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Category Archives: Programming
NCompass Live: Summer Reading Program 2026: Unearth a Story
Get ready for the 2026 Collaborative Summer Library Program, ‘Unearth a Story’, by learning about quality books for your library’s collection on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, November 19 at 10am CT.
Kids will be clamoring for both fiction and nonfiction titles as they read all about dinosaurs, archaeology, and paleontology, the topic for the 2026 Summer Reading Program.
Presenter: Sally Snyder, Coordinator of Children and Young Adult Library Services, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Nov. 26 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Internet Librarian 2025 Highlights
- Dec. 3 – Social Media Show & Tell!
- Dec. 10 – Return of the Canvaholic
- Dec. 17 – Best New Children’s Books of 2025
- Dec. 31 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- Jan. 7 , 2026 – Best New Teen Reads of 2025
- Jan. 14, 2026 – Navigating New Building Projects
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.
Posted in Books & Reading, Education & Training, Programming, Youth Services
Tagged cslpreads, NCompLive, unearthastory
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NCompass Live: There’s Always Something Happening at the Library: Becoming a Daily Destination for Your Community
‘There’s Always Something Happening at the Library’! Learn about ‘Becoming a Daily Destination for Your Community’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, November 12 at 10am CT.
In many of our communities, the library serves not only as a traditional library but also as a gathering place and community center. Our goal was to turn our library into a true destination for our patrons by building connections and increasing the fun!
Learn how our library re-energized its programming efforts in 2024, ultimately doubling the number of programs offered and increasing our total patron count by nearly 20% in one year. You will leave with practical examples of inexpensive drop-in and passive programming that can lead to more visits and turn your library into a daily destination for your community.
Presenter: Melanie Weigel, Director, Forsyth (IL) Public Library.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Nov. 19 – Summer Reading Program 2026: Unearth a Story
- Nov. 26 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Internet Librarian 2025 Highlights
- Dec. 3 – Social Media Show & Tell!
- Dec. 10 – Return of the Canvaholic
- Dec. 17 – Best New Children’s Books of 2025
- Dec. 31 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- Jan. 7 , 2026 – Best New Teen Reads of 2025
- Jan. 14, 2026 – Navigating New Building Projects
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.
Posted in Education & Training, General, Library Management, Programming
Tagged NCompLive
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NCompass Live: From Rotary to the Local Bar: Unexpected Allies in Library Outreach
Learn how smart partnerships can help you amplify your library’s mission on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘From Rotary to the Local Bar: Unexpected Allies in Library Outreach’, on Wednesday, November 5 at 10am CT.
In small and rural communities, libraries are much more than book lenders – they are lifelines for connection, education, and services. Yet with limited staffing, funding, and resources, small libraries often struggle to meet growing community needs alone.
This session explores how meaningful partnerships with schools, health providers, local businesses, and civic organizations can dramatically expand a library’s reach and impact – without overextending staff or budgets. Participants will hear real-world examples of successful collaborations: from hosting community health clinics with local providers, to co-creating arts programming with nonprofits, to launching book clubs in local bars that bring in new audiences. We’ll also highlight the power of working with Rotary Clubs and other civic groups to co-sponsor events, fundraise, and build awareness. Whether your library has one staff member or ten, smart partnerships can help you amplify your mission.
Presenter: Tara Filiatreau, Assistant Director, Nelson County Public Library, Bardstown, KY.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Nov. 12 – There’s Always Something Happening at the Library: Becoming a Daily Destination for Your Community
- Nov. 19 – Summer Reading Program 2026: Unearth a Story
- Nov. 26 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Internet Librarian 2025 Highlights
- Dec. 3 – Social Media Show & Tell!
- Dec. 17 – Best New Children’s Books of 2025
- Dec. 31 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- Jan. 7 , 2026 – Best New Teen Reads of 2025
- Jan. 14, 2026 – Navigating New Building Projects
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.
Posted in Education & Training, General, Library Management, Programming
Tagged NCompLive
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Applications Now Open for 2026-27 NEA Big Read Grants
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
Applications are now open for the 2026-27 cycle of the NEA Big Read, a national program that offers matching grants of up to $20,000 to support community-wide reading programs. This year’s NEA Big Read will center around the theme America250, honoring the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marking America’s Semiquincentennial.”The Intent to Apply deadline is January 15, 2026. Final Application due: January 29, 2026. Visit Arts Midwest’s website for complete grant guidelines and to apply.
The 24 NEA Big Read books available for programming this cycle celebrate America’s culture, history, and resilience through the eyes of its people. Using a book selection as inspiration, applicants will facilitate discussions, writing workshops, and creative programming activities that explore this theme and celebrate the unique aspects of their communities.
NEA Big Read At-A-Glance
- What is it? The NEA Big Read is a reading program that brings communities together around the central theme America250 using one of 24 available books as inspiration. It offers matching grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000.
- Who can apply? Nonprofit arts organizations, universities, libraries, service organizations, museums, school districts, and tribal governments are all encouraged to apply.
- Where? Your organization must be located and operate within the United States or the Native Nations that share this geography.
- When to apply? A mandatory Intent to Apply is due January 15, 2026, with final applications due January 29, 2026. Funded programs will take place between September 2026 and June 2027.
The NEA Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with Arts Midwest.
Posted in Books & Reading, Grants, Programming
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NCompass Live: Discovering New Grants for Your Library: Think Outside the Box
We’ll be ‘Discovering New Grants for Your Library’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, on Wednesday, October 15 at 10am CT..
Due to insufficient budgets, libraries often struggle to provide the services, materials, engaging programming, and professional development that library staff need. Luckily, there are other funding opportunities available, if you just know where to look.
You may know about many library specific grants, but libraries are also eligible for other grants that might not be so obvious. In this session, we will learn how to find grants for your library in unexpected places.
Presenter: Christa Porter, Library Development Director, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Oct. 22 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!
- Oct. 29 – Nebraska Celebration of Books 2025
- Nov. 5 – From Rotary to the Local Bar: Unexpected Allies in Library Outreach
- Nov. 12 – There’s Always Something Happening at the Library: Becoming a Daily Destination for Your Community
- Nov. 19 – Summer Reading Program 2026: Unearth a Story
- Nov. 26 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Internet Librarian 2025 Highlights
- Dec. 3 – Social Media Show & Tell!
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.
Posted in Education & Training, General, Grants, Library Management, Programming, Technology, Youth Services
Tagged NCompLive
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NCompass Live: The Do’s & Don’ts of D&D
Grab your dice and character sheet! It’s time to learn all about ‘The Do’s & Don’ts of D&D’, on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, on Wednesday, October 8 at 10am CT.
Want to know more about Dungeons & Dragons and TTRPGs in general? Want to know of ways to integrate it into your library – and other ways of playing the game? Tune in and settle down for a sesh with Liz the Librarian to learn more!
Presenter: Liz Hittle, Librarian & Dungeon Master.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Oct. 22 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!
- Oct. 29 – Nebraska Celebration of Books 2025
- Nov. 5 – From Rotary to the Local Bar: Unexpected Allies in Library Outreach
- Nov. 19 – Summer Reading Program 2026: Unearth a Story
- Nov. 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.
2026 NLC Grants are Open for Applications!
Nebraska Accredited Public Libraries and State-run Institutions! Do you have an idea for a program or project you would like to see funded? Apply for an NLC Grant!
Applications are now open for NLC Grants for 2026. Don’t let your library miss out on these opportunities!
The Nebraska Library Commission has made funding available for four grants for 2026: Continuing Education & Training, Internship, Library Improvement, and Youth Grants for Excellence.
Grant applications for these 2026 NLC grants are due November 14, 2025.
For more information about these grants, watch the recording of the NCompass Live webinar, NLC Grants for 2026.
Continuing Education & Training to assist Nebraska libraries in improving the library services provided to their communities through continuing education and training for their library personnel and supporters. Successful applications will show how the continuing education and/or training proposed will support the library’s mission. For this round of CE and training grants, applications should be for events happening before June 2026.
Internship grants work to introduce high school and college students to the varied and exciting work of Nebraska libraries. The internships are intended to function as a recruitment tool, helping the student to view the library as a viable career opportunity while providing the public library with the finances to provide stipends to the student interns.
Library Improvement grants facilitate growth and development of library programs and services in Nebraska public and institutional libraries, by supplementing local funding with state funds designated for these purposes.
Youth Grants for Excellence are available specifically for innovative projects for children and young adults in your community. The program encourages creative thinking, risk-taking, and new approaches to enable youth librarians to begin needed programs and try projects which they have been unable to undertake, and to offer an opportunity to expand youth service capabilities in new and different directions.
Apply now for the Final Round of ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities Grant: Accessible Small and Rural Communities
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
The American Library Association invites applications from small and rural libraries for the final application period of the Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant.
Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities is offering grants ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 to small and rural libraries to increase the accessibility of facilities, services, and programs to better serve people with disabilities.Applications will be accepted through December 11, 2025 at ala.org/LTCAccess.
The opportunity is open to any type of library in the U.S. and U.S. territories that serves a small and rural community – to be eligible, a library must have a legal service area population of 25,000 or less and be located at least five miles from an urbanized area (town/city with a population of 25,000 or greater).
Participating libraries will first conduct community input-gathering sessions to assure that their work aligns with local needs. Libraries will be required to identify the primary audience they are hoping to reach (e.g., homebound seniors, children with autism, Deaf community members) and facilitate a community conversation with the impacted populations in order to guide improvement of the library’s services. Grantees would then use the funds to create services or improve their facilities based on the needs identified by their audience.
Selected libraries will receive $10,000 or $20,000 to support costs related to their community engagement project; virtual training to assist project directors in developing their community engagement, facilitation, and disability service skills; a suite of online resources developed to support local programs; and technical and project support from the ALA Public Programs Office throughout the grant term.
For a review of the LTC Access initiative and application process, register for the Pre-Application Webinar on October 1, 2025, and take a look at the Reviewer Rubric that will be used to evaluate your application.
Questions? Contact the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office staff at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 5045, or publicprograms@ala.org
Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities is part of ALA’s longtime commitment to preparing library workers for the expanding role of libraries. The initiative is offered in partnership with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL).
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Call for Speakers: Big Talk From Small Libraries 2026

The Call for Speakers for Big Talk From Small Libraries 2026 is now open!
Submit your proposal by Friday, December 12, 2025.
This free one-day online conference is tailored for staff from small libraries; the smaller the better!
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 four 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!
Speakers must be from small libraries or directly partnered with a small library and submitting a proposal to co-present with the library. Speakers from libraries serving fewer than 10,000 people will be preferred, but presentations from libraries with larger service populations will be considered.
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2026 will be held on Friday, February 27, 2026 between 8:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (CT) via the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Speakers will present their programs from their own desktops. The schedule will accommodate speakers’ time-zones.
This conference is sponsored by the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) and the Nebraska Library Commission.
Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash
Books Unbanned Programming Funding Available
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
Books Unbanned is offering funding to libraries in the United States to launch programming for teens and young adults focused on the freedom to read.Selected libraries will receive up to $10,000 to develop teen and young adult programming focused on the freedom to read. BPL’s Books Unbanned team will work closely with awardees to develop educational programming that provides teens with the knowledge and skills to fight back against censorship in their communities and beyond.
Proposals are open to all types and sizes of libraries within the United States. In awarding funds, BPL will pay particular attention to libraries serving small and rural communities, and/or communities facing significant challenges with book censorship. The final selection of partners will be based on community need, programming goals and opportunities for teen engagement.
Applications are open through July 18, 2025.
Learn more and apply on the Books Unbanned Funding webpage.
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) founded Books Unbanned in 2022 to provide teens nationwide with unrestricted access to our entire digital collection, to support their right to read what they like, and to build a network of advocates nationwide to defend and expand the freedom to read.
NCompass Live: Creative Aging Outreach Opportunities for Libraries
Learn how to host a Creative Aging Arts Program for older adults at your public library, with grants available from the Nebraska Arts Council, on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, on Wednesday, July 2 at 10am CT.
Join us to learn about the Creative Aging Arts Program (CAAP), a program of the Nebraska Arts Council (NAC). Thanks to special funding for CAAP in libraries, grants are available for artist-led workshops during fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026). These grants support sequential, interactive workshops that are led by NAC Roster teaching artists who’ve completed training to engage older adults.
Join NAC Program Specialist Anne Alston and NAC Program Coordinator Joshua Brown, as well as the Louisville Library Director, Michelle Daniels, who will share her experience with CAAP at her library. During this webinar, you will:
- Hear about how CAAP can help libraries address community outreach goals.
- Learn how CAAP addresses issues of loneliness and isolation among older adults.
- Find out about the steps involved with applying for a grant, hiring an artist, and hosting a series of artist-led workshops for older adults.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- July 9 – Printing, Scanning, and Faxing at the Library
- July 30 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- Aug. 13 – Ditching 1000 Books: A New Initiative
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.
NCompass Live: Food for Thought: Addressing Food Waste, Access & Insecurity through Rural Libraries
Join us for ‘Food for Thought: Addressing Food Waste, Access & Insecurity through Rural Libraries’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, June 4 at 10am CT.
Imagine grocery shopping at a Dollar Store. That’s a reality for people living in rural food deserts. The Southern Adirondack Library System and the Comfort Food Community food pantry launched the Farm‐2‐Library initiative to reduce food waste by gleaning at local farms, distributing the produce through rural libraries where food scarcity, lack of food pantries, and transportation limit access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Since launching in 2017, we’ve shared more than 230,000 pounds of fresh produce, creating and deepening relationships with the community while fostering renewed interest in library services by previously reluctant users.
Presenters: Erica Freudenberger, Library Development Specialist, Division of Library Development, New York State Library and Jack Scott, Outreach and Technology Consultant, Southern Adirondack Library System.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- June 11 – Sparking Community Connections: Rural Public Library Partnerships
- June 18 – Outreach at Any Size
- June 25 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- July 9 – Printing, Scanning, and Faxing at the 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.
NOTE:This episode of NCompass Live will be presented online using Zoom. Login instructions will be sent to registered attendees after registration has closed. The Registration End date is listed on each session page, but usually closes on the Monday night before the date of the session.
Posted in Education & Training, General, Library Management, Pretty Sweet Tech, Programming
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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NCompass Live: Libraries in Technology Innovation Ecosystems
What is a Technology Innovation Ecosystem? And what does it have to do with libraries? Find out on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, May 28 at 10am CT.
Technology Innovation Ecosystems exist to funnel tech resources towards solving problems in existing organizations, and towards entrepreneurial ventures striving to create the solutions that do not yet exist. These ecosystems are relatively new and best practices are still taking shape. When libraries host code clubs and 3D printer trainings, we are unwittingly contributing to this evolving innovation ecosystem. However, libraries don’t always take the next step to help individuals progress and practically apply those skills. “Coding” has also come a long way since the early days of code clubs. It’s not just website development anymore.
This session will help you:
- Understand what a Technology Innovation Ecosystem is, and how they take shape.
- Track current trends in Nebraska’s Ecosystem, and nationwide.
- Brainstorm new library services to fill gaps within the Ecosystem.
The hope is that we will all start introducing technology with purpose, paired with tangible pathways to progress and practically apply skills in partnership with local businesses, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, universities, government agencies, and curious explorers within the community.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- June 4 – Food for Thought: Addressing Food Waste, Access & Insecurity through Rural Libraries
- June 11 – Sparking Community Connections: Rural Public Library Partnerships
- June 18 – Outreach at Any Size
- June 25 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- July 9 – Printing, Scanning, and Faxing at the 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.
Posted in Education & Training, General, Library Management, Pretty Sweet Tech, Programming
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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NCompass Live: Small Adjustments for Big Changes
Learn how to make ‘Small Adjustments for Big Changes’ at your library on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, May 21 at 10am CT.
Hear about the programs that have influenced one library’s community, including diversifying collections, creating spaces for different age groups, implementing food security programs, getting outside of library walls, implementing 24-hour book pickup, and offering take-home crafts, all on a small budget in a small building. You’ll look at how some of the programs were planned and work together as a team to share successful programs and identify other ways to make big changes with small adjustments.
Presenter: Brenda Hornsby Heindl, Director/Librarian, Liberty (NC) Public Library.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- May 28 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- June 4 – Food for Thought: Addressing Food Waste, Access & Insecurity through Rural Libraries
- June 11 – Sparking Community Connections: Rural Public Library Partnerships
- June 18 – Outreach at Any Size
- June 25 – 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.
Posted in Education & Training, General, Library Management, Programming, Public Relations
Tagged NCompLive
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Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund Banned Books Week Event Grants
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
Applications are open for the Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund Banned Books Week Event Grants. Each year the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) distributes $1,000 grants for organizations to support activities that raise awareness of intellectual freedom and censorship issues during the annual Banned Books Week celebration, being held this year October 5-11, 2025. Staff at all types of libraries, schools, universities, and non-profit community organizations are encouraged to apply.Applications are accepted now through April 30, 2025.
Learn more and apply on the Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund Banned Books Week Event Grants webpage.
The Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund is dedicated to continuing and promoting the remarkable legacy of Judith Krug, founding executive director of the Freedom to Read Foundation and founding director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom. For over 40 years, Judith made it her life’s work to protect the First Amendment to the US Constitution and the principles of intellectual freedom, in libraries and beyond. Judith is remembered for her fierce advocacy for the First Amendment, for the principles of freedom of access to information in the US and around the globe, and for the importance of education and its centrality to a strong democracy.
Union Pacific Foundation: 2025 Community Ties Giving Program
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries at http://nlc.nebraska.gov/grants/index.aspx
The Union Pacific Foundation’s 2025 Community Ties Giving Program provides Local Grants from $5,000 to $30,000 to local nonprofit organizations spread widely across Union Pacific’s footprint, primarily in the western and midwestern United States. A map and list of eligible communities is available on the Union Pacific website.The application deadline is May 14, 2025.
Funding is provided for direct services and efforts that build the capacity of organizations focused on the following causes: Safety, Workforce Development, Community Vitality, and Environmental Sustainability.
Libraries fall under the Community Vitality funding priority – to “Provide recreational opportunities that foster wellbeing, enrichment and/or an appreciation for our natural environment”.
Visit the Union Pacific website for the Application and grant guidelines.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries 2025 Recordings Now Available
Recordings of all Big Talk From Small Libraries 2025 sessions are now available!

You will find the recordings and presentations on the 2025 Recordings & Presentations page.
Don’t forget to complete the conference Evaluation! We’re looking for input from people who attended the live conference and watched the archived recordings.
And mark your calendars now – Big Talk From Small Libraries will be back in 2026! Next year’s conference will be on Friday, February 27, 2026!
ALA Building Library Capacity Grants
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
The American Library Association (ALA) announces the opening of the third year of the ALA Building Library Capacity Grants of $10,000 to public libraries assisting New Americans – immigrants and refugees.Applications are due by April 9, 2025. Information on the grant can be found at the Building Library Capacity Grant website.
This opportunity is for public libraries that are or will serve New Americans – immigrants and refugees. It is open to libraries already serving New Americans or those who would like to use the grant to begin serving New Americans. ALA membership is NOT required.
The grants are to bolster library operations and services including literacy and other skill development, developing collections, staffing, expanding outreach, as well as maintaining and amplifying existing service strategies or adding new ones to make an impact.
The ALA Building Library Capacity Grants are supported through a three-year grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Each year focuses on helping add capacity to different segments of the library community.
For questions, contact the American Library Association (ALA) Chapter Relations Office staff at cro@ala.org or 1-800-545-2433, ext. 3200.
NCompass Live: Family & Community Programming: Major Successes & Epic Fails
Hear about Lexington (NE) Public Library’s ‘Family & Community Programming: Major Successes & Epic Fails’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, March 12 at 10am CT.
The Lexington Public Library utilizes community partnerships and innovative ideas to reach a culturally diverse community. Family programming and community festivals are a major part of the ways in which the library serves the community.
Presenter: Jennifer Norton, Library Director, Lexington (NE) Public Library.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- March 19 – Pretty Sweet Tech – CANCELED
- March 26 – Creating Connection in Library Events
- April 2 – One Book for Nebraska Kids & Teens 2025
- April 30 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Computers in Libraries 2025 Highlights & Trends
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.
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2025 is tomorrow!
Join us tomorrow for the 2025 Big Talk From Small Libraries online conference. Registration is still open, so head over to the Registration page and sign up!
We have a full agenda for the day, with speakers from academic, K-12, and public libraries presenting on a wide variety of topics: reader’s advisory, interactive library displays, school/public library partnerships, marketing, sustainability, a Library of Things, Sensory Gardens, and much more.
And, Nebraska library staff and board members can earn 1 hour of CE Credit for each hour of the conference you attend! A special Big Talk From Small Libraries CE Report form has been made available for you to submit your C.E. credits.
This event is a great opportunity to learn about the innovative things your colleagues are doing in their small libraries. So, come join us for a day of big ideas from small libraries!



















