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Category Archives: Information Resources
Call for Speakers: Big Talk From Small Libraries 2018
The Call for Speakers for Big Talk From Small Libraries 2018 is now open!
This free one-day online conference is aimed at librarians from small libraries; the smaller the better! We are looking for speakers from small libraries or speakers who directly work with small libraries. Small libraries of all types – public, academic, school, museum, special, etc. – are encouraged to submit a proposal. We’re looking for seven 50-minute presentations and five 10-minute “lightning round” presentations.
Do you offer a service or program at your small library that other librarians might like to hear about? Have you implemented a new (or old) technology, hosted an event, partnered with others in your community, or just done something really cool? The Big Talk From Small Libraries online conference gives you the opportunity to share what you’ve done, while learning what your colleagues in other small libraries are doing. Here are some possible topics to get you thinking:
- Unique Libraries
- Special Collections
- New buildings
- Fundraising
- Improved Workflows
- Staff Development
- Advocacy Efforts
- Community Partnerships
- That great thing you’re doing at your library!
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2018 will be held on Friday, February 23, 2018 between 8:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (CT) via the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Speakers will be able to present their programs from their own desktops. The schedule will accommodate speakers’ time-zones.
If you are interested in presenting, please submit your proposal by Friday, January 12, 2018.
Speakers from libraries serving fewer than 10,000 people will be preferred, but presentations from libraries with larger service populations will be considered.
This conference is organized and hosted by the Nebraska Library Commission and is co-sponsored by the Association for Rural & Small Libraries.
The Public Library Survey is Now Available
The annual (2016-2017 fiscal year) IMLS public library survey (submitted via Bibliostat) is now available. The survey deadline is February 16, 2018. Completion of the survey is required for your library to receive state aid if you are accredited. If you aren’t accredited, you still have an incentive to complete the survey ($200), called Dollar$ for Data.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions throughout the process. You can always start the survey, save your submissions, and then resume at a later date. It doesn’t have to all be done at once. Tip: It’s always a good idea to click on the red “save” button in Bibliostat before clicking “next” to the next screen. Thank you in advance for your participation.
Free Webinar TODAY! Not Just Bingo: Library Services and Programs for Older Adults
Not Just Bingo: Library Services and Programs for Older Adults | Breezing Along with the RML
Today, November 15 at 10am MT/11am CT
Description: To support older adults in our community, libraries must be prepared to provide dynamic, educational and creative programming. Stacey Lewis, Manager of Adult Programming at St. Louis County Library, discusses how to tap into community resources and partnerships to provide a wide range of program opportunities, tips for developing and sustaining partnerships, and specific examples of programs and services that have worked for this large metropolitan library system.
To join the training session:
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1. Go to Go to https://nih.webex.com/nih/k2/j.php?MTID=t2d3144e085574eef9be59b62fcf1231d
2. Enter your name and email address (or registration ID).
3. Enter the session password: mcrbreezing
4. Click “Join Now”.
5. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.
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To view in other time zones or languages, please click the link
https://nih.webex.com/nih/k2/j.php?MTID=t31b699875e9f4a8498a1cce6463e9e08
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To join the session by phone only:
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To receive a call back, provide your phone number when you join the training session, or call the number below and enter the access code.
Call-in toll number (US/Canada): 1-650-479-3208
Access code: 621 206 616
Annette Parde-Maass
Education and Outreach Coordinator
National Network of Libraries of Medicine | MidContinental Region
Creighton University Health Sciences Library
AnnetteParde-Maass@creighton.edu
402.280.4156
What’s Up Doc? New State Agency Publications at the Nebraska Library Commission
New state agency publications
have been received at the Nebraska Library Commission for October 2017. Included are reports from the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts, the Nebraska Department of Labor, the Nebraska Secretary of State, and new books from the University of Nebraska Press, to name a few.
All items, except the books from the University of Nebraska Press, are available for immediate viewing and printing by clicking on the highlighted .pdf link above, or directly in the .pdf below.
The Nebraska Legislature created the Nebraska Publications Clearinghouse in 1972, a service of the Nebraska Library Commission. Its purpose is to collect, preserve, and provide access to all public information published by Nebraska state agencies. By law (State Statutes 51-411 to 51-413) all Nebraska state agencies are required to submit their published documents to the Clearinghouse. For more information, visit the Nebraska Publications Clearinghouse page, or contact Mary Sauers, Government Information Services Librarian, or Bonnie Henzel, State Documents Staff Assistant.
Friday Reads: Figures in Silk, by Vanora Bennett
Figures in Silk, by Vanora Bennett, once again falls into my favorite genre to read: historical fiction. It is a glimpse into early Tudor history: not into life at court itself, but rather into the way that the political machinations affected and disrupted the lives of London’s ordinary citizens and particularly its powerful merchants.
The year is 1471. Edward IV, who won the throne with the help of his brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, is restoring law and order after the long years of war during the War of the Roses. Under Edward IV, life in England begins to improve. Business is booming once more and the printing and silk industries prosper in London.
When silk merchant John Lambert marries off his two beautiful daughters, their fortunes are forever changed. Elder daughter Jane Shore begins a notorious liaison with the king while industrious and clever Isabel finds herself married into the house of Claver, a wealthy silk dynasty. Fate delivers Isabel a challenge when her new husband is killed and she is forced into apprenticeship to her mother-in-law, Alice Claver.
Isabel is already an accomplished embroiderer of silk in her own right, but it is from Alice Claver that Isabel learns all there is to know about the silk trade and its’ purchase from Italy, Persia, Spain, Tunisia, and beyond. Isabel learns to make her way in this new world of silk and forges a contract with her sister’s lover, King Edward IV. This new contract allows Isabel to bring silk production to London for the first time, and to hopefully break the monopoly that Venetian silk makers have over the silk trade.
As Isabel grows in power, and her plan for a silk industry run by Englishwomen is set into motion, the political landscape shifts in dangerous ways. One sister will fall as the other rises and choices must be made that will change their lives forever.
If you enjoyed Vanora Bennett’s first novel Portrait of an Unknown Woman, you will definitely enjoy Figures in Silk!
Posted in Books & Reading, General, Information Resources, Uncategorized
Tagged Friday Reads
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What’s Up Doc? New State Agency Publications at the Nebraska Library Commission
New state agency publications have been received at the Nebraska Library Commission for September 2017. Included are reports from the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the Nebraska Secretary of State, and new books from the University of Nebraska Press, to name a few.
All items, except the books from the University of Nebraska Press, are available for immediate viewing and printing by clicking on the highlighted .pdf link above, or directly in the .pdf below.
Free Webinar! Back to School: School Library Legislation in the Statehouses
Fewer than half of all states currently require a school librarian in their public schools. In recent years, however, legislation has been introduced in several additional states. Who is leading these efforts and what insights can they share with the rest of us? We will hear from three states and follow their presentations with a facilitated discussion for participants. The representatives from the three states are:
Debra Kachel, Legislative Liaison, Pennsylvania School Librarians Association
James Keehbler, Former President, New Jersey Library Association
Mernie Maestas, President, Missouri Association of School Librarians
When: Wednesday, September 27, 2017, 2:00:00 PM CDT – 3:00:00 PM CDT
Attendance during the live webinar is free and open to all. A seat in the webinar is reserved for the first 100 logins.
All registrants will receive a link to the recorded webinar if it fills to capacity.
The link to the recording will be available at http://www.ala.org/advocacy/chapter-advocacy-exchange
This webinar is brought to you by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), the Chapter Relations Office (CRO), and the Office for Library Advocacy (OLA) as part of our State Ecosystems initiative to strengthen coalitions across libraries.
Free Nebraska Statehood 150 Videos!
Did you know that Nebraska Statehood 150 has a whole series of short YouTube videos, titled NOW YOU KNOW NEBRASKA!, about the history, culture, people, government, and places of Nebraska?
Click here to watch: NOW YOU KNOW NEBRASKA!
Excellent resource for learning and teaching about Nebraska History!
The first week’s videos are presented by current Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, but the rest are presented by various kids and adults. VERY informative, fun, quick facts about Nebraska!
Five videos per week, beginning with January 9th, 2017.
Free Nebraska Statehood 150 Event!
Salute to the Good Life : A Gala Tribute to Nebraska’s History, Culture and Military Personnel
Friday, September 22
4:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Centennial Mall South | Lincoln
Free Admission | Family Friendly
Festival Seating | Bring Your Own Lawn Chairs or Blankets
Food Trucks| Laser Light Show | Fireworks | Remembering our Fallen Memorial | Emceed By Broadcast House
Schedule:
Truckin’ Through Nebraska | A Mobile Children’s Museum
Open 3:00-7:00 p.m.
Food Trucks
3:00-11:00 p.m.
Nebraska National Guard Band
4:00-4:45 p.m.
Josh Hoyer
5:00-6:00 p.m.
The Back 40
6:15-7:30 p.m.
Kris Lager Band
7:45-8:45 p.m.
Laser Light Show
8:45-9:05 p.m.
Kris Lager Band
9:10-10:10 p.m.
Fireworks Finale
10:10-10:30 p.m.
NCompass Live: Empowering Immigrant Community Members Through Education & Information
Join us for the next NCompass Live, ‘Empowering Immigrant Community Members Through Education & Information’, on Wednesday, September 20, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.
Libraries in the United States have a long history of providing resources and educational programming to immigrants. Today, this role is especially relevant with the increasing immigrant population in addition to increasing uncertainty regarding the new administration’s policies on immigration. Libraries have a unique opportunity and responsibility to not only welcome our immigrant community members, but also to provide information and educational opportunities to protect and empower our immigrant friends, neighbors, and patrons.
Presenter: Mindy Rush Chipman, Senior Managing Attorney, Justice For Our Neighbors-Nebraska.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Sept. 27 – Weeding Your Library Collection
- Oct. 11 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – Enjoy the 2017 NLA/NSLA Annual Conference! Check out the full program and register.
- Oct. 18 – ALA Book Club Central
- Oct. 25 – Google Forms for Your Library
- Nov. 8 – Using YA Literature to Inspire Teen Girls’ Interests in STEM
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.
The Undivided Back
When looking at old postcards in Nebraska Memories have you noticed that some of them have writing on the front of the card or that there is a lot of white space around the picture on the postcard? This may be because in the early days people were not allowed to write a message on the back of the postcard next to the address.
The Smithsonian Institution provides a nice history of postcards starting in 1861 when the US Congress passed an act that allowed privately printed cards to be sent in the mail.
Later legislation passed in 1873 allowed the government to produce postcards with a message on one side and an address on the other side. These government postcards could be mailed for 1¢ however privately created postcards cost 2¢ to mail. In 1898 the prices were changeed so all postcards required just a 1¢ stamp. Other laws were enacted between 1898 and 1906 that changed the requirements on what information must be printed on the back of a postcard however; people were still not allowed to write a message on the back of the card next to the address.
Americans were finally allowed to write on the backside of the postcards in 1907. According to the 1906 Post-Office Department Annual Reports for the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 1906, this change came about after the meeting of the Universal Postal Union that took place in Rome. After a bit of research, I learned that Universal Postal Union (UPU) is the international organization that sets the rules for international mail exchange. The UPU was established in 1874.
The change to allow writing on both sides of the card came about because of public request. Folks did not want to write a message on or next to the images on the front side of the cards. European countries were the first to make this change. Starting on October 31, 1906 the US Post Office started allowing postcards mailed from foreign countries to be delivered in the US with writing on the back. On March 1, 1907, the US Post Office allowed postcards mailed domestically to have written messages on the left side of the card next to the address. If you read the original text in the 1906 US Post Office report, you will see that they refer to the side of the postcard that contains the address to be the front of the postcard.
This period between 1901 and 1907, when folks were not allowed to write on the back of the postcard has become known as the Undivided Back Period. All of the postcards included in this post are from Nebraska Memories and examples from the Undivided Back Period. Looking at the back of these postcards, you will see that all of them contain a printed message that makes it clear that the only thing that can be put on the back of the postcard is the address.
Visit Nebraska Memories to search for or browse through many more historical images digitized from photographs, negatives, postcards, maps, lantern slides, books and other materials.
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. Nebraska Memories 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, contact Devra Dragos, Technology & Access Services Director.
Free Webinar! Beyond Books: Public Libraries Address the Social Determinants of Health
Beyond Books: Public libraries address the social determinants of health Breezing Along with the RML from NNLM MCR
September 20, 2017 10am MT/11am CT
Join Anna Morgan from the Healthy Library Initiative as she discusses public libraries, their influence on social determinants of health, and their importance for community well-being. The Healthy Library Initiative has worked with Philadelphia area public libraries in identifying how the libraries address social determinants of health and how they can build on those programs. To read more about Healthy Library Initiative and what they do, visit http://www.healthylibrary.org/.
Presenter
Anna Uma Morgan, MD, MSc, MSHP is a general internist and recently completed the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Morgan’s work is focused on community-based interventions for addressing the social determinants of health. As a clinical scholar, she worked primarily with the Healthy Library Initiative, a partnership between Penn and the Free Library of Philadelphia aimed at harnessing the power of public libraries to improve population health. She continues to practice primary care in underserved populations.
Questions? Contact:
Annette Parde-Maass
Education and Outreach Coordinator
National Network of Libraries of Medicine | MidContinental Region
Creighton University Health Sciences Library
AnnetteParde-Maass@creighton.edu
402.280.4156
Free Webinar! Libraries Transform: Health Literacy Toolkit
Libraries Transform: Health Literacy Toolkit
Date: September 14, 2017
Time: 12-1pm MT/1-2pm CT
Description: October is Health Literacy Month. The American Library Association (ALA) and the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) have created a Health Literacy Month toolkit for the Libraries Transform campaign. Join Amanda J. Wilson (NNLM) and Jeff Julian (ALA) as they discuss NNLM’s mission to support health literacy efforts in libraries and explain how to use the key messages, data, and marketing materials to promote health literacy at your library.
1 MLA CE is offered for this session
Annette Parde-Maass
Education and Outreach Coordinator
National Network of Libraries of Medicine | MidContinental Region
Creighton University Health Sciences Library
AnnetteParde-Maass@creighton.edu
402.280.4156
What’s Up Doc? New State Agency Publications at the Nebraska Library Commission
New state agency publications have been received at the Nebraska Library Commission for July 2017. Included are reports from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, the Nebraska State Board of Health, the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles, and new books from the University of Nebraska Press, to name a few.
All items, except the books from the University of Nebraska Press, and the Local Emergency Operations Plans, are available for immediate viewing and printing by clicking on the highlighted .pdf link.
2017 Solar Eclipse–One Week From Today!
The solar event of the century is only a little over 6 days away–the 2017 Total Eclipse!
Just as a last blog post about the Eclipse before the big day, I wanted to point out an awesome video that I came across this past weekend.
One of the best, because it’s Nebraska specific, is the “movie trailer” below, produced by the Hyde Memorial Observatory in Lincoln:
So enjoy, have fun, and be safe!
New Public Library Toolkit for Consumer Health Information Resources
The McGoogan Library of Medicine at University of Nebraska Medical Center has created a new Public Library Toolkit to support Nebraska public librarians in delivering consumer health information to their communities. The toolkit provides links to training resources for librarians, and state and local health statistics to help with program planning. It also provides websites for consumers that cover health and wellness, finding healthcare, financial assistance, and caregiver support.
McGoogan Library has been serving the consumer health information needs of Nebraska citizens for over 30 years. The library continues to seek opportunities to support and collaborate with public libraries. If you have feedback or suggestions for the toolkit, please contact Christian Minter, Community Engagement & Health Literacy Librarian at christian.minter@unmc.edu or 402-559-7226.
What’s Up Doc? New State Agency Publications at the Nebraska Library Commission
New state agency publications have been received at the Nebraska Library Commission for July 2017. Included are reports from the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts, annual reports and information guides from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and new books from the University of Nebraska Press, to name a few.
All items, except the books from the University of Nebraska Press, are available for immediate viewing and printing by clicking on the highlighted .pdf link.
Public Library Survey Tip No. 6
Today marks the end of the Bibliostat tip series. We will focus on the federal question of capturing and reporting the number of Wi-Fi sessions your library has in the reporting period (your fiscal year). The idea behind this is that communities may lack areas providing free Wi-Fi, and the local public library often fills that gap. The difficulty lies with how to accurately capture this data, especially in smaller libraries that lack full time IT tech support. Real time technical solutions do exist, but for most these aren’t practical. Today I’ll offer you a simple potential solution to more accurately capture a representative sample of who is using your Wi-Fi. As most of you know, data for the public library survey is sometimes estimated from captured data from an “average week”. In other words, you take a representative sample during a typical time period (e.g. for the number of library visitors you count everyone during a week in the spring, summer, fall, and winter) and then you do a bit of math to get the reported annual figures.
So the question really is how you more accurately get this sample for Wi-Fi uses? And what about the kids in the parking lot that are using your Wi-Fi? Some libraries have taken to following people around to see if they have a laptop, tablet, or smartphone, and then recording that data (called an “observation estimate”), but who really wants to do that (and it might be more than a bit creepy depending on the circumstances). So here is another option. If you have an android or apple device (e.g. smartphone) capturing these representative samples just got a little easier and a little more accurate, but it does take a bit of work during your sample time period. First, you need to get an app that tells you what devices are connected to your Wi-Fi at a particular point in time. You could search the App Store (Apple) or the Play Store (Android) at length for network scanners or terms such as who is using my Wi-Fi, but I’ll give you a couple of apps that are available for free and work fairly well. These are Fing and EZ Net Scan. In no way am I endorsing these over others; these are just two examples. You should try some out and see what might fit your needs. Downloading these apps offers you the ability, when you are connected to the library Wi-Fi, to see all the other devices that are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. So ideally you would start at a particular point in time, write down the IP addresses for the connected devices, and then re-scan every so often (say every 15-30 minutes) to see if any new devices are connected, or if a device drops connections. Once you collect the data during the sample time period, you just do your math to get an annual figure. Worst case scenario is that you capture data for a typical day and then multiply by the number of days in a year you are open. Better case is that you take a sample for a defined time period, such as a typical day during each of the four seasons (spring, summer, winter, and fall). Shaka.
Posted in General, Information Resources, Library Management, Uncategorized
Tagged Bibliostat, Public library survey
1 Comment
Solar Eclipse Resources Part Three: 39 Days and Counting…
The countdown to the celestial event of the century continues…only 5 weeks, 4 days, 19 hrs, and 56 mins!
Is your library ready? In 39 days, on August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse will sweep across the United States. The sight of the fully eclipsed Sun will be visible along a 70-mile-wide path arching from Oregon to South Carolina, and Nebraska will be one of the BEST places in the country to view it! Millions of people are expected to travel to this “path of totality” to watch as the moon entirely covers the face of the Sun.
To help your library prepare for this historic event, the Nebraska Library Commission is doing a series of blog posts about resources you can access for your Eclipse programs:
Part 3: Eclipse Programming and Activity Ideas for your Library
Sorting Games: How Big? How Far? How Hot?
This NASA@ My Library Activity Guide will help library staff facilitate these sorting activities in large or small groups, with patrons from Pre-K to adult.
Using simple materials, participants explore the vast distance between the Earth and Moon and model how solar and lunar eclipses happen.
Scale Model of Sun and Earth
This is a lesson about size and scale, also called the Solar Pizza.
Make a Pinhole Viewer — Shipping Box Version
Use a long box or tube and other common materials to create a safe way to view the Sun.
Make a Pinhole Viewer — Cereal Box Version
Use a cereal box and other common materials to create a safe way to view the Sun.
Sun Cookies 
Learners will use candy pieces and a cookie to make an accurate model of the Sun that they can eat.
Guest Speaker Talks
Connect with your local college or university astronomy department, science museum or high school science or astronomy teacher to see what they’re planning for the eclipse. Ask if someone could give a public talk about the eclipse.
Besides watching the eclipse, activities might include arts and crafts, providing handouts, and having local speakers.
Have fun checking out all the resources available, and stay tuned next week for Solar Eclipse Resources Part Four!
**Note for Nebraska Libraries:
The Nebraska Library Commission has received a shipment of Eclipse viewing glasses for free distribution:
- Only libraries that are hosting Eclipse events are eligible to receive free glasses
- Libraries are welcome to request and pick up glasses directly from the Library Commission in Lincoln.
- Regional Systems will have glasses available at upcoming meetings.
- Contact Mary Jo Ryan at the Nebraska Library Commission.
Posted in Education & Training, General, Information Resources, Programming
Tagged Nebraska, public Library, Solar Eclipse, Total Eclipse 2017
2 Comments
What’s Up Doc? New State Agency Publications at the Nebraska Library Commission
New state agency publications have been received at the Nebraska Library Commission for June 2017. Included are Correctional Services reports, Economic Development reports, state Investments reports, and Workers’ Comp reports, to name a few.
