Category Archives: Library Management

Nebraska Public Library Accreditation 2018

Posted on July 3, 2018 by Christa Porter

The 2018 Public Library Accreditation process opened on July 1.

Fifty-eight Nebraska public libraries are due for re-accreditation in 2018. Fifty-six additional public libraries that submitted their annual statistics for the Public Library Survey are also eligible to apply for accreditation. These two groups of libraries have been contacted with details on how to initiate and go through the process.

Accreditation offers a measure of quality of a community’s library services. Through the questions in the Application Form, libraries are measured against guidelines developed by a task force of professional librarians. The guidelines are community-based, so that each library can determine its own priorities based on local community needs. To help libraries address how the library will serve the unique needs of its own community, libraries applying for accreditation also must submit a Community Needs Response Plan.

Completed Accreditation Applications and up-to-date Community Needs Response Plans are due October 1. The Applications and Plans will be evaluated and libraries will be informed of their new Accreditation Level, which is valid for three years, by December 31. There are three levels of Accreditation: Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

To see the complete list of all accredited Nebraska public libraries, check the Accreditation Status webpage.

For any questions about Nebraska Public Library Accreditation, contact Christa Porter, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.

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Special TUESDAY NCompass Live: Collection Development Made Easier with Ingram

Posted on June 29, 2018 by Christa Porter

NOTE! Due to the Independence Day holiday, this NCompass Live will be on Tuesday, July 3. It will be at the usual time, from 10am – 11am Central Time.

Join us for the next NCompass Live, ‘Collection Development Made Easier with Ingram’, on Tuesday, July 3, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.

Collection development can be a daunting task. There is so much out there, and reading piles of reviews takes time that you don’t have to spare. In this session, Ingram Library Services will share some resources that can help answer the question ‘How do I know what to buy?’. The HINT Program, High Interest New Titles, provides a list of the top 25 titles that other public libraries have on order that you have not yet ordered. Curated Collection Lists and Standing Orders/New Title Notifications can also help you find the best books for your library.

Presenter: Kevin Davenport, Inside Sales Representative, Ingram Library Services.

Upcoming NCompass Live events:

  • July 11 – WebJunction: The Learning Place for Libraries
  • July 18 – Many Languages, Many Cultures: Responding to Diverse Health Information Needs
  • July 25 – Emergency and Disaster Response Planning for Libraries
  • Aug. 1 – Engaging Your Community
  • Aug. 8 – Ditching Dewey: How we converted from Dewey to BISAC and lived to tell about it
  • Aug. 15 – Some of Our Favorites: The System Directors Talk Books
  • Aug. 22 – Excel for Librarians
  • Aug. 29 – We Find and We Fix: Connecting a Community at the Library

For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.

NCompass Live is regularly broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.

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NCompass Live: The 2018 Public Library Accreditation Process

Posted on June 22, 2018 by Christa Porter

Sign up today for the next NCompass Live, ‘The 2018 Public Library Accreditation Process’.

Join us on Wednesday, June 27, from 10-11am CT, to hear about the Nebraska Public Library Accreditation process, and get a head start if your library is up for re-accreditation in 2018. If your library is not currently Accredited, you’ll want to attend this session to learn more about the process and explore the possibility of becoming an Accredited Public Library. You will see how the application form works, relate that process to the required Community Needs Response Plan, and learn why Accreditation is important and what it can do for your library. This presentation will be of special interest to public library directors and public library board members.

Presenter: Christa Porter, Library Development Director, Nebraska Library Commission.

Upcoming NCompass Live events:

  • July 3 – NOTE SPECIAL TUESDAY DATE – Collection Development Made Easier with Ingram
  • July 11 – WebJunction: The Learning Place for Libraries
  • July 18 – Many Languages, Many Cultures: Responding to Diverse Health Information Needs
  • July 25 – Emergency and Disaster Response Planning for Libraries
  • Aug. 1 – Engaging Your Community
  • Aug. 8 – Ditching Dewey: How we converted from Dewey to BISAC and lived to tell about it
  • Aug. 15 – Some of Our Favorites: The System Directors Talk Books
  • Aug. 22 – Excel for Librarians
  • Aug. 29 – We Find and We Fix: Connecting a Community at the Library

For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.

NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.

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NCompass Live: Rising to the Challenge: Using the Aspen Institute Report and Action Guide for Strategic Planning

Posted on June 15, 2018 by Christa Porter

Join us for the next NCompass Live, ‘Rising to the Challenge: Using the Aspen Institute Report and Action Guide for Strategic Planning’, on Wednesday, June 20, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.

The Aspen Institute Dialogue on Public Libraries report Rising to the Challenge: Re-Envisioning Public Libraries and its companion Action Guide can be powerful tools for libraries as we seek to leverage our position as a trusted community resource to forge new partnerships for achieving community goals. Learn how one small public library used the Aspen Report in its strategic planning process to develop a dynamic new road map for community success.

Presenter: Anna L. Yount, Library Director, Transylvania County Library, Brevard, NC.

Upcoming NCompass Live events:

  • June 27 – The 2018 Public Library Accreditation Process
  • July 3 – NOTE SPECIAL TUESDAY DATE – Collection Development Made Easier with Ingram
  • July 11 – WebJunction: The Learning Place for Libraries
  • July 18 – Many Languages, Many Cultures: Responding to Diverse Health Information Needs
  • July 25 – Emergency and Disaster Response Planning for Libraries
  • Aug. 1 – Engaging Your Community
  • Aug. 8 – Ditching Dewey: How we converted from Dewey to BISAC and lived to tell about it
  • Aug. 15 – Some of Our Favorites: The System Directors Talk Books
  • Aug. 29 – We Find and We Fix: Connecting a Community at the Library

For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.

NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.

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Is Your Library the Best Small Library in America?

Posted on June 5, 2018 by Christa Porter

Calling all libraries serving communities of 25,000 or less! Library Journal is now accepting applications for the Best Small Library in America Award, made possible by sustaining sponsor Baker & Taylor. The deadline to nominate your library is July 2.

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.

The winning library will receive a $5,000 cash award, and two finalist libraries will be awarded $1,000 each – thanks to Baker & Taylor. All three will be featured in the September 15, 2018 issue of Library Journal and online.

The winner will also be highlighted at the 2018 Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) Conference, Sept. 13-15 in Springfield, IL, and, thanks to support from ARSL, will receive a scholarship to attend and the opportunity to speak there.

Nominate your favorite Nebraska library today! Learn more about the guidelines and submit your nomination on the Best Small Library in America Award website.

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NCompass Live: Are You Afraid of the Big, Bad Inventory?

Posted on June 1, 2018 by Christa Porter

Join us for the next NCompass Live, ‘Are You Afraid of the Big, Bad Inventory?’, on Wednesday, June 6, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.

Some libraries are experts at running inventories on a regular basis and their listings in their catalog are almost 100% accurate. Many other libraries have either NEVER done an inventory, have only done 1 in the last 10 years, or have started an inventory and never finished. Inventories can be scary and they can frighten people away. Come learn a few tips and tricks on completing a successful inventory. Learn how Keene Memorial Library just completed their first inventory in at least 20 years and hear about the pros, cons, and what we learned from our mistakes. Learn why it is important to do an inventory on a regular basis. Maybe that big, bad inventory won’t keep you up at nights after you hear our secrets.

Presenter: Tina Walker, Director, Keene Memorial Library (Fremont, NE).

Upcoming NCompass Live events:

  • June 20 – Rising to the Challenge: Using the Aspen Institute Report and Action Guide for Strategic Planning
  • June 27 – The 2018 Public Library Accreditation Process
  • July 11 – WebJunction: The Learning Place for Libraries
  • July 18 – Many Languages, Many Cultures: Responding to Diverse Health Information Needs
  • July 25 – Emergency and Disaster Response Planning for Libraries
  • August 1 – Engaging Your Community
  • Aug. 15 – Some of Our Favorites: The System Directors Talk Books

For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.

NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.

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2018 State Aid Letters Have Been Mailed

Posted on May 16, 2018 by Sam Shaw

The 2018 state aid calculations are now complete. State aid letters have been mailed and payments are in process. In the meantime, you can read (in general) about state aid and how it is distributed. Here is a list of the state aid distributions for 2018 (including this year’s formula). Finally, here is a link to a press release you can customize and use for your particular library.

Here is also a list of the libraries that will be receiving Dollar$ for Data payments. For those libraries, you are now eligible to apply for accreditation when the cycle opens this summer.

For libraries that aren’t accredited, now may be the time to consider the accreditation process, as you would then be eligible for state aid next year. You also need to submit your public library survey online via Bibliostat. The next public library survey collection cycle begins in November.

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2017 Public Library Survey Data is Now Available

Posted on May 9, 2018 by Sam Shaw

The 2017 public library survey data is now available on the NLC website. This is preliminary data (meaning that it has not yet been certified by IMLS) so keep in mind that it is subject to change. There is also a data dashboard that summarizes the data. Thanks to all of you who submitted your statistics. Historical data (back to 1999) is also available on our website. The next survey cycle begins in November, but you should be collecting those statistics now. If you are a new library director, check out the Bibliostat guide.

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2018 E-rate Funding Awarded to Nebraska Schools and Libraries

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Christa Porter

Last week, USAC released the first two Waves of Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDLs) for E-rate Funding Year 2018. Congratulations to all Nebraska schools and libraries funded in Waves 1 and 2!

Starting with the 2018 Funding Year, USAC is introducing a new format for FCDLs. Your FCDL will be attached as a printable PDF to the email notifying you that your FCDL has been issued. It will also be available in the Notifications section of your EPC account, but you are no longer required to log into your EPC account to view it.

USAC has posted a video walkthrough on the Trainings & Outreach area of the USAC website, demonstrating the new FCDL format.

As soon as you receive your FCDL, you can go on to the next step in the E-rate process, filing your Form 486. This form is submitted in your EPC account. Information and instructions on how to do that can be found in this USAC News Brief.

If you are not in Wave 1 or 2, don’t panic! There are many more weekly Waves to come as USAC processes more applications. This is just the start of Funding Year 2018, more approvals are coming. A list of libraries who have received E-rate funding is on the NLC E-rate webpage. The 2018 list will be updated as new funding waves are announced.

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.

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Free Webinar Series: The Social Library

Posted on April 4, 2018 by Mary Sauers

Social Library is a regular WebJunction series featuring some of the amazing work from the libraries that we follow on Facebook. It’s a great virtual tour of how libraries are using social media to connect with their communities, promote services and programs, and engage with their patrons and fans. If you’d like to see your library featured in the Social Library series, please let WebJunction know via social@webjunction.org, or find them on Facebook.

Here are the most recent entries in the Social Library series:

Social Library, Volume 104

 News / Last Modified:20 March 2018

The latest edition of our Social Library highlights innovative ways libraries are using Facebook to connect with communities. One library is circulating fishing poles and another created a video to show that yes, people still use libraries. One libra…

Social Library, Volume 103

 News / Last Modified:20 March 2018

This edition of our Social Library series presents fresh ideas from libraries truly responding to community needs. From language classes in Cree to a lactation station for mothers, and from services for local veterans to a community discussion on new…

Social Library, Volume 102

 News / Last Modified:06 March 2018

In this next edition of the Social Library, we’re showcasing a comic con focused on diversity, patron-designed library cards, libraries as creative economic development hubs, coffee-incentivized reading, and new services for health, literacy and pare…

Social Library, Volume 95

 News / Last Modified:22 February 2018

In this edition of our Social Library series we’re highlighting a pumpkin decorating contest (no carving allowed!), a library ambassador’s take on the new Austin Public Library, a makeup workshop, a 150 celebration, and a microcollege in the Brooklyn…

Social Library, Black History Month Edition

 News / Last Modified:20 February 2018

We continue the Social Library series with this special Black History Month edition, highlighting examples of ways your library can use social media to connect your community to books, programs, videos, oral histories and other resources during the m…

Social Library, Volume 100

 News / Last Modified:06 February 2018

We began our Social Library series nearly three years ago, and we’re pleased to be publishing our 100th edition today! We’ve featured 424 different libraries, representing over 60 states and countries. We have collected each of the editions into a sp…

Social Library, Volume 99

 News / Last Modified:23 January 2018

In this, the first 2018 edition of our Social Library series, we’re highlighting a fresh set of stellar examples of libraries leveraging Facebook in innovative ways. From a fun movie tie-in contest to a reading challenge, and from staff favorites to …

Social Library, Volume 98

 News / Last Modified:04 January 2018

This fresh edition of our Social Library series is guaranteed to bring a few surprises! These libraries are adding everything from lucha libre to the DMV to their offerings, and one is presenting a unique opportunity for patrons to “read away&qu…

Social Library, Volume 90

 News / Last Modified:21 December 2017

We continue our Social Library series with this latest edition featuring dogs and dinosaurs, a mobile kitchen, and some of the innovative ways libraries are using Facebook features. Thank you to all these libraries for their great work and if you’d l…

Social Library, Volume 97

 News / Last Modified:19 December 2017

This week’s edition of our Social Library series highlights posts from five libraries we follow on Facebook, with everything from tech tips to fundraising. There’s really no limit to what you can bring to social media to engage with your community. W…

Reprinted from WebJunction Crossroads : The Newsletter for Library Learning, April 4th, 2018
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NCompass Live: Building a Future: The Big Move

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Christa Porter

Join us for the next NCompass Live, ‘Building a Future: The Big Move’, on Wednesday, April 4, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.

The Timbrook Library, the busiest branch in the Campbell County Public Library System, located in Central Virginia, spent decades waiting for new construction. They operated out of a bookmobile (which eventually broke down and went up on blocks), a room in a school, and a storefront for many years before moving into a standalone building with amenities such as meetings spaces, tutor rooms, and a lunch room. The move was not without its own challenges. As we celebrate our second anniversary in the building, we’ll discuss the bumps and bruises (physical and on some egos) which occurred during the month-long move, how we handled this massive change, and how our team came through stronger than ever.

Presenter: Dana Bomba, Public Services Librarian, Campbell County Public Library, Lynchburg, VA.

Upcoming NCompass Live events:

  • April 11 – Teen Services Without Teen Spaces: Innovative Programming
  • April 18 – Reaching Out Through Your Collection
  • April 25 – Introducing the Nebraska Authors Database!
  • May 2 – Your Partners in Service: Accessing UNL Libraries Resources
  • May 16 – 2018 One Book One Nebraska: Nebraska Presence: An Anthology of Poetry

For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.

NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.

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NCompass Live: Providing Access to the Good Life for the Disabled

Posted on March 22, 2018 by Christa Porter

Join us for the next NCompass Live, ‘Providing Access to the Good Life for the Disabled’, on Wednesday, March 28, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.

Do you know the ADA standard for where you should place your books on the bookshelf? Do you know what kind of animals can legally be classified as a service animal? Do you know which policies you may want to look at to grant greater access to your services? You will if you attend this overview of how to best provide access to the disabled patrons in your community. The presenter is a long-time advocate for the disabled and was recently appointed as the State of Nebraska ADA Coordinator. As the ADA Coordinator, she will lead the State’s ADA Task Force and help ensure that the State’s programs, activities and services are accessible to all citizens.

Presenter: Crystal Booker, ADA Coordinator, State of Nebraska.

Upcoming NCompass Live events:

  • April 4 – Building a Future: The Big Move
  • April 11 – Teen Services Without Teen Spaces: Innovative Programming
  • April 18 – Reaching Out Through Your Collection
  • April 25 – Introducing the Nebraska Authors Database!
  • May 2 – Your Partners in Service: Accessing UNL Libraries Resources
  • May 16 – 2018 One Book One Nebraska: Nebraska Presence: An Anthology of Poetry

For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.

NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.

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Big Talk From Small Libraries 2018 Recordings Now Available

Posted on March 15, 2018 by Christa Porter

Recordings of all 2018 Big Talk From Small Libraries sessions are now available! You will find them through the Previous Conferences page.

We are still waiting for a few of the PowerPoint files from our presenters – they will be added as soon as we receive them.

And don’t forget to complete the conference Evaluation! We’re looking for input from people who attended the live conference and watched the archived recordings.

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Big Talk From Small Libraries is tomorrow!

Posted on February 22, 2018 by Christa Porter

Small libraries! Awesome ideas! FREE!

Join us tomorrow for the Big Talk From Small Libraries 2018 online conference. Registration is still open, so head over to the Registration page and sign up!

We have a great agenda for the day, with seven 50 minute sessions plus five 10 minute lightning round sessions. You can log in and out of the conference as you like throughout the day, based on your interest and availability.

And, Nebraska library staff 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.

So, come join us for a day of big ideas from small libraries!

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E-rate: Form 470 Deadline and Online Resources

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Christa Porter

Just a reminder …. Thursday, February 22 is the deadline to submit the first form in the E-rate process, Form 470, for the upcoming 2018 Funding Year.

The filing window for submitting the second form in the process, Form 471, opened on Thursday, January 11, and will close at 11:59 PM EDT on Thursday, March 22. This makes February 22 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, get your E-rate process started and submit your Form 470 as soon as possible!

Do you need help completing your forms? Do you have questions about E-rate? You’re in luck!

USAC has Form 470 resources on their website:

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 Christa Porter, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.

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NCompass Live: More Than a Library – a Positive Change Agent

Posted on February 9, 2018 by Christa Porter

Join us for the next NCompass Live, ‘More Than a Library – a Positive Change Agent’, on Wednesday, February 14, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.

This session will discuss the Millvale Community Library, a unique sustainable library with solar roof panels that was built from the ground up in 7 years, and now has a makerspace, is connected to a tea shop, and has 3 tenants above the library. We see it as our job to support our community economically, ecologically, and socially. The library is working day and night to make the Borough of Millvale a nicer place to live and learn.

Presenter: Susan McClellan, Executive Director, Millvale Community Library, Millvale, PA.

 

 

 

Upcoming NCompass Live events:

  • Feb. 21 – Why Diverse Literature Matters for Youth Services
  • Feb. 28 – Eleven Ways Your Current Tutorials Are as Forgettable as Barb and What to Do About It
  • March 7 – Pioneers in Violence Prevention: Libraries & Rape Crisis Centers
  • March 14 – Tops and Flops of Library Programs
  • March 28 – Providing Access to the Good Life for the Disabled

For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.

NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.

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Free Webinar–Money on Our Minds: How to Help Library Patrons Make Financial Choices

Posted on February 6, 2018 by Mary Sauers

You are invited to participate in a webinar to learn about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)’s financial education resources on Thursday, February 22, 2018 from 2:00 to 3:00pm eastern standard time. See below for details.

Many Americans are turning to a trusted source in their communities, their local public library.  The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal government agency, recognizes that libraries are a powerful and trusted community resource, and has materials specifically for libraries to use to inform their patrons about financial education.  Collaborating with the CFPB makes it easy for libraries to refer your patrons to trusted sources so they can make important money decisions.

Learn more about the value provided for libraries collaborating with CFPB

You can learn more about this exciting opportunity to help empower your patrons in the financial services market through an upcoming webinar conducted by the CFPB.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

2:00-3:00 pm (Eastern Time)

Step 1:  To join the February 22nd webinar, please go to the following link at the time of the webinar:

https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=PWXW6738308&p=7758404&t=c

(Note that this webinar link will not be live until the day of the webinar).

Step 2:  Listen to the audio by dialing 888-795-5920 and entering participant passcode 77-58-404.

Step 3: If you can’t participate on the day of the webinar, it will be recorded, and available for later viewing here:  CFPB Library Training Resources

If you have any questions about this webinar-or about CFPB’s Libraries Initiative–please contact Ken McDonnell at Kenneth.mcdonnell@cfpb.gov;

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau : consumerfinance.gov 

Posted in Education & Training, General, Information Resources, Library Management, Programming, Uncategorized, What's Up Doc / Govdocs | 1 Comment

Community Needs Response Planning Workshops Scheduled

Posted on January 12, 2018 by Christa Porter

Community Needs Response Planning (aka Strategic Planning) Workshops have been scheduled in locations across the state and online.

What is a Community Needs Response Plan? You may remember it as the Strategic Plan required for Nebraska Public Library Accreditation. To more accurately represent the focus of the plan, we have renamed it. The process of writing the plan and the content remains the same – this is a change in name only, to better reflect why you are creating this plan and how you can use it in your community.

So, do you have a plan? The Nebraska Guidelines for Public Library Accreditation are community-based, so libraries need to know what their communities’ needs are in order to provide appropriate library services that meet those unique needs. That’s where planning comes in!

Christa Porter, NLC’s Library Development Director, will guide you through Community Needs Response Planning for your library. Public Library Directors, Staff, and Library Board Members are encouraged to attend.

Dates and locations:

  • January 26 – Lincoln
  • February 7 – O’Neill
  • February 20 – Grand Island
  • February 21 – Sidney
  • February 22 – North Platte
  • March 1 – West Point
  • March 8 – Online, GoToWebinar

To register for any of these sessions, go to the Nebraska Library Commission’s Training & Events Calendar and search for ‘community needs response’.NLC Logo

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E-rate Form 471 Application Filing Window Now Open

Posted on January 12, 2018 by Christa Porter

The Form 471 application filing window for Funding Year 2018 opened yesterday at noon EST and will close on Thursday, March 22 at 11:59 pm EDT. You may now log on to the E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and file your FCC Form 471 for FY2018.

This makes Thursday, February 22, 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, like illness, weather, power outage, etc., then you would miss the deadline and lose out on E-rate altogether. So, 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. Note: This Notice is no longer mailed to you. It is now sent to you within the EPC portal and will be in your News feed.

Do you need help completing your forms? Do you have questions about E-rate? You’re in luck!

USAC has Form 471 resources on their website:

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 Christa Porter, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.

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E-rate: What’s New for 2018? – Recording now available

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Christa Porter

The recording of the E-rate: What’s New for 2018? online session is now available.

What is E-rate? How can my public 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 Telecommunications, Internet access, and Internal Connections costs in order to make these services more affordable. There have been some big changes to E-rate since USAC launched the E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC). This new online portal is the main point of entry for all E-rate interactions. With your organizational account you can now use EPC to file forms, track your application status, communicate with USAC, and more.

What does your public library need to know to use this new E-rate portal? In this workshop, Christa Porter, Nebraska’s State E-rate Coordinator for Public Libraries, will first cover the basics of the E-rate program and then show you how to access and use your account in EPC to submit your Funding Year 2018 E-rate application.

If you have any questions or need any assistance with your E-rate forms, visit the NLC E-rate webpage or please contact Christa Porter, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.

 

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