Category Archives: Now hiring @ your library

The Nebraska Library Commission announces today the launch of its 21st Century Librarian Scholarship program (http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/NowHiring/Scholarships.asp). Legal residents of the state of Nebraska are eligible to apply. There will be three application cycles in 2011. In the first cycle, online applications are due June 1, transcripts (as required) are due May 23, and letters of recommendation, if mailed, are due May 23. The amount of the scholarship award varies by the degree or certificate the applicant is pursuing and the applicant's course plan.

Scholarships may be used for tuition (for coursework contributing toward a certificate or degree), course-required materials, and school-assessed fees at the following levels:

Library and Information Science (LIS, formerly LTA) Professional Certificate
Associate of Arts or Science Degree in Library and Information Science (LIS, formerly LTA)
Bachelor of Arts or Science Degree with a major in Library and Information Science or Library Media
Master of Arts or Science Degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS)
Master of Arts or Science degree in Education (MEd) with a School Library Media endorsement
Graduate-level (MEd) Library Media Endorsement

Scholarship recipients will be eligible to apply for stipends for such things as laptop computers, professional association dues, and regional or national conference attendance.

This dynamic program includes enhanced learning opportunities such as the 21st Century Skills Seminar, webinars, face-to-face training, and online social networking.

The scholarships, stipends, and value-added training are offered through the Nebraska Library Commission's Cultivating Rural Librarians' 21st Century Skills program, which is funded through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. For more information, contact Kathryn Brockmeier, Grant Program Manager, by e-mail, or by phone 402-471-4002 or 800-307-2665.

Yes, there really is money out there to help library students pursue their education. The American Library Association has just announced that their most recent scholarship cycle has begun. Applications for masters-level librarian and school librarian students are being accepted through March 8, 2011. Scholarships typically range from $1,500 to $7,000. Get more information at www.ala.org/scholarships.
And, don’t forget, NLC was awarded a grant this summer from IMLS to provide scholarships to Nebraskans at the associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s levels (both MEd and MLS). Applications will be made available in early 2011. Check in with the Now Hiring @ your library^© site for updates. Other scholarship opportunities are listed at this time.

The Nebraska Library Association and Nebraska Library Commission will offer grants to accredited public libraries for student internships. This joint project, Cultivating Nebraska Librarians 2.0: Building 21st Century Skills, is funded through a partnership of Nebraska donors and foundations. These internships for youth workers are a follow-up to last year’s highly successful program, which was made possible through federal funding (that is not currently available). Internship grants introduce promising high school and college students to the varied and exciting work of Nebraska libraries. The internship functions as a recruitment tool, helping the participant view the library as a viable career opportunity.
Previous internships yielded great responses:
“The interns provided invaluable contributions to the library system this summer… In short, the interns did a full array of library work. We sincerely hope the experience was as beneficial to the interns as it was to Lincoln City Libraries and its customers.”
—Internship supervisor, letter dated September 4, 2008
“I would love to be able to have a job that benefits the community. Libraries are so necessary to the community and I would love to be a part of that!”—2008 intern
“Not just regular checking-in-and-out routine. There’s a lot going on in Outreach Department; going to county sites, cultural centers, and many other programs.”—2008 intern
“I now possess a new understanding of how challenging working in the library can be. Additionally, the work I have performed for this internship has inspired me to attend graduate school to earn a master’s degree so that I may pursue a more advanced career in the library.”
—2008 college-age intern
“I knew that librarians did many of the things I originally thought, but I have learned how much work is involved in this and how busy you can be. Our librarians do so much for our community and take on many activities and programs.”—2008 high school intern
“He (the intern) wanted to spend more time with the computers than patrons, but seemed to enjoy meeting people as he became more comfortable with his duties. He learned to prepare materials for check-out, to shelve, to work with patrons, including those attending after-school programs…I am excited about this program. I think it is a great way to get students interested in library work as a profession.”—2008 intern supervisor
Each internship grant provides a stipend of up to $1,000 for a student to work approximately 100 hours with library staff on a variety of projects and activities. Student interns provide valuable assistance with library service activities and local library programming. Library staff help introduce high school or college students to the joys of library service careers. Grant criteria and processes are currently under development.
Application forms will be available beginning May 15. For more information, see www.NowHiringAtYourLibrary.org or www.nebraskalibraries.org, or contact Mary Jo Ryan, Nebraska Library Commission Communications Coordinator, 402-471-3434 or 402-471-2665.

Nebraska Library Commission continues to offer grants to libraries for student internships. Each grant will provide a $1,000 student stipend, financing approximately one-hundred hours spent working with library staff on a variety of projects and activities. Funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services Librarians for the 21st Century initiative, the internship grants introduce promising high school and college students to the varied and exciting work of Nebraska libraries.
We are very interested in learning more about student interns in Nebraska libraries. What tasks are they assigned? How is it working for the intern, as well as for library staff and customers? If your library has received a grant and hired an intern, comment below to share your reactions.
For more information see the Internship section of the Nebraska Library Commission Now Hiring @ your library Website or contact Mary Jo Ryan, Nebraska Library Commission Communications Coordinator, 402-471-3434, 800-307-2665.

UNO/Chadron State College Cooperative Masters of Education in School Library Media.
With the local and regional shortage of endorsed school library media specialists, the time is right to embark on an exciting educational adventure.
Chadron State College and the University of Nebraska Omaha are proud to announce the new Masters In Education, School Library Media P-12 program that allows teaching professionals to get their school library media endorsement and a Masters degree in Education at the same time! If you are interested in adding a school library media endorsement required to direct a school library, this program is for you. OR If you already have your school library media endorsement but want to take some coursework to upgrade your skills and/or need a Masters degree to enhance your salary – this program is for you! The program is offered in a very accessible web-assisted program that combines online learning with limited weekend visits on the Chadron State College campus in Chadron, Nebraska in the beautiful Pine Ridge region in the Nebraska Panhandle.
For more information, see the UNO Library Science Education Website, the Chadron State College Office of Graduate Studies Website or contact Dr. R. J. (Becky) Pasco at UNO, 402-554-2119 or 1-800-858-8648, ext. 2119 or Mary Burke at Chadron State College, 1-308-432-6214 or 1-800-CHADRON.

Meet with your mentor or mentee at the NLA/NEMA conference in Kearney in October and have your travel costs reimbursed!
Nebraska Library Commission 21st Century Librarian mentors and mentees can request reimbursement for travel costs (mileage only) for face-to-face meetings. Travel can be for one-on-one consultation sessions or to meet and attend sessions together at a workshop or conference (e.g., NLA/NEMA Fall Conference, Gates Foundation Technology Training Sessions, NEBASE Annual Meeting, etc.). The purpose of the reimbursement is to support mentor-mentee relationship development and networking.
Consider attending the NLA/NEMA conference in Kearney in October to meet with your mentor or mentee and have the cost of your travel reimbursed. Find out more about the conference and register at http://www.2007nla-nema.info/.
For more information about how mentors and mentees can request reimbursement for travel, see the mentoring section/travel reimbursement page of the Now hiring @ your library Website.

Nebraska Library Assocation Louise A Nixon, Duane Munson Scholarship Winners Announced
The Nebraska Library Association (NLA) scholarship committee recently announced the recipients of the Louise A. Nixon scholarships, Marcia Dority-Baker, Karen Dalziel, Rose Fredrick and Cynthia Sellhorst.
Marcia Dority-Baker is currently employed at the UNL Schmid Law Library as the circulation supervisor and is a member of NLA. Her anticipated graduation date from UM-C with a MLS is the summer of 2008.
Karen Dalziel works as a library assistant at UNL, is a student in the MLS program at UM-C, and will graduate in December of 2008.
Rose Fredrick is a library intern at the McGoogan Library of Medicine and is attending the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. Her anticipated graduation date with a MLS is the spring of 2008.
Cynthia Sellhorst is currently the vocal and instrumental music instructor at the Doge Public Schools and is attending the University of Nebraska-Omaha pursuing her Maters of Science in Elementary Education and Library Media Endorsement. She will graduate in the spring of 2009.
The winner of the Duane Munson Scholarship is Haishu Zhu, a MLS student at UM-C. She is currently a library assistant at the Lincoln City Libraries.
More information about these NLA scholarships is available on the NLA Website