Highlights & Trends from Computers in Libraries 2025 will be shared on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, April 30 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.
Computers in Libraries is the world’s leading technology and innovation conference for librarians! In this session I will cover come of the awesome ideas, tools, tips and tricks of the trade I picked up while in D.C. this year.
I hope to see you there! As a side note, if you’re looking for more emerging tech trends in the library, check out Computers in Libraries magazine.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
May 7 – Everyday Advocacy for Smaller Libraries: Practical & Affordable Solutions
May 14 – The 2025 Public Library Accreditation Process
May 21 – Small Adjustments for Big Changes
May 28 – Pretty Sweet Tech
June 4 – Food for Thought: Addressing Food Waste, Access & Insecurity through Rural Libraries
June 11 – Sparking Community Connections: Rural Public Library Partnerships
June 18 – Outreach at Any Size
June 25 – 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.
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 Nebraska Library Commission is pleased to announce that World Archives Holdings, LLC, of Provo, Utah, is offering Nebraska libraries trial access to NewspaperArchive content through April 24, 2025.
NewspaperArchive features:
The ability to search across nearly 16,000 newspaper publications, containing over 3 billion articles and photos.
Content dating from 1607 to the present.
Coverage from 48 countries and all 50 U.S. states.
Tools to help search, discover, save, and share the stories you find.
This will be popular with genealogists as well as those interested in primary source historical content.
Collections: The following NewspaperArchive collections will be available for subscription on a July 1st through June 30th term:
Single-State Access: Dive deep into the heart of individual states, unearthing local history and events (e.g., Nebraska)
Multi-State Access: Travel across state borders and explore stories that resonate across regions (e.g., Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa).
United States Access: Covering the entire United States, NewspaperArchive collections provide a comprehensive view of the nation’s past and present.
Global Access: Expand your horizons with our global coverage, delving into international events. Covers 48 countries, including all 50 U.S. states.
Special Collections, including:
African American Newspapers
Caribbean Newspapers
Irish Newspapers
Military Newspapers
Spanish Newspapers
See newspaper title and coverage information on NewspaperArchive’s Publications page. For coverage by state or country, explore the NewspaperArchive Site Map.
A consortium discount is currently available through the Nebraska Library Commission and ranges from 5% to 15% depending on the collection selected. This discount correlates to a consortium of 3-5 member libraries. Larger discounts may be available in the future as additional libraries join the consortium.
Trial access instructions were distributed via a March 24, 2025 message to the Trial mailing list. Nebraska librarians who didn’t receive this information or would like to have it sent to them again may contact Susan Knisely.
Reminder: Not all database trials are posted to the NCompass Blog. If you are a Nebraska librarian and you’d like to receive future database trial announcements directly in your email inbox, please make sure you are signed up for the Nebraska Library Commission’s TRIAL mailing list.
The Nebraska Library Commission is pleased to announce that Infobase is offering Nebraska academic and K12 libraries a trial of their new Artificial Intelligence Streaming Video Collection, which provides comprehensive guidance on how to use, teach, and discuss AI! This trial began on April 1, 2025 and is scheduled to end on April 30, 2025.
This curated collection of videos on AI—what it is and how to use it—offers a structured, engaging way to teach and learn about this evolving technology. This collection is available as a standalone package, or easily integrated with any Films On Demand, Classroom Video On Demand, or Learn360 collection.
Trial access instructions were distributed via an April 2, 2025 message to the Trial mailing list. Nebraska librarians who didn’t receive this information or who would like it sent to them again may contact Susan Knisely.
Reminder: Not all database trials are posted to the NCompass Blog. If you are a Nebraska librarian and you’d like to receive future database trial announcements directly in your email inbox, please make sure you are signed up for the Nebraska Library Commission’s TRIAL mailing list.
I’ve gotten a lot of questions about web hosting options for libraries recently. Many of you use Nebraska Libraries on the Web, the free WordPress hosting offered by the Nebraska Library Commission. That’s delightful, and I’m all for it! I may be slightly biased there. You know why.
But hosting through us does have a few limitations for customization and feature options. So I like to keep options open for libraries who want a little more customization or control over their website feature choices.
This particular post is about LibChalk, a web hosting service designed by and for librarians and academic institutions that’s been around for about 30 years. The pricing is pretty reasonable with a basic site at $25/month. There are other pricing plans available. They can get you set up with a WordPress installation and access to some premium templates to make setup fast and easy.
They also help with site migration if you’ve already got a website up and running somewhere else and want to switch over smoothly. Since they do work with all flavors of education, they can also help you set up a learning platform on your site. If you’re so inclined.
So far they’re the only hosting service I’ve come across that is built by librarians for librarians, so that was cool too. Check out Libchalk’s website, or email Brian Pichman bpichman@evolveproject.org for more info, or to get set up.
If Brian’s name sounds familiar I’m not surprised. He’s been on a library circuit at conferences, webinars, Bywater Solutions, and elsewhere for a while now. I’ve known him for a while too, which is how I found out about LibChalk. I was surprised I hadn’t heard of it sooner, so I’m sharing it with you all now as well.
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.
And mark your calendars now – Big Talk From Small Libraries will be back in 2026! Next year’s conference will be on Friday, February 27, 2026!
The American Library Association (ALA) announces the opening of the third year of the ALA Building Library Capacity Grants of $10,000 to public libraries assisting New Americans – immigrants and refugees.
This opportunity is for public libraries that are or will serve New Americans – immigrants and refugees. It is open to libraries already serving New Americans or those who would like to use the grant to begin serving New Americans. ALA membership is NOT required.
The grants are to bolster library operations and services including literacy and other skill development, developing collections, staffing, expanding outreach, as well as maintaining and amplifying existing service strategies or adding new ones to make an impact.
The ALA Building Library Capacity Grants are supported through a three-year grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Each year focuses on helping add capacity to different segments of the library community.
For questions, contact the American Library Association (ALA) Chapter Relations Office staff at cro@ala.org or 1-800-545-2433, ext. 3200.
Microsoft announced it is discontinuing Publisher in October 2026! Is anyone still using it? Most all of the libraries I’ve worked at/with use Canva for their flyers and handouts these days. If you own Office Standard, you will be able to continue to use the Publisher app it came with. If you have an Office365 subscription, you will lose access to Publisher.
If you were or are an Office365 Publisher user, Microsoft recommends converting your *.pub files by opening and saving them as Adobe *.pdf files before the October 2026 EOL (End-of-Life). Unfortunately, you will lose the ability to easily edit the converted *.pdf file using this method. I did some experimenting and LibreOffice Draw is a good alternative if you have Office365 and Publisher files you want to continue working with past the Publisher October 2026 EOL.
Learn practical tools and strategies to create a more inclusive digital environment in your library on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘Breaking Barriers: The Importance of Digital Accessibility’, on Wednesday, March 5 at 10am CT.
This online workshop is designed specifically for small public libraries. Ensuring accessibility for all patrons is critical and required. This workshop will equip participants with practical tools and strategies to create a more inclusive digital environment. The session will explore the foundational principles of digital accessibility, focusing on real-world applications for websites, online catalogs, and digital communication. Participants will learn how to identify common accessibility barriers and implement solutions that benefit users with disabilities, including those who rely on screen readers, keyboard navigation, or alternative input devices. Through interactive activities, case studies, and live demonstrations, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how digital accessibility fosters equity and expands community engagement. They will leave the workshop with actionable steps and resources to make immediate improvements, regardless of technical expertise or budget constraints.
March 12 – Family & Community Programming: Major Successes & Epic Fails
March 19 – Pretty Sweet Tech
March 26 – Creating Connection in Library Events
April 2 – One Book for Nebraska Kids & Teens 2025
April 30 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Computers in Libraries 2025 Highlights & Trends
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 2025 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, K-12, and public libraries presenting on a wide variety of topics: reader’s advisory, interactive library displays, school/public library partnerships, marketing, sustainability, a Library of Things, Sensory Gardens, 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. So, come join us for a day of big ideas from small libraries!
Explore how libraries can use ‘AI and Social-Emotional Learning for Early Childhood’ on next week’s Pretty Sweet TechNCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, February 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.
“AI and Social-Emotional Learning for Early Childhood: Empowering Libraries to Engage Youth and Caregivers.”
This webinar explores how libraries can use AI to support social-emotional development. With younger learners developing critical emotional and interpersonal skills, libraries are uniquely positioned to foster their growth. AI presents exciting opportunities to personalize engagement, address diverse needs, and create impactful programming.
Guest Presenter: Rex Duval, Co-Founder and CEO, Nookly.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
March 5 – Breaking Barriers: The Importance of Digital Accessibility
March 12 – Family & Community Programming: Major Successes & Epic Fails
March 19 – Pretty Sweet Tech
March 26 – Creating Connection in Library Events
April 2 – One Book for Nebraska Kids & Teens 2025
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.
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 or are co-presenting with a small library. 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!
February 26 is the deadline to submit the first form in the E-rate process, Form 470, for the upcoming 2025 Funding Year.
The Filing Window for submitting the second form in the process, Form 471, opened on January 15 and will close on Wednesday, March 26. This makes Wednesday, February 26 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.
Not sure if you’ve done your 470 yet? No problem! You can look up your E-rate forms to check their status in your E-rate EPC account, to be sure that you have submitted and certified them. Simply follow these instructions:
When you are logged into your EPC account, and you are on your Landing Page, scroll all the way to the bottom – under ‘FCC Forms and Post-Commitment Requests’ you can look up your FCC Forms. The Form Type will default to the 470. Choose the Funding Year – 2025. When the results come up, your forms will be listed below the search boxes. If the Status is ‘Certified’ or ‘Committed’, then the Form and the Certification has been received by USAC. If it says ‘Incomplete’ or there are no results, then you still need to submit your 470.
Do you need help completing your forms? Do you have questions about E-rate? You’re in luck!
The January 15 E-rate Special Edition News Brief has detailed tips, steps in the E-rate process, and links to user guides and instructional videos. USAC also conducted a series of office hour webinars focused on E-Rate topics related to FCC Forms 470 and 471 – you can watch the recordings on the USAC Webinars webpage. To keep up on E-rate news, subscribe to the USAC E-rate News Brief.
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, Nebraska’s State E-rate Coordinator for Public Libraries, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.
Learn about opportunities to bring new technology to your library on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, February 12 at 10am CT.
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is one of the largest technology trade shows of its kind, featuring new product releases, updates, and a chance to experience the latest and greatest technologies from companies big and small.
Join Brian Pichman, of the Evolve Project, who attends the show to spread the word about libraries to the exhibitors at CES, securing partnerships on behalf of libraries so that libraries may have more opportunities to innovate and bring new technology in for their patrons. Brian will share his experiences at CES 2025, the top trends at CES, cool tech to watch for, and how this plays a role in libraries.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
Feb. 26 – Pretty Sweet Tech: AI and Social-Emotional Learning for Early Childhood
March 5 – Breaking Barriers: The Importance of Digital Accessibility
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.
NewsBank is a web-based subscription service that offers library access to current and archival content from newspapers, newswires, transcripts, and other publications.
The NewsBank K12/Schools division is offering Nebraska librarians trial access to the following resources through March 1, 2025:
Trial Dates: January 24, 2025 through March 1, 2025
Trial Access Instructions: Trial access instructions, including product login URLs and a temporary username and password, were distributed via a January 24, 2025 message to the TRIAL mailing list. Nebraska librarians who didn’t receive this information or who would like to have it sent to them again can email Susan Knisely.
Note: If you are a Nebraska librarian and you’d like to receive future database trial announcements directly in your email inbox, please make sure you are signed up for the Nebraska Library Commission’s Trial mailing list.
Learn how kids and adults can use ‘Tech Kits for STEM Career Exploration’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, January 29 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.
Introduce both kids and adults to STEM skills that are most relevant to local industries, career opportunities, and innovation needs using the Nebraska Library Commission’s Tech Kits Through the Mail and curated support resources. This session will start with an overview of the tech and innovation landscape in Nebraska, then dive into the specific tools and resources available to help you access educational technology for free, and build custom learning plans tailored to both the learner and your community.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
Feb. 5 – Fostering Healthy Communication in Your Library
Feb. 26 – NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech: AI and Social-Emotional Learning for Early Childhood
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 Nebraska Library Commission is offering a group discount to all Nebraska librarians who attend the Computers in Libraries 2025 conference. This year it will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington, VA, from March 25 through March 27, 2025. Detailed information about the conference can be found on the conference web page.
This year the Gold Pass will be available for the group discount rate of $699 early-bird / $719 regular (non-discounted rates are $899 early-bird / $949 regular).
The Full 3-Day Pass will be available for the group discount rate of $399 early-bird / $429 regular (non-discounted rates are $599 early-bird / $649 regular).
Please note that group discount rates are not available for daily passes or the preconference workshops except as part of the Gold Pass.
Type priority code 25NLC in the Priority Code field at the top of the form, and click the “Activate Code” button. Discounted rates should appear on the registration form after you successfully activate the code.
Complete and submit the online form by the deadline.
Deadline: Online registrations can be made until February 21st to receive the discounted rates. Please Note: If the deadline is extended for regular registration, your deadline will also be extended. After this time, rates will go up by $20 (Gold Pass) and $30 (Full 3-Day Pass).
If you have questions, please contact Susan Knisely.
The E-rate Form 471 application filing window for Funding Year 2025 opened today at noon EST and will close on Wednesday, March 26 at 11:59 pm EDT. You may now log on to the E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and file your FCC Form 471 for FY2025.
This makes Wednesday, February 26, 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!
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 full schedule for the 2025 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! However, 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 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.
The FCC Form 471 Application Filing Window for Funding Year 2025 will open on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at noon EST and close on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at 11:59pm EDT. You can read the USAC announcement for full details.
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.
To file your FCC Form 470, log into the E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC). 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 an FCC Form 471. If you issue an RFP after the FCC Form 470 is posted, you must wait 28 days from the release of the RFP to select a service provider.
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 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 window closes.
Update Your EPC Profile During the Administrative Window – Update your EPC profile by January 9, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST. 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 before the 471 Filing Window opens. 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.
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. And new for 2025: Wi-Fi hotspots!
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 2025 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.
