Author Archives: Kathryn Brockmeier

Reminder: 21st Century Librarian Scholarship Applications Due Nov. 1, 2012

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Kathryn Brockmeier

The Nebraska Library Commission announces the sixth cycle of its 21st Century Librarian Scholarship program (http://nlc1.nlc.state.ne.us/nowhiring/scholarships.asp). Legal residents of the state of Nebraska are eligible to apply. In this sixth cycle, online applications are due November 1, 2012; transcripts (as required) are due Oct. 22, 2012; and letters of recommendation, if mailed, are due Oct. 22, 2012. The amount of the scholarship award varies by the degree or certificate the applicant is pursuing and the applicant’s course plan.

Scholarships may be used for tuition (for coursework contributing toward a certificate or degree), course-required materials, and school-assessed fees at the following levels:

  • Library and Information Science (LIS) Professional Certificate
  • Associate of Arts or Science Degree in Library and Information Science (LIS)
  • Bachelor of Arts or Science Degree with a major in Library and Information Science or Library Media

Scholarship recipients will be eligible to apply for stipends for such things as laptop computers, professional association dues, and regional or national conference attendance.

Nebraska Library Commission staff and current and former scholarship students will be on hand at the NLA/NSLA/MPLA Tri-conference October 18 & 19 to answer questions about the scholarship program. See who will be in attendance on the Nebraska Librarians Learning Together calendar event.

Current scholarship recipients are participating and reporting on trainings such as the 21st Century Skills Seminar (Tech Rodeo, recently held in Crete, NE), live and recorded webinars about the latest Internet tools, and a hands-on introduction to eBooks and eReaders. Participants are networking with Nebraska librarians on the Nebraska Librarians Learning Together Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/NebraskaLibrarians. Through the associated stipends program, students have purchased laptop computers to use with their online classes, joined professional library associations, and attended regional and national conferences.

The scholarships, stipends, and value-added training are offered through the Nebraska Library Commission’s Cultivating Rural Librarians’ 21st Century Skills program, which is funded through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. For more information, contact Kathryn Brockmeier, Grant Program Manager, by e-mail, or by phone 402-471-4002 or 800-307-2665.

NOTE: Due to the significant number of applications for the Nebraska Library Commission master’s-level scholarships (funded through the Librarians for the 21st Century Program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services), as of July 1, 2012, graduate-level scholarships will no longer be available. Scholarships DO continue to be available for undergraduate Library Science studies, including LIS certificates, and Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees.

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

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Nebraska Arts Council grant applications due Oct. 1, 2012

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Kathryn Brockmeier

October 1, 2012, is the deadline for Nebraska Arts Council-funded projects that will take place between January 1 and June 30, 2013 :

Nebraska organizations (which may include library Friends and Foundation groups, public libraries, and schools) may apply for NAC funding if they:

  • are incorporated as a nonprofit organization, and are physically located in the State of Nebraska, with articles of incorporation on file and current in the Nebraska Secretary of State’s office;  OR they are a subdivision of government, school, or religious organization with appropriate legal status.
  • have a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN).
  • have received federal tax-exempt status.  Religious organizations, schools, and divisions of government must submit a copy of the sales tax exemption certificate from the State Department of Revenue.

Using the same criteria the grant panelists use, NAC staff members can review your application and offer advice on presenting a complete, well-prepared, and clearly presented application that includes an accurate and realistic budget; review your support materials; and will review your application as a whole to help make your proposal as competitive as it can be. In order for them to have time to review the draft of your application—and for you to then have time to make any recommended changes before the deadline—staff  ask that you contact them no later than Wednesday, September 19.

Before beginning your application, NAC encourages you to review the NAC’s Eligibility Criteria. You are also encouraged to watch the NAC Grants Info Tutorial YouTube video , which provides a 13-minute overview of the NAC’s grant programs. For more detail about the various grant categories, please visit the Grants Information section of the NAC website.

NAC is also hosting several “NAC Good Grantsmanship” workshops in Kearney, Lincoln and Omaha leading up to the October 1 project grant deadline. These workshops, conducted by NAC staff members, will provide specifics on writing competitive applications for NAC funding. The sessions are free of charge, will last approximately 1.5 hours, and will include time for questions and answers. Pre-registration is recommended, but not required. A list of dates, times, and locations can be found below.

To register for one of these workshops, click here and click on the date on the NAC Calendar.

Please note that all October 1 grant applications are submitted via eGrant. NAC recommends that first time eGrant users download the eGrant User Guide and watch the 15-minute eGrant Online Tutorial YouTube video before starting an application in eGrant.

Floating deadlines for other grants (funding availability for grants varies):

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Nebraska Library Commission Awards 21st Century Librarian Scholarships

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Kathryn Brockmeier

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

Students who wish to apply for scholarships for a Library and Information Services Professional Certificate (offered through Nebraska’s community colleges), an Associate of Arts or Science Degree in Library and Information Services, or a Bachelor of Arts or Science Degree with a major in Library and Information Science or Library Media should submit application materials by November 1, 2012.

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

NOTE: Due to the significant number of applications for the Nebraska Library Commission master’s-level scholarships (funded through the Librarians for the 21st Century Program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services), as of July 1, 2012, graduate-level scholarships will no longer be available. Scholarships DO continue to be available for undergraduate Library Science studies, including LIS certificates, and Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees.

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

June 2012 Scholarship Recipients

Nancy Armstrong, Ogallala
Jennifer Barnason, Lincoln
Nancy Black, Uehling
Michaela Braun, Atkinson
Dixie Codner, Wood River
Shanna Crosby-Wilson, Omaha
Kelley Dible, Sidney
Karen Dittbrenner, Beatrice
Michael Elsener, Lincoln
Susan Finkral, Leigh
Justine Goeden, West Point
Emily Hilkemann, Pierce
Anne Hubbell, Lincoln
Chandra Kosmicki, Boelus
Angela Kroeger, Omaha
Jared Lechner, Norfolk
Ann Maass, Bellevue
Brian Maass, Bellevue
Misty McClain, North Platte
Cory McCune, Omaha
Emily McIllece, Elkhorn
Jennifer Misbach , Omaha
Cally O’Brien, Schuyler
Annette Parde, Lincoln
Jayme Prisbell, Omaha
Stephen Sautter, York
Dorothy Schultz, Wood River
Andrew Sherman, Omaha
Amanda Sisavanh, Bennington
Stefanie Skrdla, Gretna
Shari Spiehs-Hudson, Springfield
Jordan Stough, Bellevue
Rozanne Tuttle, Ogallala
David Watchorn, Ponca
Celeste Wright, Lincoln

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21st Century Librarian Scholarship Applications Due Nov. 1, 2012

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Kathryn Brockmeier

The Nebraska Library Commission announces the sixth cycle of its 21st Century Librarian Scholarship program (http://nlc1.nlc.state.ne.us/nowhiring/scholarships.asp). Legal residents of the state of Nebraska are eligible to apply. In this sixth cycle, online applications are due November 1, 2012; transcripts (as required) are due Oct. 22, 2012; and letters of recommendation, if mailed, are due Oct. 22, 2012. The amount of the scholarship award varies by the degree or certificate the applicant is pursuing and the applicant’s course plan.

Scholarships may be used for tuition (for coursework contributing toward a certificate or degree), course-required materials, and school-assessed fees at the following levels:

  • Library and Information Science (LIS) Professional Certificate
  • Associate of Arts or Science Degree in Library and Information Science (LIS)
  • Bachelor of Arts or Science Degree with a major in Library and Information Science or Library Media

Scholarship recipients will be eligible to apply for stipends for such things as laptop computers, professional association dues, and regional or national conference attendance.

This dynamic program includes enhanced learning opportunities such as the 21st Century Skills Seminar (Tech Rodeo, recently held in Crete, NE), webinars, face-to-face training, and online social networking, such as the Nebraska Librarians Learning Together Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/NebraskaLibrarians.

To date, ninety-four scholarships have been awarded to seventy-six students. Current scholarship recipients are participating and reporting on trainings that range from a hands-on introduction to eBooks and eReaders to live and recorded webinars about the latest Internet tools. Participants are networking with Nebraska librarians on the Nebraska Librarians Learning Together Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/NebraskaLibrarians. And, through the associated stipends program, students have purchased laptop computers to use with their online classes, joined professional library associations, and attended regional and national conferences.

The scholarships, stipends, and value-added training are offered through the Nebraska Library Commission’s Cultivating Rural Librarians’ 21st Century Skills program, which is funded through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. For more information, contact Kathryn Brockmeier, Grant Program Manager, by e-mail, or by phone 402-471-4002 or 800-307-2665.

NOTE: Due to the significant number of applications for the Nebraska Library Commission master’s-level scholarships (funded through the Librarians for the 21st Century Program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services), as of July 1, 2012, graduate-level scholarships will no longer be available. Scholarships DO continue to be available for undergraduate Library Science studies, including LIS certificates, and Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees.

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

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IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program Grants – Deadline Sept 24, 2012

Posted on July 25, 2012 by Kathryn Brockmeier

Closing Date for Applications: September 24, 2012;
Award Amount: Up to $500,000;
Issuing agency: Institue of Museum and Library Services;
Project Types: Community Engagement, Formal Education, Informal Learning, Partnerships, Professional Development/Continuing Education, Research

Institutions: Archives, Federally Recognized Native American Tribe, Historical Society, Library, Nonprofits that serve Native Hawaiians, Professional Association, Regional Organization, State Library Administrative Agency, State or Local Government, Public or Private Non-profit Institutions of Higher Education
Informational webinars: Wednesday, July 25, 2012, 3:00-4:00 (EDT); Tuesday, August 14, 2012, 3:00-4:00 (EDT)

IMLS LogoThe Institue of Museum and Library Services Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program invests in the nation’s information infrastructure by funding projects designed to address the education and training needs of the professionals who help build, maintain, and provide public access to the world’s wide-ranging information systems and sources. In 2013, the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program will support projects to develop faculty and library leaders, to recruit and educate the next generation of librarians and archivists, to build institutional capacity in graduate schools of library and information science, and to assist in the professional development of librarians and archivists. This grant program is especially interested in developing information professionals who can help manage the burgeoning data generated by the nation’s researchers, serve as stewards of the nation’s cultural legacy, and meet the information needs of the underserved. The program also seeks to help librarians develop the information and digital literacy of their communities, as well as other critical skills their users will need to be successful in the 21st century. This program addresses the field’s need to advance the work of new faculty in library and information science by supporting an early career development program for untenured, tenure-track faculty. Research conducted under the early careers program should be in the faculty member’s particular research area and is not restricted to research on the profession.

The primary goal of this grant program is to develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the library and archives workforce to meet the information needs of the nation. Five project categories of grants are featured in FY 2013. The goals of each LB21 project category are described here:

  1. Doctoral Programs
  2. Master’s Programs
  3. Early Career Development
  4. Programs to Build Institutional Capacity
  5. Continuing Education

Regardless of the project category you choose, you must also decide which of the following funding categories you want to apply for:

  1. Project Grants — Amount of grant: $50,000 to $500,000.
  2. Collaborative Planning Grants — Amount of grant: Up to $50,000

In all project and funding categories, if your application has a recruitment component, you should address ways to 1.bring to the profession skills required to enhance library and/or archives services; and2.broaden participation in the library profession, including but not limited to members of traditionally underserved groups and communities We encourage proposals that seek to increase the ability of librarians to provide programs and services relating to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) across all categories.

Details are available at http://www.imls.gov/applicants/detail.aspx?GrantId=9.

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U.S. Department of Education Innovative Approaches to Literacy Grants — Applications due Aug. 10, 2012

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Kathryn Brockmeier

Closing Date for Applications: August 10, 2012

The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) invites applications to the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program.

The IAL program supports high-quality programs designed to develop and improve literacy skills for children and students from birth through 12th grade within the attendance boundaries of high-need local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools. The U.S. Department of Education (Department) intends to support innovative programs that promote early literacy for young children, motivate older children to read, and increase student achievement by using school libraries, distributing free books to children and their families, and offering high-quality literacy activities.

The Department will award no less than 50 percent of FY 2012 funds to applications from LEAs (on behalf of school libraries) for high-quality school library projects that increase access to a wide range of literacy resources (either print or electronic) and provide learning opportunities to all students.

Absolute priority: The IAL program supports the implementation of high-quality plans for childhood literacy activities and book distribution efforts that are supported by at least one study that meets the definition of scientifically valid research (as defined in the notice).

Proposed projects under the IAL program, based on those plans, may include, among other things, activities that—

  • Increase access to a wide range of literacy resources (either print or electronic) that prepare young children to read, and provide learning opportunities to all participating students;
  • Provide high-quality childhood literacy activities with meaningful opportunities for parental engagement, including encouraging parents to read books often with their children in their early years of school and of life, and teaching parents how to use literacy resources effectively;
  • Strengthen literacy development across academic content areas by providing a wide range of literacy resources spanning a range of both complexity and content (including both literature and informational text) to effectively support reading and writing;
  • Offer appropriate educational interventions for all readers with support from school libraries or not-for-profit organizations;
  • Foster collaboration and joint professional development opportunities for teachers, school leaders, and school library personnel with a focus on using literacy resources effectively to support reading and writing and academic achievement. For example, an approach to professional development within the IAL program might be collaboration between library and school personnel to plan subject-specific pedagogy that is differentiated based on each student’s developmental level and is supported by universal design for learning (as defined in this notice), technology, and other educational strategies; and
  • Provide resources to support literacy-rich academic and enrichment activities and services aligned with State college- and career-ready academic content standards and the comprehensive statewide literacy plan (SLP) (as defined in the notice).

Competitive preference priorities:

  1. Turning Around Persistently Lowest-Achieving Schools
  2. Technology
  3. Improving Early Learning Outcomes
  4. Serving Rural LEAs

A synopsis of this grant opportunity is available at http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=183113.

The full announcement is accessible at https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/07/11/2012-16930/applications-for-new-awards-innovative-approaches-to-literacy-program#h-3 or http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-07-11/pdf/2012-16930.pdf. The official version of this document is published in the Federal Register, Vol. 77, No. 133, Wednesday, July 11, 2012, Notices).

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NEH Digital Humanities Start-up Grants – Applications due Aug. 15, 2012

Posted on June 9, 2012 by Kathryn Brockmeier

Closing Date for Applications: September 25, 2012
Award Amount: Up to $100,000

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) invites applications to the Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants program. This program is designed to encourage innovations in the digital humanities. By awarding relatively small grants to support the planning stages, NEH aims to encourage the development of innovative projects that promise to benefit the humanities. Proposals should be for the planning or initial stages of digital initiatives in any area of the humanities:

  • planning and developing prototypes of new digital tools for preserving, analyzing, and making accessible digital resources, including libraries’ and museums’ digital assets;
  • scholarship that focuses on the history, criticism, and philosophy of digital culture and its impact on society;
  • scholarship or studies that examine the philosophical or practical implications and impact of the use of emerging technologies in specific fields or disciplines of the humanities, or in interdisciplinary collaborations involving several fields or disciplines;
  • innovative uses of technology for public programming and education utilizing both traditional and new media; and
  • new digital modes of publication that facilitate the dissemination of humanities scholarship in advanced academic as well as informal or formal educational settings at all academic levels.

Details are available at http://www.neh.gov/grants/odh/digital-humanities-start-grants.

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Scholarship students headed to ALA Conference in Anaheim

Posted on June 9, 2012 by Kathryn Brockmeier

Thanks to a grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), three 21st Century Librarian scholarship students will attend the upcoming American Library Association 2012 Annual Conference in Anaheim. Chip Watchorn, Mike Elsener, and Michelle McCay-Broyles received stipend awards to attend the conference. The purpose of the stipend program is to enhance and broaden students’ educational experience. To date, ten students have attended conferences sponsored by the Public Library Association, American Association of School Librarians, Library Information Technology Association, as well as the Mountain Plains Library Association 2012 Leadership Institute.

To date, fify-four scholarships have been awarded to fifty-one students. Current scholarship recipients are participating and reporting on trainings that range from a hands-on introduction to eBooks and eReaders to live and recorded webinars about the latest Internet tools, and many are register for this summer’s Tech Rodeo. Participants are networking with Nebraska librarians on the Nebraska Librarians Learning Together Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/NebraskaLibrarians. And, through the associated stipends program, students have purchased laptop computers to use with their online classes, joined professional library associations, and attended regional and national conferences.

The scholarships, stipends, and value-added training are offered through the Nebraska Library Commission’s Cultivating Rural Librarians’ 21st Century Skills program, which is funded through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. For more information, contact Kathryn Brockmeier, Grant Program Manager, by e-mail, or by phone 402-471-4002 or 800-307-2665.

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

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“Civil War 150” Library Public Programming Grants announced

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Kathryn Brockmeier

Deadline for applications: July 15, 2012

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, in partnership with The Library of America, is now accepting applications from libraries and National Park historic sites for grants to develop public programming around the free traveling panel exhibition Civil War 150. The exhibition is part of Civil War 150: Exploring the War and Its Meaning through the Words of Those Who Lived It, a major three-year project funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The project is centered on the four-volume Library of America series The Civil War Told by Those Who Lived It and includes a collection of readers (discussion guides) drawn from the series.

Fifty sites selected by competitive application to host the Civil War 150 exhibition will each be awarded a grant of $1,000 to plan accompanying public programming. The exhibition is available for three-week periods from October 2012 to March 2015. Hosting sites will also receive supporting interpretive and contextual materials, including the Civil War 150 readers and access to a multimedia website with robust digital resources. Public, academic, and special libraries as well as National Park historic sites are invited to submit applications for the public programming grants and exhibition. The application deadline is July 15, 2012. To apply, please visit www.gilderlehrman.org/civilwar150grant .

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NEH America’s Historical and Cultural Organizations – applications due Aug. 15, 2012

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Kathryn Brockmeier

Closing Date for Applications: August 15, 2012
Award Amount: Up to $100,000

National Endowment for the Humanities Historical and Cultural Organizations Planning and Implementation Grants support the following formats:

  • exhibitions at museums, libraries, and other venues;
  • interpretations of historic places, sites, or regions;
  • book/film discussion programs; living history presentations; and other face-to-face programs at libraries, community centers, and other public venues; and
  • interpretive websites.

Planning grants support the early stages of project development, including consultation with scholars, refinement of humanities themes, preliminary design, and audience evaluation. Implementation grants support final scholarly research and consultation, design development, production, and installation of a project for presentation to the public.

Small and mid-sized institutions that have never received an NEH grant are especially encouraged to apply.

All projects should:

  • build on sound humanities scholarship;
  • deepen public understanding of significant humanities questions;
  • involve a team of humanities scholars in all phases of development and implementation;
  • appeal to broad audiences;
  • approach a subject analytically and interpretively through an appropriate variety of perspectives; and
  • encourage dialogue and discussion.

Details are available at http://www.neh.gov/grants/ahco.

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How will tech transform traditional library service?

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Kathryn Brockmeier

iPad educationA recent Mashable blog post discusses uses of the iPad but also recommends less-expensive alternatives (e.g. Pinterest, WordPress, Flickr) to perform some of the same activities. The post discusses impact of tech use in the classroom, but the discussion could easily be translated to the school, public, or any type of library.

What sorts of reference work have you done to help customers become more tech savvy?

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El día de los niños/El día de los libros is April 30

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Kathryn Brockmeier

El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) is a celebration based on childhood and literacy that began in 1997. Borrowing from the traditional Mexican holiday “El día de los niños,” the American version expanded to include literacy when acclaimed author Pat Mora took up the cause in 1997. A year later, the U.S. Congress officially designated April 30 as “Day of the Child.”

The American Library Association Día website provides:

  • background information and history of the celebration
  • list of this and previous years’ celebrations nationwide (Nebraska’s celebrations are listed for 2012)
  • website links for parents and caregivers
  • coloring and activity sheets for children
  • list of books featuring children’s titles and websites from cultures around the world
  • list of Día-related webinars and conference presentations
  • resources area with Resource Guide, activity ideas, graphics, and award-winning Día library projects

Other web pages and websites to view are

What is your library doing April 30 and the other days of the year to link your children to books, languages and cultures?

 

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21st Century Librarian Scholarship Applications Due June 1, 2012

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Kathryn Brockmeier

The Nebraska Library Commission announces the fifth cycle of its 21st Century Librarian Scholarship program (http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/NowHiring/Scholarships.asp). Legal residents of the state of Nebraska are eligible to apply. In this fifth cycle, online applications are due June 1, 2012; transcripts (as required) are due May 22, 2012; and letters of recommendation, if mailed, are due May 22, 2012. The amount of the scholarship award varies by the degree or certificate the applicant is pursuing and the applicant’s course plan.

Scholarships may be used for tuition (for coursework contributing toward a certificate or degree), course-required materials, and school-assessed fees at the following levels:

  • Library and Information Science (LIS) Professional Certificate
  • Associate of Arts or Science Degree in Library and Information Science (LIS)
  • Bachelor of Arts or Science Degree with a major in Library and Information Science or Library Media
  • Master of Arts or Science Degree in Library and Information Science (MLS/MLIS)
  • Master of Arts or Science degree in Education (MEd) with a School Library Media endorsement
  • Graduate-level School Library Media Endorsement

Scholarship recipients will be eligible to apply for stipends for such things as laptop computers, professional association dues, and regional or national conference attendance.

This dynamic program includes enhanced learning opportunities such as this summer’s 21st Century Skills Seminar, webinars, face-to-face training, and online social networking, such as the Nebraska Librarians Learning Together Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/NebraskaLibrarians.

To date, fify-four scholarships have been awarded to fifty-one students. Current scholarship recipients are participating and reporting on trainings that range from a hands-on introduction to eBooks and eReaders to live and recorded webinars about the latest Internet tools. Participants are networking with Nebraska librarians on the Nebraska Librarians Learning Together Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/NebraskaLibrarians. And, through the associated stipends program, students have purchased laptop computers to use with their online classes, joined professional library associations, and attended regional and national conferences such as the 2012 Public Library Association conference in Philadelphia and the 2011 American Association of School Librarians conference in Minneapolis.

The scholarships, stipends, and value-added training are offered through the Nebraska Library Commission’s Cultivating Rural Librarians’ 21st Century Skills program, which is funded through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. For more information, contact Kathryn Brockmeier, Grant Program Manager, by e-mail, or by phone 402-471-4002 or 800-307-2665.

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

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You and your customers can share your ebooks experiences

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Kathryn Brockmeier

According to ALA President Molly Raphael’s April 16, 2012, E-content blog post, librarians, library workers, and library customers can join a national research effort that is examining the changing role of public libraries in the digital age. How? The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project is surveying public library staff and patrons to learn more about their experiences with ebooks.

The surveys explore issues ranging from which ebook vendors public libraries use to how patrons use public libraries in person and online to how libraries promote—and how patrons find—library ebooks.

  • One version is for you and your co-workers.
  • The other version is for your customers. Please share this opportunity to participate with them—they’ll appreciate being asked. Pew Internet has even created a flyer that can be used to get the word out and also web code that will embed the survey on your library’s website.

The surveys are live April 16–May 18, and will only take about 15 minutes to complete. For details about this research effort and directions for completing the surveys, go to http://www.americanlibrariesmagazine.org/e-content/join-national-research-effort-ebooks-and-libraries.

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IMLS Learning Labs in Libraries and Museums Grants – Deadline Jun 15, 2012

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Kathryn Brockmeier

Closing Date for Applications: June 15, 2012
Award Amount: Up to $100,000
Issuing agency: Institue of Museum and Library Services

Grants for Learning Labs in Libraries and Museums will support planning and design activities for spaces that foster experimentation and creativity for middle- and high-school youth in library- and museum-based, out-of-school-time settings. The labs should be grounded in evidence-based research on youth, and should be designed to support youth learning in such 21st century skills as critical thinking, problem solving, communication, collaboration, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). These grants will enable grantees to develop comprehensive plans for programs, space, staffing, and budgeting for their Learning Labs. The awards may also be used to prototype certain lab activities or experiences. In addition, the grants may be used to support emerging learning labs that are already in the process of serving middle- and high-school youth with innovative digital media and learning and need additional funds to enhance their efforts, provided that they are aligned with the grant program criteria.

Eligibility: To be eligible as a library applicant for a Learning Labs in Libraries and Museums, you must: •be either a unit of State or local government or a private nonprofit organization that has tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code. •be located in one of the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau; and •qualify as one of the following six types of organizations: a library or a parent organization, such as a school district, a municipality, a state agency, or an academic institution, that is responsible for the administration of a library. Eligible libraries include public libraries, public elementary and secondary school libraries, college and university libraries, research libraries and archives that are not an integral part of an institution of higher education and that make publicly available library services and materials that are suitable for scholarly research and not otherwise available. Private or special libraries that have been deemed eligible to participate in this program by the State in which the library is located; an academic or administrative unit, such as a graduate school of library and information science that is part of an institution of higher education through which it would make application; a library agency that is an official agency of a State or other unit of government and is charged by the law governing it with the extension and development of public library services within its jurisdiction; a library consortium that is a local, statewide, regional, interstate, or international cooperative association of library entities that provides for the systematic and effective coordination of the resources of eligible libraries, as defined above, and information centers that work to improve the services delivered to the clientele of these libraries; or a library association that exists on a permanent basis, serves libraries or library professionals on a national, regional, state, or local level, and engages in activities designed to advance the well-being of libraries and the library profession.

Details are available at http://www.imls.gov/applicants/detail.aspx?GrantId=20.

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National Endowment for the Humanities Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions – applications due May 1, 2012

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Kathryn Brockmeier

Closing Date for Applications: May 1, 2012
Award Amount: Up to $6,000

National Endowment for the Humanities Preservation Assistance Grants help small and mid-sized institutions—such as libraries, museums, historical societies, archival repositories, cultural organizations, town and county records offices, and colleges and universities—improve their ability to preserve and care for their significant humanities collections. These may include special collections of books and journals, archives and manuscripts, prints and photographs, moving images, sound recordings, architectural and cartographic records, decorative and fine art objects, textiles, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, furniture, historical objects, and digital materials.

Applicants must draw on the knowledge of consultants whose preservation skills and experience are related to the types of collections and the nature of the activities that are the focus of their projects. Within the conservation field, for example, conservators usually specialize in the care of specific types of collections, such as objects, paper, or paintings. Applicants should therefore choose a conservator whose specialty is appropriate for the nature of their collections. Similarly, when assessing the preservation needs of archival holdings, applicants must seek a consultant specifically knowledgeable about archives and preservation. Because the organization and the preservation of archival collections must be approached in tandem, an archival consultant should also provide advice about the management and processing needs of such holdings as part of a preservation assessment that includes long-term plans for the arrangement and description of archival collections.

Small and mid-sized institutions that have never received an NEH grant are especially encouraged to apply.

Preservation Assistance Grants may be used for:

  • General preservation assessments
  • Consultations with professionals to address a specific preservation issue, need, or problem
  • Purchase of storage furniture and preservation supplies
  • Purchase of environmental monitoring equipment for humanities collections
  • Education and training

Applicants may combine two or more elements of the project types listed above in a single application. For example, an applicant may request funds for a consultant to conduct a preservation assessment and an on-site preservation workshop for the institution’s staff. In such cases, the consultant’s letter of commitment should fully describe both proposed activities and the associated fees.

NEH grants may support consultant fees, workshop registration fees, travel and per diem expenses, and the costs of purchasing and shipping preservation supplies and equipment.

Details are available at http://www.neh.gov/grants/preservation/preservation-assistance-grants-smaller-institutions.

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Scholarship students to attend PLA conference

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Kathryn Brockmeier

Thanks to a 21st Century Librarian grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, five scholarship students will attend the Public Library Association 2012 Conference March 13–17 in Philadelphia through the scholarship stipend program.

The Nebraska Library Commission’s 21st Century Librarian scholarship program is not just about paying for Nebraska students’ tuition, fees, and books. It’s about enhancing the students’ educational experiences and helping prepare them for a successful library career. Stipends are payments for use toward approved, scholarship-related expenses in addition to their scholarship awards. Stipend opportunities include the purchase of a laptop computer, attendance at one library-related national or regional conference, and membership in one library-related professional association.

Upon return, students are expected to report on their experiences, by posting on the Nebraska Librarians Learning Together Facebook page, and by presenting during live webinars and conference presentations. And, watch for live updates from the students during the conference by reading their posts the Facebook wall.

For more information about Nebraska’s Cultivating Rural Librarians’ 21st Century Skills program, see https://nlc.nebraska.gov/NowHiring/.

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

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National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge Grants – applications due May 2, 2012

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Kathryn Brockmeier

Posted Date: Feb 29, 2012
Closing Date for Applications: May 02, 2012
Award Amount: Varies

NEH challenge grants are capacity-building grants, intended to help institutions and organizations secure long-term improvements in and support for their humanities programs and resources. Through these awards, many organizations and institutions have been able to increase their humanities capacity and secure the permanent support of an endowment. Grants may be used to establish or enhance endowments or spend-down funds that generate expendable earnings to support ongoing program activities. Challenge grants may also provide capital directly supporting the procurement of long-lasting objects, such as acquisitions for archives and collections, the purchase of equipment, and the construction or renovation of facilities needed for humanities activities. Funds spent directly must be shown to bring long-term benefits to the institution and to the humanities more broadly.

Applications are welcome from colleges and universities, museums, public libraries, research institutions, historical societies and historic sites, scholarly associations, state humanities councils, and other nonprofit entities.

Eligible Applicants

  • State governments County governments
  • City or township governments
  • Special district governments
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education
  • Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification)

NEH welcomes proposals that respond to NEH’s Bridging Cultures initiative. Such projects could focus on cultures internationally or within the United States. International programs might seek to enlarge Americans’ understanding of other places and times, as well as other perspectives and intellectual traditions. American programs might explore the great variety of cultural influences on, and myriad subcultures within, American society. These programs might also investigate how Americans have approached and attempted to surmount seemingly unbridgeable cultural divides, or examine the ideals of civility and civic discourse that have informed this quest.

Details are available at http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/challenge.html.

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Upcoming scholarship deadlines

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Kathryn Brockmeier

IMLS LogoApplications for the first 2012 wave of Institute of Museum and Library Services 21st Century Scholarships is soon coming to a close, with a deadline of March 1, 2012. The second wave will open up after March 1 and the Nebraska Library Commission will once again accept applications at the levels of Master of Arts or Science Degree in Library and Information Science (MLS/MLIS), Master of Arts or Science Degree in Education (MEd) with a School Library Media endorsement, and Graduate-level School Library Media Endorsement–in addition to the levels of Library and Information Services (LIS, formerly LTA) Professional Certificate, Associate of Arts or Science Degree in Library and Information Services (LIS, formerly LTA), and Bachelor of Arts or Science Degree with a major in Library and Information Science or Library Media.

In other scholarship news of interest to Nebraska library science students:

  • The Nebraska Educational Media Association’s Karla Wendelin Continuing Education Scholarship for School Librarianship application is due March 15, 2012. NEMA members are eligible to apply. The applicant must show current registration status in school library media/youth services courses in a Nebraska Institution of Higher Education OR current registration status in school library media/youth services workshop/conference. Additional NEMA scholarships offered are available for review at http://www.schoollibrariesrock.org/scholarships.html.
  • The Nebraska Library Association is accepting applications for the Louise A. Nixon and Duane Munson scholarships, due April 15, 2012. Applicants who have been a member of NLA for at least one year are eligible to apply. Details about applicant requirements and scholarship conditions are available on the NLA website.

The Nebraska Library Commission’s Now Hiring @ your library© website provides a list of various scholarships available to students pursuing credentials in library science. Details are available at https://nlc.nebraska.gov/NowHiring/Scholarships.aspx#Other_Scholarships.

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Internship Grant application deadline extended to March 1, 2012

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Kathryn Brockmeier

The Nebraska Library Commission’s 21st Century Librarian Internship Grant application deadline has been extended from February 15, 2012, to March 1, 2012.

See the Jan. 12, 2012, NCompass blog post for a short description, or visit the Internships page of the Now Hiring @ your library© website.

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