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Author Archives: Mary Jo Ryan
Is Fall Career Fair Time in your Community?
When students are thinking about careers, do they entertain the idea of becoming a librarian or media specialist? We are looking for librarians, media specialists, career counselors, library supporters, and others who would like to staff exhibits at local career fairs to help young people think of library careers when they plan for their future. The Nebraska Library Commission project, “Recruiting the Next Generation of Nebraska Librarians @ the movies,” is funded by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services Librarians for the 21st Century initiative to increase the number of qualified professionals and recruit future librarians for employment in Nebraska libraries. It is designed to attract promising high school and college students to the profession.
Would you like to help by sharing your story and the joy you find in your work? If you would like to help with this effort, contact the Nebraska Library Commission now to reserve a recruiting kit. The kit includes everything needed to set up a display at a career fair: a poster with tear-off return cards and tripod, print materials, pencils, and a DVD of a sixty-second PSA that can be played on a laptop continuous loop. We also have materials suitable for a small counter display.For information or to reserve a recruiting kit, contact Mary Jo Ryan, Nebraska Library Commission Communications Coordinator, 402-471-4002, 800-307-2665; e-mail: Mary Jo Ryan.
Posted in Youth Services
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Apply by September 19 to host “Visions of the Universe: Four Centuries of Discovery”
Are Nebraska libraries good sites for a traveling exhibit designed to create awareness of astronomy’s contributions to society and culture, stimulate young people’s interest in astronomy and science, portray astronomy as a global peaceful endeavor, and nourish a scientific outlook in society?
Public libraries are invited to apply to host “Visions of the Universe: Four Centuries of Discovery,” a traveling exhibition developed by the ALA Public Programs Office in cooperation with the Space Telescope Science Institute Office of Public Outreach and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory to mark the International Year of Astronomy in 2009. The exhibit will travel to 40 selected public libraries from January 2009 through December 2010. Applications are available at www.ala.org/visionsoftheuniverse.
Exhibit sponsors are especially interested in receiving applications from public libraries in small towns and rural areas that have limited access to NASA resources, as well as from public libraries in larger population centers. The exhibit requires just 150-200 square feet of display space. If you think you might be able to make room for this educational and fun (temporary) addition to your library, more information information is available at the Website listed above. For questions, contact the ALA Public Programs Office at publicprograms@ala.org.
Posted in General, Public Relations
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See to Reader Now Available to Nebraska Public Libraries
Nebraska libraries offer summer programs for children of all ages to encourage their continued exposure to books and reading. The goal of See to Read is to highlight the resources offered to Nebraska’s young people through their local libraries, with the understanding of how healthy eyes are vital to the ultimate benefits of reading.
Complimentary copies of the See to Reader are available at Nebraska public libraries. Included in the Reader are:
• warning signs of vision problems,
• booklist for children relating to vision,
• first aid for eye emergencies,
• puzzles,
• ideas for developing a child into a strong reader,
• information for receiving a FREE professional vision assessment for any three-year old in the state, and
• reminders for parents with children entering kindergarten regarding vision evaluations now required by Nebraska law.
This information can also be found by visiting www.NEchildrenvision.org, under See to Read. One out of five children entering kindergarten in Nebraska has an undetected vision problem. This “unseen” health issue may greatly influence the outcome of a child’s academic and social behavior as they struggle to keep pace with other students. Parents and educators need to be aware of this potential link to poor reading performance and other developmental skill lags in children. Is raising this awareness a good role for public libraries? Have you heard the radio PSA about this partnership in your area?
For more information contact: Sally Snyder, 402-471-4003, 800-307-2665.
Posted in Books & Reading, Public Relations, Youth Services
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Recommendations Invited for One Book One Nebraska 2009
Have you ever wondered how books are nominated for One Book One Nebraska? This year, the Nebraska Center for the Book is inviting recommendations for the 2009 One Book One Nebraska book selection.
The Nebraska Center for the Book will consider books written by a Nebraska author (living or dead/with current or former residence in the state), or that have a Nebraska theme or setting. Books should have a broad appeal to readers across Nebraska and lend well to group book discussion. Books may be fiction, non-fiction, biography, memoir or poetry. They should be in print and readily available. Of course, please nominates a book that you have read and judged to be a great book for generating discussion.
Book recommendations should be sent via e-mail to Maria Medrano-Nehls by August 1. Recommendations may also be sent via the US Postal Service to The Nebraska Center for the Book, c/o Nebraska Library Commission 1200 N Street, Suite 120, Lincoln, NE 68508.
The Nebraska Center for the Book will announce the 2009 One Book One Nebraska choice in October.
For information about the One Book One Nebraska program, including current and previous book selections, see www.onebookonenebraska.org.
What book will you nominate?…Click on comment below.
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What’s All This about Peace, Love, and Understanding?
Grant applications are now available for “Let’s Talk About It: Love & Forgiveness,” a scholar-led reading and discussion program for libraries interested in exploring themes of love and forgiveness in everyday life through classic and contemporary literature. The American Library Association and the Fetzer Institute, as part of its Campaign for Love & Forgiveness, invite public libraries to apply for $2,500 grants to support the program in their community. Deadline: July 15. For more information see www.ala.org/ala/ppo/programs/currentprograms/letstalkaboutit/ltailove.cfm or e-mail: publicprograms@ala.org. Are any libraries in Nebraska interested in this grant opportunity?
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Nebraska Humanities Council Seeks New Prime Time Libraries
The Nebraska Humanities Council wants to expand Prime Time Family Reading Time to public libraries in Nebraska communities and neighborhoods where student reading scores are not meeting state standards. Since 2002, the Nebraska Humanities Council has funded Prime Time—a six-week reading and discussion program for low-income families with children ages six to 10—at 14 libraries and five schools in 13 communities across the state.
Last summer, Prime Time expanded beyond Spanish-speaking families to help fund sessions at Omaha’s Washington Branch library, serving African-American families from neighborhoods where poverty is high and student reading scores are low. According to John Bernardi, director of the Washington Branch, several participants told him that Prime Time was “one of the best programs the library offers and that it has become very important to them.”
For more information or to apply as a new Prime Time site, go to: http://www.nebraskahumanities.org/programs/prime.html or contact the NHC office at (402) 474-2131 or e-mail: nhc@nebraskahumanities.org.
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ALA Youth Media Awards Webcast Now Available
The American Library Association (ALA) Public Information Office blog, Visibility @ your library®, shows how ALA uses Google Video to promote libraries and literacy. It features a Google video (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4514698237320024574&hl=en) pulled from a live Webcast of the ALA Youth Media Awards held at this year’s ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia.
In an age when home video can “go viral,” reaching millions of viewers, the opportunities for using outlets like Google Video for promotional purposes are vast. I’m sure there are some Nebraska activities that we could make into a good, short video…any nominations?
Posted in Public Relations, Youth Services
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Ben Mikaelsen to visit Nebraska in April
The Nebraska Library Commission will bring children’s author Ben Mikaelsen to Nebraska for an April statewide author tour. Mikaelsen will present programs for school children and the general public in ten Nebraska communities, in cooperation with the Regional Library Systems. Author Ben Mikaelsen, has won the International Reading Association Award and the Western Writer’s Golden Spur Award. In addition, his novels have won many state Reader’s Choice awards, including the 1995 Nebraska Golden Sower award. Mikaelsen is the author of Rescue Josh McGuire, Nebraska’s 2007 One Book for Nebraska Kids selection. He lives in a log cabin near Bozeman, Montana, with a 750 pound black bear that he adopted and has raised for the last twenty-five years. For more information see his Website, http://www.benmikaelsen.com.
Join us on the Nebraska April Author Tour with Ben Mikaelsen
School visits (not open to the public):
Broken Bow, DeWitt: Tri-County Schools, Elgin, Fremont, Gretna, Hastings, Ogallala, Plainview
Public Library programs for the general public:
Ogallala, Goodall City Library: Becoming the Author of Your Own Life – April 14, 4:00 p.m.
Hildreth Public Library: Becoming the Author of Your Own Life – April 15, 4-5 p.m.
Holdrege Area Public Library: Becoming the Author of Your Own Life – April 15, 7:00 p.m.
Mahoney State Park: Research—Finding the Heart of the Story – April 16, 7:00 p.m.
This is not the first time Mikaelsen has visited Nebraska. We’ve heard lots of stories of his travels across the state. Please share your memories of previous Mikaelsen author tours in Nebraska by clicking in the Comment space below.
For more information about the tour, contact Sally Snyder, Nebraska Library Commission Children’s Services Coordinator, 402-471-4003, 800-307-2665.
Posted in Books & Reading, Youth Services
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We the People Bookshelf Grants Deadline January 25, 2008
The We the People Bookshelf, a collection of classic books for young readers, is a project of the National Endowment for the Humanities’ (NEH) in cooperation with the American Library Association (ALA). Nebraska public and school (K – 12) libraries are invited to apply for the fifth annual We the People Bookshelf grant. We are interested in hearing about how these collections are received by Nebraska public library customers. Please comment below if your library has received these grants in the past.
To apply for a set of classic books for young readers on the theme “Created Equal,” complete the online application at www.ala.org/wethepeople by January 25, 2008.
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April 10 Colloquium Features Humorous Look at Libraries.
The Nebraska Library Commission will again fund a colloquium event inviting Nebraska librarians to come to dinner and explore library issues and trends.
A talk from the creators of Unshelved, the world’s only daily comic strip set in a public library, will be presented in Lincoln at the Spring Colloquium coordinated and arranged for by the Eastern and Southeast Library Systems. Writer Gene Ambaum (the made-up name of a real-life librarian) and co-writer and artist Bill Barnes have been publishing the strip since February 16, 2002. They say, “Some of the stories are made up, some of them are based on real life, and some are absolutely true stories sent to us from our readers. And the stranger the story, the more likely it is to be true.”
Register for the Spring Colloquium, April 10, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Lincoln Cornhusker Hotel, at http://www.selsne.org/SColl08.pdf.
Posted in Education & Training, Public Relations
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Nebraska Book Festival October 2007
The Nebraska Book Festival is Nebraska’s premier opportunity to showcase our fantastic Nebraska writers and publishers. The Festival is sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book, Nebraska Humanities Council, and Nebraska Library Commission. Held in downtown Lincoln October 26-28, this year’s festival included a variety of activities for adults and children. Photos from the 2007 Nebraska Book Festival are available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/librarycommission/sets/72157603170787072/.
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Would you enjoy working on a state library reference desk?
Check out the Nebraska Library Commission Reference Staff activity on Twitter, http://twitter.com/NLC_Reference, to get an idea of the kind of questions that librarians at a state library answer every day. Twitter is a micro-blogging application that answers the question “what are you doing now?” Library Commission reference desk staff are using Twitter to post questions that are asked of the reference staff. This shows readers the depth and breadth of questions that the library answers every day. Answers are not posted (Twitter only allows for 140 characters per post).
If you’ve ever wondered if you would be interested in working on a reference team, this is a fun way to find out. Please click on comment (below) if this site is helpful in career decision-making.
What tools would help libraries take advantage of the One Book One State opportunity?
We know that library involvement is the key to success of our Nebraska statewide reading efforts. We also know that the staff and volunteers of Nebraska public libraries are very busy with a variety of library services and reading promotion activities. What resources and tools help libraries bring communities together through literature by hosting reading and discussion activities?
Is your library celebrating One Book One Nebraska 2007 by reading Crazy Horse: Strange Man of the Oglalas, by Nebraska author Marie Sandoz? Please comment below about resources that helped with organizing book discussion sessions and other events.
Are you interested in celebrating One Book One Nebraska 2008 by reading Restoring the Burnt Child, by Nebraska’s own State Poet William Kloefkorn? Please comment below with suggestions and ideas for tool that might help to assist with reading/discussion activities, as well as a suggested timeframe for distribution.
Thanks, Mary Jo Ryan
Posted in Books & Reading, Public Relations
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Come to Downtown Lincoln for the 2007 Nebraska Book Festival, October 26-27
The 2007 Nebraska Book Festival, rescheduled for October 26-27, is moving to downtown Lincoln where events will be staged at locations along Centennial Mall near 15th and P Streets, including the Nebraska State Historical Society’s Museum of Nebraska History, Lincoln Children’s Museum, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) College of Journalism and Mass Communications in Andersen Hall. Other downtown locations include the Nebraska State Capitol at 15th and K Streets and the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center at 13th and Q Streets. The locations for the Festival are surrounded by coffeehouses, restaurants, bookstores, theaters, shops, and night spots.
The Warner Chamber in the Nebraska State Capitol will serve as the site for the keynote address on Friday, October 26, at 5:30 P.M. Native American scholar and author Joseph Marshall III will open the Festival with an address focusing on the great Sioux warrior and tactician, Crazy Horse (the subject of Nebraska author Mari Sandoz’ biography, Crazy Horse: Strange Man of the Ogalala, the 2007 One Book One Nebraska selection).
On Saturday, October 27, the Nebraska Center for the Book will announce the winners of the annual Nebraska Book Awards in a ceremony in the Nebraska State Capitol Rotunda, at 11:00 A.M., to be followed by the annual Book Festival luncheon in the Chez Hay banquet hall in the Noodles and Co. building at 14th and P Streets. Luncheon guests will hear readings by Nebraska Book Award winners.
At 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 26, Coup de Torchon, a mystery film, will screen at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center. Outside the Lines: Creative Storytelling Activities for Children is scheduled for Saturday, October 27 at the Lincoln Children’s Museum. Admission is free. The schedule of activities for children is available www.unl.edu/NCB/CreativeStorytelling.html.
Nebraska Book Festival Director Michael Cartwright comments, “The 2007 Nebraska Book Festival is shaping up to be a memorable event.” The Nebraska Book Festival is sponsored by the Mari Sandoz Heritage Society, Nebraska Arts Council, Nebraska Center for the Book, Nebraska Humanities Council, Nebraska Library Commission, Nebraska Secretary of State, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and University Press.
For more information see www.unl.edu/NCB/current_festival.html or contact Michael Cartwright, Nebraska Book Festival Director, 402-471-4006, 800-307-2665, e-mail: Michael Cartwright.
Please comment below on the plans for Nebraska’s Book Festival. Thanks, Mary Jo Ryan
Nebraskan in Space Encourages Young People to READ®
Nebraska Astronaut READ® Posters Available
Could the young people that visit your library relate to an astronaut from Nebraska? Nebraska native Clay Anderson, currently aboard the International Space Station, describes his experience in space as “the ride of my life.” Anderson, born in Omaha and raised in Ashland, is the first native Nebraskan to fly in space (and the first to walk in space).
When he returns to earth, he plans to visit classrooms and other groups to encourage youngsters to pursue their dreams. In a recent broadcast from space, Anderson reflected on the fifteen times he applied to the astronaut program before being accepted. “Don’t ever give up…You can be whatever you want to be. You just have to set your mind to it…and go get it,” he said.
Anderson generously posed for READ® posters and bookmarks for Nebraska libraries and school media centers to use to promote books and reading. Upon request, the Nebraska Library Commission will send Nebraska libraries and school media centers a CD with the posters and bookmarks. They can be printed at a local print shop or quick-copy shop. One hundred and fifteen CDs have already been distributed. To use this promotional tool with your customers, contact Alyssa Bundy, Nebraska Library Commission Student Intern, e-mail:
Alyssa Bundy.
Please comment below on your use of READ® posters and other READ® materials with your library customers. Thanks, Mary Jo Ryan
Posted in Books & Reading, Education & Training, General
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Could your library use a student intern?
The Nebraska Library Commission is offering grants to libraries for student internships, with funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Librarians for the 21st Century initiative. These internship grants are intended to introduce promising high school and college students to the varied and exciting work of Nebraska libraries, by providing a $1,000 stipend for each student to finance approximately one-hundred hours spent working with library staff on a variety of projects and activities.
Eligible organizations can apply for internship funding in connection with their grant applications in the Youth Grants for Excellence and/or Library Improvement Grants (formerly LSTA Grants) grant cycles. Applications for internship projects can also be submitted independent of other Nebraska Library Commission grant funding. Eligible entities include:
• Accredited Nebraska public libraries
• Eligible institutional libraries
• Other library organizations in partnership with an eligible entity for purposes of submitting a grant application for a collaborative internship project.
To apply for internship funding, see the Announcement on the Library Commission Website.
Please comment below with your ideas for setting up internship opportunities in your library that will encourage young people to choose a library service career. Thanks, Mary Jo Ryan
Could your library use a few thousand dollars to support adult book discussion programs?
We’ve heard for a long time that adult book discussion programs are great for encouraging readers to come to the library. Currently, libraries in every state but Nebraska and Deleware are set to receive funds to support The Big Read library book discussions. The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. Big Read grants, ranging from $2,500 – $20,000, are available to revitalize the role of literature in American culture.
Organizations selected to participate in The Big Read will receive a grant, financial support to attend a national orientation meeting, educational and promotional materials for broad distribution, Organizer’s Guide for developing and managing Big Read activities, inclusion of your organization and activities on The Big Read Web site, and the prestige of participating in a highly visible national initiative. Approximately 200 organizations of varying sizes across the country will be selected in this cycle.
Go to www.NEABigRead.org to download the Guidelines and Application.
Questions? Call Arts Midwest at 612.341.0755 or e-mail TheBigRead@artsmidwest.org
Deadlines
Intent to apply deadline (strongly encouraged): June 29, 2007
Application deadline: July 31, 2007
Project activity: January–June 2008
Please comment below to let us know if you intend to apply (or if you don’t, please let us know why). Thanks, Mary Jo Ryan
What book would you nominate for the 2007 Nebraska Book Awards?
The 2007 Nebraska Center for the Book deadline for the Nebraska Book Awards competition is June 30. Even though lots of great books were published in 2006, entries have been very light this year. Please take a moment to comment below and let us know what books should be considered for this prestigious award.
If you suggest an eligible book (written by Nebraska authors, published by Nebraska publishers, set in Nebraska, or relating to Nebraska–2006 copyright), we’ll contact authors and publishers to suggest that they enter. Entries are accepted in any of the following categories:
Nonfiction
Children/Young Adult
Fiction
Cover Design/Illustration
Poetry
Anthology
For more information and the entry form, see http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/publications/BookAwardsInvitation.pdf.
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Scholarship Deadline July 1
Are you thinking about advancing your library service career by taking library science classes? Now might be the time to take action–money is available to help support your education.
Nebraska Library Commission scholarships are supported by a grant awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to recruit and educate the next generation of Nebraska librarians. July 1 is the next deadline for scholarship application. To apply, see Nebraska Library Commission’s Now Hiring @ your library® Website, https://nlc.nebraska.gov/nowhiring/or click the “coffee cup” icon on the left side of the Nebraska Library Commission Home Page at nlc.nebraska.gov. This new section of the Commission Website provides easy access to information about library education options, scholarships, job openings, library careers, mentoring, and recruiting. Please comment below on your experience with Library Commission scholarship–we are always striving to improve the scholarship process.
Recruiting the Next Generation of Nebraska Librarians @ the movies
The Nebraska Library Commission Recruitment Public Service Announcement (PSA) has been getting some great reactions and we are excited about the prospects for launching a statewide marketing campaign this summer. Cindi Hickey reports that the “recruiting video (is) making the rounds in Kansas.” She continues, “You are getting rave reviews for the recruiting trailer in Kansas! Someone found it on YouTube (brilliant placement!) and is passing it around to everybody.”
We hope the PSA sends the message that “library careers are cool, high tech, and service-oriented – an opportunity to make a difference in our communities.” The vision is to have the PSA shown in movie theatres across Nebraska. Since Hollywood has helped to foster many of the outmoded stereotypes and images of librarians, it is appropriate to use the PSA as one of the vehicles to deliver the antidote to these stereotypes. Companion pieces to the PSA will include a movie poster for the theatre lobby, a display with information about educational opportunities, and “movie tickets” to apply for scholarships for training in library skills.
Some library staff and supporters have volunteered to contact the management of local movie theaters to ask them to donate screen time to show the PSA before movie showings and lobby space for poster and display. Ideally, the PSA would be shown in the summer before a movie that might attract a younger audience, specifically people of high school and college age. More volunteers are needed.
Please comment (link below) to let us know what you think of the PSA (see it at https://nlc.nebraska.gov/NowHiring/) and be sure to volunteer to help us get free placement of the PSA in movie theatres this summer.
Thanks, Mary Jo Ryan
