Connected Learning and Teens : What’s it all about? A four-week Canvas workshop

Posted on August 9, 2021 by Sally Snyder

Dates: September 8 – 29

Join Sally Snyder and Laura England-Biggs as we explore content from the T3 grant program sponsored by YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) and COSLA (Chief Officers of State Library Agencies). You’ll learn more about Connected Learning, how to apply it in your library and get a chance to think about next steps. Connected Learning helps us engage our teens with topics that already interest them. That in turn can drive programming numbers, which is what we all want, right?

This free online workshop will last four weeks (September 8 – 29). Zoom Sessions will be held on Wednesdays in Canvas, an online learning platform, starting with the optional introductory session on September 1 at 2 pm Central. This introductory session will explore how Canvas is structured, the content we will cover and answer any logistical questions.

Our first week’s content will kick off Thursday, September 2, and we will meet by Zoom Wednesday September 8 at 2 pm (Central) to check in on everyone’s progress, answer questions, and network. The course cycle repeats through the closing session September 29. Wednesday Zoom Sessions are planned to last from 2 – 3 pm (Central).

This workshop will be limited to 15 participants with another session offered in November 2021. Those who complete the workshop will be eligible to receive 4 hours of CE credit from the Nebraska Library Commission. For more information and registration details, please visit the Nebraska Library Commission’s event calendar.

Another class is scheduled for November, if that month will work better for you, see the calendar. Sign-up will open for it in mid-September.

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Register today for United for Libraries Virtual, Aug. 17-19

Posted on August 6, 2021 by Christa Porter

NOTE: All Nebraska public libraries are members of United for Libraries through the Statewide Group Membership purchased by the Nebraska Library Commission: http://nlc.nebraska.gov/trustees/altaff/ 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.

Registration is open for “United for Libraries Virtual: Trustees – Friends – Foundations”  Aug. 17-19, 2021! Now in its second year,
this interactive three-day virtual event will feature expert speakers on current topics facing library Trustees, Friends, Foundations, and staff who work with them.

Those with libraries in MA, MD, MI, NE, SC, SD and TX can register for the highly discounted rate of $69 individual/$199 group (up to five)!  

The virtual event will allow attendees to:

  • Participate in live Q&A sessions with presenters.
  • Network with colleagues across the country in roundtable discussions.
  • Enjoy exclusive access to keynote speakers and authors.
  • Receive a certificate of attendance (for live participation or on-demand viewing).
  • Access all session recordings for one year.

Featured program topics will include:

  • What’s More Punk than the Public Library? Fundraising as a Friends Group
  • Policies and Practices for LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Libraries: What Trustees Need to Know
  • Auditing Diversity in Library Collections
  • Advocating in Advance: Keeping Ahead of Legislation and Local Initiatives
  • How to Be an Inclusive Leader: Your Role in Creating Cultures of Belonging Where Everyone Can Thrive
  • Life Cycle of a Board Member – How to Build a Powerhouse Board
  • Gala Author Tea sponsored by Data Axle Reference Solutions

To view the full conference schedule and register for United Virtual, visit https://www.ala.org/united/events_conferences/virtual

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. To join, please visit https://www.ala.org/united/ or call (800) 545-2433, ext. 2161.

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NCompass Live: The Kreutz Bennett Donor-Advised Fund: Grants to Nebraska’s Small-Town Public Libraries

Posted on August 6, 2021 by Christa Porter

Is your library in a Nebraska community with a population under 3,000? The Kreutz Bennett Donor-Advised Fund is for you! Learn how to apply for this funding opportunity on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, August 11 at 10am CT.

Since 2012, the Kreutz Bennett Donor-Advised Fund has granted over $665,000 to Nebraska’s small-town public libraries through a term endowment established by the late Shirley Kreutz Bennett, a lifelong educator originally from Harvard, Nebraska. Thanks to this generous support, dozens of libraries have launched projects to repair, renovate, or replace existing facilities, create programs that enhance library services, and importantly, prepare libraries, boards and directors to become accredited, which opens the door to increased state funding.

A Fund Advisory Committee composed of Ms. Kreutz Bennett’s nieces and nephews recommends matching grants each year to libraries serving communities with populations under 3,000. Due to the effort’s tremendous success over the past decade, the Fund is close to spending down available money. This could be the last year the opportunity is available. Join us to learn how your library can apply for this grant opportunity.

Presenters: Kristine Gale, Community Impact Coordinator, Nebraska Community Foundation; Christa Porter, Library Development Director, Nebraska Library Commission.

Upcoming NCompass Live shows:

  • August 18 – One Book for Nebraska Kids & Teens
  • August 25 – Pretty Sweet Tech
  • Sept. 15 – Library School Now – Library Workers Talk about Their Library Science Coursework
  • Sept. 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
  • October 6 – The Queer Omaha Archives: The First Five Years
  • October 13 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!

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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ARSL Conference Early Bird Registration

Posted on August 6, 2021 by Christa Porter

Get Ready for The Biggest Little Library Conference!

Early Bird Registration for the 2021 Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) Conference is open! The conference will be held at the Nugget Resort in Reno/Sparks, Nevada, from October 20-23. From now through August 24 August 17 conference attendees can register at reduced Early Bird rates.

Early Bird Registration Rates:

  • ARSL Members: $275
  • Nonmembers: $350
  • Advocates*: $225

After August 24 August 17 attendees can register at the regular registration rates.

Regular Registration Rates:

  • ARSL Members: $350
  • Nonmembers: $425
  • Advocates*: $275

*Advocates include library Trustees, Board Members, Friends, and Volunteers.

Preconference workshops are back for in-person attendees this year! These workshops are priced separately from general conference attendance and will take place on Wednesday, October 20. Check out the Program Descriptions page for full workshop details!

4-Hour Workshops (8:30 AM – 12:30 PM) | ARSL Members: $65 | Nonmembers: $85

  • Tools For The Good Life
  • Backyard Explorers: Citizen Scientists in Training at the Library
  • Library Space: A Planning Resource for Librarians

3-Hour Workshops (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM) | ARSL Members: $50 | Nonmembers: $70

  • The Post-Pandemic Library: What Will Be Different?
  • Measuring the Digital Divide
  • Effective Staff Development on Any Budget: Learn Something New Every Day
  • Misinformation Escape Room

There will also be a limited selection of virtual offerings for those who can’t make the trip this time.

Virtual Attendance Rates:

  • ARSL Members: $50
  • Nonmembers: $75
  • Advocates: $25

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#BookFaceFriday “The Lake” by Natasha Preston

Posted on August 6, 2021 by Tessa Timperley

This #BookFaceFriday knows what you did last summer!

Pack up your marshmallows and bug spray because we’re headed to summer camp with “The Lake” by Natasha Preston (Random House Children’s Books, 2021.) It’s available as an eBook and Audiobook at Nebraska OverDrive Libraries. This YA thriller sounds like the perfect tale to tell around the campfire. New titles are added daily to Nebraska Overdrive Libraries, including children, YA, and adult fiction!

“[T]he strong buildup…leads to a shockingly satisfying finale. An eerie thriller reminiscent of summer horror movies that will keep readers on edge.”

—Kirkus

Find this title and many more through Nebraska OverDrive. 180 libraries across the state share the Nebraska OverDrive collection of 25,520 audiobooks, 32,303 eBooks, and 3,403 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: Post Office

Posted on August 6, 2021 by Sam Shaw

Charles Bukowski was a lowbrow writer. On the one hand, some can certainly relate to his pessimistic and unpretentious philosophies of life, while others surely look upon him with disdain. The thing is, he probably would not have cared either way. Perhaps he would have even relished in the thought that someone looked upon him with disdain, as this was often the case in his writing career. Frequently, he read his poetry in various settings (frequently college campuses), had too much to drink, and then arguments with those attending often ensued or the reading quickly devolved into chaos. A long time alcoholic, who for years lived on skid row in L.A., Post Office recounts his years with the agency, first as a substitute mail carrier, then after a gap in service, a full-time postal employee. Overall, Bukowski worked for the Postal Service for 14 years. The main character in Post Office, based on Bukowski himself, is Henry Chinaski, who appears in many of Bukowski’s novels. Think of Chinaski as synonymous with Bukowski. Post Office details the personal life of Chinaski, packed with heavy drinking and subsequent hangovers, gambling, and an overview of what working for the Post Office was like in the 50’s and 60’s in L.A. I imagine some parts are the same today, others much different. Bukowski has a way of telling a story in a direct and uncensored manner that is not only appealing but also refreshing for the lowbrow reader. This particular story has a second anti-hero, namely Chinaski’s postal supervisor, Johnstone. The interaction between Chinaski and Johnstone, aka “The Stone” provide comic relief in a sadistic sort of way. Here’s a taste of what to expect:

“The post office, or any world of work, is only one institutionalized system of control that is designed to beat people, to condition them into accepting that humiliation and failure is the norm. Those who do not rebel against this lose any ability to think for themselves. The workers are robbed of power whilst the bosses have only a small amount of it and can only use it arbitrarily, which is to say, pointlessly.”

–Charles Bukowski, Post Office

Bukowski, Charles. Post Office. Black Sparrow Press. 1971.

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Throwback Thursday: Movie Advertising

Posted on August 5, 2021 by Kayla Henzel

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

In this black and white acetate negative, five men are wearing sandwich board signs outside the Orpheum Theatre to advertise Ginger Rogers in the movie “Roxie Hart.”

This image was taken in 1942 by William Wentworth. It is owned and published by The Durham Museum. The William Wentworth Collection consists of over 4,500 negatives that document life in Omaha from 1934 through 1950. William Wentworth worked as a freelance and commercial photographer. He provided unique views of architecture, businesses and community life.

See more of his work 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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Register Now for Fall LIS Classes at Central Community College

Posted on August 4, 2021 by Tessa Timperley

Library and Information Services (LIS) class registration is now open at Central Community College for Fall 2021: August 16, 2021 – December 10, 2021.

Classes include:

  • Foundations of Library and Information Services, with Marty Magee, Instructor. This course provides introductory information in multiple areas including the history of libraries, foundational principles, databases and websites, library technology use, programming, and changing library roles.
    • Library history and organizations
    • Foundation Principles/Code of Ethics
    • Information databases and Internet usage
  • Leadership and Management in Library and Information Agencies, with Michael Straatmann, Instructor. This course includes the theories, concepts, and activities integral to leading and managing 21st Century libraries and information agencies.
    • Leadership principles
    • Management strategies
    • Policies and procedures
  • Library and Information Services Capstone Practicum, with Patty Birch, Instructor. In this final course in the LIS program, students complete 40 hours of service learning in a host library and review learning from the LIS program.
    • Prerequisites: LIBR 1010, 2100, 2150, 2210, & 2250

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

CCC-FA-2021-LIS-flyerDownload

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NCompass Live: Small Libraries Will Save the World! Implementing Sustainability at the Library

Posted on August 2, 2021 by Christa Porter

It’s true! Small Libraries Will Save the World! Learn how on this weeks’ NCompass Live webinar, ‘Implementing Sustainability at the Library’ on Wednesday, August 4 at 10am CT.

Concerned about climate change but not sure what you can do? Help your library “go green” by leveraging the secret super power of small, rural and under-resourced libraries everywhere: the make-do mindset! Forget LEED building certifications, we’ll show you how your library can adopt systems that align your shoestring budget with tips on everything from sustainable programming practices, operational approaches, environmental partnerships, as well as easy (and cost-saving!) eco-friendly swaps based on the experience of one library’s mission to be a community leader in reducing its environmental impact.

Presenter: April Griffith, Library Director, Eureka Springs (AR) Carnegie Library.

Upcoming NCompass Live shows:

  • August 11 – The Kreutz Bennett Donor-Advised Fund: Grants to Nebraska’s Small-Town Public Libraries
  • August 18 – One Book for Nebraska Kids & Teens
  • August 25 – Pretty Sweet Tech
  • Sept. 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
  • October 6 – The Queer Omaha Archives: The First Five Years
  • October 13 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!

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: “Alright, Alright, Alright: The Oral History of Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused” by Melissa Maerz

Posted on July 30, 2021 by Aimee Owen

I enjoy celebrity biographies and behind-the-scenes stories, and those two things come together quite groovily in Melissa Maerz’s oral history of the 1993 cult-classic Dazed and Confused.

Maerz interviews everyone involved with the movie, from Richard Linklater, to the costume designer, casting director, the casts and their families, even Linklater’s high school classmates, many of whom were inspirations for the characters (however unflattering they may find that fact). I learned all sorts of fun facts about the movie and it’s cast, as did my family and friends, because I would constantly share what I was reading as I went along (sorry guys!). I couldn’t help it – this movie was on constant VCR rotation when I was in high school and I can still quote whole scenes without fail. This book was a fun trip down memory lane.

It was especially fun to look at the cast and how far they’ve come since 1993 – this was Matthew McConaughey’s first movie, and his bit part grew and grew until he became the breakout star. Mila Jovovich, who was the biggest name of the cast at the time, saw her part shrink considerably as she got caught up in an on-set romance and neglected her role; her boyfriend Shawn Andrews effectively got himself blackballed from Hollywood for a time due to his attitude and behavior during filming. Texas native Renee Zillweger wanted to be in the movie badly enough that she took a non-speaking, uncredited roll as “Girl in Blue Truck”.

If you’re in need of a slow ride down memory lane while school’s out for the summer, this book will help you rock and roll all night long. Just don’t forget your reading glasses, because if this was your favorite movie in high school, you’re now old like me.

Maerz, Melissa. Alright, alright, alright: the oral history of Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused. Harper, 2020.

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#BookFaceFriday – “Librarian Tales” by William Ottens

Posted on July 30, 2021 by Tessa Timperley

This #BookFaceFriday really stacks up!

We are not done hyping NLC’s library science collection! It’s not just textbooks and curriculum, but fun reads like “Librarian Tales: Funny, Strange, and Inspiring Dispatches from the Stacks” by William Ottens (Skyhorse, 2020.) A book of anecdotes that is perfect for library staff and those who think librarians just read all day long. This Library Science Collection provides professional and reference materials for Nebraska librarians and library science programs. This includes all librarians and library science students. The checkout period is 4 weeks, and items can be sent through the mail or picked up in person. You can find all of these books and more in our catalog, or reach out to our reference staff for a recommendation!

“”In this delightful book, Ottens pulls back the cover of library life and the magic and mayhem found within. Librarians will recognize themselves in these wonderful stories, while readers will gain a greater appreciation for their favorite local library.”

― Jill Grunenwald, author of Reading Behind Bars: A True Story of Literature, Law, and Life as a Prison Librarian

This week’s #BookFace model is the most adorable book stack I’ve ever seen.

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

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Throwback Thursday: Friends at the Playground

Posted on July 29, 2021 by Kayla Henzel

It’s Thursday and that means another #Throwback from Nebraska Memories!

This week, we have a 4 3/4″ x 3″ color photograph of five children at the Nebraska Children’s Home Society in 1969. Many children found close friendships with others in similar situations.

This image is published and owned by the Nebraska Children’s Home Society. Chartered in 1893, the founders had a vision for a better future. They challenged the practice of placing abandoned, abused, and neglected children in orphanages with the belief that every child deserved a family. The Nebraska Children’s Home Society offered assistance and support to parents who were committed on keeping their family together. It also provided foster and adoptive homes for the children who were unable to stay with their families. The agency has never charged fees for adoption services and still today relies primarily on private donations.

See the agency’s 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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Apply Now: Round 3 of Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Christa Porter

The American Library Association (ALA) invites library workers to apply for round 3 of the Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Focus on Small and Rural Libraries grant.

Up to 100 libraries will be awarded in this round of grantmaking, part of ALA’s longtime community engagement initiative. Applications are due Thursday, September 16.

Participating libraries will receive training in how to lead conversations, a skill vital to 21st-century librarianship. Library workers will complete a free ALA e-course on basic facilitation skills; host at least one conversation with community members on a chosen topic; and receive $3,000 to support community engagement efforts. Grant funds may cover a range of expenses, including staff time and collections and technology purchases.

Libraries that previously were awarded LTC: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries grants are eligible to apply for additional funding to expand their previously awarded projects.

Over 500 public, academic, school and tribal libraries representing 48 U.S. states have been awarded in the past year, including 13 Nebraska libraries. View the full list.

Some Nebraska examples:

  • Neligh Public Library is hosting a series of programs and book discussions called ‘Perspectives on Race: Attempting to Understand the History and Reality of Being a Person of Color in the United States’.
  • St. Edward Public Library is holding a Heritage Fair in celebration of the many ethnic backgrounds that make up their community.
  • Ravenna Public Library hosted a conversation about food insecurity in their community and started a community garden.
  • Valentine Public Library’s project, ‘Online Snare-Cyber Smart’, is a collaborative effort with the Valentine Police Department, Cherry Co Sheriffs Department, and the Valentine Public Library to increase awareness and the sharing of information regarding Cyber Security and Awareness to decrease victimization.

A sampling of projects that libraries across the country will undertake in 2021:

  • Jaffrey (New Hampshire) Public Library hosted a discussion following a virtual panel about gender identity that helped dispel myths and overcome differences.
  • Sitka (Alaska) Public Library will draw from rural Alaska’s powerful history of past epidemics — including tuberculosis and smallpox outbreaks that heavily impacted Native Alaskans — to have conversations about the COVID-19 pandemic, offer historical context, and build upon oral histories previously collected by the library.
  • Pottsboro (Texas) Area Library led talks about emergency preparedness after a winter storm left their community without electricity and water for days.
  • Working with local teens, Anne West Lindsey District Library (Carterville, Illinois) facilitated a conversation with local leaders that helped the community keep at-risk young people fed.

In September 2020, ALA announced plans to award nearly $2 million to small and rural libraries in 2020 and 2021 to help them address issues of concern in their communities. Up to 650 U.S. libraries in small and rural communities will receive $3,000 to tackle issues ranging from media literacy to COVID-19 safety to unemployment. The initiative is part of ALA’s longtime commitment to preparing library workers for the expanding role of libraries.

The opportunity is open to libraries serving small and/or rural communities in the U.S. and U.S. territories. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) defines small communities as those with a legal service area population of 25,000 or less and rural communities as those more than, or equal to, five miles from an urbanized area.

Since 2014, ALA’s community engagement initiative, Libraries Transforming Communities, has re-imagined the role libraries play in supporting communities. Libraries of all types have utilized free dialogue and deliberation training and resources to lead community and campus forums; take part in anti-violence activities; provide a space for residents to come together and discuss challenging topics; and have productive conversations with civic leaders, library trustees and staff.

Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries is offered in partnership with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL).

Questions? Contact ALA’s Public Programs Office at publicprograms@ala.org.

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Free Poster Exhibition from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum

Posted on July 26, 2021 by Christa Porter

In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum is offering libraries a free digital poster exhibition, “September 11, 2001: The Day That Changed the World.”

September 11, 2001: The Day That Changed the World is a downloadable educational exhibition that presents the history of 9/11, its origins, and its ongoing implications. It explores the consequences of terrorism on individual lives and communities at the local, national, and international levels, and encourages critical thinking about the legacy of 9/11.

Request your free download to receive:

  • 14 captivating digital posters, ready to print, featuring archival photographs and images of artifacts from the Museum’s permanent collection
  • An invitation to a free virtual training, including a live virtual tour of the Museum and information on how to use the Museum’s online resources to supplement the exhibition
  • Access to the 9/11 Primer, an online collection of resources for educators and online learners, to help you supplement the exhibition

NOTE: A limited number of printed poster sets are available to libraries with limited resources or technological barriers. Printed posters will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis and will be shipped, free of charge, to libraries. Printer poster requests must be received by August 6.

Librarians and educators are eligible. Questions? Contact posterexhibition@911memorial.org.

This poster exhibition has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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NCompass Live: Marketing & Follow-Up: Teaching Technology in the Library Series (Part 4)

Posted on July 23, 2021 by Christa Porter

Make sure to do your ‘Marketing & Follow-Up’ when you are ‘Teaching Technology in the Library’. Learn how on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, June 28 at 10am CT.

This four-part webinar series works with the Teaching Technology in the Library course offered by the Nebraska Library Commission. The course is designed to help libraries connect communities with technology and digital skills that matter at home, work, school and everywhere in between. The webinar series will introduce the topics and framework used in the course.

Course materials are available for free to libraries in and out of Nebraska. Only Nebraska libraries will be able to take the materials for CE credit towards Nebraska Public Librarian certification. One credit is earned by attending the introductory webinar, additional credits are earned by completing the course materials and contributing to a shared digital skills resource. Tackling technology is easier when we all work together!

This is the fourth webinar in the series.

Here is a preview of the online course. The Overview is available now. Course content will become available by the start of each webinar as the material is continuously piloted and tested. Your feedback is greatly appreciated to make sure these materials work for as many people as possible. I look forward to teaching and learning with everyone!

Other sessions in the ‘Teaching Technology in the Library’ series:

Presenter: Amanda Sweet, Technology Innovation Librarian, Nebraska Library Commission.

Upcoming NCompass Live shows:

  • August 4 – Small Libraries Will Save the World! Implementing Sustainability at the Library
  • August 11 – The Kreutz Bennett Donor-Advised Fund: Grants to Nebraska’s Small-Town Public Libraries
  • August 18 – One Book for Nebraska Kids & Teens
  • August 25 – Pretty Sweet Tech
  • Sept. 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
  • October 6 – The Queer Omaha Archives: The First Five Years
  • October 13 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!

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: Post-Apocalyptic Nomadic Warriors by Benjamin Wallace

Posted on July 23, 2021 by Christa Porter

What does a librarian do after the apocalypse? He becomes a post-apocalyptic nomadic warrior, of course!

Post-Apocalyptic Nomadic Warriors, by Benjamin Wallace, is the first book in a series, the Duck & Cover Adventures. There are 5 novels in the series, plus an anthology of short stories.

You would think that, seven years after nuclear bombs and chemical weapons destroyed civilization, there would be plenty of work for such a person. Chaos reigns, food and medicine is scarce, mutants and cannibals are around every corner! And don’t forget the Super Smart Bears. Right? That’s what we’ve all been told an apocalypse would bring.

But, no, not this apocalypse. Things are actually going…OK. Most people have gathered together into safely walled communities, growing plenty of food, governing themselves with few issues. The Librarian believes that they need his help anyway, and travels from town to town with his female mastiff, Chewy, offering to save them from whatever they might need saving from. He tries to convince the town of New Hope, Texas that they need to hire him. But, he’s told they’re doing just fine and don’t require the Librarian’s services, literally throwing him out the front gate.

The Librarian isn’t the only post-apocalyptic nomadic warrior around, though. His rival, Logan, has also come to New Hope. And he tells the town that there actually is a roving band of killers out there, and they may be on the way to New Hope next.

Will the Librarian or Logan be the savior of New Hope? Is there really a silver lining in an apocalypse? And how smart are Super Smart Bears anyway?

If you’re looking for a quick, fun read that doesn’t take the apocalypse too seriously, this book is for you.

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#BookFaceFriday – “Creativity for Library Career Advancement”

Posted on July 23, 2021 by Tessa Timperley

A bright idea for a #BookFaceFriday!

Voila! Did you know the Commission has a collection of library science titles? Our Library Science Collection provides professional and reference materials for Nebraska librarians and library science programs. This includes all librarians and library science students. The checkout period is 4 weeks, and items can be sent through the mail or picked up in person. We get new titles in all the time like “Creativity for Library Career Advancement: Perspectives, Techniques and Eureka Moments” edited by Vera Gubnitskaia and Carol Smallwood (McFarland, 2019.) You can find all of these books and more in our catalog, or reach out to our reference staff for a recommendation!

“An insightful collection…expertly organized and presented…an extraordinary, informative, comprehensive, and insightful contribution that is very highly recommended”―Midwest Book Review

This week’s #BookFace model is Jen Wrampe, NLC’s Administrative Staff Assistant. She pretty much keeps our office running; without her we wouldn’t even have pens to write with.

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

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United for Libraries Learning Live, June 27 – Gift Acceptance Policies Part 2: Advice From the Pros

Posted on July 22, 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 “Gift Acceptance Policies Part 2: Advice from the Pros for Writing Your Policy” at 2 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, July 27. The Learning Live program is presented free to United for Libraries group and Statewide members.

This session is a follow-up to June’s Learning Live, “Gift Acceptance Policies I: When ‘Free’ Isn’t Free.” Featured presenters will include Alan T. Shuckrow, shareholder at Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky, and Clare D. Membiela, library law consultant at Library of Michigan.

United for Libraries members can register for this session, and for access to the recording of Part 1, at https://airtable.com/shrNWC0KRwvDL5Zv8

Find out how to craft or revise your library or group’s gift acceptance policy and legal considerations associated with such policies. Participants will learn how to ensure they are prepared for navigating how to handle proposed gifts and donations. The presenters will conduct a Q&A session, so bring your questions on this topic.

Alan T. Shuckrow is a shareholder at the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania law firm Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky (“SMGG”). From 2014-2019, he served as SMGG’s president and managing shareholder and currently serves on the Executive Committee as the firm’s counsel. His experience ranges from municipal and education law to civil litigation and real estate. His clients include non-profit and for-profit organizations and governmental entities. SMGG represents the two largest libraries in the Greater Pittsburgh area.

As the library law consultant at the Library of Michigan, Clare Membiela helps public libraries understand and manage legal issues that impact library services. Before joining the Library of Michigan in 2016, Membiela was the associate director for library and instructional support for the Western Michigan University Cooley Law School Libraries. Before moving to Michigan, she worked at the University of Miami Law Library as the head of reference services. Prior to her academic library work, she worked for two major law firms as a librarian in its Miami offices. She has an MLS. from Southern Connecticut State University, a JD from the University of Miami, and 30 years of law library experience. She is excited about helping public libraries by connecting them to the legal information they need.

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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Throwback Thursday: York Public Square

Posted on July 22, 2021 by Kayla Henzel

It’s another #ThrowbackThursday from Nebraska Memories!

This week’s image is from the early 1900s and features the public square of York, Nebraska. The photograph was taken by John Nelson and is owned by History Nebraska. John Nelson was born in 1864 in Sweden. He came to Nebraska with his parents when he was seventeen years old. His photographs show life in small town Nebraska during the early twentieth century. His subjects include local businesses, community activities, and early automobiles.

See more of his work 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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Seats still available for the “Authority Control” class!

Posted on July 19, 2021 by Shoshana Patocka

There is still time to register for the upcoming “Authority Control” class. This class is also now a requirement for the NLC’s Cataloging Certificate program.

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Libraries use authority control to manage the names, uniform titles, series titles, and subject headings in their catalogs. Participants in this class will learn what authority control is and why it is needed, how to read a MARC authority record, and how to use the Library of Congress authority file. The class will also include discussions of how to keep headings in your local systems up-to-date, and the relevance of authority control.

Prerequisite: “Understanding MARC21 Bibliographic Records” class or some knowledge of MARC tagging.

This class will be held online from August 2rd to September 5th. To receive full credit, participants must complete all assignments and receive a 75% in the class.

Class participants will access the course website in order to read materials, discuss issues in a forum, and complete assignments. The class is held asynchronously, which means that participants are not required to be online at any particular time during the five weeks; however, there is a class schedule with due dates that participants are expected to meet. The instructor will interact with the participants during the course to offer feedback and provide explanations of the material.

A few days before the class starts, class participants will be sent information about accessing the class.

To register: Go to Authority Control in the Nebraska Library Commission Training Portal. Registration closes July 25th.

This workshop is approved for the NLC Cataloging Certification Program. Courses are open only to Nebraska residents or those who are employed by a Nebraska library.  

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