#BookFaceFriday “The Library at the Edge of the World”

Posted on November 19, 2021 by Tessa Timperley

Take the plunge with #BookFaceFriday!

The Nebraska Library Commission is in the process of updating Nebraska’s LSTA state program! This week we welcomed Sally Reed to meet with staff, Commissioners, Regional Systems Directors, and SACL members as she works on our five-year program evaluation. So this week’s #BookFaceFriday is spreading the library love with “The Library at the Edge of the World: A Novel” by Felicity Hayes-McCoy (Harper Perennial, 2017). It’s available as an eBook and Audiobook in the Nebraska OverDrive Libraries. Every five years the Nebraska Library Commission is required to conduct an evaluation of its implementation of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) “Grants to States” program. The LSTA Grants to States Program is a federal program that provides funding to each state based on a population‐driven formula.

“The spot-on descriptions of Ireland’s country roads and expansive sky all but leap off the page and provide the true joy of Hayes-McCoy’s first novel…. Maeve Binchy and Patrick Taylor fans will find much to enjoy.”

― Booklist

Libraries participating in the Nebraska OverDrive Libraries Group currently have access to a shared and growing collection of digital downloadable audiobooks and eBooks. 186 libraries across the state share the Nebraska OverDrive collection of 26,554 audiobooks, 32,935 eBooks, and 3,940 magazines. As an added bonus it includes 130 podcasts that are always available with simultaneous use (SU), as well as SU ebooks and audiobook titles that publishers have made available for a limited time. If you’re a part of it, let your users know about this great title, and if you’re not a member yet, find more information about participating in Nebraska Overdrive Libraries!

Love this #BookFace & reading? Check out our past #BookFaceFriday photos on the Nebraska Library Commission’s Facebook page!

 
 

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Friday Reads: The Sneetches

Posted on November 19, 2021 by Sam Shaw

Written in 1961 (with a variant early edition published by Redbook magazine in 1953), this book contains The Sneetches and, well, other stories (The Zax, Too Many Daves, and What Was I Scared Of?). Add The Sneetches to the list of Dr. Seuss material that provides a valuable life lesson that today’s society has completely discarded or forgotten. It is by far the highlight of this collection. A classic story of us v.s. them, diversity, and tolerance, The Sneetches further expands on these notions with the addition of a capitalistic villain who takes advantage of and pits the star bellied Sneetches against their non-starred counterparts. The parallels to the world we live in today are uncanny. The Zax expands on The Sneetches and provides a lesson about stubbornness, as a north travelling Zax meets a south travelling Zax, and both refuse to move out of the way of the other one. Too Many Daves tells the story, of well, a lady who named all of her kids Dave (all 23 of them), and, you guessed it, regrets her decision. Finally, What Was I Scared Of? tells the story of a young guy who is scared of a pair of pants (who wouldn’t be scared of a talking pair of pants?), but in this case, the pants are just as scared – of the scared guy. A classic example of perception. Many of the books published by Seuss ultimately circle back to lessons of differing viewpoints, open-mindedness, and acceptance, and The Sneetches is no different.

Seuss, Dr. The Sneetches and Other Stories. New York: Random House. 1961.

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Relaxed Copyright Rules For Virtual Storytimes Ending

Posted on November 18, 2021 by Aimee Owen

Throughout 2020 and 2021, many publishers relaxed their read-aloud and book-sharing rules to allow librarians and educators to have virtual storytimes. While a few publishers have extended these policies until December 31, 2021 (and a couple into 2022), many have allowed these permissions to expire.

If your library has hosted (or is still doing) an online storytime for your youngest patrons, be sure that you check with each publisher’s rules so that you don’t run afoul of copyright laws. For instance, some may allow livestreaming of read-aloud performances, but not recorded videos. Others allow recorded videos posted to limited audiences. Videos may need to be deleted or have access disabled by a certain deadline. Permission forms may still need to be submitted and the publisher credited during the performance. Taking care to check the specific publisher’s rules will help you avoid any legal complications for your library.

We’ve been keeping track of a number of publishers’ rules here: http://nlc.nebraska.gov/libman/readonline.aspx#copyright

You can check out our other copyright resources here: http://nlc.nebraska.gov/legal/copyright.aspx?menu2

Recommended reading:

These titles and more are available from the Nebraska Library Commission and can be borrowed by librarians and library science students in Nebraska. Find them in our catalog!

  • Coaching Copyright (2020, ALA Editions) by Smith, Kevin L.
  • Compact copyright : quick answers to common questions (2021, ALA Editions) by Sara R. Benson
  • Complete copyright for K-12 librarians and educators (2012, ALA) by Carrie Russell.
  • Copyright Conversations: Rights Literacy in a Digital World (2019, ACRL) edited by Sara R. Benson.
  • Copyright law for librarians and educators : creative strategies and practical solutions (2020, ALA Editions) by Kenneth D. Crews.
  • The copyright librarian : a practical handbook (2016, Chandos Publishing) by Linda Frederiksen

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What’s Up Doc? New State Agency Publications at the Nebraska Library Commission

Posted on November 17, 2021 by Mary Sauers

New state agency publications have been received at the Nebraska Library Commission for September and October, 2021.  Included are reports from the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services, the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance, the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission, and new books from the University of Nebraska Press, to name a few.

Most items, except the books from the University of Nebraska Press, are available for immediate viewing and printing by clicking on the highlighted link above, or directly in the .pdf below.  You can read synopses of the books received from the University of Nebraska Press in the Book Briefs blogposts.

The Nebraska Legislature created the Nebraska Publications Clearinghouse in 1972 as a service of the Nebraska Library Commission. Its purpose is to collect, preserve, and provide access to all public information published by Nebraska state agencies.  By law (State Statutes 51-411 to 51-413) all Nebraska state agencies are required to submit their published documents to the Clearinghouse.  For more information, visit the Nebraska Publications Clearinghouse page, contact Mary Sauers, Government Information Services Librarian; or contact Bonnie Henzel, State Documents Staff Assistant.

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Young Readers Invited to Write to Favorite Authors

Posted on November 15, 2021 by Kayla Henzel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 15, 2021

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Tessa Terry
402-471-3434
800-307-2665

Young Readers Invited to Write to Favorite Authors

Young readers in grades 4-12 are invited to write a personal letter to an author for the Nebraska Letters about Literature (LAL) contest, a state reading and writing promotion program. The letter can be to any author (living or dead) from any genre-fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic-explaining how that author’s work changed the student’s view of the world. Submissions must be completed online November 1- December 31, 2021. Nebraska Letters About Literature is coordinated and sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book and the Nebraska Library Commission, with support from Houchen Bindery, Ltd., Humanities Nebraska, and Chapters Bookstore in Seward.

The Nebraska Center for the Book’s panel of judges will select a winner and an honorable mention per competition level (Level I for grades 4-6, Level II for grades 7-8, and Level III for grades 9-12) to be honored in a proclamation-signing ceremony at the state capitol during National Library Week in April 2022. Their winning letters will be placed in the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors at Bennett Martin Public Library in Lincoln. Nebraska winners and honorable mentions will receive state prizes.

Teachers, librarians, and parents can download the contest guidelines, free teaching materials, information on the online entry system, and past winning letters on the Nebraska Center for the Book website. A recording of the informational NCompass Live webinar on November 3rd, discussing this year’s contest, is available online. For more information contact Nebraska Center for the Book.

The Nebraska Center for the Book is housed at the Nebraska Library Commission and brings together the state’s readers, writers, booksellers, librarians, publishers, printers, educators, and scholars to build the community of the book, supporting programs to celebrate and stimulate public interest in books, reading, and the written word. The Nebraska Center for the Book is supported by the national Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and the Nebraska Library Commission.

As the 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 .

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NCompass Live: Summer Reading Program 2022: Oceans of Possibilities

Posted on November 12, 2021 by Christa Porter

Get ready for the 2022 Summer Reading Program, Oceans of Possibilities, on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, on Wednesday, November 17 at 10am CT.

Get ready for next summer by learning about quality books to consider for your library’s collection and start planning for Oceans of Possibilities. Kids will be clamoring for both fiction and nonfiction titles as they read all about Oceanography, the topic for the 2022 Summer Reading Program.

Presenter: Sally Snyder, Coordinator of Children and Young Adult Library Services, Nebraska Library Commission.

Upcoming NCompass Live shows:

  • Nov. 24 – Pretty Sweet Tech – Oculus Quest 2: VR Headsets in the Library
  • Dec. 1 – Pioneer Consortium – Making Libraries Stronger Together
  • Dec. 8 – Best New Children’s Books of 2021: Super Librarians Continue on with Youth Services!
  • Jan. 5, 2022 – Teen Titles of 2021: Books They Will Read
  • Jan. 19, 2022 – If You Build it, Will They Come? Makerspaces Work in Small, Rural Libraries

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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#BookFaceFriday “Fried Walleye and Cherry Pie”

Posted on November 12, 2021 by Tessa Timperley

There’s nothing like a slice of #BookFaceFriday!

Nebraska Library Commission staff celebrated early with our annual Thanksgiving pot luck this week. Which brought up the question, how early is too early to start researching new recipes or types of food for the big day? So this week’s #BookFaceFriday is a celebration of all things food with, “Fried Walleye and Cherry Pie: Midwestern Writers on Food” edited by Peggy Wolff (University of Nebraska Press, 2013). It’s available as an eBook in the Nebraska OverDrive Libraries. Plus new titles, including recipe books, are added daily to Nebraska Overdrive Libraries!

“With its acres upon acres of cornfields and orchards, the Midwest ought to have some of the country’s best foods. In summer, that’s often true. But as with the rest of America, midwesterners have too often turned their backs on their most flavorful foods in favor of an easy drive-through at a fast-food outlet. This anthology of essays on the Midwest’s best and most unpretentious foods should go a long way toward regaining the respect the heartland’s cuisine ought to enjoy. Jacquelyn Mitchard celebrates the area’s most typical summer fare, sweet corn, especially its marvelous new variety, Mirai. Donna Pierce reminds us that midwestern cuisine owes much to the black migration. Lorna Landvik reveals that the institution of state fairs both enshrined local foodways and introduced novel traditions. The national reach of midwestern culinary art emerges in professional chef Gale Gand’s feature on a Hoosier cheese maker. For regional collections.”

―Mark Knoblauch, Booklist

Libraries participating in the Nebraska OverDrive Libraries Group currently have access to a shared and growing collection of digital downloadable audiobooks and eBooks. 186 libraries across the state share the Nebraska OverDrive collection of 26,554 audiobooks, 32,935 eBooks, and 3,940 magazines. As an added bonus it includes 130 podcasts that are always available with simultaneous use (SU), as well as SU ebooks and audiobook titles that publishers have made available for a limited time. If you’re a part of it, let your users know about this great title, and if you’re not a member yet, find more information about participating in Nebraska Overdrive Libraries!

Love this #BookFace & reading? Check out our past #BookFaceFriday photos on the Nebraska Library Commission’s Facebook page!

 
 

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Friday Reads: “Come Fly With Me: the Jet-Age Story of the Women of Pan Am” by Julia Cooke

Posted on November 12, 2021 by Aimee Owen

If you’ve spent the pandemic grounded as I have, you may enjoy the escape to exotic locates found in Julia Cooke’s Come Fly the World: the Jet-Age Story of the Women of Pan Am.

Following the career progression of three Pan Am flight attendants, Cooke also delves into the evolution of the career itself from the 1950s through the ’70s. Many young women vied for the job of globe-trotting stewardess, but few possessed both the physical attributes (height and weight requirements) and education (a college degree and fluency in two languages were expected), combined with the poise and grace needed to deal with unruly passengers and remain calm in mid-air emergencies. Those who did were rewarded with the opportunity to see the world, shop in foreign markets, and establish themselves as independent women with their own income, with the caveat that they were expected to retire at the age of 26 or upon getting married.

These women were often on the forefront of world events, from Cold War espionage to shuttling U.S. troops on R&R trips out of Vietnam. Flight attendants on layovers in Moscow were surveilled by the Russian government, and planes were shot at in war zones.

They were also often on the leading edge of the feminist movement, pressing the industry for changes in uniforms and physical requirements, as well as allowing married and pregnant women to continue working, and helping men gain entry into the profession.

If your impression of flight attendants is more “Coffee, tea, or me?” than “I am woman, hear me roar”, you will find Cooke’s history of the profession, with it’s glamour and grit, as fascinating as I did.

Cooke, Julia. Come Fly With Me: the Jet-Age Story of the Women of Pan Am. Marine Books, 2021.

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Throwback Thursday: G. A. R. Monument

Posted on November 11, 2021 by Kayla Henzel

It’s Thursday and you know what that means…#Throwback!

This week’s #ThrowbackThursday features an early 1900s color postcard of the Grand Army of the Republic Civil War monument and grave stones in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Land for the Forest Lawn Cemetery was donated by John H. Brackin, an Omaha pioneer, in 1884. A year later, a section was set aside for use of the Grand Army of the Republic and the first burial took place in 1890.

This postcard was created by the Omaha News Company and published by Omaha Public Library. Items in this collection include early Omaha-related maps dating from 1825 to 1922, as well as over 1,100 postcards and photographs of the Omaha area. The Omaha Postcard Collections show scenes of Omaha, spanning a time period from the 1890s to the 1920s.

Check out this full collection on the Nebraska Memories archive.

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. The Nebraska Memories archive 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.

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NCompass Live: Hints, Tips, & Cheat Codes: Running a Game Jam

Posted on November 5, 2021 by Christa Porter

Learn some Hints, Tips, & Cheat Codes for Running a Game Jam at your library on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, on Wednesday, November 10 at 10am CT.

Game design and creation offers patrons of all skill levels and interests a gateway to technology education, social connections, and the joy of play. Game jam events offer budding game developers a cooperative event setting to test their skills against a common theme and a hard time-limit. By offering patrons space, support, and the team building structure of a game jam, libraries can link the game dev community to programming and build their game collection. In this lecture you’ll be introduced to the practicals of running game jam events, and tips for success. We’ll cover in-person event prep, entirely-remote or online events, and how to merge the two offerings to expand accessibility.

Presenter: Charles Fisher, Creative Production Lab Supervisor, Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Upcoming NCompass Live shows:

  • Nov. 17 – Summer Reading Program 2022: Oceans of Possibilities
  • Nov. 24 – Pretty Sweet Tech
  • Dec. 1 – Pioneer Consortium – Making Libraries Stronger Together
  • Dec. 8 – Best New Children’s Books of 2021: Super Librarians Continue on with Youth Services!
  • Jan. 5, 2022 – Teen Titles of 2021: Books They Will Read

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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Friday Reads: Star Wars: Ronin: A Visions Novel by Emma Mieko Candon

Posted on November 5, 2021 by Christa Porter

“I am my own blood,
and these are my own people.
Never again do I serve the Jedi.
Never again do I yield to their lords.”
―The Ronin

Star Wars: Ronin: A Visions Novel, the debut novel by Emma Mieko Candon, is inspired by the first episode of the anime anthology series Star Wars: Visions, ‘The Duel’. The series is a re-envisioning of the Star Wars universe, with each episode an original story produced by various Japanese animation studios.

The novel begins with re-telling ‘The Duel’, the story of a lone wandering Ronin and his droid, B5-56, who come upon a village besieged by Stormtrooper bandits. The Ronin fights their leader in an attempt to free the village from them. But the novel provides more background and details, giving a better understanding of the anime episode. Then it continues with the Ronin’s further travels and battles throughout the Outer Rim.

Just like the anime series it is based on, Ronin is not part of the official Star Wars canon. It’s an alternate history of the Jedi and the Sith, in which the Jedi are feudal clans and loyal servants in their Empire. The Sith are a sect of the Jedi who attempted a rebellion against the status quo, but failed.

It is well known that George Lucas was influenced by Japanese cinema when creating Star Wars, and that same influence is well-represented here. Ronin is Star Wars set in a fully realized Japanese culture. That’s no surprise, as the novel is written by a fourth-generation Japanese-American.

With it’s more fantasy style of story-telling, Ronin is very different from other Star Wars novels. And I mean that in a good way. If you’re unsure if Star Wars literature is for you, I recommend trying Ronin. It is both completely separate form the Star Wars you know, and completely embraces it at the same time.

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#BookFaceFriday “The Forest of Hands and Teeth” by Carrie Ryan

Posted on November 5, 2021 by Tessa Timperley

This #BookFaceFriday is something to write about!

It’s November, which means it’s time for #NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month! This annual challenge to write 50,000 words of a novel has resulted in hundreds of thousands of new books since 1999, including this week’s #BookFaceFriday, “The Forest of Hands and Teeth” by Carrie Ryan (Random House Children’s Books, 2009). It’s available as both an eBook and audiobook in the Nebraska OverDrive Libraries. Find it and other November-written novels in the #NaNoWriMo collection. Plus new titles, both nonfiction and fiction, are added daily to Nebraska Overdrive Libraries!

““Mary’s observant, careful narration pulls readers into a bleak but gripping story of survival and the endless capacity of humanity to persevere . . .Fresh and riveting.””

―Publishers Weekly

Libraries participating in the Nebraska OverDrive Libraries Group currently have access to a shared and growing collection of digital downloadable audiobooks and eBooks. 186 libraries across the state share the Nebraska OverDrive collection of 26,554 audiobooks, 32,935 eBooks, and 3,940 magazines. As an added bonus it includes 130 podcasts that are always available with simultaneous use (SU), as well as SU ebooks and audiobook titles that publishers have made available for a limited time. If you’re a part of it, let your users know about this great title, and if you’re not a member yet, find more information about participating in Nebraska Overdrive Libraries!

Love this #BookFace & reading? Check out our past #BookFaceFriday photos on the Nebraska Library Commission’s Facebook page!

 
 

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Throwback Thursday: Crawford, NE 1887

Posted on November 4, 2021 by Kayla Henzel

Happy #ThrowbackThursday from Nebraska Memories!

This week, we have a 6″ x 9″ black and white photograph of Crawford, Nebraska in 1887. This image is owned by the Crawford Historical Society and Museum and is published by Crawford Public Library. They worked together to digitize a number of images featuring the Crawford area in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This collection includes resident portraits, local businesses, and souvenir postcards.

Check out the full collection on the Nebraska Memories archive.

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. The Nebraska Memories archive 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.

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United for Libraries Learning Live, Nov. 9: Virtual and Hybrid Fundraising

Posted on November 1, 2021 by Christa Porter

All Nebraska public libraries are members of United for Libraries through the Statewide Group Membership purchased by the Nebraska Library Commission. The Commission provides this membership to ensure that public library staff members, Friends, Trustees, and Foundations can take advantage of United for Libraries’ services to enhance fundraising, advocacy, and public awareness.

United for Libraries’ monthly virtual series, Learning Live, will continue with “Virtual and Hybrid Fundraising” Tues., Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. Eastern. The Learning Live program is presented free to United for Libraries  members and those with statewide training access.

Learn about virtual and hybrid fundraising through examples of successful campaigns across the country. Presenters Reed Davaz McGowan (Eugene [Ore.] Public Library Foundation) and Kerry Barnes (Tomkins County [N.Y.] Public Library Foundation) will walk attendees through the planning processes of their respective campaigns, including Eugene Public Library Foundation’s Imagination Library Luncheon and Tomkins County Public Library Foundation’s 2021 Readathon and “Hold On, Let Me Ask a Librarian” program. A Q&A session will follow the presentation. Register for “Virtual and Hybrid Fundraising”

Reed Davaz McGowan is the executive director of Eugene Public Library Foundation. As an executive director of organizations in San Francisco and Philadelphia, she focused on increasing access to and funding for innovative arts, leadership development, and educational programming for underserved and often marginalized youth and communities.

Kerry A. Barnes serves as the assistant director for the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation. An avid swimmer, aspiring novelist, voracious reader, and intermediate knitter, she has more than 20 years’ experience fundraising for nonprofit organizations.

Eugene Public Library Foundation’s Imagination Library Luncheon Over the past 18 months, Eugene Public Library Foundation has been meeting the challenges faced by raising funds and stewarding donors during the pandemic. In the wake of canceling its annual gala for 2020 (and then 2021), the Foundation transitioned to online events and fundraising drives as well as increased virtual programming and outreach through a lot of experimentation and pivoting. In partnership with the Friends of Eugene Public Library, the Foundation raised funds for WiFi hotspots, which have emerged as an urgent community need. Additionally, the Foundation has virtually hosted two fundraising “luncheons” with different models, quarterly trivia nights, and a monthly lecture series. The virtual luncheons exceeded net revenue expectations and even out-performed the previous in-person luncheons to date.

Tompkins County Public Library Foundation’s Readathon started in 2013 as a 24-hour reading challenge and has evolved into an all-day signature fundraising event. In 2020, the Readathon had to pivot to a virtual format at almost the last minute, due to New York State’s shutdown response to the pandemic.  A virtual format was necessary for the 2021 Readathon as well, but allowed the Foundation to realize a new set of opportunities that will be part of the event in years to come, regardless of the state of world health. Kerry will share lessons learned (from being both an event organizer and participant), advice for making the most of peer-to-peer fundraising events, and how to help your biggest library lovers become library supporters.

Hold On, Let Me Ask a Librarian Based on a board member’s observation that the best Zoom events were a lot like old-time radio programs, they created their own version of NPR’s quiz show, Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me, titled Hold On, Let Me Ask a Librarian. Featuring a panel of local notables answering questions about TCPL while the audience played along at home online, the event broke new ground for virtual fundraising programming and actively engaging an audience more than a little tired of staring at a screen. Kerry will share what went into creating the event, what challenges the Foundation faced, and what they might do differently the next time around.

United for Libraries Learning Live sessions take place on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Each month’s session will cover a hot topic of interest to Trustees, Friends and/or Foundations, followed by a Q&A and/or discussions. Sessions are open to all personal and group members of United for Libraries.

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and 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, visit www.ala.org/united/ or call 312-280-2160.

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Central Community College announces LIS classes for Spring 2022

Posted on November 1, 2021 by Tessa Timperley

Library and Information Services (LIS) class registration at Central Community College for Spring 2022: January 10, 2022 – May 5, 2022. Enrollment for the spring semester opens Thusday Nov. 15, 2021.

Classes include:

LIBR 2100 Reference Resources and Services
Marty Magee, Instructor
• Professional competencies including legal and ethical responsibilities
• Reference interview process
• The Reference collection
• Evaluation and use of digital resources, including databases, and websites


LIBR 2150 Managing Collections in Libraries and Information Agencies
Patty Birch, Instructor
• Basics of Collection Management including terminology and models
• 21st Century Libraries
• Selection, Acquisition, Deselection/Weeding
• Intellectual Freedom and Copyright


LIBR 2210 Cataloging and Classification
Ruth Carlock, Instructor
• The bibliographic record
• Sears and Library of Congress subject headings
• Dewey Decimal and Library of Congress classification systems
• Machine-Readable Cataloging Record (MARC record)
• Resource Description and Access (RDA) Instructions

All classes are online and can be applied to a Central Community College Associate Degree.  See details of classes and registration information at:  http://www.cccneb.edu/library/

For information concerning Admissions or Registration, contact: Dee Johnson djohnson@cccneb.edu, 402-562-1418 or Toll Free at 877-222-0780

CCC-LIS-Flyer-SP-2022Download

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‘E-rate: What’s New for 2022?’ Online Workshops Scheduled

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Christa Porter

‘E-rate: What’s New for 2022?’ workshops are now open for registration! Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all workshops will be held online only, via GoToWebinar.

NOTE: This online workshop is being offered on multiple days and at varied times. The same information will be provided at each workshop, so you only need to attend one session. A recorded version will also be made available after all of the live sessions have been held.

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.

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 2022 E-rate application. Dates and times:

  • November 30 – 1:00-4:00pm Central / 12:00noon-3pm Mountain
  • December 2 – 9:30am-12:30pm Central / 8:30-11:30am Mountain
  • December 7 – 9:30am-12:30pm Central / 8:30-11:30am Mountain  
  • December 8 – 1:00-4:00pm Central / 12:00noon-3pm Mountain

To register for any of these sessions, go to the Nebraska Library Commission’s Training & Events Calendar and search for ‘e-rate 2022’.

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NCompass Live: Letters About Literature

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Christa Porter

Learn about Nebraska’s state reading and writing contest for youth, Letters About Literature, on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, on Wednesday, November 3 at 10am CT.

Nebraska Letters About Literature is a state reading and writing competition that asks young people in grades 4 through 12 to write to an author (living or deceased) about how his or her book affected their lives. This session will provide helpful information for teachers and librarians interested in the competition. It will also cover the submission process and be an excellent opportunity to ask questions about the entire competition process.

Presenters: Tessa Terry – Communications Coordinator, Nebraska Library Commission; Christine Walsh – Assistant Library Director, Kearney Public Library.

Upcoming NCompass Live shows:

  • Nov. 10 – Hints, Tips, & Cheat Codes: Running a Game Jam
  • Nov. 17 – Summer Reading Program 2022: Oceans of Possibilities
  • Nov. 24 – Pretty Sweet Tech
  • Dec. 1 – Pioneer Consortium – Making Libraries Stronger Together
  • Dec. 8 – Best New Children’s Books of 2021: Super Librarians Continue on with Youth Services!
  • Jan. 5, 2022 – Teen Titles of 2021: Books They Will Read

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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#BookFaceFriday “Every Which Way But Dead” by Kim Harrison

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Tessa Timperley

It’s a witchy woman kinda #BookFaceFriday!

Woo hoo witchy woman! We are totally here for this Halloween #BookFace! “Every Which Way But Dead” by Kim Harrison (Harper Collins, 2009) is a part of the “Witches: Fantasy, History, & the Everyday” special collection on Nebraska OverDrive Libraries. This curated collection of eBooks and Audiobooks was created to help our readers find the perfect spooky read for the Halloween season. Some exciting news, Nebraska OverDrive Libraries reached new heights last year! Circulation for October 1, 2020-September 30, 2021 reached 1,007,102! The previous fiscal year’s total was 910,897, which means Nebraskans checked out 96,205 more items from Nebraska OverDrive Libraries in just a year!

“The world of the Hollows is fast-moving, funny, harrowing and scary, and―the greatest compliment to a fantasy―absolutely real.” — Diana Gabaldon

Find this title and many more through Nebraska OverDrive. Libraries participating in the Nebraska OverDrive Libraries Group currently have access to a shared and growing collection of digital downloadable audiobooks and eBooks. 186 libraries across the state share the Nebraska OverDrive collection of 26,554 audiobooks, 32,935 eBooks, and 3,940 magazines. As an added bonus it includes 130 podcasts that are always available with simultaneous use (SU), as well as SU ebooks and audiobook titles that publishers have made available for a limited time. If you’re a part of it, let your users know about this great title, and if you’re not a member yet, find more information about participating in Nebraska Overdrive Libraries!

Love this #BookFace & reading? Check out our past #BookFaceFriday photos on the Nebraska Library Commission’s Facebook page!

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Friday Reads: Garlic & the Vampire by Bree Paulsen

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Sally Snyder

Since it is nearly Halloween, it seems appropriate to discuss a title that includes a vampire.  This is a full-color graphic novel aimed at the upper elementary school level.  A group of vegetables animated by a witch to help with the gardening and selling of vegetables has reached consciousness – they are aware of what they do and how it helps the townspeople.  The have distinct personalities.

Their peaceful life is completely thrown when Potato notices smoke rising from the formerly abandoned castle across the valley.  Could a vampire have moved in?  All are in a worried state.  At their meeting where they learn it is a vampire, thanks to the magic of the witch, Celery (who is miffed at Garlic) suggests Garlic should deal with him.  It does make sense, vampires are known to be put off by garlic, but this Garlic is a quiet, nonthreatening creature and she trembles at the idea of confronting a vampire.  Still, Garlic puts on a brave face and prepares for the mission.  Readers will delight in the idea that at the last minute the witch assigned Celery to accompany her on the mission.  Celery abandons Garlic at the castle door, immediately heading back home.  Garlic bravely goes in, and finds something quite unexpected.  Staking the vampire will not be necessary. 

(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free, via the Regional Library Systems, to Nebraska school and public libraries.)

Paulsen, Bree. Garlic & the Vampire. Quill Tree Books, 2021.

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Penguin Random House and the Association for Rural and Small Libraries Launch New Grant Program

Posted on October 28, 2021 by Christa Porter

For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.

Seattle, Washington, October 25 – Penguin Random House and The Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) today announced a rolling grant program to recognize rural, small and tribal libraries that support underserved communities in the U.S. and U.S. territories.

The program will award grants of up to $2,500 to libraries that demonstrate a true need. Grants are not limited to literacy and may be used for everything from library programming and books to resources like hotspots that help community members access important information. In-kind donations will also be considered.

Kate Laughlin, Executive Director, The Association for Rural & Small Libraries said, “Our nation’s small and rural libraries already faced so many challenges pre-pandemic. Those challenges have only become more urgent during the past year and a half. ARSL cannot thank Penguin Random House enough for recognizing the essential place our libraries hold in our communities, and stepping up to show real, practical support.”

“The past couple years have been incredibly challenging for everyone, and we know rural areas have been especially hard-hit,” said Skip Dye, Senior Vice President of Sales Operations and Library Sales, Penguin Random House. “In these communities, libraries have been lifelines in countless ways, from serving as trusted sources for reliable information to providing access to important services and resources. We are honored to partner with ARSL to help elevate their impact.”

Penguin Random House and ARSL have worked together to ensure the application process is simple and straightforward to remove as many barriers to applying for a grant as possible. For the award application and more information about the program, please visit the info page: https://www.arsl.org/prh-grant

About the Association for Rural and Small Libraries

As the premier organization representing rural and small libraries, ARSL’s mission is to build strong communities through advocacy, professional development, and elevating the impact of rural and small libraries. ARSL recognizes the uniqueness of small and rural libraries and is committed providing an environment that encourages excellence within this community of practice, supporting their goals of service and speaking on behalf of this important constituency. 1 in 3 libraries in the United States serve communities of 2,500 or fewer residents, and ARSL is committed to identifying and addressing the needs of the library professionals who serve them.

About Penguin Random House

Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade book publisher, is dedicated to its mission of nourishing a universal passion for reading by connecting authors and their writing with readers everywhere. The company, which employs more than 10,000 people globally, was formed on July 1, 2013, by Bertelsmann and Pearson. As of April 1, 2020, Bertelsmann is full owner of the company. With more than 300 imprints and brands on six continents, Penguin Random House comprises adult and children’s fiction and nonfiction print and digital English- German- and Spanish-language trade book publishing businesses in more than 20 countries worldwide. With over 15,000 new titles, and more than 600 million print, audio and eBooks sold annually, Penguin Random House’s publishing lists include more than 80 Nobel Prize laureates and hundreds of the world’s most widely read authors.

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