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Category Archives: Public Library Boards of Trustees
NCompass Live: Creating and Implementing Library Policies
Learn effective methods for ‘Creating and Implementing Library Policies’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, on Wednesday, July 23 at 10am CT.
Policies are a very important piece of how a library is run, but they can be daunting to create or revise for some. In this session, we’ll discuss how to craft policies that fit within your library’s mission statement and goals, are easier to review and revise on a regular basis, and hopefully can be implemented correctly.
Presenter: Scott Childers, Executive Director, Southeast Library System, Lincoln, NE; Christa Porter, Library Development Director, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- July 30 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Introducing AI with Purpose and Practicality
- Aug. 6 – National Book Festival Near You
- Aug. 13 – Ditching 1000 Books: A New Initiative
- Aug. 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech
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.
NOTE:This episode of NCompass Live will be presented online using Zoom. Login instructions will be sent to registered attendees after registration has closed. The Registration End date is listed on each session page, but usually closes on the Monday night before the date of the session.
Fern V. Heim Trustee Scholarship: Still Time to Apply!
Apply for an individual $500 scholarship to attend either the NLA 2025 Conference in York on October 22nd-24th or to the ARSL 2025 Conference in Albuquerque, NM on September 17th-20th!
The Fern V. Heim Scholarship for Trustees was established by her friend, Mary Louise Dutcher, to honor Fern’s dedication to small public libraries and their trustees. Although Fern’s library career began in special libraries (Head of the UNL Chemistry Department Library, Serials and Circulation Departments of UNL Love Library, and then Director of the Research Library at Goodrich Tire and Rubber in Akron, Ohio), her work at the Nebraska Library Commission was devoted to public libraries. Recognizing that few small library budgets could provide support for librarians, let alone their volunteer trustees, to attend professional meetings, she encouraged them to go whenever possible (at their own expense) if only for a portion of the meeting. As her legacy, it is fitting to assist those trustees through this scholarship program.
**This scholarship is open only to current Nebraska Public Library Board Members!**
The Fern V. Heim Scholarship Award was established to provide assistance to current public library trustees with preference to members of the Nebraska Library Association Public Library and Trustee Section (PLTS) for attendance to the Nebraska Library Association Conference or the Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference.
Applications due by August 1, 2025!
For more details and application:
- Fern V. Heim Library Trustee Scholarship
- Grant Application
- NLA Conference Website
- ARSL Conference Website
Please submit all grant application forms and questions to:
Holli Duggan
Posted in Education & Training, Grants, Public Library Boards of Trustees
Tagged ARSL, Board Members, CEgrants, conference, Fern Heim Scholarship, Grant, NLA, Trustees
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United for Libraries Virtual 2025: Statewide Registration
2025 United for Libraries Virtual: Trustees, Friends, Foundations
Tuesday, July 29th – Thursday, July 31st
The Nebraska Library Commission has purchased statewide registration! All library directors/staff, Trustees/board members, and Friends of the Library and Foundation representatives receive FREE registration and/or on-demand viewing – a value of $149 per person.
Registration includes live attendance and on-demand access to three full days of programming, expert speakers, microlearning sessions, and the “Virtual Gala Author Tea.” Programming runs from 10:00 am CST to approximately 3:00 pm CST daily with scheduled breaks. Registrants may participate in some or all program sessions live, and/or watch recordings on-demand.
Sessions include:
- Tuesday, July 29th – Trustee Day
- Get Familiar with Freedom of Information Laws
- Meetings That Matter: Driving Results, Not Just Discussions
- Public Official Basics for Trustees: Introduction to Public Administration and Public Finance
- Top 10 Things Library Board Members Should Know – But Often Don’t
- Why Is It Always a Battle?: Concerns of Public Library Trustees in the United States
- Keynote – Austin Channing Brown
- Wednesday, July 30th – Foundation/Fundraising Day
- Library Storytelling: How to Find Memorable Library Stories to Use for Marketing and Promotion
- Let Your Impact Ring! Sharing Your Library’s Successes so Funders Will Listen
- Overcoming the Barriers to Library Fundraising Success
- Strengthening Library and Foundation Relationships: The Role of the Memorandum of Understanding and Relationship Committee
- Virtual Gala Author Tea
- Thursday, July 31st – Friends Day
- Friends for Everyone: Inclusivity and Accessibility Best Practices
- Get Strategic: Creating a Strategic Plan for Your Friends Group
- Gnomes Need Homes: A Different Type of Silent Auction!
- Lessons from a New Board President
- Library Funding 101: Understanding How Things Get Paid
Special Events:
- Keynote – Tuesday, July 29th (3:30 pm CST)
- “Austin Channing Brown is an author and speaker providing inspired leadership on racial justice in America. She is the New York Times bestselling author of I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness, a Reese’s Book Club pick. Her work has been featured by outlets such as On Being, Chicago Tribune, and WNYC. Her new book, Full of Myself, releases in August 2025.”
- Virtual Gala Author Tea – Wednesday, July 30th (3:30 pm CST)
- Join United for Libraries for our 2025 Virtual Gala Author Tea. Bring your beverage of choice and enjoy authors talking about their writing experience and latest books. Moderated by Donna Seaman, Editor of Adult Books, Booklist.
- Invite your library staff and patrons! More details coming soon.
Registration Options – Choose one of the options below to register:
- Statewide Free Registration Form
- Allow one business day for registration.
- ALA eLearning Website via the Nebraska Statewide Access Course
- Must be enrolled in the Nebraska access course to register. You will be prompted to login, if not already logged in.
- Email United for Libraries
- Email united@ala.org
- Include your full name, email address, library, and primary role on behalf of your library.
- Allow one business day for registration.
- Bulk Registration
- Library directors may email united@ala.org
- Include full name, email address, and primary role on behalf of the library for each individual to register.
- Allow two business days to register.
- For registration questions, contact United for Libraries staff by email at united@ala.org or by phone at (312) 280-2161.
If you have any questions, please contact Holli Duggan.
NCompass Live: Nebraska Open Meetings Act: 2025 Overview and Update
Join us for a 2025 Overview and Update on Nebraska’s Open Meetings Act on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, on Wednesday, June 25 at 10am CT.
Public library boards for communities of all sizes in Nebraska are required to follow our state’s Open Meetings Act when holding their meetings. In this session, we’ll point out some of the major points of this state law for library boards, changes for 2025, and some of the consequences of not following Open Meeting law.
Note: This topic is very Nebraska specific. If you are attending from another state some of the things we discuss may not be applicable for your library boards.
Presenters: Scott Childers, Executive Director, Southeast Library System, Lincoln, NE; Christa Porter, Library Development Director, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- July 2 – Creative Aging Outreach Opportunities for Libraries
- July 9 – Printing, Scanning, and Faxing at the Library
- July 30 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- Aug. 13 – Ditching 1000 Books: A New Initiative
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.
NOTE:This episode of NCompass Live will be presented online using Zoom. Login instructions will be sent to registered attendees after registration has closed. The Registration End date is listed on each session page, but usually closes on the Monday night before the date of the session.
Fern V. Heim Trustee Scholarship: Applications Open!
Apply for an individual $500 scholarship to attend either the NLA 2025 Conference in York on October 22nd-24th or to the ARSL 2025 Conference in Albuquerque, NM on September 17th-20th!
The Fern V. Heim Scholarship for Trustees was established by her friend, Mary Louise Dutcher, to honor Fern’s dedication to small public libraries and their trustees. Although Fern’s library career began in special libraries (Head of the UNL Chemistry Department Library, Serials and Circulation Departments of UNL Love Library, and then Director of the Research Library at Goodrich Tire and Rubber in Akron, Ohio), her work at the Nebraska Library Commission was devoted to public libraries. Recognizing that few small library budgets could provide support for librarians, let alone their volunteer trustees, to attend professional meetings, she encouraged them to go whenever possible (at their own expense) if only for a portion of the meeting. As her legacy, it is fitting to assist those trustees through this scholarship program.
**This scholarship is open only to current Nebraska Public Library Board Members!**
The Fern V. Heim Scholarship Award was established to provide assistance to current public library trustees with preference to members of the Nebraska Library Association Public Library and Trustee Section (PLTS) for attendance to the Nebraska Library Association Conference or the Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference.
Applications due by August 1, 2025!
For more details and application:
- Fern V. Heim Library Trustee Scholarship
- Grant Application
- NLA Conference Website
- ARSL Conference Website
Please submit all grant application forms and questions to:
Holli Duggan
Posted in Education & Training, Grants, Public Library Boards of Trustees
Tagged ARSL, Board Members, CEgrants, conference, Fern Heim Scholarship, Grant, NLA, Trustees
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Public Library Accreditation 2025 Workshops Scheduled
‘Public Library Accreditation 2025’ workshops are now open for registration! All workshops will be held online only, via GoTo Webinar. To register for a session, go to the Nebraska Library Commission’s Training & Events Calendar and search for ‘accreditation 2025’.
NOTE: These online workshops are being offered on several days and at varied times, to give attendees multiple opportunities to find a convenient time to attend. The same information will be provided at each workshop, so you only need to register for one session. A recorded version will also be made available after all of the live sessions have been held.
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 3 – 1:00-4:00pm Central / 12:00noon-3pm Mountain
- June 5 – 9:30am-12:30pm Central / 8:30-11:30am Mountain
- June 10– 9:30am-12:30pm Central / 8:30-11:30am Mountain
- June 11 – 1:00-4:00pm Central / 12:00noon-3pm Mountain
To register for a session, go to the Nebraska Library Commission’s Training & Events Calendar and search for ‘accreditation 2025’.
Continuing Education: Weekly Resources
Below is a list of free training opportunities coming up this week! There is also a monthly list of free training resources which is compiled each month by the Maine State Library and WebJunction.
(Many webinars are recorded and can be watched later.)
For more information, please visit NLC: Free Webinars or WebJunction: Free Training
- NCompass Live
- Nebraska Events & Meetings
- Online Conferences (Recorded Sessions)
- Advocacy
- Boards
- Careers
- Collection Development
- Data & Research
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
- Fundraising
- Outreach and Partners
- Readers’ Advisory
- Reference
- School Libraries
- Technology
- Nov 19: The Geopolitics of the Internet and Its Implications for the Governance of AI (Proquest)
- Nov 19: Impactful Visual Storytelling in PowerPoint to Banish Bullet Points (Training Magazine Network)
- Nov 20: 4th Annual App Smash (All4Ed)
- Nov 20: Media Literacy Education for Adult Audiences: Navigating the Attention Economy (Programming Librarian)
To submit CE hours for the NLC certification programs:
Questions about CE hours or the certification programs, please contact: Holli Duggan
NCompass Live: Nebraska Open Meetings Act: 2024 Overview and Update
Join us for a 2024 Overview and Update on Nebraska’s Open Meetings Act on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, November 13 at 10am CT.
Public library boards for communities of all sizes in Nebraska are required to follow our state’s Open Meetings Act when holding their meetings. In this session, we’ll point out some of the major points of this state law for library boards, changes for 2024 and 2025, and some of the consequences of not following Open Meeting law. Note: This topic is very Nebraska specific. If you are attending from another state some of the things we discuss may not be applicable for your library boards.
Presenters: Scott Childers, Executive Director, Southeast Library System, Lincoln, NE; Christa Porter, Library Development Director, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Nov. 20 – Building Cultures of Reading with Reader Zone
- Nov. 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- Dec. 11 – Best New Children’s Books of 2024
- Jan. 8, 2025 – Best New Teen Reads of 2024
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.
Continuing Education: Weekly Resources
Below is a list of free training opportunities coming up this week! There is also a monthly list of free training resources which is compiled each month by the Maine State Library and WebJunction. (Many webinars are recorded and can be watched later.)
For more information, please visit NLC: Free Webinars or WebJunction: Free Training
- NCompass Live
- Nebraska Events & Meetings
- NLC Basic Skills
- Nov 4: Leadership 2024
- Advocacy
- Assessment and Planning
- Nov 7: Preparing Your Nonprofit’s Finances for 2025: A Roadmap to Success (CharityVillage)
- Nov 7: Six Steps for Impact Report Success: Enhancing Retention and Stewardships (Blackbaud)
- Nov 7: Strategy, Planning, and Outcomes: Bridging Your Strategy Work with Ground Level Impacts (PropelNonprofits)
- Nov 7: Visual Storytelling and AI Insights using Data Commons (TechSoup)
- Children and Teens
- Collection Development
- Communication
- Fundraising
- Programming
- Readers’ Advisory
- Reference
- School Libraries
- Technology
To submit CE hours for the NLC certification programs:
Questions about CE hours or the certification programs, please contact: Holli Duggan
United for Libraries Learning Live: Building Effective Library Director & Board Relationships
All Nebraska public libraries are members of United for Libraries through the Statewide Group Membership purchased by the Nebraska Library Commission. The Commission provides this membership to ensure that public library staff members, Friends, Trustees, and Foundations can take advantage of United for Libraries’ services to enhance fundraising, advocacy, and public awareness.
Tuesday, October 8th, 1:00 PM (CST)
“A strong director-board relationship is essential to the success of the library. Find out how the best practices on the director and board working together on advocacy, community outreach, planning, succession, and more. Find out how to prevent and solve conflicts, and how to unite to advance the library’s mission.”
Statewide Group Members receive FREE registration for the live webinars and on-demand access for the duration of the active statewide group membership. These “Learning Live” sessions are recorded and can be accessed through the United for Libraries eLearning course.
For more information about previous sessions, please visit: Previous “Learning Live” Sessions
NCompass Live: NLC Grants for 2025
Learn more about the NLC Grants for 2025 on this week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, September 25 at 10am CT.
Nebraska Accredited Public Libraries and State-run Institutions! Do you have an idea for a program or project you would like to see funded? Apply for an NLC Grant!
The Nebraska Library Commission has made funding available for four grants for 2025: Continuing Education & Training, Internship, Library Improvement, and Youth Grants for Excellence. Don’t let your library miss out on these opportunities!
Grant applications for all 2025 NLC grants opened on September 20 and will be due November 15, 2024.
Join Christa Porter, Sally Snyder, and Holli Duggan, from the Nebraska Library Commission’s Library Development Team, as they provide an overview of the grants, including eligibility requirements and grant guidelines, the application process and grant review, timelines and deadlines. They will also share some tips on writing effective grants.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Oct. 2 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Digital Navigators & Digital Equity in Nebraska
- Oct. 9 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE – ENJOY NLA!
- Oct. 16 – Dragons at the Library: An Exciting New Reading Program
- Oct. 23 – Letters About Literature 2024
- Oct. 30 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- Nov. 6 – Summer Reading Program 2025: Color Our World
- Nov. 13 – Nebraska Open Meetings Act: 2024 Overview and Update
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Books & Reading, Education & Training, General, Grants, Information Resources, Library Management, Now hiring @ your library, Preservation, Programming, Public Library Boards of Trustees, Public Relations, Technology, Youth Services
Tagged Continuing Education, Internship Grants, library improvement gratns, NCompLive, Youth Grants for Excellence
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Call for Speakers: Big Talk From Small Libraries 2025

The Call for Speakers for Big Talk From Small Libraries 2025 is now open!
Submit your proposal by Friday, December 13, 2024.
This free one-day online conference is tailored for staff from small libraries; the smaller the better!
Small libraries of all types – public, academic, school, museum, special, etc. – are encouraged to submit a proposal. We’re looking for seven 50-minute presentations and four 10-minute “lightning round” presentations.
Do you offer a service or program at your small library that other librarians might like to hear about? Have you implemented a new (or old) technology, hosted an event, partnered with others in your community, or just done something really cool? The Big Talk From Small Libraries online conference gives you the opportunity to share what you’ve done, while learning what your colleagues in other small libraries are doing.
Here are some possible topics to get you thinking:
- Unique Libraries
- Special Collections
- New buildings
- Fundraising
- Improved Workflows
- Staff Development
- Advocacy Efforts
- Community Partnerships
- That great thing you’re doing at your library!
Speakers from libraries serving fewer than 10,000 people will be preferred, but presentations from libraries with larger service populations will be considered. Speakers must be from small libraries or directly partnered with a small library and submitting a proposal to co-present with the library.
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2025 will be held on Friday, February 28, 2025 between 8:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (CT) via the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Speakers will present their programs from their own desktops. The schedule will accommodate speakers’ time-zones.
This conference is sponsored by the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) and the Nebraska Library Commission.
Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash
Fern V. Heim Trustee Scholarship: Applications Extended!
Apply for an individual scholarship to attend either the NLA 2024 Conference in Kearney on October 9th-11th or to virtually attend the ARSL 2024 Conference on September 11th-14th!
**These scholarships are open only for current Nebraska Public Library Board Members!**
The Fern V. Heim Scholarship for Trustees was established by her friend, Mary Louise Dutcher, to honor Fern’s dedication to small public libraries and their trustees. Although Fern’s library career began in special libraries (Head of the UNL Chemistry Department Library, Serials and Circulation Departments of UNL Love Library, and then Director of the Research Library at Goodrich Tire and Rubber in Akron, Ohio), her work at the Nebraska Library Commission was devoted to public libraries. Recognizing that few small library budgets could provide support for librarians, let alone their volunteer trustees, to attend professional meetings, she encouraged them to go whenever possible (at their own expense) if only for a portion of the meeting. As her legacy, it is fitting to assist those trustees through this scholarship program.
The Fern V. Heim Scholarship Award was established to provide assistance to current public library trustees with preference to members of the Nebraska Library Association Public Library and Trustee Section (PLTS) for attendance at the Nebraska Library Association Conference or the Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference.
Applications due by Friday, September 6, 2024!
For more details and application:
- Fern V. Heim Library Trustee Scholarship
- Grant Application
- NLA Conference Website
- ARSL Conference Website (Virtual Registration)
Please submit all grant application forms and questions to: Holli Duggan
Fern V. Heim Trustee Scholarship: Applications Due Friday!

Apply for an individual $500 scholarship to attend either the NLA 2024 Conference in Kearney on October 9th-11th or to the ARSL 2024 Conference in Springfield, MA on September 11th-14th!
The Fern V. Heim Scholarship for Trustees was established by her friend, Mary Louise Dutcher, to honor Fern’s dedication to small public libraries and their trustees. Although Fern’s library career began in special libraries (Head of the UNL Chemistry Department Library, Serials and Circulation Departments of UNL Love Library, and then Director of the Research Library at Goodrich Tire and Rubber in Akron, Ohio), her work at the Nebraska Library Commission was devoted to public libraries. Recognizing that few small library budgets could provide support for librarians, let alone their volunteer trustees, to attend professional meetings, she encouraged them to go whenever possible (at their own expense) if only for a portion of the meeting. As her legacy, it is fitting to assist those trustees through this scholarship program.
The Fern V. Heim Scholarship Award was established to provide assistance to current public library trustees with preference to members of the Nebraska Library Association Public Library and Trustee Section (PLTS) for attendance at the Nebraska Library Association Conference or the Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference.
Applications due by August 16, 2024!
For more details and application:
- Fern V. Heim Library Trustee Scholarship
- Grant Application
- NLA Conference Website
- ARSL Conference Website
Please submit all grant application forms and questions to:
Holli Duggan
Posted in Education & Training, Grants, Public Library Boards of Trustees
Tagged ARSL2024, conference, Fern Heim Scholarship, Grant, NLA, Trustees
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United for Libraries Virtual 2024: Statewide Registration
2024 United for Libraries Virtual: Trustees, Friends, Foundations
Tuesday July 30 – Thursday, August 1
There’s still time to register for the 2024 United for Libraries Virtual Conference! All Nebraska library directors/staff, Trustees/board members, and Friends of the Library and Foundation representatives receive FREE live registration – a value of $149 per person.
Registration includes live attendance and on-demand access to three full days of programming, keynote featuring author Eric Klinenberg, and the virtual Gala Author Tea. Individuals may attend any/all sessions live and/or watch on-demand.
This interactive three-day virtual event will feature expert speakers on current topics facing library Trustees, Friends, Foundations, and staff who work with them.
- Participate in live Q&A sessions with presenters
- Enjoy exclusive access to keynote speakers and authors
- Receive a certificate of attendance (for live participation or on-demand viewing)
Programming runs from 10:00 am CST to approximately 3:00 pm CST daily with scheduled breaks. Registrants may participate in some or all program sessions live, and/or watch recordings on-demand. (Sessions are also eligible for certification CE hours!)
Sessions include:
Tuesday, July 30th – Trustee Day
- “Rising to the Challenge: The Trustee’s Role in the ‘Culture Wars’”
- “Securing Tomorrow: Effective Succession Strategies for Library Boards”
- “Valuing Your Library: Beyond Cost-Benefit Analysis”
Wednesday, July 31st – Foundations & Fundraising Day
- “Donor Engagement: Acquiring and Inspiring Committed and Faithful Supporters”
- “Enhancing the Story – Developing a Smaller-Scale Capital Projects Fundraising Campaign”
- “Fundraising Tips and Tricks: Some Novel Ideas”
- “Marketing is the Future: How to Build a More Sustainable Library Foundation Model by Integrating Marketing in the Organizational Culture, Strategy, and Practice”
Thursday, August 1st – Friends Day
- “An Extravaganza of Literary Events for Your Library”
- “Championing Library Freedom: How Friends Groups Can Fight Back When Our Library is Under Attack”
- “Libraries are Better with Friends: How to Foster a Strong Group of Advocates”
- “Smooth Sailing with Library Trustees and Staff”
Registration Options
Choose *one* of the following options below to register for the virtual conference:
- Statewide Free Registration Form
- Submit the Statewide Free Registration Form
- Allow one business day for registration.
- Email United for Libraries
- Email united@ala.org
- Include your full name, email address, library, and primary library role
- Allow one business day for registration
- Bulk Registration
- Library Directors may email united@ala.org
- Include full names, email addresses, and primary library roles for each individual to register
- Allow two business days for registration.
If you have any questions, please contact Holli Duggan.
United for Libraries Virtual 2024: Statewide Registration
2024 United for Libraries Virtual: Trustees, Friends, Foundations
Tuesday July 30 – Thursday, August 1
Congratulations! The Nebraska Library Commission has purchased statewide registration! All library directors/staff, Trustees/board members, and Friends of the Library and Foundation representatives receive FREE live registration and/or on-demand viewing – a value of $149 per person.
Registration includes live attendance and on-demand access to three full days of programming, keynote featuring author Eric Klinenberg, and the virtual Gala Author Tea. Individuals may attend any/all sessions live and/or watch on-demand.
This interactive three-day virtual event will feature expert speakers on current topics facing library Trustees, Friends, Foundations, and staff who work with them.
- Participate in live Q&A sessions with presenters
- Enjoy exclusive access to keynote speakers and authors
- Receive a certificate of attendance (for live participation or on-demand viewing)
Programming runs from 10:00 am CST to approximately 3:00 pm CST daily with scheduled breaks. Registrants may participate in some or all program sessions live, and/or watch recordings on-demand.
Sessions include:
Tuesday, July 30th – Trustee Day
- “Rising to the Challenge: The Trustee’s Role in the ‘Culture Wars'”
- “Securing Tomorrow: Effective Succession Strategies for Library Boards”
- “Valuing Your Library: Beyond Cost-Benefit Analysis”
Wednesday, July 31st – Foundations & Fundraising Day
- “Donor Engagement: Acquiring and Inspiring Committed and Faithful Supporters”
- “Enhancing the Story – Developing a Smaller-Scale Capital Projects Fundraising Campaign”
- “Fundraising Tips and Tricks: Some Novel Ideas”
- “Marketing is the Future: How to Build a More Sustainable Library Foundation Model by Integrating Marketing in the Organizational Culture, Strategy, and Practice”
Thursday, August 1st – Friends Day
- “An Extravaganza of Literary Events for Your Library”
- “Championing Library Freedom: How Friends Groups Can Fight Back When Our Library is Under Attack”
- “Libraries are Better with Friends: How to Foster a Strong Group of Advocates”
- “Smooth Sailing with Library Trustees and Staff”
Registration Options
Choose *one* of the following options below to register for the virtual conference:
- ALA eLearning Website
- Nebraska Statewide Group Membership Course
- You will be prompted to login, if not already logged in.
- Statewide Free Registration Form
- Submit the Statewide Free Registration Form
- Allow one business day for registration.
- Email United for Libraries
- Email united@ala.org
- Include your full name, email address, library, and primary library role
- Allow one business day for registration
- Bulk Registration
- Library Directors may email united@ala.org
- Include full names, email addresses, and primary library roles for each individual to register
- Allow two business days for registration.
If you have any questions, please contact Holli Duggan.
ARSL 2024 Early Bird Conference Registration is NOW OPEN!
Registration for both in-person and virtual attendance at the 2024 Association for Rural & Small Libraries Conference is open!
The in-person 2024 ARSL Conference will be held at the MassMutual Center, Springfield, Massachusetts, from September 11-14, 2024.
This year’s conference theme is “Libraries are (r)Evolutionary.” Our conference provides an opportunity to explore the transformative power of rural and small libraries in our communities. Like chrysalises of change, these libraries nurture revolutionary ideas and evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of our patrons. Let’s embrace the (r)Evolutionary spirit of libraries and inspire each other.
Early Bird pricing for in-person attendance will be available through July 16.
For more information about the conference and to register, visit the 2024 Conference Homepage.
ARSL Member Rates
- Base Conference Attendance
Early Bird – $295
Regular – $380
On-site – $380 + $25 admin fee - Preconference Workshops**
3-Hour Workshops – $60
4-Hour Workshops – $75
7-Hour Workshop – $160 - Virtual Attendance
$55
Student, Advocate & Retiree Rates*
- Base Conference Attendance
Early Bird – $250
Regular – $290
On-site – $290 + $25 admin fee - Preconference Workshops**
3-Hour Workshops – $60
4-Hour Workshops – $75
7-Hour Workshop – $160 - Virtual Attendance
$30
Nonmember Rates
- Base Conference Attendance
Early Bird – $390
Regular – $460
On-site – $460 + $25 admin fee - Preconference Workshops**
3-Hour Workshops – $85
4-Hour Workshops – $100
7-Hour Workshop – $205 - Virtual Attendance
$80
*Must be an ARSL Advocate, Student, or Retiree member. **Preconference Workshop fees are charged in addition to Base Conference Registration and are available for in-person conference attendees only.
Public Library Accreditation 2024 Workshops Scheduled
‘Public Library Accreditation 2024’ workshops are now open for registration! All workshops will be held online only, via GoTo Webinar. To register for a session, go to the Nebraska Library Commission’s Training & Events Calendar and search for ‘accreditation 2024’.
NOTE: The online workshop is being offered on several days and at varied times, to give attendees multiple opportunities to find a convenient time to attend. The same information will be provided at each workshop, so you only need to register for one session. A recorded version will also be made available after all of the live sessions have been held.
The purpose of Nebraska Public Library Accreditation is to encourage excellent library service in Nebraska communities. The guidelines used to evaluate libraries and their services are community-based, so libraries need to know their communities’ needs in order to provide appropriate library services that meet those unique needs. That’s where Community Needs Response Planning comes in!
In this workshop, Christa Porter, NLC’s Library Development Director, will answer all of your accreditation questions, such as:
- What is Nebraska Public Library Accreditation?
- What are the benefits of accreditation?
- How does my library become accredited?
- What’s a Community Needs Response Plan? And why does my library need one?
Public Library Directors, Staff, and Library Board Members are encouraged to attend.
Dates and times:
- June 4 – 1:00-4:00pm Central / 12:00noon-3pm Mountain
- June 6 – 9:30am-12:30pm Central / 8:30-11:30am Mountain
- June 11– 9:30am-12:30pm Central / 8:30-11:30am Mountain
- June 12 – 1:00-4:00pm Central / 12:00noon-3pm Mountain
To register for a session, go to the Nebraska Library Commission’s Training & Events Calendar and search for ‘accreditation 2024’.
United for Libraries Learning Live: A Practical Guide to Evaluating Your Library Director
All Nebraska public libraries are members of United for Libraries through the Statewide Group Membership purchased by the Nebraska Library Commission. The Commission provides this membership to ensure that public library staff members, Friends, Trustees, and Foundations can take advantage of United for Libraries’ services to enhance fundraising, advocacy, and public awareness.
A Practical Guide to Evaluating Your Library Director
Tuesday, April 9th, 1:00 PM (CST)
“Part of a Trustee’s responsibility is to evaluate the library director, yet many organizations do not have an annual review procedure in place. During this Learning Live, library Trustees will acquire the tools needed to conduct an annual evaluation. This session is designed with the understanding that many Trustees do not have HR experience. We’ll offer practical strategies and tools to effectively assess the performance of library directors, with insight from a variety of library stakeholders. Trustees will gain the knowledge and confidence they need to conduct meaningful evaluations of their library directors. Especially when things are going well!”
Statewide Group Members receive FREE registration for the live webinars and on-demand access for the duration of the active statewide group membership. These “Learning Live” sessions are recorded and can be accessed through the United for Libraries eLearning course.
For more information about previous sessions, please visit: Previous “Learning Live” Sessions
United for Libraries Learning Live: Media and Crisis Communications for Trustees & Friends
All Nebraska public libraries are members of United for Libraries through the Statewide Group Membership purchased by the Nebraska Library Commission. The Commission provides this membership to ensure that public library staff members, Friends, Trustees, and Foundations can take advantage of United for Libraries’ services to enhance fundraising, advocacy, and public awareness.
United for Libraries Learning Live: Media and Crisis Communications for Trustees & Friends
Tuesday, March 12, 1:00 PM (CST)
“Is your library’s Board of Trustees and/or Friends of the Library group prepared for a crisis? How can you support your library’s communications policies and procedures? This session, presented by longtime senior communications and marketing executive Kathleen McEvoy, will go over how to develop a solid communication plan, what to know about working with the media, tips on communicating the library’s value, how to respond to inquiries about book bans/censorship, and more. This program will offer tips for board members and Friends, as well as those who work with them.”
Statewide Group Members receive FREE registration for the live webinars and on-demand access for the duration of the active statewide group membership. These “Learning Live” sessions are recorded and can be accessed through the United for Libraries eLearning course.
For more information about previous sessions, please visit: Previous “Learning Live” Sessions