Join us to learn about Nebraska’s ‘The Festival Near You’ local programming planned for across the state on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, on Wednesday, July 22 at 10am CT.
Every year, the Library of Congress hosts the National Book Festival in Washington D.C.. The Nebraska Center for the Book selects one youth book and one adult book to represent the state at the festival, as part of the ‘Great Reads from Great Places’ programming. Nebraska’s 2026 selections are Quagmire Tiarello Couldn’t Be Better by Mylisa Larsen, and The Antidote: A Novel by Karen Russell.
This year Nebraskans will again have the opportunity to join in the fun with local programming. ‘The Festival Near You’ is a statewide initiative celebrating the 2026 National Book Festival by bringing Nebraska’s ‘Great Reads from Great Places’ books to communities, and offers Nebraskans a chance to engage with literature close to home.
Presenters: Tessa Timperley, Communications Coordinator, Nebraska Library Commission and Mylisa Larsen, Author of Quagmire Tiarello Couldn’t Be Better, 2026 Great Reads Youth Selection.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
July 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
Aug. 12 – United for Libraries – Trustees, Advocates, Friends, and Foundations: The Voice for America’s Libraries
Aug. 19 – How to Start & Sustain a Health & Fitness Literacy Program in Your Library
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Hear about a ‘Community Literacy Treasure Hunt: The Fun Way to Increase Literacy!’ on this week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, July 15 at 10am CT.
The Community Literacy Treasure Hunt started out of concern for TCAP literacy rates within the county. Getting the larger community and all the libraries involved, children no longer read books for just minutes, but for comprehension, producing book reviews shared with others at their home libraries.
Started as part of Summer Reading Program, this lightens the load on the libraries, and while it has children reading fewer books, they are spending more time with those books, reading for comprehension and understanding, often choosing books that challenge rather than provide a fast read.
Various businesses and offices participate by offering free books to the children who finish the book reviews. This is mutually beneficial for the families and the businesses, getting the whole community involved in increasing literacy rates and getting families out to the larger community they might never have been to before.
Aug. 12 – United for Libraries – Trustees, Advocates, Friends, and Foundations: The Voice for America’s Libraries
Aug. 19 – How to Start & Sustain a Health & Fitness Literacy Program in Your Library
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Learn about ‘Library Compliance with the ADA Title II Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Rule” on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, July 8 at 10am CT.
The WCAG Rule requires state and local governments to ensure that their services, programs, and activities are accessible to people with disabilities. Public libraries’ web services and mobile apps must be WCAG 2.1, Level AA compliant within three to four years of when the rule was published on April 24, 2024, depending on their service population. This program will cover what libraries need to do to achieve this compliance.
Presenter: Andrew “Sherm” Sherman, Library Technology Support Specialist, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
July 15 – Community Literacy Treasure Hunt: The Fun Way to Increase Literacy!
July 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
Aug. 12 – United for Libraries – Trustees, Advocates, Friends, and Foundations: The Voice for America’s Libraries
Aug. 19 – How to Start & Sustain a Health & Fitness Literacy Program in Your Library
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Join us for a 2026 Overview and Update on Nebraska’s Open Meetings Act on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, July 1 at 10am CT.
Public library boards for communities of all sizes in Nebraska are required to follow our state’s Open Meetings Act when holding their meetings. In this session, we’ll point out some of the major points of this state law for library boards, changes for 2026, and some of the consequences of not following Open Meeting law.
Note: This topic is very Nebraska specific. If you are attending from another state some of the things we discuss may not be applicable for your library boards.
Presenters: Scott Childers, former Executive Director, Southeast Library System, Lincoln, NE; Christa Porter, Library Development Director, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
July 8 – Library Compliance with the ADA Title II Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Rule
July 15 – Community Literacy Treasure Hunt: The Fun Way to Increase Literacy!
July 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
Aug. 12 – United for Libraries – Trustees, Advocates, Friends, and Foundations: The Voice for America’s Libraries
Aug. 19 – How to Start & Sustain a Health & Fitness Literacy Program in Your Library
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Join us for some hands on historical exploration on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘Unlocking Nebraska’s Stories: Introducing the Nebraska Literary & History Escape Room Kits’, on Wednesday, June 17 at 10am CT.
This presentation will introduce librarians to a new suite of four free, ready to use escape room kits developed by the Nebraska Center for the Book and the Nebraska Library Commission, through a Teaching with Primary Sources Grant from the Library of Congress. Inspired by the One Book One Nebraska selections, each kit immerses participants in a different facet of Nebraska’s past – Willa Cather’s History, Voices of the Plains, Wartime in Nebraska, and Cold War Espionage – using puzzles grounded in authentic primary sources.
The session highlights what each kit contains, how the themes connect to Nebraska history and literature, and the ways libraries of all sizes can incorporate them into programming for youth, adults, families, and intergenerational groups. Attendees will hear directly from the three creators about setup, facilitation tips, accessibility considerations, and strategies for adapting the kits for local audiences. Participants will leave with practical ideas for hosting their own escape room programs and engaging their communities through hands on historical exploration.
Presenters: Tessa Timperley, Communications Coordinator; Miranda Shreves, Marketing and Outreach Coordinator, Talking Book and Braille Service (TBBS); Bailee Juroshek, Office Specialist, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
June 24 – Pretty Sweet Tech
July 8 – Library Compliance with the ADA Title II Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Rule
July 15 – Community Literacy Treasure Hunt: The Fun Way to Increase Literacy!
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Discover how intellectual freedom and legal principles intersect in our libraries on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘Law for Librarians’, on Wednesday, June 10 at 10am CT.
This session delves into critical topics such as censorship, privacy, collection development, professional ethics, and the First Amendment. Gain practical strategies for advocating for equitable access to information and crafting strong policies. Designed to empower school librarians, this session provides the tools to navigate legal responsibilities while championing intellectual freedom and fostering a supportive library program.
Presenter: Dr. Chris Haeffner, Director of Library Services, Lincoln (NE) Public Schools.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
June 17 – Unlocking Nebraska’s Stories: Introducing the Nebraska Literary & History Escape Room Kits
June 24 – Pretty Sweet Tech
July 8 – Library Compliance with the ADA Title II Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Rule
July 15 – Community Literacy Treasure Hunt: The Fun Way to Increase Literacy!
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Hear about the Connected America conference, which brings together the key stakeholders driving Internet connectivity across the United States, on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, June 3 at 10am CT.
The conference covered the evolving landscape of technology, regulation, and investment while showcasing the transformative social and economic benefits of enhanced connectivity for individuals, communities, businesses, and industries across the nation.
Andrew “Sherm” Sherman, NLC Library Technology Support Specialist, will share what he learned when he attended Connected America 2026, such as how enlightening it was to hear about the challenges the ISPs (Internet Service Providers) are facing as they try to provide affordable, fast, and redundant Internet connectivity to America’s rural communities. In addition, the BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, And Deployment) Program’s challenges and the impact of AI were hot topics this year.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
June 10 – Law for Librarians
June 17 – Unlocking Nebraska’s Stories: Introducing the Nebraska Literary & History Escape Room Kits
June 24 – Pretty Sweet Tech
July 8 – Library Compliance with the ADA Title II Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Rule
July 15 – Community Literacy Treasure Hunt: The Fun Way to Increase Literacy!
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Learn about ‘Preparing Tech Ready Librarians: A Statewide Initiative’ on next week’s Pretty Sweet TechNCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, May 27 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
Libraries are being challenged to take on everything from computer basics to artificial intelligence to support job seekers, entrepreneurs, parents, older adults, kids, teens, and pretty much everyone who wants to leverage technology to live a better life. Many libraries have been doing some of this work for decades but remain deeply undervalued and unappreciated in the face of rapidly changing technology. Yet we continue to seek ways to adapt and build new services to meet new community tech needs.
This session will introduce a statewide Tech Ready Librarians initiative to help libraries and community partners work together to share resources, design new services, and come together in learning communities to build better together. In this session you will:
Learn how Digital Navigator models work to leverage the power of ecosystems to fully meet rapidly changing community tech needs.
Explore the growing Tech Ready Nation platform and Resource Hub, designed to support Digital Navigators and accelerate service design.
Hear about upcoming statewide data collection and resource sharing initiatives to highlight the incredible work libraries are already doing.
It’s time for libraries to start sharing their stories, sharing resources, and working together to adapt to the changing world of technology. It may seem like a lot as first, but if we each take one a small piece of the technology puzzle and put them all in one place, eventually the big picture will be easier for everyone to put together.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
June 3 – Connected America 2026
June 10 – Law for Librarians
June 17 – Unlocking Nebraska’s Stories: Introducing the Nebraska Literary & History Escape Room Kits
June 24 – Pretty Sweet Tech
July 8 – Library Compliance with the ADA Title II Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Rule
July 15 – Community Literacy Treasure Hunt: The Fun Way to Increase Literacy!
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Hear about ‘Engaging New Voices in Advocacy: Youth, Trustees, and Everyday Patrons’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, May 20 at 10am CT.
As a member of the Illinois Library Association’s Advocacy Committee, I’ve seen how impactful it is when advocacy goes beyond directors and staff. For small libraries, advocacy can feel daunting – but it doesn’t have to be.
This session will showcase practical models for engaging youth, trustees, and patrons as your partners in advocacy. We’ll share examples of storytelling, everyday conversations, and grassroots efforts that build trust and visibility without requiring extra staff or budgets. Small libraries are uniquely positioned to connect personally with their communities – let’s harness that strength to keep our voices strong.
May 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Preparing Tech Ready Librarians: A Statewide Initiative
June 3 – Connected America 2026
June 10 – Law for Librarians
June 17 – Unlocking Nebraska’s Stories: Introducing the Nebraska Literary & History Escape Room Kits
June 24 – Pretty Sweet Tech
July 8 – Library Compliance with the ADA Title II Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Rule
July 15 – Community Literacy Treasure Hunt: The Fun Way to Increase Literacy!
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Looking for ways to go beyond traditional storytime? Check out ‘Play, Explore, Learn: Building Early Literacy Through Station-Based Programs’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, May 13 at 10am CT.
Discover how to create an interactive, play-based early literacy program built around themed learning stations that encourage exploration and engagement. This session shares how one library developed a successful station-based model that promotes early learning through activities tied to the five early literacy practices: Read, Write, Talk, Sing, and Play.
Using simple materials and creative themes, the program provides families with a flexible, hands-on experience that supports key developmental skills such as language, fine motor coordination, and social-emotional growth. Attendees will learn practical tips for setup, rotating themes, and caregiver involvement. Walk away with ideas and inspiration to make early literacy come alive in your library – one playful station at a time!
May 20 – Engaging New Voices in Advocacy: Youth, Trustees, and Everyday Patrons
May 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Preparing Tech Ready Librarians: A Statewide Initiative
June 3 – Libraries and Friends of the Library: How to Stay Friends
June 10 – Law for Librarians
June 24 – Pretty Sweet Tech
July 8 – Connected America 2026
July 15 – Community Literacy Treasure Hunt: The Fun Way to Increase Literacy!
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Highlights & Trends from Computers in Libraries 2026 will be shared on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, April 29 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
Computers in Libraries is the world’s leading technology and innovation conference for librarians! In this session I will cover come of the awesome ideas, tools, tips and tricks of the trade I picked up while in D.C. this year.
I hope to see you there! As a side note, if you’re looking for more emerging tech trends in the library, check out Computers in Libraries magazine.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
May 6 – The 2026 Public Library Accreditation Process
May 13 – Play, Explore, Learn: Building Early Literacy Through Station-Based Programs
May 20 – Engaging New Voices in Advocacy: Youth, Trustees, and Everyday Patrons
May 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech
June 3 – Libraries and Friends of the Library: How to Stay Friends
June 10 – Law for Librarians
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Emergencies can occur with or without warning. Prepare for the unexpected on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘Emergency Management in Libraries’ on Wednesday, April 22 at 10am CT.
Through proper planning and exercising, libraries have the potential to become more resilient when facing potential threats.
Emergencies/disasters can be either natural or man-made resulting in severe or minimal impact. Therefore, taking an all-hazards approach to emergency preparedness will help mitigate and reduce impact of these events. In addition to ensuring a state of readiness for the organization, having a well-established emergency preparedness program can ease anxieties and feelings of uncertainty for staff and patrons. If the staff is properly trained on how to respond during times of emergency they will respond appropriately and be better prepared both at work and at home. Patrons visiting the libraries will be in better hands if the staff is knowledgeable of the organization’s emergency procedures.
In this presentation, I will emphasize the importance of developing an emergency preparedness program and available resources, illustrate how to identify potential risks, and how to assess their impacts. I will also discuss various plans such as emergency operation plans and continuity of operations. We will also look at mitigation strategies to reduce future impacts and strengthen security.
April 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Computers in Libraries 2026 Highlights & Trends
May 6 – The 2026 Public Library Accreditation Process
May 13 – Play, Explore, Learn: Building Early Literacy Through Station-Based Programs
May 20 – Engaging New Voices in Advocacy: Youth, Trustees, and Everyday Patrons
May 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech
June 3 – Libraries and Friends of the Library: How to Stay Friends
June 10 – Law for Librarians
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Wouldn’t it be great if kids all over Nebraska were talking about books? Hear about the Nebraska Library Commission & the Regional Library Systems’ program where kids can all read and discuss the same book on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, April 15 at 10am CT.
Join Sally Snyder, the NLC’s Coordinator of Children and Young Adult Library Services; and Bailee Juroshek, Office Specialist, to learn all about the One Book for Nebraska Kids and Teens program.
Our 2026 titles are: One Book For Nebraska Kids – Lucky Scramble by Peter Raymundo, and One Book For Nebraska Teens – Not Nothing by Gayle Forman.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
April 22 – Emergency Management in Libraries
April 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Computers in Libraries 2026 Highlights & Trends
May 6 – The 2026 Public Library Accreditation Process
May 13 – Play, Explore, Learn: Building Early Literacy Through Station-Based Programs
May 20 – Engaging New Voices in Advocacy: Youth, Trustees, and Everyday Patrons
May 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech
June 3 – Libraries and Friends of the Library: How to Stay Friends
June 10 – Law for Librarians
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
What if small and mid-sized libraries could access powerful catalog technology without the high cost? Learn how the Pioneer Library Consortium makes that possible on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘Big Library Technology on a Small Library Budget’, on Wednesday, April 1 at 10am CT.
Pioneer brings together small and mid-sized Nebraska libraries to collaborate on a shared integrated library system using Koha and the Aspen Discovery Service.
In this session, learn how consortium membership provides cost-effective technology, shared catalog records, customizable discovery webpages, and a supportive network of fellow libraries. We will also highlight the migration experience of Columbus Public Library, which joined Pioneer in fall 2025, including practical insights from their transition.
April 8 – Programming with Purpose: Adult Programs and Community Partnerships
April 15 – One Book For Nebraska Kids & Teens 2026
April 22 – Emergency Management in Libraries
April 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
May 6 – The 2026 Public Library Accreditation Process
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Is your library ready to build or rebuild its website, but not sure where to start? Then check out next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘Getting Started with WordPress: A Guided Tour of Our New Self-Paced Course’, on Wednesday, March 25 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
Join us for a walkthrough of our new self-paced WordPress course, designed specifically for library staff with little to no web experience. We’ll explore how to use the course to guide you, step by step, through setting up your site – and share practical tips to simplify the process and help you avoid getting overwhelmed.
This course is available for free to Nebraska libraries through the NLC’s Niche Academy learning portal.
April 1 – Big Library Technology on a Small Library Budget
April 8 – Programming with Purpose: Adult Programs and Community Partnerships
April 22 – Emergency Management in Libraries
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Learn about the benefits of library tours on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘Tour de Force: Build Bridges by Leading Tours of Your Library’, on Wednesday, March 4 at 10am CT.
By inviting community partners to visit the library for a tour, you can show them the many unique ways that libraries positively impact communities. Library tours are a powerful tool to build relationships, gain support, and publicize the library’s programs and services. I started leading tours at my library as a way to orient new board members, and now we invite everyone from the police chief to senators to look “behind the scenes” at the library. As a result, we have gained new advocates and deepened the support of those who already love the library! Leading a tour of your library is a quick, free, manageable way to build wide community support.
March 18 – Modernizing a Small Library on a Small Budget: Systems, Culture, and Community in Year One
March 25 – Pretty Sweet Tech
April 8 – Programming with Purpose: Adult Programs and Community Partnerships
April 22 – Emergency Management in Libraries
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
It’s time to submit the Public Library Survey! Learn about Nebraska’s New Data Collection Tool for the Survey on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, February 25 at 10am CT.
Every year, the Nebraska Library Commission participates in a national program of public library data collection called the Public Library Survey.
In 2025, the Library Commission developed a homegrown online program to collect the data, switching from the Bibliostat platform. The questions and data collected remain the same, but the survey will look different on the new platform. This workshop will provide an overview of the data collection program and cover the basics of the new data collection tool used in Nebraska.
Submitting this annual statistical survey is required for Accredited Public libraries. Unaccredited public libraries are also encouraged to complete the survey and are eligible for a payment of $200 through the Dollars for Data program. The deadline to complete the 2025 Public Library Survey is April 1, 2026.
Presenter: Sam Shaw, Planning and Data Services Coordinator, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
March 4 – Tour de Force: Build Bridges by Leading Tours of Your Library
March 18 – Modernizing a Small Library on a Small Budget: Systems, Culture, and Community in Year One
March 25 – Pretty Sweet Tech
April 8 – Programming with Purpose: Adult Programs and Community Partnerships
April 22 – Emergency Management in Libraries
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
How do you let your community know how valuable your library is? Learn about ‘Communicating Your Library’s Value and Getting your Board “On Board” to Help!’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, February 18 at 10am CT..
Come hear some ideas for communicating your value and how to encourage your library board to be involved in your efforts. There will be time for Q&A as well as for sharing your own examples of what has worked well in your community.
Feb. 25 – Public Library Survey: Nebraska’s New Data Collection Tool
Feb. 25 – Pretty Sweet Tech Canceled
March 4 – Tour de Force: Build Bridges by Leading Tours of Your Library
March 18 – Modernizing a Small Library on a Small Budget: Systems, Culture, and Community in Year One
March 25 – Pretty Sweet Tech
April 8 – Programming with Purpose: Adult Programs and Community Partnerships
April 22 – Emergency Management in Libraries
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Hear about ‘Empowering Families Through Literacy: Tools and Strategies from Nebraska’s Statewide Initiative’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, February 11 at 10am CT.
Join us for an engaging session highlighting Nebraska’s statewide efforts to strengthen family literacy through cross-sector collaboration, inclusive practices, and accessible tools. This presentation will showcase the work of the Nebraska Department of Education’s Family Literacy Advisory Committee, including a newly developed implementation guide and centralized resource hub designed to support schools, libraries, and community organizations. Participants will explore practical strategies and adaptable tools that librarians can use to deepen their role as literacy leaders in their communities. Whether you serve young children, adult learners, or multilingual families, this session will offer valuable insights and resources to support and enrich your local literacy efforts.
Feb. 18 – Communicating Your Library’s Value and Getting your Board “On Board” to Help!
Feb. 25 – Pretty Sweet Tech
March 4 – Tour de Force: Build Bridges by Leading Tours of Your Library
March 11 – Public Library Survey: Nebraska’s New Data Collection Tool
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Learn how to implement ‘Homesteading at Your Library’ programming on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, February 4 at 10am CT.
This hands-on series of programming offers library patrons the chance to explore essential homesteading skills such as starting a garden, fermenting, raising backyard chickens, vinegar making, canning, and more. Patrons gain practical knowledge for sustainable living in a modern world, from basic techniques to tips for successful practice at home. Homesteading sessions include interactive demonstrations led by knowledgeable staff, volunteers, or local experts, and provide take-home materials to help participants implement what they’ve learned. The homesteading program fosters community engagement and empowers individuals to embrace self-sufficiency in their everyday lives. Leave this session with ideas for implementing similar programs tailored to your own community’s needs.
Feb. 11 – Empowering Families Through Literacy: Tools and Strategies from Nebraska’s Statewide Initiative
Feb. 18 – Communicating Your Library’s Value and Getting your Board “On Board” to Help!
Feb. 25 – Pretty Sweet Tech
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
