This grant can reimburse successful applicants for up to $500 of conference registration and related expenses, as described on our website here. More information is at that link, including a link to apply. Applications are due September 16, 2026 but apply now so you can plan accordingly.
**Only current Board Members from an accredited Nebraska Public Library can apply**
The 2026 NLA and MPLA Conference in La Vista on October 14-16 is going to be even bigger than usual. MPLA (Mountain Plains Library Association) joins NLA (Nebraska Library Association) this year, which means a regional-level conference will be right here in Nebraska! It will be 12 years before MPLA joins the NLA Conference again. Don’t miss this opportunity!
The 2026 ARSL (Association for Rural and Small Libraries) Conference in Montgomery, Alabama on September 16-19 is a great match for so many libraries in our state. This is a national conference focused on rural and small libraries, full of information designed to fit those rural and small libraries. As ARSL says, “no scaling down required” for what you will learn here.
The purpose of these grants is to assist Nebraska libraries in improving the library services provided to their communities through continuing education and training for their library trustees. Funding is provided by private funds, through the Lincoln Community Foundation.
If you have questions about the application, the requirements, or anything related to the application process, please reach out to our CE Coordinator.
Join us for a candid, practical look at what AI Literacy means in the day to day life of the average librarian on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘Libraries Building AI Literacy’, on Wednesday, July 29 at 10am CT.
Today we’re going to explore common AI Literacy frameworks and translate sometimes generic concepts into tangible planning, strategy, and library programming/ service opportunities. In practice, the massive topic of AI Literacy doesn’t have to be so intense. It can be as simple as finding a cybersecurity blog that shares how to stay safe again AI scams, then re-posting important security updates on the library blog. Or a bit more in-depth by facilitating a STEM activity with Google’s Teachable Machine.
By the end of this session you will:
Explore a range of popular AI Literacy Frameworks
Brainstorm a variety of service ideas geared towards kids, teens, parents, older adults, job seekers, and entrepreneurs
Get a handle on the role of the library in the world of AI Literacy, vs. what community partners should handle
I hope to see you all there to start taking a candid, practical look at what AI Literacy means in the day to day life of the average librarian, for multiple different skill levels and backgrounds. Even if you’re completely new to the world of AI, hopefully you will find that it doesn’t have to be all that hard.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
Aug. 12 – United for Libraries – Trustees, Advocates, Friends, and Foundations: The Voice for America’s Libraries
Aug. 19 – How to Start & Sustain a Health & Fitness Literacy Program in Your Library
Aug. 26 – Pretty Sweet Tech
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Join us to learn about Nebraska’s ‘The Festival Near You’ local programming planned for across the state on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, on Wednesday, July 22 at 10am CT.
Every year, the Library of Congress hosts the National Book Festival in Washington D.C.. The Nebraska Center for the Book selects one youth book and one adult book to represent the state at the festival, as part of the ‘Great Reads from Great Places’ programming. Nebraska’s 2026 selections are Quagmire Tiarello Couldn’t Be Better by Mylisa Larsen, and The Antidote: A Novel by Karen Russell.
This year Nebraskans will again have the opportunity to join in the fun with local programming. ‘The Festival Near You’ is a statewide initiative celebrating the 2026 National Book Festival by bringing Nebraska’s ‘Great Reads from Great Places’ books to communities, and offers Nebraskans a chance to engage with literature close to home.
Presenters: Tessa Timperley, Communications Coordinator, Nebraska Library Commission and Mylisa Larsen, Author of Quagmire Tiarello Couldn’t Be Better, 2026 Great Reads Youth Selection.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
July 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
Aug. 12 – United for Libraries – Trustees, Advocates, Friends, and Foundations: The Voice for America’s Libraries
Aug. 19 – How to Start & Sustain a Health & Fitness Literacy Program in Your Library
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Hear about a ‘Community Literacy Treasure Hunt: The Fun Way to Increase Literacy!’ on this week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, July 15 at 10am CT.
The Community Literacy Treasure Hunt started out of concern for TCAP literacy rates within the county. Getting the larger community and all the libraries involved, children no longer read books for just minutes, but for comprehension, producing book reviews shared with others at their home libraries.
Started as part of Summer Reading Program, this lightens the load on the libraries, and while it has children reading fewer books, they are spending more time with those books, reading for comprehension and understanding, often choosing books that challenge rather than provide a fast read.
Various businesses and offices participate by offering free books to the children who finish the book reviews. This is mutually beneficial for the families and the businesses, getting the whole community involved in increasing literacy rates and getting families out to the larger community they might never have been to before.
Aug. 12 – United for Libraries – Trustees, Advocates, Friends, and Foundations: The Voice for America’s Libraries
Aug. 19 – How to Start & Sustain a Health & Fitness Literacy Program in Your Library
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Learn about ‘Library Compliance with the ADA Title II Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Rule” on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, July 8 at 10am CT.
The WCAG Rule requires state and local governments to ensure that their services, programs, and activities are accessible to people with disabilities. Public libraries’ web services and mobile apps must be WCAG 2.1, Level AA compliant within three to four years of when the rule was published on April 24, 2024, depending on their service population. This program will cover what libraries need to do to achieve this compliance.
Presenter: Andrew “Sherm” Sherman, Library Technology Support Specialist, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
July 15 – Community Literacy Treasure Hunt: The Fun Way to Increase Literacy!
July 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
Aug. 12 – United for Libraries – Trustees, Advocates, Friends, and Foundations: The Voice for America’s Libraries
Aug. 19 – How to Start & Sustain a Health & Fitness Literacy Program in Your Library
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
The Nebraska Library Commission is pleased to offer a discount to all librarians in Nebraska who sign up for a Virtual Pass to attend the Internet Librarian Connect 2026 Conference.
This leading virtual conference on library technology allows librarians and information managers from all over the world an equal opportunity to be a part of an exciting conference in a time-efficient and cost-effective manner. Along with the flexibility of participating from anywhere, Internet Librarian Connect offers attendees the benefits of no travel costs, diverse content with the convenience of on-demand access, and global networking opportunities.
The Virtual Pass discounted rate is $199 (regularly $299). No discounts are available for the separately priced workshops. The Virtual Pass includes access to all keynotes and main conference sessions, networking, and the virtual exhibit hall. It also includes access to archived session recordings for viewing through December 31, 2026. (Does not include access to workshops unless purchased separately.)
This year the conference is being held virtually, from October 27-29, 2026. Detailed information about the conference can be found on the virtual event website now!
Full program details will be added to the Event Agenda in late July.
Complete the registration form, entering and applying the discount code 26NLC when prompted at checkout. Your discounted pricing should appear at this point.
Note: Your code will only work in the Single Registration option. The code isn’t needed when using the Team Registration.
Deadline: Early Bird pricing ends on September, 25, 2026.
Registration Questions:
Joan Weiss, Conference Registrar Phone: 609-654-6266 Email: jweiss@infotoday.com
Join us for a 2026 Overview and Update on Nebraska’s Open Meetings Act on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, July 1 at 10am CT.
Public library boards for communities of all sizes in Nebraska are required to follow our state’s Open Meetings Act when holding their meetings. In this session, we’ll point out some of the major points of this state law for library boards, changes for 2026, and some of the consequences of not following Open Meeting law.
Note: This topic is very Nebraska specific. If you are attending from another state some of the things we discuss may not be applicable for your library boards.
Presenters: Scott Childers, former Executive Director, Southeast Library System, Lincoln, NE; Christa Porter, Library Development Director, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
July 8 – Library Compliance with the ADA Title II Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Rule
July 15 – Community Literacy Treasure Hunt: The Fun Way to Increase Literacy!
July 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
Aug. 12 – United for Libraries – Trustees, Advocates, Friends, and Foundations: The Voice for America’s Libraries
Aug. 19 – How to Start & Sustain a Health & Fitness Literacy Program in Your Library
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Join us for some hands on historical exploration on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘Unlocking Nebraska’s Stories: Introducing the Nebraska Literary & History Escape Room Kits’, on Wednesday, June 17 at 10am CT.
This presentation will introduce librarians to a new suite of four free, ready to use escape room kits developed by the Nebraska Center for the Book and the Nebraska Library Commission, through a Teaching with Primary Sources Grant from the Library of Congress. Inspired by the One Book One Nebraska selections, each kit immerses participants in a different facet of Nebraska’s past – Willa Cather’s History, Voices of the Plains, Wartime in Nebraska, and Cold War Espionage – using puzzles grounded in authentic primary sources.
The session highlights what each kit contains, how the themes connect to Nebraska history and literature, and the ways libraries of all sizes can incorporate them into programming for youth, adults, families, and intergenerational groups. Attendees will hear directly from the three creators about setup, facilitation tips, accessibility considerations, and strategies for adapting the kits for local audiences. Participants will leave with practical ideas for hosting their own escape room programs and engaging their communities through hands on historical exploration.
Presenters: Tessa Timperley, Communications Coordinator; Miranda Shreves, Marketing and Outreach Coordinator, Talking Book and Braille Service (TBBS); Bailee Juroshek, Office Specialist, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
June 24 – Pretty Sweet Tech
July 8 – Library Compliance with the ADA Title II Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Rule
July 15 – Community Literacy Treasure Hunt: The Fun Way to Increase Literacy!
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Discover how intellectual freedom and legal principles intersect in our libraries on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘Law for Librarians’, on Wednesday, June 10 at 10am CT.
This session delves into critical topics such as censorship, privacy, collection development, professional ethics, and the First Amendment. Gain practical strategies for advocating for equitable access to information and crafting strong policies. Designed to empower school librarians, this session provides the tools to navigate legal responsibilities while championing intellectual freedom and fostering a supportive library program.
Presenter: Dr. Chris Haeffner, Director of Library Services, Lincoln (NE) Public Schools.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
June 17 – Unlocking Nebraska’s Stories: Introducing the Nebraska Literary & History Escape Room Kits
June 24 – Pretty Sweet Tech
July 8 – Library Compliance with the ADA Title II Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Rule
July 15 – Community Literacy Treasure Hunt: The Fun Way to Increase Literacy!
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Hear about the Connected America conference, which brings together the key stakeholders driving Internet connectivity across the United States, on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, June 3 at 10am CT.
The conference covered the evolving landscape of technology, regulation, and investment while showcasing the transformative social and economic benefits of enhanced connectivity for individuals, communities, businesses, and industries across the nation.
Andrew “Sherm” Sherman, NLC Library Technology Support Specialist, will share what he learned when he attended Connected America 2026, such as how enlightening it was to hear about the challenges the ISPs (Internet Service Providers) are facing as they try to provide affordable, fast, and redundant Internet connectivity to America’s rural communities. In addition, the BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, And Deployment) Program’s challenges and the impact of AI were hot topics this year.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
June 10 – Law for Librarians
June 17 – Unlocking Nebraska’s Stories: Introducing the Nebraska Literary & History Escape Room Kits
June 24 – Pretty Sweet Tech
July 8 – Library Compliance with the ADA Title II Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Rule
July 15 – Community Literacy Treasure Hunt: The Fun Way to Increase Literacy!
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Learn about ‘Preparing Tech Ready Librarians: A Statewide Initiative’ on next week’s Pretty Sweet TechNCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, May 27 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
Libraries are being challenged to take on everything from computer basics to artificial intelligence to support job seekers, entrepreneurs, parents, older adults, kids, teens, and pretty much everyone who wants to leverage technology to live a better life. Many libraries have been doing some of this work for decades but remain deeply undervalued and unappreciated in the face of rapidly changing technology. Yet we continue to seek ways to adapt and build new services to meet new community tech needs.
This session will introduce a statewide Tech Ready Librarians initiative to help libraries and community partners work together to share resources, design new services, and come together in learning communities to build better together. In this session you will:
Learn how Digital Navigator models work to leverage the power of ecosystems to fully meet rapidly changing community tech needs.
Explore the growing Tech Ready Nation platform and Resource Hub, designed to support Digital Navigators and accelerate service design.
Hear about upcoming statewide data collection and resource sharing initiatives to highlight the incredible work libraries are already doing.
It’s time for libraries to start sharing their stories, sharing resources, and working together to adapt to the changing world of technology. It may seem like a lot as first, but if we each take one a small piece of the technology puzzle and put them all in one place, eventually the big picture will be easier for everyone to put together.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
June 3 – Connected America 2026
June 10 – Law for Librarians
June 17 – Unlocking Nebraska’s Stories: Introducing the Nebraska Literary & History Escape Room Kits
June 24 – Pretty Sweet Tech
July 8 – Library Compliance with the ADA Title II Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Rule
July 15 – Community Literacy Treasure Hunt: The Fun Way to Increase Literacy!
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
The Nebraska Library Commission has purchased statewide registration! All library directors/staff, Trustees/board members, and Friends of the Library and Foundation representatives receive FREE registration and/or on-demand viewing – a value of $159 per person. Details about sessions and presenters will be announced soon, but there’s no need to wait to register to attend for free.
Registration includes live attendance and on-demand access to three full days of programming, expert speakers, microlearning sessions, and the “Virtual Gala Author Tea.” Programming runs from 10:00 am CST to approximately 3:00 pm CST daily with scheduled breaks. Registrants may participate in some or all program sessions live, and/or watch recordings on-demand. Also: receive a certificate of attendance (for individual live participation or on-demand viewing).
Sessions include:
Tuesday, July 28th – Trustee/Board Member Day
Details coming soon! Save the date, and register now.
Wednesday, July 29th – Foundations & Fundraising Day
Details coming soon! Save the date, and register now.
Thursday, July 30th – Friends of the Library Day
Details coming soon! Save the date, and register now.
Special Events:
Keynote – Speaker will be announced soon.
Past keynote speakers have included Austin Channing Brown and Eric Klinenberg.
Virtual Gala Author Tea – Authors and time will be announced soon.
Join United for Libraries for our yearly Virtual Gala Author Tea. Bring your beverage of choice and enjoy authors talking about their writing experience and latest books.
Invite your library staff and patrons! More details coming soon.
Registration Options – Choose one of the options below to register:
Hear about ‘Engaging New Voices in Advocacy: Youth, Trustees, and Everyday Patrons’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, May 20 at 10am CT.
As a member of the Illinois Library Association’s Advocacy Committee, I’ve seen how impactful it is when advocacy goes beyond directors and staff. For small libraries, advocacy can feel daunting – but it doesn’t have to be.
This session will showcase practical models for engaging youth, trustees, and patrons as your partners in advocacy. We’ll share examples of storytelling, everyday conversations, and grassroots efforts that build trust and visibility without requiring extra staff or budgets. Small libraries are uniquely positioned to connect personally with their communities – let’s harness that strength to keep our voices strong.
May 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Preparing Tech Ready Librarians: A Statewide Initiative
June 3 – Connected America 2026
June 10 – Law for Librarians
June 17 – Unlocking Nebraska’s Stories: Introducing the Nebraska Literary & History Escape Room Kits
June 24 – Pretty Sweet Tech
July 8 – Library Compliance with the ADA Title II Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Rule
July 15 – Community Literacy Treasure Hunt: The Fun Way to Increase Literacy!
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Looking for ways to go beyond traditional storytime? Check out ‘Play, Explore, Learn: Building Early Literacy Through Station-Based Programs’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, May 13 at 10am CT.
Discover how to create an interactive, play-based early literacy program built around themed learning stations that encourage exploration and engagement. This session shares how one library developed a successful station-based model that promotes early learning through activities tied to the five early literacy practices: Read, Write, Talk, Sing, and Play.
Using simple materials and creative themes, the program provides families with a flexible, hands-on experience that supports key developmental skills such as language, fine motor coordination, and social-emotional growth. Attendees will learn practical tips for setup, rotating themes, and caregiver involvement. Walk away with ideas and inspiration to make early literacy come alive in your library – one playful station at a time!
May 20 – Engaging New Voices in Advocacy: Youth, Trustees, and Everyday Patrons
May 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Preparing Tech Ready Librarians: A Statewide Initiative
June 3 – Libraries and Friends of the Library: How to Stay Friends
June 10 – Law for Librarians
June 24 – Pretty Sweet Tech
July 8 – Connected America 2026
July 15 – Community Literacy Treasure Hunt: The Fun Way to Increase Literacy!
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
‘Public Library Accreditation 2026’ workshops are now open for registration!
To register for a session, go to the Nebraska Library Commission’s Training & Events Calendar and search for ‘accreditation 2026’. All workshops will be held online only, via GoTo Webinar.
NOTE: This online workshop is being offered on several days and at varied times, to give attendees multiple opportunities to find a convenient time to attend. The same information will be provided at each workshop, so you only need to register for one session. A recorded version will be available after all of the live sessions have been held.
What is Nebraska Public Library Accreditation? What are the benefits of accreditation? How does my library become accredited? What’s a Community Needs Response Plan? Why does my library need one?
The purpose of Nebraska Public Library Accreditation is to encourage excellent library service in Nebraska communities. The guidelines used to evaluate libraries and their services are community-based, so libraries need to know their communities’ needs in order to provide appropriate library services that meet those unique needs. That’s where Community Needs Response Planning comes in!
In this workshop, Christa Porter, NLC’s Library Development Director, will guide you through Community Needs Response Planning and applying for Public Library Accreditation.
Public Library Directors, Staff, and Library Board Members are encouraged to attend.
Dates and times:
June 2 – 1:00-4:00pm Central / 12:00noon-3pm Mountain
June 9 June 16 – 9:30am-12:30pm Central / 8:30-11:30am Mountain
June 10 June 17 – 1:00-4:00pm Central / 12:00noon-3pm Mountain
June 4 June 25 – 9:30am-12:30pm Central / 8:30-11:30am Mountain
Highlights & Trends from Computers in Libraries 2026 will be shared on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, April 29 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
Computers in Libraries is the world’s leading technology and innovation conference for librarians! In this session I will cover come of the awesome ideas, tools, tips and tricks of the trade I picked up while in D.C. this year.
I hope to see you there! As a side note, if you’re looking for more emerging tech trends in the library, check out Computers in Libraries magazine.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
May 6 – The 2026 Public Library Accreditation Process
May 13 – Play, Explore, Learn: Building Early Literacy Through Station-Based Programs
May 20 – Engaging New Voices in Advocacy: Youth, Trustees, and Everyday Patrons
May 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech
June 3 – Libraries and Friends of the Library: How to Stay Friends
June 10 – Law for Librarians
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Emergencies can occur with or without warning. Prepare for the unexpected on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘Emergency Management in Libraries’ on Wednesday, April 22 at 10am CT.
Through proper planning and exercising, libraries have the potential to become more resilient when facing potential threats.
Emergencies/disasters can be either natural or man-made resulting in severe or minimal impact. Therefore, taking an all-hazards approach to emergency preparedness will help mitigate and reduce impact of these events. In addition to ensuring a state of readiness for the organization, having a well-established emergency preparedness program can ease anxieties and feelings of uncertainty for staff and patrons. If the staff is properly trained on how to respond during times of emergency they will respond appropriately and be better prepared both at work and at home. Patrons visiting the libraries will be in better hands if the staff is knowledgeable of the organization’s emergency procedures.
In this presentation, I will emphasize the importance of developing an emergency preparedness program and available resources, illustrate how to identify potential risks, and how to assess their impacts. I will also discuss various plans such as emergency operation plans and continuity of operations. We will also look at mitigation strategies to reduce future impacts and strengthen security.
April 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Computers in Libraries 2026 Highlights & Trends
May 6 – The 2026 Public Library Accreditation Process
May 13 – Play, Explore, Learn: Building Early Literacy Through Station-Based Programs
May 20 – Engaging New Voices in Advocacy: Youth, Trustees, and Everyday Patrons
May 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech
June 3 – Libraries and Friends of the Library: How to Stay Friends
June 10 – Law for Librarians
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Wouldn’t it be great if kids all over Nebraska were talking about books? Hear about the Nebraska Library Commission & the Regional Library Systems’ program where kids can all read and discuss the same book on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, April 15 at 10am CT.
Join Sally Snyder, the NLC’s Coordinator of Children and Young Adult Library Services; and Bailee Juroshek, Office Specialist, to learn all about the One Book for Nebraska Kids and Teens program.
Our 2026 titles are: One Book For Nebraska Kids – Lucky Scramble by Peter Raymundo, and One Book For Nebraska Teens – Not Nothing by Gayle Forman.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
April 22 – Emergency Management in Libraries
April 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Computers in Libraries 2026 Highlights & Trends
May 6 – The 2026 Public Library Accreditation Process
May 13 – Play, Explore, Learn: Building Early Literacy Through Station-Based Programs
May 20 – Engaging New Voices in Advocacy: Youth, Trustees, and Everyday Patrons
May 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech
June 3 – Libraries and Friends of the Library: How to Stay Friends
June 10 – Law for Librarians
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
What if small and mid-sized libraries could access powerful catalog technology without the high cost? Learn how the Pioneer Library Consortium makes that possible on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘Big Library Technology on a Small Library Budget’, on Wednesday, April 1 at 10am CT.
Pioneer brings together small and mid-sized Nebraska libraries to collaborate on a shared integrated library system using Koha and the Aspen Discovery Service.
In this session, learn how consortium membership provides cost-effective technology, shared catalog records, customizable discovery webpages, and a supportive network of fellow libraries. We will also highlight the migration experience of Columbus Public Library, which joined Pioneer in fall 2025, including practical insights from their transition.
April 8 – Programming with Purpose: Adult Programs and Community Partnerships
April 15 – One Book For Nebraska Kids & Teens 2026
April 22 – Emergency Management in Libraries
April 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
May 6 – The 2026 Public Library Accreditation Process
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Is your library ready to build or rebuild its website, but not sure where to start? Then check out next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘Getting Started with WordPress: A Guided Tour of Our New Self-Paced Course’, on Wednesday, March 25 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
Join us for a walkthrough of our new self-paced WordPress course, designed specifically for library staff with little to no web experience. We’ll explore how to use the course to guide you, step by step, through setting up your site – and share practical tips to simplify the process and help you avoid getting overwhelmed.
This course is available for free to Nebraska libraries through the NLC’s Niche Academy learning portal.
April 1 – Big Library Technology on a Small Library Budget
April 8 – Programming with Purpose: Adult Programs and Community Partnerships
April 22 – Emergency Management in Libraries
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
