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Category Archives: General
Nebraska Library Commission Announces Public Library Accreditation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 12, 2023
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Christa Porter
402-471-3107
800-307-2665
Nebraska Library Commission Announces Public Library Accreditation
Nebraska Library Commission Library Development Director Christa Porter recently announced the accreditation of twenty-nine public libraries across Nebraska.
Porter stated, “We are dedicated to helping Nebraska libraries meet Nebraskans’ information needs, opening up the world of information for citizens of all ages. The Library Commission continues to work in partnership with Nebraska libraries and the regional library systems, using the Public Library Accreditation program to help public libraries grow and develop.”The Public Library Accreditation process was put on hiatus for two years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was re-started in 2022.
Public libraries in Nebraska are accredited for a five-year period. To learn more about this process and to see a complete list of all accredited Nebraska public libraries, go to http://nlc.nebraska.gov/LibAccred/Standings.asp.
The Nebraska Library Commission congratulates the public libraries listed below as they move forward toward the realization of this vision for the future: “All Nebraskans will have improved access to enhanced library and information services, provided and facilitated by qualified library personnel, boards, and supporters with the knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes necessary to provide excellent library and information services.”
Nebraska Public Libraries Accredited through December 31, 2027:
- Agnes Robinson Waterloo Public Library
- Bridgeport Public Library
- Cedar Rapids Public Library
- Chadron Public Library
- Chappell Memorial Library & Art Gallery
- Clay Center Public Library
- Franklin Public Library
- Fullerton Public Library
- Hebron Secrest Library
- Hoesch Memorial Public Library (Alma)
- Howells Public Library
- Kathleen Lute Public Library (Ogallala)
- Keene Memorial Library (Fremont)
- Lied Battle Creek Public Library
- Lied Pierce Public Library
- Logan County Library (Stapleton)
- Lois Johnson Memorial Library (Oakdale)
- Louisville Public Library
- Meadow Grove Public Library
- Nelson Public Library
- Osmond Public Library
- Palmyra Memorial Library
- Ravenna Public Library
- St. Paul Public Library
- Sterling Public Library
- Valley Public Library
- Verdigre Public Library
- Walthill Public Library
- Wilson Public Library (Cozad)
The Nebraska Library Commission would also like to congratulate two of these libraries on earning accreditation for the very first time. Those libraries are:
- Logan County Library (Stapleton)
- Sterling Public Library
As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, “bringing together people and information.”
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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.
Posted in General, Public Relations
Tagged Accreditation, Nebraska Libraries, Public Library Accreditation
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ARPA Report – Falls City Library & Arts Center
Falls City Library & Arts Center provided social distanced computer use to its patrons with funds granted through the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act!
The 2021 American Rescue Plan Act provided financial support so libraries could meet the needs of their communities. The grant covered cost of equipment, technology, and other materials.
The computer lab at Falls City Library & Arts Center has been closed since the beginning of the pandemic due to the computers being side by side. Patrons utilize the computers to access the internet for digital content, find resources to support educational pursuits, healthcare research, employment opportunities, and personal enjoyment. It serves the needs of individuals who do not have internet access in their home.
Money from the ARPA grant allowed Falls City Library & Arts Center to offer social distanced computer use. 14 Chromebooks were purchased so that patrons can use them anywhere in the facility.
The Library staff met their goal to provide computer access without time limits for patrons online access and no waiting for use since 2007.
Patrons have expressed their gratitude for being able to access the internet and equipment to print, fax and scan documents.
Patrons have also shown appreciation for assistance with computer needs.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is result of the federal stimulus bill passed by Congress. The Nebraska Library Commission received a one-time award of $2,422,166. A portion of this funding has been allocated for three projects: Formula based grant program, NLC Library Improvement Grants, and NLC Youth Grants for Excellence.
For more information about the 2021 American Rescue Plan, visit www.nlc.nebraska.gov/grants/arpa/index.aspx
Posted in General, Grants, Library Management, Programming, Public Relations, Technology
Tagged American Rescue Plan Act, ARPA, Grant, Library improvement
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#BookFaceFriday “The Blood of Flowers” by Anita Amirrezvani
All wrapped up in #BookFaceFriday!
Take a trip with this week’s #BookFace. We are always adding new titles to our book club kits collection, like “The Blood of Flowers: A Novel” by Anita Amirrezvani (Little, Brown and Company, 2007), its ten copies are now available as an NLC Book Club Kit! If your book club enjoyed “The Henna Artist” by Alka Joshi or “Rooftops of Tehran” by Mahbod Seraji we recommend this title for you. This historical novel set in 17th-century Persia came to us via a donation from Kearney Public Library! We love that book clubs around the state regularly donate their books so that more book clubs can read them. So we want to say a big THANK YOU to all those who have sent us donations!
You can find this title and all the new books available on our Book Club Kits page; just look in the Browse Options section and select the Browse New Additions link for our latest reads. It is also available as an e-book and audiobook on Nebraska Overdrive Libraries.
“In Iranian-American Amirrezvani’s lushly orchestrated debut, a comet signals misfortune to the remote 17th-century Persian village where the nameless narrator lives modestly but happily with her parents, both of whom expect to see the 14-year-old married within the year. With journalistic clarity, Amirrezvani describes how to make a carpet knot by knot, and then sell it negotiation by negotiation, guiding readers through workshops and bazaars. Sumptuous imagery and a modern sensibility make this a winning debut.”
―Publishers Weekly
Book Club Kits Rules for Use
- These kits can be checked out by the librarians of Nebraska libraries and media centers.
- Circulation times are flexible and will be based upon availability. There is no standard check-out time for book club kits.
- Please search the collection to select items you wish to borrow and use the REQUEST THIS KIT icon to borrow items.
- Contact the Information Desk at the Library Commission if you have any questions: by phone: 800/307-2665, or by email: Information Services Team
Find this title and many more through Nebraska OverDrive! Libraries participating in the Nebraska OverDrive Libraries Group currently have access to a shared and growing collection of digital downloadable audiobooks and eBooks. 189 libraries across the state share the Nebraska OverDrive collection of 21,696 audiobooks, 35,200 eBooks, and 3,964 magazines. As an added bonus it includes 130 podcasts that are always available with simultaneous use (SU), as well as SU ebooks and audiobook titles that publishers have made available for a limited time. If you’re a part of it, let your users know about this great title, and if you’re not a member yet, find more information about participating in Nebraska Overdrive Libraries!
Love this #BookFace & reading? Check out our past #BookFaceFriday photos on the Nebraska Library Commission’s Facebook page!
Throwback Thursday: Bruno Memorial
Happy #ThrowbackThursday from Nebraska Memories!
This week, we have a 3″ x 5″ acetate negative featuring Reverend Charles Rada, John Curtis, Leslie Kastl, Anton Cuhel, and William Wima standing beside the Bruno Veteran’s Memorial in Bruno, Nebraska.
This image was created by Aubrey C. Hurlbert. It is owned by the Thorpe Opera House Foundation and published as part of the Boston Studio Collection. This collection consists of over 68,000 negatives that record life in and around David City from the 1890s to the 1970s. Harvey Boston was a professional photographer in town and owned a portrait studio business from 1893 until his death in 1927. The business was ran by his daughter and then by his son-in-law, Aubrey C. Hurlbert. The business was later sold in 1973. Negatives and ledgers describing each photograph are stored at the Hruska Memorial Public Library in David City.
See this collection and many more on the Nebraska Memories archive.
Nebraska Memories is a cooperative project to digitize Nebraska-related historical and cultural heritage materials and make them available to researchers of all ages via the Internet. The Nebraska Memories archive is brought to you by the Nebraska Library Commission. If your institution is interested in participating in Nebraska Memories, see http://nlc.nebraska.gov/nebraskamemories/participation.aspx for more information.
Friday Reads: (Another) Year in Review
As we begin the countdown to 2023, we’re looking back at all the great books our NLC staff has reviewed in 2022!
In our weekly Friday Reads blog series, a staff member at the Nebraska Library Commission posts a review of a book every Friday. Spanning all genres, from science fiction to celebrity memoirs, young adult to crime fiction, we’ve shared what we’ve read and why we’ve read it.
Former NLC staffer Laura Johnson created this series to model the idea of talking about books and to help readers get to know our staff a little better. Readers advisory and book-talking are valuable skills for librarians to develop, but they are ones that take practice. We hope that our book reviews will start a conversation about books among our readers and encourage others to share their own reviews and recommendations.
This series has been going strong for multiple years and has produced hundreds of reviews! All of these reviews are archived on the NCompass blog, or you can browse a list of reviews here.
NCompass Live: Critical Hit! Tabletop Gaming in the Library
Dungeons and Dragons and Wizards – oh my!
Join us for the first NCompass Live webinar of 2023, ‘Critical Hit! Tabletop Gaming in the Library’, on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 at 10am CT.
Tabletop Gaming such as Dungeons and Dragons have skyrocketed in popularity with the rise of realplay podcasts, game channels, books, and even TV shows. Join Cait as she discusses the how and why of implementing tabletop gaming into library programming, and how to make your next game session a critical hit!
Presenter: Caitlin Lombardo, Librarian, Bennett Martin Public Library, Lincoln (NE) City Libraries.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Jan. 11, 2023 – Best New Teen Reads of 2022
- Jan. 18, 2023 – First Amendment Audits: What You Need to Know
- Jan. 25, 2023 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Learn About TechGirlz & Inspire Girls in Your Community Today!
- Feb. 8, 2023 – Accessibility Isn’t Just for Patrons! Internal Documentation for Everyone
- Feb. 15, 2023 – Digital Libraries as Digital Third Place: Virtual Library Programming
- March 8, 2023 – Read the Rainbow: Serving the LGBTQ+ Community in Your Library
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, 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 GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Throwback Thursday: Wreck Near Granville, N.D.
It’s time for another #ThrowbackThursday from Nebraska Memories!
On March 13, 1909, a Great Northern Railway train derailment occurred outside Granville, North Dakota. As seen in this postcard, the engine with the coal car is still attached and is stopped on small bridge. It is leaning to one side while the coal car behind it leans in the opposite direction. A railroad car behind it has completely derailed and lays on its side in the snow. You can see workers standing on the tracks trying to repair the damage.
This week’s image is owned and published by History Nebraska. Check out the full collection on the Nebraska Memories archive.
Nebraska Memories is a cooperative project to digitize Nebraska-related historical and cultural heritage materials and make them available to researchers of all ages via the Internet. The Nebraska Memories archive is brought to you by the Nebraska Library Commission. If your institution is interested in participating in Nebraska Memories, see http://nlc.nebraska.gov/nebraskamemories/participation.aspx for more information.
ARPA Report – Hartington Public Library
Hartington Public Library utilized ARPA funds to make improvements to the Library!
The Hartington Public Library used funds to purchase new chairs for its public meeting room. This room is used for public meetings as well as children’s programming like StoryTime, StoryHour, afternoon movies, and regular board game club meetings. The original upholstered chairs were purchased when the new addition was built in 1997 and were showing considerable wear. The new chairs are commercial grade with chrome legs and are very durable.
The ARPA grant also provided the library with a new water fountain and water bottle station. The older water fountain overflowed and caused damage to the library’s tile floor. The new improvement helps the bathroom area become more sanitary and provides the after-school kids with a place to fill up their water bottles, as many of them stop in the library between sporting activities.
Patrons love the new upgrades and improvements made to the library!
_________________________________________________________________________________
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is result of the federal stimulus bill passed by Congress. The Nebraska Library Commission received a one-time award of $2,422,166. A portion of this funding has been allocated for three projects: Formula based grant program, NLC Library Improvement Grants, and NLC Youth Grants for Excellence.
For more information about the 2021 American Rescue Plan, visit www.nlc.nebraska.gov/grants/arpa/index.aspx
#BookFaceFriday – “The Snow Globe” by Sheila Roberts
We’re shaking things up with this week’s #BookFaceFriday!
This winter wonderland is making our holiday books feel right at home! Looking for the perfect Hallmark read, reserve a holiday title like “The Snow Globe” by Sheila Roberts (Piatkus, 2014) for your book club! Take a peek
at all of our holiday-themed book club kits today!In the collection we have 114 holiday titles, 81 of which have 4 or more copies. If a library is looking to weed some of their holiday titles – they can think of us because we’re always happy to add to this particular collection!
These titles are very popular in November and December, with some book club groups reserving their choices up to a year in advance! NLC staff keep their eyes peeled for holiday-themed books year-round in order to meet the demand come the first snowfall.
“This lighthearted and charming read will appeal to fans of Kristin Hannah’s magical, light romances and readers who enjoyed Roberts’s previous holiday offerings.”
–Library Journal (Starred Review)
This week’s #BookFace model is Kay, she’s a TBBS Readers Advisor.
Love this #BookFace & reading? Check out our past #BookFaceFriday photos on the Nebraska Library Commission’s Facebook page!
Posted in Books & Reading, General
Tagged Book Club Kits, Book Covers, bookface, bookfacefriday, books, Christmas, Holiday, Sheila Roberts, The Snow Globe
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Throwback Thursday: Snow in Peru, Nebraska
Winter is finally here and we’re celebrating the new season with this week’s #ThrowbackThursday!
This week’s throwback features an early 1900s winter scene in Peru, Nebraska. Snow covers the road and yards along the residential streets.
This image was donated by Lori Sailors. It is owned and published by the Nebraska Library Commission. This collection includes material on the history of libraries in Nebraska, mainly those built with Carnegie grants. Also included in this collection, are items from the 1930s related to the Public Library Commission bookmobile and items that showcase Nebraska’s state institutions.
Check out this collection and many more on the Nebraska Memories archive.
Nebraska Memories is a cooperative project to digitize Nebraska-related historical and cultural heritage materials and make them available to researchers of all ages via the Internet. The Nebraska Memories archive is brought to you by the Nebraska Library Commission. If your institution is interested in participating in Nebraska Memories, see http://nlc.nebraska.gov/nebraskamemories/participation.aspx for more information.
Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation
Tagged History, Library archives, Nebraska History, Nebraska Memories, Peru Nebraska, Snow, Throwback Thursday, Winter
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E-rate Form 471 FY2023 Application Filing Window Dates Announced
of the E-rate pie!
From the USAC website:
FY2023 Application Filing Window Dates Announced
The FCC Form 471 Application Filing Window for Funding Year 2023 will open on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at noon EST and close on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 11:59:59 EDT. You can read the USAC announcement for full details.
To prepare for the window opening:
- If you haven’t already done so, file your FCC Form 470 now! You do not have to wait for the Form 471 window to open.
- To file your FCC Form 470, log into the E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC). You must wait 28 days after your FCC Form 470 is posted to the USAC website before you can close your competitive bidding process, select a service provider, sign a contract (if applicable), and submit an FCC Form 471. If you issue an RFP after the FCC Form 470 is posted, you must wait 28 days from the release of the RFP to select a service provider.
- Tuesday, February 28, 2023 is the deadline to post your FCC Form 470 to the USAC website or issue an RFP and still complete all of these actions before the window closes.
- Update Your EPC Profile During the Administrative Window – Update your EPC profile by January 16, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Review your EPC profile and confirm all of your information is accurate including your organization’s name, address, and other details. Your profile is currently unlocked and available for you to insert any further updates, but will be locked again before the 471 Filing Window opens. Libraries should confirm their square footage, main branch, and public school district of the main branch information is correct and that any bookmobiles or kiosks are included.
You can find additional resources and instructions for using the EPC on the USAC website and on the NLC’s E-rate website.
Please contact Christa Porter , Nebraska State E-rate Coordinator for Public Libraries, if you have any questions or need any assistance submitting your E-rate forms.
Posted in Broadband Buzz, General, Library Management, Technology
Tagged e-rate, erate
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#BookFaceFriday “First Snow” by Bomi Park
It’s beginning to look a lot like #BookFaceFriday!
You might be dreaming of a white Christmas, but maybe not two feet worth. Even if winter weather ruins your regular trip to the library you and your kids can still enjoy new books like “First Snow” by Bomi Park (Chronicle Books, 2016). This title is available as an ebook in Nebraska OverDrive Libraries, along with many other children’s favorites. We also have a few of his titles in our book club kit collection, if your younger readers want to read them as a group.
“Toddler-PreS—The simple narrative holds readers’ interest while it moves from the familiar to the ethereal. The concise language and dreamy yet understandable images are perfect for toddlers. The artwork, in shades of black-and-white with accents of red, is reminiscent of the visuals in Akiko Miyakoshi’s Tea Party in the Woods, although Park’s images, mostly depicting nighttime scenes, are darker. VERDICT This quality picture book debut is a delight and just right to share one-on-one or in toddler storytime.”
— School Library Journal
Find this title and many more through Nebraska OverDrive. Libraries participating in the Nebraska OverDrive Libraries Group currently have access to a shared and growing collection of digital downloadable audiobooks and eBooks. 186 libraries across the state share the Nebraska OverDrive collection of 26,554 audiobooks, 32,935 eBooks, and 3,940 magazines. As an added bonus it includes 130 podcasts that are always available with simultaneous use (SU), as well as SU ebooks and audiobook titles that publishers have made available for a limited time. If you’re a part of it, let your users know about this great title, and if you’re not a member yet, find more information about participating in Nebraska Overdrive Libraries!
Love this #BookFace & reading? Check out our past #BookFaceFriday photos on the Nebraska Library Commission’s Facebook page!
Throwback Thursday: Christmas Party
We’re getting into the Christmas spirit with this week’s #ThrowbackThursday!
This week’s 3 1/2″ x 5″ black and white photograph features the Nebraska Federal Writers’ Project Christmas party from 1936, hosted at the home of Project Director Jake Gable.
This image is published and owned by the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors. This collection includes digitized items from the Rudolph Umland Papers relating to the Nebraska Federal Writers’ Project. Umland served as an editor and from 1936-1941, as Assistant State Director of the WPA’s Nebraska Federal Writers’ Project. Umland donated personal correspondence and a fifteen-volume scrapbook to the Heritage Room in 1989. This collection also includes images that were scanned from an album titled “Lincoln, Nebraska: A Photograph Album of Business Buildings.” These images date from around 1930.
Check out all the items in this collection on the Nebraska Memories archive.
Nebraska Memories is a cooperative project to digitize Nebraska-related historical and cultural heritage materials and make them available to researchers of all ages via the Internet. The Nebraska Memories archive is brought to you by the Nebraska Library Commission. If your institution is interested in participating in Nebraska Memories, see http://nlc.nebraska.gov/nebraskamemories/participation.aspx for more information.
#BookFaceFriday – “Cold” by Mariko Tamaki
This #BookFace is ice cold!
With the wintery weather all across the state, we couldn’t think of a more fitting book for this week’s #BookFaceFriday! The perfect ebook to cozy up with is “Cold: A Novel” by Mariko Tamaki (Roaring Brook Press, 2022.) A suspenseful teen read about murder in a small town, perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars or One of Us is Lying. And because this title is available as an eBook on Nebraska OverDrive Libraries you won’t even have to leave the house to check it out. Find this title and more winter reads available to Nebraska OverDrive Libraries.
“Sharp and authentic, Cold doesn’t just take its title from the chill of a wintry day but also from the cruelty and isolation of adolescence. Readers who love intense, suspenseful storytelling will devour it in one sitting.”
—BookPage
Libraries participating in the Nebraska OverDrive Libraries Group currently have access to a shared and growing collection of digital downloadable audiobooks and eBooks. 189 libraries across the state share the Nebraska OverDrive collection of 21,696 audiobooks, 35,200 eBooks, and 3,964 magazines. As an added bonus it includes 130 podcasts that are always available with simultaneous use (SU), as well as SU ebooks and audiobook titles that publishers have made available for a limited time. If you’re a part of it, let your users know about this great title, and if you’re not a member yet, find more information about participating in Nebraska Overdrive Libraries!
Love this #BookFace & reading? Check out our past #BookFaceFriday photos on the Nebraska Library Commission’s Facebook page!
Posted in Books & Reading, General
Tagged Book Covers, bookface, bookfacefriday, books, Cold: A Novel, Ebook, Mariko Tamaki, Nebraska OverDrive Libraries, OverDrive, Reading
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Friday Reads: The Personal Librarian
The Personal Librarian is a remarkable novel about J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, the Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as White in order to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation, by New York Times bestselling authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.
This book had my attention from the very first sentence, and I was so riveted that I listened to, and read, this book. The narrator of the Audible book, Robin Miles, is masterful as always. At the end of the audio book, the authors, Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, each talked about the process of researching and writing this book, and how, as a result, they became close personal friends. This is a MUST read, so here is a little more about it:
In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture in New York City society and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps create a world-class collection.
But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality. Belle’s complexion isn’t dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as White—her complexion is dark because she is African American.
The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths she must go to—for the protection of her family and her legacy—to preserve her carefully crafted White identity in the racist world in which she lives. (Audible)
Throwback Thursday: Guard Tower at Camp Atlanta
Happy #ThrowbackThursday from Nebraska Memories!
This week’s image features a wooden guard tower at Camp Atlanta. Camp Atlanta was a camp for German prisoners of war located near Holdrege, Nebraska.
This photograph is owned by the Phelps County Historical Society and is published by the Holdrege Area Public Library. Together in partnership, the Holdrege Area Public Library and the Phelps County Historical Society digitized a collection of images portraying the history of the Phelps County since the mid 1880’s.
Check out the collection on the Nebraska Memories archive.
Nebraska Memories is a cooperative project to digitize Nebraska-related historical and cultural heritage materials and make them available to researchers of all ages via the Internet. The Nebraska Memories archive is brought to you by the Nebraska Library Commission. If your institution is interested in participating in Nebraska Memories, see http://nlc.nebraska.gov/nebraskamemories/participation.aspx for more information.
Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation
Tagged Camp Atlanta, Nebraska History, Nebraska Memories, Throwback Thursday
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NCompass Live: Tips and Tricks for Fundraising a Major Construction Project During a Pandemic
Learn some ‘Tips and Tricks for Fundraising a Major Construction Project During a Pandemic’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, December 7, at 10am CT.
Expansion & update of Keene Memorial Library has been a goal since 2004. In 2018, with help from the Friends of Keene Memorial Library, the project got its start with 67% approval in a public bond vote. A historic flood in 2019 & the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 both served as major project set-backs. In Spring 2021, with renewed efforts and teamwork, the project was finally back on track. Groundbreaking became a reality in Summer 2022. All of this required incredible teamwork & the full support of our Mayor, City Council, Administration & Friends group. Come learn how we kept the project from falling off the books, wrote over a dozen successful grants, & made this project a reality.
Presenters: Laura England-Biggs, Library Director, Keene Memorial Library, Fremont, NE; Linda McClain, Library Board Liaison, Friends of Keene Memorial Library.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Dec. 21 – Summer Reading Program 2023: All Together Now
- Dec. 28 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- Jan. 4, 2023 – Critical Hit! Tabletop Gaming in the Library
- Jan. 11, 2023 – Best New Teen Reads of 2022
- Jan. 18, 2023 – First Amendment Audits: What You Need to Know
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, 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 GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
#BookFaceFriday “The Dutch House” by Ann Patchett
Strike a pose, it’s #BookFaceFriday!
This week’s #BookFace is as pretty as a picture. We wanted to highlight all the Ann Patchett works in our various collections, like “The Dutch House: A Novel” (Harper, 2019), available as an NLC Book Club Kit.
We just added a book to this kit, so we now have 13 copies available for your book club. In total, NLC has seven of Patchett’s titles in our Book Club Kit Collection. You can also find Ann Patchett’s novels through Nebraska OverDrive Libraries, we have eight titles, including copies of “Commonwealth”, “Bel Canto”, and “These Precious Days”.“Patchett is at her subtle yet shining finest in this gloriously incisive, often droll, quietly suspenseful drama of family, ambition, and home. . . . With echoes of F. Scott Fitzgerald and in sync with Alice McDermott, Patchett gracefully choreographs surprising revelations and reunions as her characters struggle with the need to be one’s true self.”
―Booklist
Book Club Kits Rules for Use
- These kits can be checked out by the librarians of Nebraska libraries and media centers.
- Circulation times are flexible and will be based upon availability. There is no standard check-out time for book club kits.
- Please search the collection to select items you wish to borrow and use the REQUEST THIS KIT icon to borrow items.
- Contact the Information Desk at the Library Commission if you have any questions: by phone: 800/307-2665, or by email: Information Services Team
Find this title and many more through Nebraska OverDrive! Libraries participating in the Nebraska OverDrive Libraries Group currently have access to a shared and growing collection of digital downloadable audiobooks and eBooks. 189 libraries across the state share the Nebraska OverDrive collection of 21,696 audiobooks, 35,200 eBooks, and 3,964 magazines. As an added bonus it includes 130 podcasts that are always available with simultaneous use (SU), as well as SU ebooks and audiobook titles that publishers have made available for a limited time. If you’re a part of it, let your users know about this great title, and if you’re not a member yet, find more information about participating in Nebraska Overdrive Libraries!
Love this #BookFace & reading? Check out our past #BookFaceFriday photos on the Nebraska Library Commission’s Facebook page!
Throwback Thursday: Omaha, December 1, 1911
This week’s #ThrowbackThursday is going back 111 years!
This black and white photograph shows a view of Omaha, Nebraska on December 1, 1911. The view is looking northwest from 5th and Jackson Street. The Omaha Foundry, located at 507 Jackson Street, can be seen at the lower right corner of the photo. The long narrow buildings oriented north and south are the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Freight Depots, office located at 815 Farnam Street. In the distance, you can see the large buildings located in downtown Omaha.
This week’s image is published and owned by Omaha Public Library. Items in this collection include early Omaha-related maps from the 1820s to the 1920s. Check out this collection on the Nebraska Memories archive.
Nebraska Memories is a cooperative project to digitize Nebraska-related historical and cultural heritage materials and make them available to researchers of all ages via the Internet. The Nebraska Memories archive is brought to you by the Nebraska Library Commission. If your institution is interested in participating in Nebraska Memories, see http://nlc.nebraska.gov/nebraskamemories/participation.aspx for more information.
#BookFaceFriday “Dear Fahrenheit 451” by Annie Spence
This week’s #BookFaceFriday is stacked!
It’s our last #BookFace for November, so we want to give one more shout-out to all the readers and writers out there participating in #NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month! This annual challenge to write 50,000 words of a novel has resulted in hundreds of thousands of new books since 1999. So we’re back with another book-loving read for #BookFaceFriday, “Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks: A Librarian’s Love Letters and Breakup Notes to the Books in Her Life” by Annie Spence (Flatiron Books, 2017). It’s available as an audiobook in the Nebraska OverDrive Libraries. Find it and other reads in the “Books for writers, would-be writers, and word lovers” curated collection for Nebraska OverDrive Libraries. Plus new titles, both nonfiction and fiction, are added daily to Nebraska Overdrive Libraries!
“The truest testament to the quality of Dear Fahrenheit 451…is that my enjoyment of it was, in the end, great enough to outweigh my fury that someone other than me had written it… She has a unique ability to capture the thoughts and feelings of book lovers, both professional and otherwise, on the page.”
―NPR
Libraries participating in the Nebraska OverDrive Libraries Group currently have access to a shared and growing collection of digital downloadable audiobooks and eBooks. 189 libraries across the state share the Nebraska OverDrive collection of 21,696 audiobooks, 35,200 eBooks, and 3,964 magazines. As an added bonus it includes 130 podcasts that are always available with simultaneous use (SU), as well as SU ebooks and audiobook titles that publishers have made available for a limited time. If you’re a part of it, let your users know about this great title, and if you’re not a member yet, find more information about participating in Nebraska Overdrive Libraries!
Love this #BookFace & reading? Check out our past #BookFaceFriday photos on the Nebraska Library Commission’s Facebook page!
