Hugo Award Finalists Announced

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Laura Johnson

The Hugos are awarded for excellence in the field of science hugologofiction and fantasy.  This year’s finalists for Best Novel are:

  • Ancillary Justice, by Ann Leckie
  • Neptune’s Brood, by Charles Stross
  • Parasite, by Mira Grant
  • Warbound, Book III of the Grimnoir Chronicles, by Larry Correia
  • The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

Finalists in other categories are available at the Hugo Awards Site. The Hugo Awards are voted on by members of the World Science Fiction Convention (“Worldcon“), who are fans.  The Awards will be presented at Loncon 3, on August 17, 2014.

The Hugo is one of the major U.S. awards for SF&F: the other is the Nebula, voted on, and presented by active members of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in May.  The 2013 Nebula Nominees for Best Novel are:

  • We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, by Karen Joy Fowler
  • The Ocean at the End of the Lane, by Neil Gaiman
  • Fire with Fire, by Charles E. Gannon
  • Hild, by Nicola Griffith
  • Ancillary Justice, by Ann Leckie
  • The Red: First Light, by Linda Nagata
  • A Stranger in Olondria, by Sofia Samatar
  • The Golem and the Jinni, by Helene Wecker.
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NCompass Live: Tech Talk with Michael Sauers: Playful Pedagogy: Using Game Components to Change the Student Experience

Posted on April 18, 2014 by Christa Porter

NCompass live small

Join us for next week’s NCompass Live: “Tech Talk with Michael Sauers: Playful Pedagogy: Using Game Components to Change the Student Experience”, on Wednesday, April 23, 10:00-11:00 am Central Time.

Research on games and learning have shown us that games can be powerful tools for learning–providing players with the opportunity to learn from and even celebrate failures as part of the natural learning process in a challenging environment. How can universities take advantage of the power of games and game mechanics? It’s not as simple as dropping in badges and leaderboards. Professor Liz Lawley, who teaches in the Rochester Institute of Technology’s School of Interactive Games & Media as well as directing RIT’s Lab for Social Computing, will talk about Just Press Play, a “game layer for undergraduate engagement” that she and her colleagues have designed to enrich the learning environment for undergraduate students. After three years of iterative development and testing, her group will be releasing the software underlying Just Press Play under an open source license at the end of this academic year.

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:

  • April 30 – Smart Investing: Reference Strategies and Resources
  • May 7 – The Internship: A Win-Win Situation

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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Celebrating Easter

Posted on April 18, 2014 by Emily Nimsakont

This Sunday is Easter, the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. For many people, the holiday also holds the connotation of celebrating spring and new life. Nebraska Memories includes items that relate to many aspects of Easter celebration.

Easter MornFor Christians, church services are clearly an important part of Easter, and music is generally involved in worship. The Polley Music Library collection contains scores of two pieces of Easter music, Gradual for Easter Sunday and Hail, Joyous Morn: An Easter Song.

Easter egg hunts are another traditional way to celebrate the holiday. This photograph from the Nebraska Children’s Home Society collection shows kids at a children’s homeEaster egg hunt enjoying an egg hunt in the 1950s or 1960s.

Traditionally, Easter has also been a time for dressing up. New Easter dresses and, of course, Easter bonnets are common purchases. This advertisement from a program for a symphony orchestra concert (another item in the Polley Music Library collection) touts Magee’s as the Easter advertisementplace to obtain Easter finery.

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 http://nlc.nebraska.gov/nebraskamemories/participation.aspxfor more information, or contact Beth Goble, Historical Services Librarian, or Devra Dragos, Technology & Access Services Director.

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Health Happens in Libraries: New Resources from WebJunction

Posted on April 18, 2014 by Mary Sauers

WebJunction-logo

Here are the newest resources to support your library’s efforts in connecting patrons with Affordable Care Act and other health information needs!

  • Registration is now open for the May 28 webinar from the Health Happens in Libraries team focused on Technology Planning for eHealth (2 PM ET/11 AM PT). You can learn more and register here. We look forward to learning together about how public libraries can leverage their technology infrastructure to better serve the health information needs of patrons!
  • Enroll America is hosting a webinar on April 23 on Shifting Gears: The Enrollment Landscape Post-March 31 (2 PM ET/11 AM PT). Learn more and register to join this timely conversation here.

The Health Happens in Libraries team has organized content to support libraries as they continue to help patrons Navigate the Marketplace. Although the official open enrollment period to sign-up for individual healthcare coverage through the Marketplace has ended, libraries can use these resources throughout the year to plan for future enrollment periods, connect with local partners, and to help patrons who may be eligible for special enrollment circumstances.

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Webinar Watch: Older. Wiser. Want to start a Business?

Posted on April 18, 2014 by Mary Sauers

SBAWant to start a business and be your own boss? Be a ‘Boomer-preneur’. Free how-to webinar for 50+ entrepreneurs April 24, 2:00 – 3:00 PST.

Small business ownership is an attractive option for many baby boomers who want to do something they care about, are good at and enjoy. And entrepreneurship can be a way to turn a hobby or passion into additional income.

You’re ready for a new challenge …..….. and thinking about starting your own business. There is no time like the present, and now could be YOUR time!

  • Find out what it takes to get started, and if owning a business is for you.
  • Hear successful over-50 business owners tell how they got their business off the  ground.
  • Connect with free one-on-one face-to-face counseling to help you get started.

It’s free, but registration is required here: http://over-50nevada.eventbrite.com or call 775-827-4923

To Join the Webinar: 1-888-858-2144   Access Code: 7039554

ALSO: Log on to the website: https://www.teleconference.att.com/servlet/ATTClogin to view the presentation.

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Library Program Performers Database

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Sally Snyder

Take a look at the Library Commission’s new “Nebraska Library Program Performers Database.”  It is designed for Children’s and Teen librarians to recommend and seek performers for their libraries’ events.

All listed performers have been recommended by a Nebraska library following a successful event.  We currently have 25 entries and would like to expand this list.  Librarians are encouraged to click on the link to “submit performers you would recommend” to continue to increase the number and variety of choices listed.  Performers from neighboring states who are willing to travel to regions of Nebraska are welcome as well.

We do plan to add a bit more information in the future, such as one or more stars for range of fees and other costs, as well as the distance the performer is willing to travel.  If you have suggestions for possible fields to add to the information included, send your ideas to Sally Snyder.  No promises, but we will consider additional ideas.

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Webinar Watch: U.S. Geological Survey Library Access & Outreach

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Mary Sauers

FDLPnews2A live training Webinar, “U.S. Geological Survey Library: Access & Outreach” will be offered Wednesday, May 21, 2014.

Register today for “U.S. Geological Survey Library: Access & Outreach.”

  • Start Time: 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time
  • Duration: 60 minutes
  • Speaker: Emily Wild
  • Summary: The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Libraries Program provides access to geoscience print and online information sources, as well as instruction on finding and using the geoscience information. Learn how to find and use USGS publication and data sources available from USGS mission areas, programs, and projects. Highlights include: maps, reports, imagery, datasets, and applications.

Registration is required. Space is limited on a first-come, first-served basis. Upon registering, an e-mail confirmation of registration will include instructions for joining the Webinar.

Registration confirmations for the Webinar will be sent from sqldba @icohere.com. To ensure delivery of registration confirmations, registrants should configure junk mail or spam filter(s) to permit messages from that email address.

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Celebrate National Poetry Month with the National Poetry Out Loud Competition

Posted on April 16, 2014 by Laura Johnson

poetryoutloudlogoAmanda Pohlman, a freshman from Skutt Catholic High School, Omaha, will compete for the National Poetry Out Loud championship in Washington, D.C. April 29-30, 2014. Amanda, who won the won the Nebraska state championship earlier this spring, is one of nearly 3,000 Nebraska students from 25 high schools that participated in Poetry Out Loud this year.

Poetry Out Loud is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.  The program encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. It helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage. Now in its ninth year, Poetry Out Loud has grown to involve millions of students across the country.  To be eligible to participate, a high school must be registered with the state coordinator.  For more information on Nebraska’s Poetry Out Loud program, contact Anne Alston, EducationManager at the Nebraska Arts Council, at 402.595.2122 or anne.alston@nebraska.gov.

Poetry Out Loud offers educators free curriculum materials, a teacher’s guide, lesson plans, and video and audio on the art of recitation.  Download these resources and find out more about this program at http://www.poetryoutloud.org/.

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“April showers bring May flowers…”

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Mary Sauers

…or so the saying goes.  This Spring’s roller-coaster weather aside, it is always a pleasure to enjoy the many beautiful flowers that nature provides us.  This is as true now as it was in years past.  For example, if you search “flowers” in Nebraska Memories, you will find many photographs of  flowers used in public parks and home gardens,

Garden2Garden3

weddings and funerals,

Wedding1        Wedding2  funeral

parades,

Parade1Parade2

and of course, hats!

Hats1          Hats4          Hats3

So if you like flowers, have some fun discovering other pictures from the past like the ones above.  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 http://nlc.nebraska.gov/nebraskamemories/participation.aspx for more information, or contact Beth Goble, Historical Projects Librarian, or Devra Dragos, Technology & Access Services Director.

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Nebraska Libraries Urged to Apply for Citizens Save Libraries Grant by May 5

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Mary Jo Ryan

powerguide united image

Applications for cycle two of the Citizens-Save-Libraries grants from United for Libraries, made possible by a grant from the Neal-Schuman Foundation, are due May 5.

The 10 libraries that are selected will receive two days of onsite consultation by advocacy experts, who will help friends of the library groups, library directors and trustees develop individual blueprints for advocacy campaigns to restore, increase or save threatened library budgets.

Among the criteria to apply is a willingness to “pay it forward” by sharing what is learned with others in their states through presentations at local conferences, articles written for the state library association journal and a willingness to answer questions and support other advocacy campaigns via digital media and Skype. The first 10 libraries were selected in 2013.

As part of the grant, a Citizens-Save-Libraries Power Guide that lays out a step-by-step blueprint for libraries to follow in generating advocacy campaigns is available to all libraries at no cost. The Power Guide is available at www.ala.org/united/powerguide.

To apply for the grants, visit www.ala.org/united/grants_awards/neal-schuman.

The Neal-Schuman Foundation, established in 2000 by Neal-Schuman Publishers‘ founders Patricia Glass Schuman and John Vincent Neal, strives to aid and promote charitable research and education for the improvement of libraries. An active American Library Association member and past president (1991-92), Schuman founded the Library Advocacy Now program and co-founded the Library Champions program.

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association that supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries. United for Libraries brings together library Trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information or to join United for Libraries, visit the United for Libraries website or contact Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org.

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NCompass Live: Killing Dewey

Posted on April 11, 2014 by Christa Porter

NCompass live small

Join us for next week’s NCompass Live: “Killing Dewey”, on Wednesday, April 16, 10:00-11:00 am Central Time.

Browsing bookstores is so easy, and so much fun. What if we did this in our libraries? How would a library make the changes? What would it look like in our catalog? How would the staff react? What impacts would such a change make to cataloging and purchasing? How would users react? Libraries are moving to different classification styles; attend this session to learn how one Idaho public library killed Dewey, and liked it!

Presenter: Jezmynne Dene, Director, Portneuf District Library, Chubbuck, Idaho.

Upcoming NCompass Live events:

  • April 23 – Tech Talk with Michael Sauers
  • April 30 – Smart Investing: Reference Strategies and Resources
  • May 7 – The Internship: A Win-Win Situation

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 Books & Reading, Education & Training, Library Management | Leave a comment

Wimpy Kid Webinar

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Laura Johnson

coverwimpykidJeff Kinney and his publisher are celebrating “Wimpy Kid Month” and offering a Webinar on April 28 from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. This will include a review of the Wimpy Kid books, an interactive quiz, a draw-along, and sneak peeks at book #9, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck.  Kinney will be answering fans’ questions throughout the webcast. Kids can also download a drawing prompt to create and submit their own renditions of Wimpy Kid covers.  Register at the Wimpy Kid Website, which offers additional W.K. material.  If you cannot make the live ‘cast, it will be available later at Wimpy Kid Videos.

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Join us April 22 for a Webinar Discussion on the Regional Library Systems Configuration Task Force Preliminary Report

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Mary Jo Ryan

Rod Wagner, Nebraska Library Commission Director, and Richard Miller, Nebraska Library Commission Library Development Director, will summarize the report of recent Regional Library Systems Configuration Task Force discussions and will solicit questions and comments from Nebraska library staff and board members.

State and federal budget cuts over several years and flat funding in recent years prompted discussions among regional library system directors, system board members, and Nebraska Library Commission staff to address funding constraints and regional organization. Those discussions resulted in formation of the Regional Library Systems Configuration Task Force. The Task Force recommended options for reducing the number of regional systems from the current six to five or four regions. The March 14, 2014 report of this task force can be accessed at: http://nlc.nebraska.gov/systems/

Participants in this Webinar discussion will be encouraged to provide input via live chat or microphone connection. For more information contact Richard Miller, Nebraska Library Commission Library Development Director, richard.miller@nebraska.gov, 800-307-2665, or 402-471-3175.

This Webinar will be broadcast live on April 22, 2014 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website or use the World Clock Time Zone Converter. In the Time Zone Converter, NCompass Live is broadcast from U.S.A – Nebraska – Lincoln.

This webinar will be presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. It will be recorded and archived. Registration is not required to view the archived recording, but GoToWebinar login instructions are sent to registered attendees after registration for the session closes on April 20, 2014. 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.

REGISTER AT: http://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/calendar/eventshow.asp?ProgId=13080

 

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Doc Spot: FRED

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Mary Sauers

fred-logo-2xShort for Federal Reserve Economic Data, FRED is an online database consisting of thousands of economic data time series from national, international, public, and private sources.  Created and maintained by the Research Department at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, FRED goes far beyond simply providing data: It combines data with a powerful mix of tools, new and old, that help the user understand, interact with, display, and disseminate the data.

For example, FRED now features new graphs.  They are visually more appealing, and also have new capabilities.  Users can share graphs easily, embed a graph into a blog, and also now create stacked graphs.  If you are interested in seeing it in action, here’s an example of a stacked graph of the components of GDP (GDP = Consumption + Investment + Government + Net Exports).

FRED also has user dashboards.  When a user creates an account in FRED, s/he may also create a dashboard of personally selected data.  Users can create multiple dashboards, and they may be open to the public or kept private.  US Economic Indicators is an example of a public dashboard.

Last, but not least, FRED now has a blog.  It will have posts about twice a week, and will highlight interesting data and FRED graph features.  It’s a great way to keep up on the latest features and data in FRED.

If you haven’t visited FRED recently (or ever), go take a look–you’ll be glad you did!

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Looking for free refugee health information in multiple languages?

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Michael Sauers

Healthy Roads Media logoHealthy Roads Media has reformatted a DVD, (Safe , Smart, and Healthy) from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services into short videos, now viewable on their website.   There are 28 segments, produced in 33 languages, with two new personal hygiene topics in 16 languages.  All are available as streaming web videos.
Check them out at the Healthy Roads Media Refugee Health Orientation page.

Marty Magee
mmagee@unmc.edu

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UNL Libraries Visiting Scholar Program on Research Sharing, April 22

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Emily Nimsakont

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries invites you to a lecture and panel discussion on Tuesday, April 22, 2014, provided by the 2014 Visiting Scholar.

Dr. Karla Strieb, a librarian and faculty member at the Ohio State University, will look at current trends and developments in the evolving environment for research sharing. Funder requirements for sharing research findings and even research data continue to increase, especially when taxpayers are footing the bill. The implications and options for research libraries to advance research sharing will be discussed using the experiences of the Ohio State University to highlight issues and opportunities.

The lecture: “The Times, They are a-Changin’: Funder Requirements for Research Sharing” is scheduled at 10:00 a.m. in Room 202 in the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln City campus.

At 2:00 p.m. in the afternoon, also in Room 202, Dr. Strieb will be joined by a panel of University of Nebraska faculty and administrators to discuss current efforts at UNL to comply with the mandate.

Both the lecture and panel discussion are free and open to the public, so please make plans to join us.

Campus maps:

http://maps.unl.edu/

http://parking.unl.edu/maps/VisitorGuestParkingCityCampus.pdf

For more information, contact:
Ted Naylor
Academic Activities Committee
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries
402-472-3412
tnaylor2@unl.edu

 

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Rita Award Finalists Announced

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Laura Johnson

RitastatuetteThe Romance Writers of America (RWA) have announced the finalists for their annual RITA awards for best published romances.  The RITAs are awarded in 9 categories:

  • Best First Book
  • Contemporary Romance
  • Erotic Romance
  • Historical Romance
  • Inspirational Romance
  • Paranormal Romance
  • Romance Novella
  • Romantic Suspense
  • Short Contemporary Romance.

This year the lists comprise 77 titles.  The award winners will be announced at the RWA annual conference in San Antonio on July 26.

According to the RWA, romance made up the largest share of the U.S. consumer market in 2012 at 16.7 percent, and romance was the top-performing category on the NYT, USA Today, and PW best-seller lists.  That’s a lot of romance between the covers, and a few hints about what to select for the collection, such as these award nominations, are handy.

The Nebraska Library Commission will be discussing romance fiction during our August 13 NCompass Live Webinar.

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Recently on the NCompass Podcast

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Michael Sauers

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

 

 

Episode 274: Migrating To A New ILS

Episode 275: Password Management & Security

Episode 276: Book Club Kit Reviews

Episode 277: Tech Talk with Michael Sauers: How Big is Your Digital Footprint? How to Manage Your Online Presence

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If you could share just one book…

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Laura Johnson

What would it be?  The Davenport (IA) Public Library is collecting pictures of people who work in libraries and the books they’d like to share with the world.  They say that “booksecret.org aims to help library staff around the world share the amazing items all around them.”   What book would you like to share?  (Thanks to Denise for the tip.)

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NCompass Live: Paws to Read at Kearney Public Library

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Christa Porter

NCompass live small

Join us for next week’s NCompass Live: “Paws to Read at Kearney Public Library”, on Wednesday, April 9, 10:00-11:00 am Central Time.

Once a month our library goes to the dogs all in the name of literacy. Paws to Read is a cooperative reading program between Kearney Public Library and local therapy dogs. This program helps children improve their literacy skills with the assistance of certified pet therapy dogs in a fun, non-judgmental and relaxed environment. Children involved in Paws programs nationwide have shown improved reading skills, a sense of pride in their accomplishments, a willingness to become involved in other positive activities, and have learned respect and kindness in their interactions with animals. Presenters will share their experiences with this great project.

Presenters: Christine Walsh, Kearney Public Library; Kimberly Williams, Therapy Dogs, Inc., Kearney, NE.

Upcoming NCompass Live events:

  • April 16 – Killing Dewey
  • April 23 – Tech Talk with Michael Sauers
  • April 30 – Smart Investing: Reference Strategies and Resources
  • May 7 – The Internship: A Win-Win Situation

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 Books & Reading, Education & Training, Programming, Youth Services | Leave a comment