing Window for Funding Year 2026 will open on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at noon EST and close on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 11:59pm EDT. You can read the USAC announcement for full details.
Get your library’s piece of the E-rate pie!
To prepare for the window opening:
If you haven’t already done so, and you are not exempt, file your FCC Form 470 now! You do not have to wait for the Form 471 window to open.
You must wait 28 days after your FCC Form 470 is posted to the USAC website before you can close your competitive bidding process, select a service provider, sign a contract (if applicable), and submit your 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 submit your FCC Form 471.
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 is the deadline to post your FCC Form 470 to the USAC website, or issue an RFP, and still complete all of these actions before the Form 471 Application Filing Window closes.
Update Your EPC Profile During the EPC Administrative Window – by January 16, 2026.
Review your EPC profile and confirm all of your information is accurate including your organization’s name, address, and other details. Your profile is currently unlocked and available for you to insert any further updates, but will be locked again on January 16, 2026. Libraries should confirm their square footage, main branch, and public school district of the main branch information is correct and that any bookmobiles or kiosks are included. View the EPC Administrative Window webpage to learn more.
Please contact Christa Porter, Nebraska State E-rate Coordinator for Public Libraries, if you have any questions or need any assistance submitting your E-rate forms.
The American Library Association (ALA) invites library workers to apply for the Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant, an annual award supporting innovative and meaningful community engagement efforts in libraries.
Applications due February 2, 2026. View the full award guidelines and apply online at www.ala.org/LTCEG.
Now in its seventh year, the Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant recognizes, promotes and supports innovative and meaningful community engagement efforts in libraries. It will provide two $2,000 grants to expand the community engagement efforts of a school, public, academic, tribal, or special library.
Libraries are invited to apply by designing and outlining activities for a library-led community engagement project. Community engagement is the process of working collaboratively with community members – be they library patrons, residents, faculty, students, or local organizations – to address issues for the betterment of the community.
Each year, the grant supports community engagement projects with a specific theme. For the 2025–2026 cycle, libraries are invited to submit applications for a community engagement project that focuses on the concept of “Libraries as a Lifeline: Building Belonging for All.” Libraries should work collaboratively with community members and at least one partner organization to develop a project that addresses a local issue and builds upon community assets.
Some example proposals could include (but are not limited to): a project that establishes a Community Care Corner with outreach materials, hygiene kits, and local resource guides; a program that collaborates with a local partner to offer micro-skill sessions on subjects like budgeting, digital literacy or navigating healthcare; projects that develop community connection by hosting neighbor gatherings over meals or creative activities to celebrate diversity; a program that hosts moderated community conversations on local issues by partnering with schools, non-profits or civic groups.
Last year, the Mountain Top Library (N.Y.) and Pottsboro (Texas) Library won grants for projects concentrated on building neighborhood connections. The winning libraries used LTCEG funds to create a collaborative, modern town map and launch a local civic engagement series.
ALA announced the creation of the Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant in 2019, an initiative made possible by a matching grant and ongoing support from former ALA president and longtime generous supporter Nancy Kranich.
The Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant is part of Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC), ALA’s community engagement initiative. Since 2014, LTC has reimagined the role libraries play in supporting communities. Libraries of all types, from across the country, have utilized the free dialogue and deliberation training and resources to lead community and campus forums; take part in anti-violence activities; provide a safe space for residents to come together to discuss challenging topics; and have productive conversations with civic leaders, library trustees and staff.
LTC is administered by ALA’s Public Programs Office. To stay informed about future grants and awards offered by ALA’s Public Programs Office, sign up for the Programming Librarian e-newsletter.
The American Library Association (ALA) invites library workers to apply for the annual Peggy Barber Tribute Grant, to help ease library budget challenges by awarding three libraries $2,500 to support a proposed program, program series, or programming effort.
The Peggy Barber Tribute Grant is an annual grant that recognizes, promotes, and supports meaningful programs in libraries that have limited and/or no access to budgetary support for programming.
Each year, the grant will focus on supporting a specific type of library programming. For the 2025-2026 cycle, libraries are invited to submit applications to support programming related to strengthening community ties through libraries as third spaces.
As one of the few remaining “third spaces” – public spaces where individuals can gather outside their homes or workplaces – libraries are uniquely positioned to bring people together and strengthen communities. Example proposals could include (but are not limited to): an intergenerational gardening program, a program series engaging adults in play-based programming, or a visual arts performance at the library in partnership with a local theater group. Proposed programs should include how it will bring people in your community together, how the program will foster connection amongst participants, and how the program can help folks share space with other people in the community.
All library types – including public, academic, K-12, tribal, and special libraries – in the U.S. or U.S. territories are eligible. Applicants must have a personal or institutional membership with either the American Library Association OR the Association for Rural & Small Libraries.
Last year’s grant was for programming related to combatting isolation for older adults. The 2025 grant was awarded to:
Falls City Library & Arts Center in Nebraska to start offering weekly special offerings to older adults called ‘Senior Socials’, to create a space for seniors to gather and socialize consistently. The library will implement weekly senior programs, such as continuing its existing craft program and adding events like chair yoga, classic movie showings, and special speakers.
Hartford Public Library in Michigan aims to create more senior events focusing on keeping older adults physically and socially active, such as Tai Chi, chair yoga, and cardio drumming. The library will also start incorporating prizes such as non-perishable food and household and personal care products at senior bingo events.
Pottsboro Library in Texas will promote community bonding and celebrate older adults as knowledge contributors with ‘Share & Learn’, a community-driven program where seniors take on the role of presenter by sharing valuable skills and life experiences with others to help preserve knowledge and boost self-confidence.
Margaret “Peggy” Barber was a transformative leader in ALA and the library field who was behind the creation of National Library Week and the Celebrity READ series. Read Library Journal’s tribute.
The Peggy Barber Tribute Grant was created with donations from Barber’s friends and colleagues. To support the grant, make a contribution to the Peggy Barber tribute fund within ALA’s Cultural Communities Fund.
To stay informed about future grants and awards offered by ALA’s Public Programs Office, sign up for the Programming Librarian e-newsletter.
What is E-rate? How can my library benefit from E-rate? How do I apply for E-rate?
E-rate is a federal program that provides discounts to schools and public libraries on the cost of their Internet Access and Connections to make these services more affordable. This includes Broadband, Fiber, and Wi-Fi Internet access as well as Internal Connections, such as wiring, routers, switches, and other network equipment.
The E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC) is your online portal for all E-rate interactions. With your organizational account you can use EPC to file forms, track your application status, communicate with USAC, and more.
In this workshop, Christa Porter, Nebraska’s State E-rate Coordinator for Public Libraries, will explain the E-rate program and show you how to access and use your account in EPC to submit your Funding Year 2026 E-rate application.
If you have any questions or need any assistance with your E-rate forms, visit the NLC E-rate webpage or contact Christa Porter, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.
Highlights from Internet Librarian 2025 will be shared on this week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, November 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.
Just in case you miss it, this Pretty Sweet Tech will offer some highlights from Internet Librarian 2025 that was held virtually from October 28-30. It’s where all the cool kids go to learn about library technology topics.
I’ll include my usual disclaimer that I couldn’t make it to every session, but I did my best to dig around and catch the cool, helpful, or off the beaten path sessions that caught my eye.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
Dec. 3 – Social Media Show & Tell!
Dec. 10 – Return of the Canvaholic
Dec. 17 – Best New Children’s Books of 2025
Dec. 31 – Pretty Sweet Tech
Jan. 7 , 2026 – Best New Teen Reads of 2025
Jan. 14, 2026 – Navigating New Building Projects
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.
Laptops make a great Staff PC! You can easily connect a full-size keyboard, mouse, and second monitor to them for use at a desk. Their portability lets them be used throughout the library for doing inventory and programs. Their built in battery keeps them working during power outages.
If the library wants new, larger 27” monitors for the desktop PCs:
This monitor comes with a HDMI video cable too! If the library wants to save some money and continue using their older monitors with new PCs, you will likely need to order new video cables. If you send me a picture of the video ports on the old monitor, I can help you select the correct video cable.
I am happy to assist with the configuration and installation of new PCs purchased by the library. If you will want my assistance, please contact me prior to ordering them. Depending on the quantity the library is ordering, I may request that they be shipped directly to me. This allows me to get the PCs almost fully configured in the lab which saves me hours of time when I am onsite at the library to finish their installation.
The NLC has exhausted the Medica grant funds that were available for the purchase of Faronics DeepFreeze reboot/restore software. Reboot/restore software should be installed on all Patron/Public PCs to protect the PCs from malware and the privacy of the patrons who use them. The library will need to budget $50/PC for DeepFreeze Standard. Reboot/restore software is not necessary on Staff PCs.
Andrew “Sherm” Sherman Library Technology Support Specialist Nebraska Library Commission andrew.sherman@nebraska.gov 402-471-4559
‘There’s Always Something Happening at the Library’! Learn about ‘Becoming a Daily Destination for Your Community’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, November 12 at 10am CT.
In many of our communities, the library serves not only as a traditional library but also as a gathering place and community center. Our goal was to turn our library into a true destination for our patrons by building connections and increasing the fun!
Learn how our library re-energized its programming efforts in 2024, ultimately doubling the number of programs offered and increasing our total patron count by nearly 20% in one year. You will leave with practical examples of inexpensive drop-in and passive programming that can lead to more visits and turn your library into a daily destination for your community.
Nov. 19 – Summer Reading Program 2026: Unearth a Story
Nov. 26 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Internet Librarian 2025 Highlights
Dec. 3 – Social Media Show & Tell!
Dec. 10 – Return of the Canvaholic
Dec. 17 – Best New Children’s Books of 2025
Dec. 31 – Pretty Sweet Tech
Jan. 7 , 2026 – Best New Teen Reads of 2025
Jan. 14, 2026 – Navigating New Building Projects
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.
