Author Archives: Susan Knisely

Computers in Libraries Conference (April 27-29) Discount

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Susan Knisely

cil2015Information Today is offering a group discount through the Nebraska Library Commission to all Nebraska librarians who attend the 2015 Computers in Libraries Conference. This conference will be held April 27-29 at the Washington Hilton, Washington, DC. Detailed information about the conference can be found on the conference web page.

The price of the conference with the discount is $319 for the 3-day event (regular rate is $549). That’s a $230 savings! (No discount rates are available for the pre- or post-conference seminars and workshops).

In addition, discount prices of $599 (regularly $749) on the Library Leaders Summit (includes all three days of CIL) and $109 (regularly $209) on the Internet@Schools Track are also available.

To receive the discount you will need to register online and enter a promotional discount code assigned to the Nebraska Library Commission. (After successfully entering the discount code the discounted prices should appear on the Conference Options portion of the online form.) The registration deadline is March 27, 2015. To request the discount code please contact Susan Knisely.

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Friday Reads: SEAL Team Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper, by Howard E. Wasdin and Stephen Templin

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Susan Knisely

sealteamsix_I’ve recently been reading some of Suzanne Brockmann’s romantic suspense novels, which feature Navy SEALS as leading men. This got me wondering about real Navy SEALS—can they truly be as accomplished and multi-talented as Brockmann makes them out to be? My curiosity piqued, I searched Lincoln City Libraries’ OverDrive collection and wound up checking out the audiobook edition of SEAL Team Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper, by Howard Wasdin.

I’m about half-way through at this point, and so far have found it quite interesting. Wasdin begins by recounting his difficult childhood, which he later credits with preparing him to withstand many of the rigors of the SEAL training and selection process. His descriptions of the physical and mental challenges SEAL candidates endure definitely inspire awe and respect. At the same time, it’s easy to see what a toll this career would take on family life. At the point I’m at in the story Wasdin is still married, with two kids, but his allusions to relationship strain make me think the marriage won’t survive.

So far I’d say that Wasdin’s non-fiction account of the numerous and incredibly varied skills and abilities of Navy SEALS is every bit as impressive as Brockmann’s fictional version—meaning maybe she’s not exaggerating. Unfortunately, I’m not sure the path to a happy ending is going to be quite as straight-forward and assured.

Wasdin’s memoir definitely offers a window into a life very different from my own. It’s impossible not to admire and respect the strength, tenacity, and intelligence required to make it as a SEAL, and I’m definitely looking forward to listening to the rest of his story.

Wasdin, Howard E, Stephen Templin, and Ray Porter. Seal Team Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy Seal Sniper. Ashland, Or.: Blackstone Audio, Inc, 2011. Internet resource. (Listen to excerpt)

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EBSCO Fall Database Trials: Flipster, MyHeritage, MasterFILE Premier, and NoveList Plus

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Susan Knisely

This fall EBSCO is offering Nebraska libraries trial access to the following databases:

  • MyHeritage Library Edition – Leading family history network MyHeritage is now available to libraries exclusively through EBSCO Information Services. The new MyHeritage Library Edition will provide access to a vast collection of U.S. and international documents online, including birth, death, and marriage records from 48 countries, the complete US and UK censuses, immigration, military and tombstone records and more than 1.5 billion family tree profiles. Library subscriptions to this service include remote access, allowing patrons to search the service from the comfort of their own homes.
  • Flipster – Flipster provides libraries with digital magazine subscription packages to popular magazines. that patrons can easily access via computers, laptops, and mobile devices. Flipster boasts no hidden platform fees and a simple sign-in process.
  • MasterFile Premier – Designed specifically for public libraries, MasterFILE Premier provides access to nearly 17,000 full-text periodicals (including Time, Inc. titles), more than 500 full-text reference books, and over 81,900 primary source documents, as well as over 935,000 photos, maps and flags.
  • NoveList Plus – NoveList Plus features reading recommendations for both fiction and nonfiction for all ages and, in the near future, will add audiobook recommendations. It also includes series information, professional reviews, read-alikes, award winners, and more!
  • NoveList K-8 Plus – NoveList K-8 Plus is especially for younger readers. It has reading recommendations for both fiction and nonfiction, for kids in grades K-8. Use it to find just the right books for every reader.

Trial access instructions were distributed via an October 16 message to the Trial mailing list. Nebraska librarians who didn’t receive this information or who would like it sent to them again may contact Susan Knisely. The Flipster database trial is set to expire on November 18, 2014; all other EBSCO database trials run through the end of the calendar year (12/31/14).

Please feel free to contact inside account executive Phil Gallant for questions or price quotes, phone 800-653-2726 ext 3560 or pgallant@ebsco.com

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Friday Reads: Bomb: The Race to Build–and Steal–the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon, by Steve Sheinkin

Posted on August 15, 2014 by Susan Knisely

book cover imageAt the end of summer, my 12-year-old son and I road tripped to South Texas to visit friends. This involved a two-day drive down and a two-day drive back. To me, road trips mean audiobooks. Although my son is the stereotypical boy who doesn’t read, he has enjoyed audiobooks in the past; therefore I came prepared with three young adult possibilities, checked out from OverDrive and downloaded to my Kindle Fire: a dystopian thriller, a baseball mystery, and a nonfiction history book.

Listening to an audiobook held no appeal for him on the way down to Texas, but on the way back, the novelty of road tripping having completely worn off, he gave in to my suggestion that he select a title for us to listen to. Scanning the three I’d downloaded, it was really no contest: he immediately picked the nonfiction history book, Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon, by Steve Sheinkin.

This is a great example of a nonfiction title that reads like fiction, and my son was rapt throughout the seven hour narration. The story jumps back and forth between Soviet agents recruiting young, initially unemployed U.S. chemist Harry Gold as a spy, Robert Oppenheimer’s efforts to assemble a team of scientists to build an atomic bomb at Los Alamos, and Norwegian resistance fighters’ intricate and ultimately successful plan to sabotage a heavy water plant in Norway in order to disrupt Nazi development of nuclear weapons.

The plot involving the Norwegian commandos was like something out of a James Bond or Mission Impossible movie, and my son sat bolt upright in his seat, the Kindle held to his ear so he wouldn’t miss a word. At one point he exclaimed “I could listen to this book forever!” Talk about music to a librarian mother’s ears! And when the team succeeded in infiltrating and blowing up the plant, he reacted with a fist pump and a “Yes!”

Learning about the espionage networks at work at the time was also fascinating. One of my favorite scenes involved two spies meeting up. Their handlers had given each spy half a Jell-O box cover. At first contact each man produced his half of the Jell-O box cover; when placed next to one another they matched up perfectly, letting each spy know that the other was legitimate.

Upon returning home I looked up author Steve Sheinkin and discovered that he’s penned additional nonfiction history books for young adults. And what do you know! My son had previously read and enjoyed two of them: The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery and King George: What Was His Problem?: The Whole Hilarious Story of the American Revolution. Given his 100% satisfaction rating to date, Steve Sheinkin is definitely an author who’ll stay on my radar as I continue to search for the right books for my particular reluctant reader!

Sheinkin, Steve. Bomb: The Race to Build–and Steal–The World’s Most Dangerous Weapon. Listening Library, 2013. (Listen to excerpt)

 

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Internet Librarian Conference (October 27-29) Discount

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Susan Knisely

Information Today is offering a group discount through the Nebraska Library Commission to all Nebraska librarians who attend the 2014 Internet Librarian conference. This conference will be held at the Monterey Conference Center in Monterey, California on October 27-29. Detailed information about the conference can be found on the conference web page.

The price of the conference with the discount is $349 for the three-day event (October 27-29) and $99 on the Internet@Schools Track (October 27-28) and $649 for Library Leaders Digital Strategy Summit. (No discount rates are available for the pre-conference seminars).

To receive the discount you will need to register online and enter a promotional discount code assigned to the Nebraska Library Commission. (After successfully entering the discount code the discounted prices should appear on the Conference Options portion of the online form.) Online registration can be made until September 26. To request the discount code please contact Susan Knisely.

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Are You Signed Up For the TRIAL Mailing List?

Posted on April 3, 2014 by Susan Knisely

Are you signed up for the Nebraska Library Commission’s TRIAL mailing list? If so, then you know I just sent out a mailing list message with instructions on how to log in to Infobase Learning’s open trial of over 20 of their popular online databases, including Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center, Issues & Controversies, and World News Digest.

If you’re not signed up for the Nebraska Library Commission’s TRIAL mailing list, then you missed this juicy announcement, along with at least three others in the last two weeks announcing free trial access to McGraw-Hill’s AccessScience and AccessEngineering databases, the new ProQuest Research Companion information literacy solution, and six CountryWatch databases.

To make sure you don’t miss future trial announcements go to the Nebraska Library Commission Mailing Lists page and subscribe today! To request copies of recent trial announcements you might have missed, contact Susan Knisely.

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CountryWatch Database Trials

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Susan Knisely

CountryWatch Inc. is offering Nebraska libraries trial access to the following databases through May 15, 2014:

  • CountryWatch Premium Online
  • CountryWatch Youth Edition
  • CountryWatch Forecasts (Macro, Energy, Metals & Agriculture)
  • CountryWatch Election Central
  • CountryWatch Political Intelligence Briefing
  • Country Profile Video Series


Trial URL: http://www.countrywatch.com/login.aspx

Trial access instructions were distributed via a March 20, 2014 message to the TRIAL mailing list. If you did not receive this information and would like to have it sent to you, please email Susan Knisely

Discounted pricing and ordering instructions for these databases are available online.

Want to receive email notification of future database trials and discounted pricing? Make sure you are signed up for the Nebraska Library Commission’s TRIAL mailing list. You can learn more about mailing lists maintained by the Nebraska Library Commission, including how to subscribe, on our Nebraska Library Commission Mailing Lists page.

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Britannica Database Trials

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Susan Knisely

Britannica Digital Learning is inviting Nebraska libraries to trial eleven of their online databases during the month of March. The services available to trial include:

  • Britannica Online Academic Edition
  • Britannica Online Public Library Edition
  • Britannica Online School Edition
  • Merriam Webster Unabridged
  • Annals of American History
  • Spanish Reference Center
  • World Data Analyst Online
  • Britannica ImageQuest
  • Global Reference Center
  • Britannica Pathways: Science
  • SmartMath Practice

Trial access instructions were distributed via a March 6, 2014 message to the TRIAL mailing list. If you did not receive this information and would like to have it sent to you, please email Susan Knisely

Discounted pricing and ordering instructions for these databases are available online.

Want to receive email notification of future database trials and discount pricing? Make sure you are signed up for the Nebraska Library Commission’s TRIAL mailing list. You can learn more about mailing lists maintained by the Nebraska Library Commission, including how to subscribe, on our Nebraska Library Commission’s Mailing Lists page.

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Computers in Libraries Conference (April 7-9) Discount

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Susan Knisely

Information Today is offering a group discount through the Nebraska Library Commission to all Nebraska librarians who attend the 2014 Computer in Libraries Conference. This conference will be held at the Washington Hilton, Washington, DC. on April 7-9. Detailed information about the conference can be found on the conference web page.

The price of the conference with the discount is $299 for the 3-day event (regular rate is $549). That’s a $250 savings! (No discount rates are available for the pre- or post-conference seminars and workshops.) In addition, discount prices of $109 (regularly $209) on the Internet@Schools Track are also available.

To receive the discount you will need to register online and enter a promotional discount code assigned to the Nebraska Library Commission. (After successfully entering the discount code the discounted prices should appear on the Conference Options portion of the online form.) The registration deadline is March 7, 2014. To request the discount code please contact Susan Knisely.

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Fall Database Trials Available

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Susan Knisely

The Nebraska Library Commission is currently hosting free trials of the following databases, which may be of interest to your library:

  • EBSCO eBook High School Collection
  • EBSCO eBook Subscription K-8 Collection
  • EBSCO eBook Public Library Collection
  • EBSCO eBook Academic Collection
  • EBSCO eBook Commuity College Collection
  • Mango Languages
  • McGraw-Hill AccessScience
  • McGraw-Hill AccessEngineering
  • McGraw-Hill E-Book Library
  • Pronunciator


To receive future announcements about trials, including access instructions, make sure you are subscribed to the TRIAL mailing list. You can also always find currently available trials listed on our Database Trials page.

If you aren’t currently a member of the TRIAL mailing list and therefore didn’t receive trial access instructions, or if you’d like to have them sent to you again, please email Susan Knisely.

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Internet Librarian Conference (October 28-30) Discount

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Susan Knisely

Information Today is offering a group discount through the Nebraska Library Commission to all Nebraska librarians who attend the 2013 Internet Librarian Conference. This conference will be held at the Monterey Conference Center in Monterey, California on October 28-30. Detailed information about the conference can be found on the conference web page.

The price of the conference with the discount is $349 for the three-day event (October 28-30) and $99 on the Internet@Schools Track (October 28-29). No discount rates are available for the pre-conference seminars, workshops or the Library Leaders Digital Strategy Summit.

To receive the discount you will need to register online and enter a promotional discount code assigned to the Nebraska Library Commission. After successfully entering the discount code the discounted prices should appear on the Conference Options portion of the online form. Online registrations can be made until September 27. To request the discount code please contact Susan Knisely.

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Two new eBook/eReader workshops scheduled (Alliance & North Platte)

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Susan Knisely

eBooks and eReaders are coming into your library even if your library doesn’t officially support them. In this full-day workshop, Commission trainers Michael Sauers and Susan Knisely will walk you through the ins and outs of today’s eBook technology including hands-on time with a Barnes & Noble Nook Color, Amazon Kindle 3, Amazon Kindle Fire, and Apple iPad along with the OverDrive eBook lending service. By the end of this day you’ll feel more comfortable with these devices and be more confident in your ability to give your patrons the help they need. (This workshop does focus on public libraries but school and academic librarians will also benefit by attending.)

July 9, 2013  Alliance Public Library
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/calendar/eventshow.asp?ProgId=12301

July 10, 2013  Mid-Plains Community College – North Platte
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/calendar/eventshow.asp?ProgId=12308

Registration is limited to twelve attendees per workshop so please sign up soon.

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Computers in Libraries (April 8-10) Conference Discount

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Susan Knisely

The Nebraska Library Commission is offering a group discount to all Nebraska librarians who attend the Computers in Libraries 2013 conference.  This year it will be held at the Hilton Washington, Washington, D.C., from April 8-10, 2013.  Detailed information about the conference can be found on the conference web page.

The price of the conference with the discount is $299.00 for the three-day event (from April 8 – April 10). The non-discounted rate is $549, so this is a $250 savings! No discount rates are available for the pre- or post-conference seminars and workshops.

In addition, discount prices of $109 (regularly $209) on the Internet@Schools Track are also available.

To receive the discount you will need to register online and enter a promotional discount code assigned to the Nebraska Library Commission. (After successfully entering the discount code, the discounted prices should appear on the Conference Options portion of the online form.) The registration deadline is March 1, 2013. To request the discount code please contact Susan Knisely.

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Internet Librarian (Oct. 22-24) Conference Discount Available

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Susan Knisely

The Nebraska Library Commission is offering a group discount to all librarians in Nebraska who attend the 2012 Internet Librarian Conference. This year it will be held at the Monterey Conference Center in Monterey, California, on October 22-24, 2012. Detailed information about the conference can be found on the conference web page.

The price of the conference with the discount is $329 for the three-day event (October 22-24, 2012). No discount rates are available for the pre-conference seminars, workshops, or the Library Directors Digital Strategy Summit. However, discount prices of $99 are being offered on the Internet@Schools Track (Oct. 22-23, 2012).

To register for the conference, print and complete the registration form. All registrants need to do is indicate on the registration form that they are members of the Nebraska Library Commission and then mark the discount rate on their form. Mail the completed form to Diane Wotipka at the address below. Payment must accompany your registration form. Please make checks or money orders payable to Information Today, Inc. To receive the discount, your registration MUST be sent to the Nebraska Library Commission. Completed registration forms must be received by August 29, 2012.

Diane Wotipka
Nebraska Library Commission
The Atrium
1200 N St., Suite 120
Lincoln, NE 68508-2023
Phone: 402-471-4009 or 800-307-2665

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Database Trial: World Almanac Online and World Almanac for Kids Online

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Susan Knisely

Infobase Learning, in conjunction with the Nebraska Library Commission, is offering trial access to the following two K-12 school products: The World Almanac Online and The World Almanac for Kids Online.

  • World Almanac Online provides students and researchers access to authoritative, essential statistics on hundreds of topics in a searchable online format. Learn more!
  • World Almanac for Kids Online expands on the contents of the World Almanac for Kids print edition, along with other award-winning reference books from World Almanac, Chelsea House, and Facts on File. A natural complement to the curriculum, each subject area provides resources for homework, reports, and projects. Kids can explore grade-appropriate topics while developing online research skills with a trusted content source. Learn more!

 Trial URL: http://online.infobaselearning.com/Direct.aspx?aid=105792&pid=WE00

Trial Dates: February 2, 2012 through March 2, 2012

Trial Access Instructions: The trial username and password were distributed via a February 3, 2012 message to the TRIAL mailing list. Nebraska librarians who didn’t receive this information or would like to have it sent to them again may contact Susan Knisely.

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Access Video On Demand Trial

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Susan Knisely

Infobase Learning, in conjunction with the Nebraska Library Commission, is offering trial access to their public library streaming video service, Access Video On Demand, from February 2 through March 2.

Description: Access Video On Demand is a streaming video service for public libraries. It offers thousands of exclusive educational videos from top producers with unlimited, simultaneous usage, 24/7. Access Video On Demand features nine streaming collections, which can be purchased individually or as a bundle. Learn more online!

Trial URL: http://online.infobaselearning.com/Direct.aspx?aid=105791&pid=WE00

Trial Access Instructions: The trial username and password were distributed via a February 3 message to the TRIAL mailing list. Nebraska librarians who didn’t receive this information or would like to have it sent to them again may contact Susan Knisely.

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Computers in Libraries 2012 Conference Discount

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Susan Knisely

The Nebraska Library Commission is offering a group discount to all Nebraska librarians who attend the Computers in Libraries 2012 conference.  This year it will be held at the Hilton Washington, Washington, D.C., from March 21 – March 23, 2012.  Detailed information about the conference can be found on the conference web page at http://www.infotoday.com/cil2012/.

The price of the conference with the discount is $289.00 for the three-day event (from March 21 – March  23). This is more than a 50% savings off the regular price. No discount rates are available for the pre- or post-conference seminars and workshops. In addition, discount prices of $109.00 on the Internet@Schools Track are also available.

To register for the conference, print off and complete the CIL 2012 Registration Form.  (Write in the discount rate on the form.) Mail the completed form to Diane Wotipka at the address below. Payment must accompany your registration form (checks or credit cards payable to Information Today, Inc.) To receive the discount your registration MUST be sent to the Nebraska Library Commission. Completed registration forms must be received by February 3, 2012.

Mail Registrations To:

Diane Wotipka
Nebraska Library Commission
1200 N St., Suite 120
Lincoln, NE 68508-2023
Phone: 402-471-4009 or 800-307-2665

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Register Now for the Database Roadshow

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Susan Knisely

As in the past, this year’s Database Roadshow will provide Nebraska librarians and media specialists with an overview of the NebraskAccess website, as well as hands-on training on a selection of the state-funded databases available through NebraskAccess. We’ll spend time exploring Bowker’s Complete Connection readers’ advisory database (a combination of their Fiction and Non-Fiction Connection products), eLibrary, and WorldCat.org. In addition, we hope to have information to share with you about the transition of the Wilson OmniFile database to the EBSCOhost platform, which is scheduled to take place later this fall.

This workshop will run from 9:30 to 3:30. There will be a one hour break for lunch at approximately 11:30. Lunch is on your own.

Dates and Locations:

  • Kearney — October 17
  • Wayne — October 18
  • Chadron — October 25
  • Papillion — November 1
  • Lincoln — November 3

To register for any of the Database Roadshows, go to the Nebraska Library Commission’s Calendar and search on Roadshow. http://nlc.nebraska.gov/calendar.

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Films on Demand Offers Trial Access to Streaming Video Collections Aimed at Colleges

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Susan Knisely

Films Media Group is offering Nebraska libraries free trial access to their Master Academic Collection and their Master Career & Tech Ed Collection, both of which are aimed at college and university markets.

Accessed through FMG’s streaming video portal, Films On Demand, this archive currently features more than 7,900 educational video titles and 89,000 segments.

Subscription highlights include:

  • Comprehensive digital video collections aligned with your academic curriculum
  • Unrestricted, multi-steam, 24/7 access to all video content by authorized users
  • Public performance rights included
  • New digital titles are added on a monthly basis at no additional charge
  • All DVD purchases made from an active collection will receive a 50% discount
  • Collection can be authenticated to institution’s website via IP &/or Proxy
  • Title, segment and play list URL links can be posted into any course management system (i.e. Blackboard, Angel, Moodle, etc)
  • Flash videos for title & segments can be embedded into any HTML page
  • Help tutorials can be accessed on any database page

This trial is good through September 30, and the representative who set it up encouraged libraries to share the information with professors in case they’d like to try it out with their classes.

Trial URL: http://digital.films.com

Trial Access Instructions: The trial username and password were distributed via an August 17 message to the Trial mailing list. Nebraska librarians who didn’t receive this information or would like it sent to them again may contact Susan Knisely.

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Conference Discounts: WebSearch University and Internet Librarian

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Susan Knisely

Once again Information Today, Inc. has invited the Nebraska Library Commission to offer Nebraska librarians discounts on conference registration fees for their WebSearch University conference (October 3-4, 2011) in Washington, D.C. and their Internet Librarian conference (October 17-19, 2011) in Monterey, California.

In order to receive these discounted rates, registration forms and payment must be sent to the Nebraska Library Commission. The deadline for submitting WebSearch University registration forms is August 15, 2011 and the deadline for submitting Internet Librarian registration forms is August 29, 2011.

To learn more, please go to our Conference Discount page!

 

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