ALA launches free e-government webinar series

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Mary Sauers

Home      The American Library Association (ALA) and the Information Policy & Access Center (iPAC) at the University of Maryland at College Park are pleased to announce the re-launch of Lib2Gov, an online e-government resource for librarians. Over the past few months, both organizations have worked to transition LibEGov—a project supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through a National Leadership Grant—into Lib2Gov.

The redesigned website Lib2Gov allows libraries and government agencies to come together and collaborate, share resources and build a community of practice. Lib2Gov now provides a dedicated space where librarians can share materials, lesson plans, tutorials, stories, and other e-government content. The website offers a variety of resources from government agencies and organizations, including information on immigration, taxation, social security and healthcare.

In a few weeks, both organizations will host a new monthly webinar series, “E-government @ Your Library.” The webinars will explore a variety of e-government topics that will be of interest to librarians, including mobile government and emergency preparedness, response and recovery. All webinars are free and will be archived on the Lib2Gov site. The webinar schedule for Winter/Spring 2014:

Webinar 1: E-government @ Your Library (Wednesday, February 26, 2014, at 2 p.m. EST)
This webinar offers general insights into how libraries can help meet the e-government needs of their communities in general and through the Lib2Gov web resource. Register now.

Speakers:

  • John Bertot, Ph.D., co-director, Information Policy & Access Center (iPAC), and professor, in University of Maryland College Park’s iSchool
  • Ursula Gorham, graduate research associate, iPAC and doctoral candidate, University of Maryland College Park iSchool
  • Jessica McGilvray, assistant director, Office of Government Relations at the American Library Association’s Washington, D.C. office

Webinar 2: Government Information Expertise Online: Beyond the First Century of Federal Depository Library Program Practice (Thursday, March 27, 2014, at 3 p.m. EST)
This webinar will offer insights and techniques in how practicing government information professionals can use the strengths and opportunities of the depository library experience in several promising areas of digital reference, government information discovery tools and deliberative outreach to your community. Register now.

Speakers:

  • Cynthia Etkin, senior program planning specialist, Office of the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO)
  • John A. Shuler, associate professor, University of Illinois, Chicago University Library

Webinar 3: An Introduction to Mobile Government Apps for Librarians (Wednesday, April 30, 2014, at 2 p.m. EST)
The webinar will cover how librarians can teach patrons to use mobile devices, provide links on our webpages to government apps, and create apps for their own e-government websites. Register now.

Speakers:

  • Isabelle Fetherston, teen librarian, Pasco County Library System
  • Nancy Fredericks, member, Pasco County Library System Library Leadership Team

Webinar 4: Roles for Libraries and Librarians in Disasters (Thursday, May 15, 2014, at 2 p.m. EST)
This webinar presents information on libraries’ and librarians’ roles supporting their communities and the disaster workforce before, during, and after hazardous events and disasters. Register now.

Speakers:

  • Siobhan Champ-Blackwell, librarian, U.S. National Library of Medicine Disaster Information Management Research Center
  • Cindy Love, librarian, U.S. National Library of Medicine Disaster Information Management Research Center
  • Elizabeth Norton, librarian, U.S. National Library of Medicine Disaster Information Management Research Center

Webinar 5: Beta.Congress.Gov (Thursday, June 12, 2014, at 2 p.m. EST)

Sign-up information, as well as more information about webinar topics and speakers, is available. Please contact Jessica McGilvray (jmcgilvray@alawash.org) or John Bertot (jbertot@umd.edu) with questions about Lib2Gov or the webinar series.

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Free Webinar to Help Nebraska Librarians Celebrate Preservation Week, April 27 – May 3

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Jennifer Wrampe

Preservation Week is April 27 – May 3, 2014. The Preservation Week website is here to help Nebraska librarians to host a Preservation Week celebration. Join Donia Conn for tips on how to host an event, find a speaker, and use the Preservation Week web site to its fullest. Upon completion of this webinar, you will be able to confidently navigate the Preservation Week web site to assist in planning and hosting a Preservation Week event.

Any librarian thinking about planning a Preservation Week event or those already working on one should plan on attending. Join your colleagues for this free webinar at 1:00 p.m. Central/Noon Mountain on Wednesday, Feb. 12.

“Hosting a Preservation Week® Event” is a free webinar from the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) and is generously supported by Acme-HF Group and George Blood, L.P. celebrating Preservation Week.

Donia Conn is an independent consultant for small and mid-sized cultural heritage institutions. She has worked in the fields of conservation and preservation for almost 20 years, specializing in book conservation and preservation training. She presents workshops and webinars on preservation and digitization topics, consults with institutions on disaster planning and preservation issues and is adjunct faculty for the Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science teaching Preservation Management and Collections Maintenance. She has been one of the people working on developing Preservation Week since 2009.  She is also the host of “Dear Donia,” a feature of Preservation Week.

To register go to GOTOWEBINAR : https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/627890216

For questions or comments related to this free webinar, contact Julie Reese, ALCTS Events Manager at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 5034 or jreese@ala.org.

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Nebraska Libraries to Celebrate National Library Week April 13-19, 2014

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Mary Jo Ryan

Judy Blume has been named the 2014 Honorary Chair of National Library Week (April 13-19, 2014). This year, National Library Week will be celebrated with the theme Lives change @ your library. As Honorary Chair, Blume will appear in print public service announcements (PSAs) promoting National Library Week. The PSAs, developed by the American Library Association’s Campaign for America’s Libraries, will be placed in magazines and online throughout the spring. ALA will also offer free customization of the PSAs for libraries. Visit ala.org/NLW to learn more.

Adults as well as children will recognize such Judy Blume titles as: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret; Blubber; Just as Long as We’re Together; and the five book series about the irrepressible Fudge. She has also written three novels for adults, Summer Sisters, Smart Women and Wifey, all of them New York Times best-sellers. More than 80 million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into thirty-one languages.

Blume is a longtime advocate of intellectual freedom. Finding herself at the center of an organized book banning campaign in the 1980’s she began to reach out to other writers, as well as teachers and librarians, who were under fire. Since then, she has worked tirelessly with the National Coalition Against Censorship and the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom to protect the freedom to read. She is the editor of “Places I Never Meant To Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers,” and is currently writing a novel.

Additional promotional materials include a sample op-ed, proclamation, press release and scripts for use in radio ads. All incorporate the 2014 National Library Week theme, Lives change @ your library. Tools are available at www.ala.org/nlw. ALA Graphics products supporting National Library Week are also available and can be purchased through the ALA Store.

National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians and to promote library use.

The American Library Association’s Campaign for America’s Libraries (www.ala.org/@yourlibrary) is a public awareness campaign that promotes the value of libraries and librarians. Thousands of libraries of all types – across the country and around the globe – participate. The Campaign is made possible by ALA’s Library Champions.

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NCompass Live: Succession Planning with Jamie LaRue: a Board and Staff Responsibility

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Christa Porter

NCompass live small

Join us for the next NCompass Live: “Succession Planning with Jamie LaRue: a Board and Staff Responsibility”, on Wednesday, February 12, 10:00-11:00 am Central Time.

Succession planning is NOT anointing the heir apparent, and taking action only when the director retires. It starts long before that. This talk focuses on a new way to think about board planning, administrative goals, and who to hire at all levels of the organization.

Presenter: James LaRue, CEO, LaRue and Associates Consulting.

Jamie LaRue has appeared on NPR, been quoted and highlighted in Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the Denver Post, and has hosted a local author interview TV program. A newspaper columnist for over two decades, he also wrote “The New Inquisition: Understanding and Managing Intellectual Freedom Challenges” (Libraries Unlimited, larue_01_4x6_color2007). A frequent presenter for library associations, regional workshops, and library staff days, Jamie has also served as a facilitator, last-minute panelist, moderator, and master of ceremonies for everything from debates to awards dinners. From 1990 to 2014, he was director of the Douglas County (Colorado) Libraries, widely known as one of the most successful and innovative public libraries in the nation. He was the Colorado Librarian of the Year in 1998, the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce’s 2003 Business Person of the Year, in 2007 won the Julie J. Boucher (boo-SHAY) Award for Intellectual Freedom, and in 2013 won the Colorado Association of Libraries’ Career Achievement Award. At the end of 2013, the Board of Trustees named a library after him in Highlands Ranch, CO – the James H. LaRue Library. In 2014, he embarked on a career of writing, speaking, teaching, and consulting.

Upcoming NCompass Live events:

  • Feb. 19 – Hastings Public Library Kicking Technology in the #glass
  • Feb. 26 – Tech Talk with Michael Sauers
  • March 5 – Migrating To A New ILS
  • March 12 – Password Management & Security

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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New Faces: Donna Christiansen

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Kathryn Brockmeier

In this series, New Faces, the Nebraska Library Commission interviews someone from the next generation of Nebraska librarians.

Today we are speaking with Donna Christiansen, Director at the Plainview Carnegie Library in Plainview, Nebraska. Donna received her certificate in Library and Information Services program from Central Community College in December 2012. She is a 2011-2013 Nebraska Library Commission / Institute of Museum and Library Services Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian scholarship recipient.

NLC: How is it you went to library school?

DONNA CHRISTIANSEN: I started as a children’s librarian and found out about the Nebraska Library Commission and the Scholarship program to get a library certificate. I thought this would be good to get since I wanted to improve my knowledge of librarianship and of course become a Library Director someday.

NLC: Did you receive a scholarship from the Nebraska Library Commission? How did it help you with getting an education and in your career aspirations?

DONNA CHRISTIANSEN: Yes, I received a scholarship from the NLC. It helped me tremendously; without it I probably wouldn’t have been able to get my Library Certificate. Especially with the extra help of providing me a new laptop and the ability to attend a national conference. With the new laptop I was able to do my online classes and attending the national conference helped me network with other library students and librarians.

NLC: What brought you to the world of library work?

DONNA CHRISTIANSEN: I enjoyed being a library aide in high school and I love to read and help people with computer issues. I started as the Children’s Librarian at the Plainview Carnegie Library in February of 2011. Then in September 2011 the Library Director retired so I was able to apply for the Library Director position and in October I became the Director.

NLC: What’s the most useful non-library work experience you bring to a library job?

DONNA CHRISTIANSEN: For a couple of years I had my own business, so I guess my business experience of handling money, etc., is what I bring to the library job.

NLC: What do you find most rewarding in your library job?

DONNA CHRISTIANSEN: I find helping patrons very rewarding. Whether it is helping them find a book, helping them with the computer, or watching the story time children do their craft projects to see them smile and having fun is very rewarding.

NLC: What do you find most challenging in your library job?

DONNA CHRISTIANSEN: Having all the books that people want to read. But thankfully there is the Interlibrary Loan program so it is easy to locate a book for a patron if we don’t have it.

NLC: How would you like to make a difference in the lives of library users or in the community your library serves?

DONNA CHRISTIANSEN: I would like to make the library be the center of the community, where the citizens can come and relax, read a magazine, check out a book, check their e-mail and use the computer, just be there for the citizens to use.

NLC: What does the future hold for libraries?

DONNA CHRISTIANSEN: I believe that libraries are more than just books and magazines. The future will be to let everyone know that the library offers more than what they believe a library is or was. We offer programs, computers, wireless Internet, and much more that we really have to promote that the library is much more than books and magazines.

NLC: What does the future hold for librarians?

DONNA CHRISTIANSEN: I believe that librarians are going to have to embrace the new technology that is out there and to think outside of the box to keep the library in the forefront of the community it serves.

NLC: What are you reading right now? What are your hobbies?

DONNA CHRISTIANSEN: I am reading an eBook, No Return by Brett Battles. My hobbies are reading, bird watching, fishing, collecting rocks and minerals.

NLC: Who is your role model?

DONNA CHRISTIANSEN: I would say my library role model would be the former Plainview Library Director, Loydell Swan.  She gave 27 years to the library so I learned a lot working with her before she retired.

NLC: Please share a favorite quote, and why it’s your favorite.

DONNA CHRISTIANSEN: “A well-stocked, well-staffed library is like a gardener who plants books, knowledge, and dreams and grows readers, learners, and do-ers,” by Laura Purdie Salas.  I just believe that this quote says what I believe a library is.

—

The New Faces feature is made possible by a Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian grant to the Nebraska Library Commission from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

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FCC Chairman Speaks at Library of Congress

Posted on February 6, 2014 by John Felton

DigLearningDay300pxYesterday, February 5, 2014, was National Digital Learning Day, which included an event at the Library of Congress. You will be interested in comments about libraries made by Tom Wheeler, Chairman of the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). Here are some excerpts from his speech.

“During my tenure as Chairman of the FCC there may be no bigger and more significant issue than making sure our schools and libraries are connected to high-speed broadband networks. That is why E-Rate modernization is at the top of my agenda and why I support President Obama’s goal of connecting 99 percent of all students to high-speed broadband capacity in five years – or faster.”

“While we talk a lot about the connected school, we cannot overemphasize the crucial role of the connected library. Public libraries have been part of the fabric of America since our country’s founding. Thomas Jefferson, whose personal library was the founding collection of this great institution, described a library as, “a delivery room for the birth of ideas.” Today libraries are also something Mr. Jefferson could never have imagined: the community on-ramp to the world of information (although perhaps I misspeak, he was after all Thomas Jefferson!).

In community after community the library is the only place where students can go after school for free Internet access to complete their assignments. Research has found that a majority of American school children go to the public library to do school work. And for many of those students, it is the only link to the Net outside of school. That is really important when over 75% of K-12 teachers are assigning Internet-required homework. And during the summer, libraries are the only place for many students to go to continue their online exploration and learning. Libraries are also the only place where tens of millions of adult Americans can get access to the Internet for information on jobs, health care and government services.

The E-Rate is a program for schools and libraries. Or, let me put it another way: libraries and schools.”

You can read his complete presentation at http://fcc.us/1b36Aic.

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Data Doodles: Library Advocacy Edition

Posted on February 5, 2014 by John Felton

AdvocacySnapshotEvery year the Library Commission prepares for the Nebraska Library Association Advocacy Day by producing an infographic that shows, through the use of statistics, the value of public libraries in the state and how much they are used. You can download a copy of this year’s brochure by clicking on the graphic above.

Here are a few notable statistics from the brochure: Nebraskans used their public libraries 8,656,034 times in 2011-2012; the number of public access computers available at libraries increased by 15.5% last year; 79.5% of all Nebraska residents can download free e-books from their public library. Here’s another interesting fact I discovered recently. This January the ever popular Henry Doorly Zoo announced that their attendance for 2013 topped 1.6 million. About a week later, the Omaha Public Library issued a press release noting that the number of visits they received last year totaled almost 2.4 million.

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Nebraska Librarians Invited to Participate in 2014 Teen Tech Week

Posted on February 4, 2014 by Jennifer Wrampe

The time has come to DIY @ your library! Registration for Teen Tech Week™, the Young Adult Library Services Association’s (YALSA) annual celebration of digital literacy and technology via the library, is now open at www.ala.org/teentechweek.

Teen Tech Week™ is March 9-15, 2014, with a theme of DIY @ your library, and is a chance to demonstrate the value your library gives to the community.  Use the week to raise awareness about how your library creates a space to extend teens’ learning beyond the classroom where they can explore, create and share content. From maker spaces, to coding classes to online knitting clubs, libraries can leverage the do-it-yourself theme to show how libraries provide meaningful contributions to the educational and social development of the teens in your community.

“Teen Tech Week is a great opportunity for libraries to showcase all of the great digital resources and services that are available to teens and their families,” said YALSA President Shannon Peterson. “Signing up for the site helps demonstrate that libraries around the country consider technology an important part of teen lives and an important part of the programs and services offered by libraries.”

For more information and to join, please visit the Teen Tech Week website. Help get the word out about this event with the hashtag #TTW14.

Check out the new ALA Graphics Winter 2013 catalog featuring YALSA’s Teen Tech Week theme — DIY @ your library® on the cover. Emphasize your participation with the new poster and bookmark to show that libraries can connect in meaningful ways with the teens in your community. Visit the ALA Store online to purchase your TTW products today.

Teen Tech Week is a national initiative sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association and is aimed at teens, their parents, educators and other concerned adults. The purpose of the initiative is to ensure that teens gain the digital literacy skills they need—with the help of libraries—in order to be successful in school and prepared to participate in a 21st century workforce.

For more information see http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2013/11/yalsa-announces-2014-teen-tech-week.

Below  are some titles from the Nebraska Library Commission Collection that may help with Teen Tech Week. As always, please contact the Information Services Team if you’d like to check out any of these titles:

The Handheld Library:  Mobile Technology and the Librarian, edited by Thomas A. Peters and Lori Bell, Z680.5 .H36 2013
The Information Behavior of a New Generation:  Children and Teens in the 21st Century, edited by Jamshid Beheshti and Andrew Large, ZA3075 .I5325 2013
Semantic Web Technologies and Social Searching for Librarians, by Robin M. Fay, Michael P. Sauers, ZA4240 .F39 2012
Teens, Libraries, and Social Networking, What Librarians Need to Know, edited by Denise E. Agosto and June Abbas, Z718.5 .T446 2011
UContent:  the Information Professional’s Guide to User-Generated Content, by Nicholas G. Tomaiuolo, ZA4482 .T66 2012

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Let’s Go to the Theater!

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Mary Sauers

"A Kiss for Cinderella" with Henry Fonda and Dorothy McGuireWhen it’s cold and snowy outside, there’s nothing quite like watching a play in a warm and cozy theater. This was as true in days gone by as it is today, as evidenced by the many theater pictures in Nebraska Memories. For example, the Omaha Community Playhouse presented plays ranging from “A Kiss for Cinderella” (with Henry Fonda and Dorothy McQuire), to “A Christmas Carol.”

Cratchit family from "A Christmas Carol" The Lincoln Community Playhouse gave performances of “The Silver Whistle,” “The Solid Gold Cadillac,” and “The Crucible,”  a play by Arthur Miller.

Even the theater at Camp Atlanta, a prisoner of war camp near Holdrege, Nebraska, put on plays for U.S. military personnel and prisoners of war.  The picture below is of a theatrical production of “Lovers.”  

Visit Nebraska Memories to search for or browse through many more historical images digitized from photographs, negatives, postcards, maps, lantern slides, books and other materials.

Nebraska Memories is a cooperative project to digitize Nebraska-related historical and cultural heritage materials and make them available to researchers of all ages via the Internet.

Nebraska Memories is brought to you by the Nebraska Library Commission.

If your institution is interested in participating in Nebraska Memories, see Introduction to Participating in Nebraska Memories for more information, or contact Beth Goble, Historical Services Librarian, or Devra Dragos, Technology & Access Services Director.

 

 

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Nebraska Learns 2.0: Photosynths and The Writing on the Wall

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Michael Sauers

The Nebraska Learns 2.0 Thing for February is Photosynths.

This month we’re going to take another look at photography but with a bit of a twist: Photosynths.

Photosynths are a technology from Microsoft that takes a collection of photos and combines them into a pseudo-3D experience. There are four types you can create: Spin, Walk, Wall & Panorama.

Another facet of Nebraska Learns 2.0 is BookThing. Each month we pick a single title that we feel has relevance to librarianship and/or information theory. Some of the titles will be very obviously related, while others may not seem so on the surface but there is a connection. Your assignment will be to read the book and create a blog post answering some questions about the title.

The BookThing for February is Writing on the Wall: Social Media, the First 2,000 Years by Tom Stangage. 

Papyrus rolls and Twitter have much in common, as each was their generation’s signature means of “instant” communication. Indeed, as Tom Standage reveals in his scintillating new book, social media is anything but a new phenomenon.

Nebraska Learns 2.0 is the Nebraska Library Commission’s ongoing online learning CarhengeCrop5program. It is a self-discovery program which encourages participants to take control of their own learning and to utilize their lifelong learning skills through exploration and PLAY.

Each month, we offer you an opportunity to learn a new Thing (or lesson). You have all month to complete that Thing and receive one CE credit. You may choose which Things to do based on personal interest and time availability If the Thing of the month doesn’t interest you or if you are particularly busy that month, you can skip it.

If you are new to Nebraska Learns 2.0, your first assignment is to sign up to participate. This program is open to ALL Nebraska librarians, library staff, library friends, library board members and school media specialists.

We hope you’ll join your library colleagues in the fun as you learn about new and exciting technologies!

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Recently on the NCompass Podcast

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Michael Sauers

Have you listened the NCompass Podcast lately? Here are the episodes from January 2014. To get all of the episodes delivered to you automatically be sure to subscribe via RSS or iTunes.

 

 

Episode 265: Beyond MARC: BIBFRAME and the Future of Bibliographic Data

Episode 266: Internships: Cultivating Nebraska’s Future Librarians

Episode 267: Hot Titles for a Cold Month

Episode 268: Passive Programming for Tweens and Teens

Episode 269: Tech Talk with Michael Sauers: CES & Libraries

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NCompass Live: Where in the world…? Nebraska’s Polley Music Library and the World of Music Librarianship

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Christa Porter

NCompass live small

Join us for the next NCompass Live: “Where in the world…? Nebraska’s Polley Music Library and the World of Music Librarianship”, on Wednesday, February 5, 10:00-11:00 am Central Time.

Carolyn Dow, Polley Music Library Manager, Lincoln City Libraries, will discuss the statewide resource that is the Polley Music Library, along with her involvement in the International Association of Music Libraries, of which she is currently Public Libraries Branch chair.

Upcoming NCompass Live events:

  • Feb. 12 – Succession Planning with Jamie LaRue: a Board and Staff Responsibility
  • Feb. 19 – Hastings Public Library Kicking Technology in the #glass
  • Feb. 26 – Tech Talk with Michael Sauers
  • March 5 – Migrating To A New ILS
  • March 12 – Password Management & Security

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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Nebraska Libraries Invited to Promote April 5-12: Money Smart Week®

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Jennifer Wrampe

Money Smart Week® is a public awareness campaign designed to help consumers better manage their personal finances. This is achieved through the collaboration and coordinated effort of hundreds of organizations across the country including businesses, financial institutions, schools, libraries, not-for-profits, government agencies and the media. These groups come together once a year to stress the importance of financial literacy, inform consumers about where they can get help, and provide free educational seminars and activities throughout the week. The participation of Nebraska libraries is critical to the success of this effort.

Programming is offered to all demographics and income levels and can cover any facet of personal finance—from establishing a budget, to first time home buying, to estate planning. The effort was created by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago in 2002. Money Smart Week partners will be hosting events during April 5 – 12, the week immediately prior to National Library Week.The Money Smart Week partner registration page is now open. (If your library participated and registered last year you don’t need to re-register). Please take a few minutes to get registered. Use the link below and scroll down the page to the Partner Registration Section ‘Step 3-Ready to Register? Click Here’ (Make sure you select ‘library’ as your organization type when you register) at http://www.moneysmartweekpartners.org/registration

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago has included logos and other promotional material that you can download for free to use at http://www.moneysmartweekpartners.org/logos. For states or regions where a statewide coalition has been created, specific logos are available. Also included are the Money Smart Week @ your library logos, posters, etc. The signage poster is still from last year but will be updated soon. This year there are also posters with space included to allow you to add your programs, name, etc.

For those who would like to purchase bookmarks or posters ALA is offering, for purchase, bookmarks and posters to help you promote Money Smart Week @ your library. The cost for a pack of 250 bookmarks is $10 (plus $7 shipping) and 24” X 36” posters are also $10 (plus $7 shipping). Please place your orders by February 7. They will be printed and distributed the first week of March, a month before MSW.

 

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New Government Publications Received at the Library Commission

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Mary Sauers

State government publications ranging from Administrative Services to Nebraska Press, received November-December, 2013.

http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/archives/WhatsUpDoc/whatsupdoc12-1-13.pdf

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There’s Still Time to Apply for Internship Grants — Applications due Feb. 18, 2014

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Kathryn Brockmeier

The Nebraska Library Commission’s Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian program offers support for internships through grants to accredited public libraries. Application deadline is Feb. 18, 2014. In partnership with the Nebraska Library Association and funded through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program, the internship grants increase awareness about library professions and education and the opportunities for employment in Nebraska libraries.

Internship grants range from $500 to $1,000. Library grantees will recruit, select, and hire their interns. Usually, interns are hired as contract workers and paid on a stipend rather than an hourly wage, but the terms of employment are determined by the library’s governing body. Interns provide valuable assistance with library service activities and local library programming. Library staff help introduce interns to the joys of library service careers. Partnership projects involving collaboration between a public library and another type of library will be given special consideration.

2014 intern Saresse Clay returns from school to implement the Story Walk project she designed during her summer internship.

2014 intern Saresse Clay returns from school to implement the Story Walk project she designed during her summer internship.

To the right is a Facebook post by the Rock County Public Library showcasing their 2013 intern Saresse Clay. Saresse designed a Story Walk project during the summer and implemented the project in November 2013.

Web conferencing: NLC staff are available by phone and through e-mail to discuss general issues relating to the internship grant program. We also invite you to the recorded NCompass Live webinar, Internships: Cultivating Nebraska’s Future Librarians, to learn more about the program from previous grant recipients and to listen to the questions and comments of other participants. In this session, participating libraries and intern Saresse Clay shared their experiences with the internship program, including successes and lessons learned. This session also introduced the 2014 grant opportunity for internships, including information on writing a winning proposal.

To apply: Applications are now being accepted. The deadline for applications is Feb. 18, 2014. More information is available on the Now Hiring @ your library® website, at https://nlc.nebraska.gov/nowhiring/internship-grants.aspx.

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As Nebraska’s state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services — “bringing together people and information.”

The Nebraska Library Association is the cornerstone of the Nebraska library community. The Association advocates for its members, enriches their professional lives, advances the lifelong learning of all Nebraskans, and promotes all library interests in Nebraska. For more information, visit http://nebraskalibraries.org.

IMLS LogoThe Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit http://www.imls.gov.

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Nebraska Librarians Invited to Broadband Technology Fairs

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Mary Jo Ryan

A series of Broadband Technology Fairs is scheduled across the state in March and early April. The theme highlights “The Power of Business – What’s Next” as experts will focus on how businesses can adapt and use online applications successfully in their operations. The events are part of the Broadband Initiative that is expanding efforts to help businesses across the state harness the power of broadband technology for successful operations. “We need to focus on the Power of Business – entrepreneurs everywhere need to understand how broadband and technology applications can help them be more efficient and potentially reach a new audience,” said Connie Hancock, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension educator. “These technology fairs are a hands-on approach to learning about online tools and how to protect our business information as well as our customers.

The sessions will offer the latest information on broadband technology tools and techniques with experts from UNL and the Nebraska Public Service Commission. Featured presenters will discuss remote video for security and monitoring, cloud technology, information security and mobile technology. Attendance is free and the approximately three-hour fairs are open to all. “We are focusing on providing information that will be valuable and immediately useful to small businesses and entrepreneurs,” Hancock said.

This is an excellent opportunity for Nebraska libraries to position themselves as resources for communty business development. Details on times and locations will be posted at broadband.nebraska.gov. “The Power of Business – What’s Next” Broadband Technology Fairs are set for:

– March 11, Atkinson

– March 12, North Platte

– March 13, McCook

– March 25, Norfolk

– March 26, Seward

– March 27, Grand Island

– April 2, Sidney

– April 3, Alliance

These events are part of the Nebraska Broadband Initiative. This Broadband Mapping and Planning Initiative is funded through a grant to the Nebraska Public Service Commission by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration and aims to increase broadband adoption and use. Project partners include the University of Nebraska, Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Nebraska Information Technology Commission, Nebraska Public Service Commission, and the AIM Institute.

Posted in Education & Training, General, Information Resources, Library Management, Technology | Leave a comment

Computers in Libraries Conference (April 7-9) Discount

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Susan Knisely

Information Today is offering a group discount through the Nebraska Library Commission to all Nebraska librarians who attend the 2014 Computer in Libraries Conference. This conference will be held at the Washington Hilton, Washington, DC. on April 7-9. Detailed information about the conference can be found on the conference web page.

The price of the conference with the discount is $299 for the 3-day event (regular rate is $549). That’s a $250 savings! (No discount rates are available for the pre- or post-conference seminars and workshops.) In addition, discount prices of $109 (regularly $209) on the Internet@Schools Track are also available.

To receive the discount you will need to register online and enter a promotional discount code assigned to the Nebraska Library Commission. (After successfully entering the discount code the discounted prices should appear on the Conference Options portion of the online form.) The registration deadline is March 7, 2014. To request the discount code please contact Susan Knisely.

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Start Planning for April: School Library Month

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Mary Jo Ryan

Jeff Kinney, New York Times bestselling author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, has been named the national spokesperson for the 2014 observance of School Library Month. Celebrated in April and sponsored by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), School Library Month honors the essential role that strong school library programs play in a student’s educational career.

“I don’t know where I’d be without my school library,” said Kinney. “Our librarians were passionate about putting great books in the hands of kids, and making us into lifelong readers. School libraries introduce kids to whole new worlds and new perspectives and are so important in broadening kids’ minds. It’s crucial that we support our school libraries, especially in times of tightening budgets. I’m so grateful for the well-stocked libraries and knowledgeable, dedicated school librarians that were a part of my childhood.”

Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid is the story of middle-school underdog Greg Heffley who shares his life in a journal filled with cartoons and text. The first book in the series was released in April 2007 and was an instant bestseller, capturing the attention of reluctant readers, their parents and librarians everywhere. There are now eight books in the series, the most recent, “Hard Luck”, released on Nov. 5, 2013. It was the No. 1 bestselling book of 2013, adult or children’s.

“In creating such widely appealing characters, Jeff has enriched the lives of both students and school librarians,” said Susan Hess, School Library Month committee chair. “As such a popular author and illustrator, AASL is extremely fortunate to have Jeff Kinney as the School Library Month 2014 spokesperson.”

More information on the 2014 School Library Month celebration can be found on the AASL website at www.ala.org/aasl/slm.

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library field.

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has been a fixture on the USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. The series has remained consistently on the New York Times lists since the publication of the first book. The books have been sold in more than 44 territories in 42 languages. Published by Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS, Kinney’s work has been widely praised for its ability to turn reluctant readers on to books. Jeff Kinney was named one of Time magazine’s most influential people in the world. Three movies based on the book series have grossed more than $250 million internationally. The book series won Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards in 2010, 2011, and 2012, and Jeff Kinney won a Children’s Choice Book Award in 2012 and 2013. Books in the series have won numerous awards voted on by students and teachers around the globe. The Wimpy Kid Island (Wimpy Wonderland) on poptropica.com, a virtual world for kids, remains one of the most visited on the site.

Posted in Books & Reading, General, Programming, Public Relations, Youth Services | Leave a comment

NCompass Live: Tech Talk with Michael Sauers: CES & Libraries

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Christa Porter

NCompass live small

Join us for the next NCompass Live: “Tech Talk with Michael Sauers: CES & Libraries”, on Wednesday, January 29, 10:00-11:00 am Central Time.

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. Brian Pichman, of the Evolve Project, attended this event talking to these companies about libraries and how they are using more and more technology. Through this webinar, Brian will discuss the hot topics at CES, if there was any big “game changers”, and how all this plays a role within our libraries.

In this monthly feature of NCompass Live, the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Michael Sauers, will discuss the tech news of the month and share new and exciting tech for your library. There will also be plenty of time in each episode for you to ask your tech questions. So, bring your questions with you, or send them in ahead of time, and Michael will have your answers.

Upcoming NCompass Live events:

  • Feb. 5 – Where in the world…? Nebraska’s Polley Music Library and the World of Music Librarianship

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.

Posted in Education & Training, Technology | Leave a comment

Nebraska Library Commission Awards 21st Century Skills Scholarships

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Jennifer Wrampe

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 24, 2014

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Mary Jo Ryan
402-471-3434
800-307-2665

Thanks to a grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Nebraska Library Commission recently awarded 21st Century Librarian scholarships to sixteen Nebraska students in undergraduate Library Science programs. Nebraska Library Commission Director Rod Wagner commented, “The 21st Century Librarian scholarships contribute to a workforce equipped to provide the kind and quality of library services expected in Nebraska’s communities and schools. The Nebraska Library Commission is pleased to support Nebraska students involved in library science education programs. We offer our best wishes to these students in pursuing their educational and career goals.”

Students who wish to apply for scholarships for a Library and Information Services Professional Certificate (offered through Nebraska’s community colleges), an Associate of Arts or Science Degree in Library and Information Services, or for a Bachelor of Arts or Science Degree with a major in Library and Information Science or Library Media, should submit application materials by March 3, 2014.

December 2013 Scholarship Recipients

Dorlissa Beyer, Aurora
Kassandra Bielenberg, Omaha
Kimberly Blackburn, Broken Bow
Gabrielle DeGagne, Omaha
Justine Goeden, West Point
Araceli Hernandez, Kearney
Kelli Keyes, Columbus
Angela Krejci, Louisville
Jared Lechner, Norfolk
Maureen McCombs, Gretna
Rachelle McPhillips, Columbus
Odessa Meyer, South Sioux City
Mary Jo Pittman, Omaha
Dorothy Schultz, Wood River
Samantha Stock, Omaha
Jordan Stough, Bellevue
Tammi Thiem, Genoa
David Watchorn, Ponca
Brianna Weichel, Harbine

For more information about Nebraska’s Cultivating Rural Librarians’ 21st Century Skills program, see https://nlc.nebraska.gov/nowhiring/. For a list of current scholarship recipients, see https://nlc.nebraska.gov/NowHiring/Scholarshiprecipients.aspx.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.

As Nebraska’s state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, “bringing together people and information.”

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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.

Posted in General, Now hiring @ your library | Leave a comment