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Category Archives: Technology
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2022 Recordings Now Available
Recordings of all Big Talk From Small Libraries 2022 sessions are now available!
You will find the recordings and presentations at http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk/previous-conferences/2022-recordings-presentations/
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 2023! Next year’s conference will be on Friday, February 24, 2023!
NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech – 3D Room Design Activity with TinkerCAD & Thingiverse
If you have been looking for ways to get started with 3D Design and career exploration, this 3D Room Design Activity is for you! Learn how to use TinkerCAD & Thingiverse on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, March 30 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
This is a free set of activities I put together because I’ve been getting questions about how the metaverse is creating and changing jobs, and how kids and adults can learn these new tools. Here’s what we will talk about in this webinar:
- Introduce the VR, AR & Room Design Lesson Plan series for career exploration (adaptable for ages 12 to adult). I put it together, so it’s free!
- Demo of building a room in TinkerCAD.
- Overview of AR, VR & 3D Design tools for both classroom and everyday use for all ages.
- Overview of careers impacted and created by AR, VR & 3D Design
This activity can be adapted to ages 12 to adult to introduce new tech concepts, explore career opportunities, or brainstorm new community innovations. I hope to see you there!
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- April 6 – Expanding the Health Information Landscape In Your Public Library
- April 13 – Tweak Your Library’s Social Media
- April 20 – Starting a Board Game Club at a Small Library
- April 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech – The 40 Day Challenge Initiative
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.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Technology
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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NCompass Live: If You Build it, Will They Come? Makerspaces Work in Small, Rural Libraries
‘If You Build it, Will They Come?’ Yes! Hear how ‘Makerspaces Work in Small, Rural Libraries’ on this week’s NCompass Live webinar, on Wednesday, March 23 at 10am CT.
The Nebraska Library Commission led thirty-five small, rural libraries through a process that exposed their staff and communities to a makerspace through the Library Innovation Studios: Transforming Rural Communities Project. Makerspace equipment was installed, library staff and volunteers were trained, and soon the community was engaged in “Making.” The host libraries gained knowledge and skills and used the local interest generated to develop their own makerspaces. The panel will share their experiences related to gaining community support, drawing on new volunteers, integrating makerspace activities, and avoiding pitfalls. Although other Nebraska libraries and libraries across the country may not have access to a temporary makerspace, they can access templates and policies developed through the program to guide them through the process. If similar maker machines and kits are acquired, their trainers and makers can access the online training videos and learning modules.
Presenters: JoAnn McManus, Library Innovation Studios Project Manager, Nebraska Library Commission; Jessica Chamberlain, Library Director, Norfolk (NE) Public Library; Joy Kyhn, Library Director, Ravenna (NE) Public Library.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- March 30 – Pretty Sweet Tech – 3D Room Design Activity with TinkerCAD & Thingiverse
- April 6 – Expanding the Health Information Landscape In Your Public Library
- April 13 – Tweak Your Library’s Social Media
- April 20 – Starting a Board Game Club at a Small Library
- April 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech – The 40 Day Challenge Initiative
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.
E-rate Form 471 Deadline: Two weeks left to file for FY 2022
The deadline to submit the second form in the E-rate process, Form 471, for Funding Year 2022 is Tuesday, March 22. The application filing window for Form 471 opened on January 12.
However, we do not recommend waiting until the last day to submit your Form 471! If there are any issues that day, like the E-rate servers are slowed down because it is the last day to submit, or you can’t submit the form due to reasons on your end, such as illness, weather, power outage, etc., then you could miss the deadline and lose out on E-rate altogether. So, log into your E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) account and submit your Form 471 as soon as you are allowed!
IMPORTANT: Before you file your Form 471, check your Form 470 Receipt Notification for your Allowable Contract Date – the first date you are allowed to submit your 471. Do not submit your 471 before that date! Remember, after you submit your Form 470, you must wait 28 days to submit your Form 471. You can find your Notification within the EPC portal in your News feed.
Do you need help completing your forms? Do you have questions about E-rate? You’re in luck!
USAC has many resources on their website:
- Video Tutorials – FCC Form 471 Video Series
- Step-by-Step Applicant Process
- Form User Guides and Instructions
And more recorded webinars, demos, and training materials are available on the NLC E-rate webpage.
If you have any questions or need any assistance with your E-rate forms, please contact the State E-rate Coordinator for Public Libraries in Nebraska, Christa Porter, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2022 is tomorrow!
Small libraries! Awesome ideas! FREE!
Join us tomorrow for the 2022 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, school, and public libraries presenting on a wide variety of topics: managing staff conflicts, serving LGBTQ+ patrons and families, genrefying library collections, university research and citation support, genealogy and local history, and much more.
This event is a great opportunity to learn about the innovative things your colleagues are doing in their small libraries.
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.
So, come join us for a day of big ideas from small libraries!
NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech – WordPress Layout Templates Using Elementor
Are you looking for a quick and easy way to revamp your library website? Learn how to use ‘WordPress Layout Templates Using Elementor’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, on Wednesday, February 23 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related ‘Pretty Sweet Tech’.
There’s not always a lot of time to design web pages from scratch in WordPress. Luckily, libraries tend to use variations of the same layouts across all pages on a website. To make life easier, I made a set of templates that can be used by any library using WordPress, paired with the free Elementor plugin.
By the end of this session you will:
- Explore the website templates that are available, and when to use them.
- Access pre-formatted Digital Skills templates that can be embedded on your website.
- Learn how to quickly customize and deploy these Elementor templates on your site.
This will be a great session for anyone who is looking for a quick and easy way to revamp their library website. I hope to see you there!
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- March 16 – Can you see me? Collection Development for Marginalized Communities
- March 23 – If You Build it, Will They Come? Makerspaces Work in Small, Rural Libraries
- April 13 – Tweak Your Library’s Social Media
- April 20 – Starting a Board Game Club at a Small 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.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Technology
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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Only One Week Until Big Talk From Small Libraries 2022!
Small libraries! Awesome ideas! FREE Online Conference!
There’s only one week until Big Talk From Small Libraries 2022!
Check out the full schedule and register to join us next Friday, February 25.
Sponsored by the Nebraska Library Commission and the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL), this free one-day online conference is aimed at librarians from small libraries; the smaller the better! Each of our speakers is from a small library serving fewer than 10,000 people, and they are from academic, K-12, and public libraries. This event is a great opportunity to learn about the innovative things your colleagues are doing in their small libraries.
Everyone is welcome to register and attend, regardless of how big or small your library. But, if your library serves a few hundred to a few thousand people, this is the day for you!
Posted in Education & Training, Library Management, Programming, Public Relations, Technology, Youth Services
Tagged BTSL2022
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E-rate: Form 470 Deadline is February 22
Less than one week left to file for 2022!
Next Tuesday, February 22 is the deadline to submit the first form in the E-rate process, Form 470, for the upcoming 2022 Funding Year.
The Filing Window for submitting the second form in the process, Form 471, opened on January 12, and will close on Tuesday, March 22. This makes February 22 the deadline to post your Form 470 to the USAC website, meet the 28-day posting requirement for the competitive bidding process, and submit a Form 471 by the filing window closing date.
However, we do not recommend waiting until the last day to submit your Form 470! If there are any issues that day, like the E-rate servers are slowed down because it is the last day to submit, or you can’t submit the form due to reasons on your end, such as illness, weather, power outage, etc., then you would miss the deadline and lose out on E-rate altogether.
So, get your E-rate process started and submit your Form 470 as soon as possible!
Not sure if you’ve done your 470 yet? No problem! You can look up your E-rate forms to check their status in your E-rate EPC account, to be sure that you have submitted and certified them:
When you are logged into your EPC account, and you are on your Landing Page, scroll all the way to the bottom – under ‘FCC Forms and Post-Commitment Requests’ you can look up your FCC Forms. The Form Type will default to the 470. Choose the Funding Year – 2022. When the results come up, your forms will be listed below the search boxes. If the Status is ‘Certified’ or ‘Committed’, then the Form and the Certification has been received by USAC. If it says ‘Incomplete’ or there are no results, then you still need to submit your 470.
Do you need help completing your forms? Do you have questions about E-rate? You’re in luck!
USAC has many resources on their website:
And more recorded webinars, demos, and training materials are available on the NLC E-rate webpage.
If you have any questions or need any assistance with your E-rate forms, please contact Christa Porter, Nebraska’s State E-rate Coordinator for Public Libraries, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.
Computers in Libraries 2022 Conference (March 29–March 31) Going Virtual
The Computers in Libraries Conference, originally scheduled for March 29th through March 31st at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, in Arlington, VA, is switching to a virtual format. See their online announcement for more information.
The virtual event is scheduled for the same week that had been set aside for the in-person conference, and a Virtual Pass for March 29-31 will provide you with access to all keynotes and main conference sessions, networking, and the virtual exhibit hall. It also includes access to archived session recordings for viewing through June 30, 2022. (Note: This pass does not provide access to workshops.) See the Computers in Libraries Connect 2022 website for more details.
Nebraska librarians are still eligible for a discount if they sign up for a Virtual Pass to this conference using the Nebraska Library Commission discount code: NLC22. The discounted rate for a Virtual Pass is $199. This is a $100 savings off the regular $299 price.
To receive a Virtual Pass discount:
- Go to the Register page and click “Attendee.”
- Complete the form and click “Proceed to Tickets.”
- Add 1 Virtual Pass ticket and scroll to the bottom of the form.
- Type NLC22 in the Promotion Code field and click “Apply.”
- You should see a pop-up telling you the code has been successfully applied. At this point you can enter your payment information and click “Checkout.”
Note: During the Early Bird registration period all registrants will receive the $199 rate, so during this time entering the code NLC22 will just be for tracking purposes. On February 25th (at midnight ET) the Early Bird pricing will end and the regular rate will change to $299. At that time, the NLC22 group code will adjust the rate to $199 when users register and apply it.
If you have questions, please contact Susan Knisely
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2022 Big Talk From Small Libraries Schedule Now Available
The full schedule for the 2022 Big Talk From Small Libraries online conference is now available!
You will find all the details on the Schedule page. Information about our presenters is available on the Speakers page.
If you haven’t registered yet, now is the time to jump over to the Registration page and sign up!
You are welcome to watch as an individual or to host a group viewing of the conference. If several staff members from the same library want to attend, you can just register for one seat and have staff members view/listen together via one workstation.
You can also host a viewing party this same way and invite staff from other libraries. For any group viewings, if you know who will be there, you can list your Additional Attendees on your one registration or you can send us a list after the event. Be sure to take all necessary health and safety precautions into account when planning group viewings.
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2022 will be held on Friday, February 25, 2022 between 8:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (CT) via the GoToWebinar online meeting service.
Posted in Education & Training, Library Management, Programming, Technology, Youth Services
Tagged BTSL2022
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E-rate Form 471 Application Filing Window Opens Today
Get your library’s piece of the E-rate pie!
The Form 471 application filing window for Funding Year 2022 opens today at noon EST and will close on Tuesday, March 22 at 11:59 pm EDT. You may now log on to the E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and file your FCC Form 471 for FY2022.
This makes Tuesday, February 22, the deadline to post your Form 470 to the USAC website, meet the 28-day posting requirement for the competitive bidding process, and submit a Form 471 by the filing window closing date.
However, we do not recommend waiting until the last day to submit your Form 470! If there are any issues that day, like the E-rate servers are slowed down because it is the last day to submit, or you can’t submit the form due to reasons on your end, such as illness, weather, power outage, etc., then you would miss the deadline and lose out on E-rate altogether. So, get your E-rate Form 470 submitted as soon as possible!
IMPORTANT: Before you file your Form 471, check your Form 470 Receipt Notification for your Allowable Contract Date – the first date you are allowed to submit your 471. Do not submit your 471 before that date! Remember, after you submit your Form 470, you must wait 28 days to submit your Form 471. You can find your Notification within the EPC portal in your News feed.
Do you need help completing your forms? Do you have questions about E-rate? You’re in luck!
USAC has many resources on their website:
And more recorded webinars, demos, and training materials are available on the NLC E-rate webpage.
If you have any questions or need any assistance with your E-rate forms, please contact the State E-rate Coordinator for Public Libraries in Nebraska, Christa Porter, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.
Computers in Libraries 2022 Conference (March 29 – March 31) Discount
The Nebraska Library Commission is offering a group discount to all Nebraska librarians who attend the Computers in Libraries 2022 conference. This year it will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington, VA, on March 29 through March 31, 2022. Detailed information about the conference can be found on the conference web page.
This year the Gold Pass will be available for the group rate of $649 (regular rate is $899). The Full 3-day Pass will be $379 (regular rate is $599). (No discount rates are available for the preconference workshops, unless purchased as part of a Gold Pass.)
In addition, discount prices of $619 (regularly $749) on the Library Leaders Summit (includes all three days of CIL) is also available.
To receive the discount:
- Go to the Computers in Libraries 2022 Registration page: https://secure.infotoday.com/RegForms/ComputersinLibraries/
- Type priority code NLC22 in the Priority Code field at the top of the form, and click the “Activate Code” button. Discounted rates should appear on the registration form after you successfully activate the code. If you don’t see the discounted rates on the form, please contact Susan Knisely for assistance.
- Complete and submit the online form by the deadline.
Deadline: Online registrations can be made until February 25th to receive the discounted rates. Please Note: If the deadline is extended for regular registration, your deadline will also be extended. After this time, rates will go up by $20.
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E-rate Form 471 FY2022 Application Filing Window Dates Announced
Get your library’s piece of the E-rate pie!
From the USAC website:
FY2022 Application Filing Window Dates Announced
The FCC Form 471 application filing window for Funding Year 2022 will open on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at noon EST and close on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 11:59pm 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 don’t need to wait for the 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 22, 2022 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 10, 2022, 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 now unlocked and available for you to insert any further updates but will be locked again before the 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 if you have any questions or need any assistance submitting your E-rate forms.
‘E-rate: What’s New for 2022?’ Recording now available
Get your library’s piece of the E-rate pie!
The recording and presentation slides of the E-rate: What’s New for 2022? online session are now available.
What is E-rate? How can my library benefit from E-rate? How do I apply for E-rate?
E-rate is a federal program that provides discounts to schools and public libraries on the cost of their Internet Access and Connections to make these services more affordable. This includes Broadband, Fiber, and Wi-Fi Internet access as well as Internal Connections, such as wiring, routers, switches, and other network equipment.
The E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC) is your online portal for all E-rate interactions. With your organizational account you can use EPC to file forms, track your application status, communicate with USAC, and more.
In this workshop, Christa Porter, Nebraska’s State E-rate Coordinator for Public Libraries, will explain the E-rate program and show you how to access and use your account in EPC to submit your Funding Year 2022 E-rate application.
If you have any questions or need any assistance with your E-rate forms, visit the NLC E-rate webpage or please contact Christa Porter, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.
Posted in Broadband Buzz, Education & Training, Library Management, Technology
Tagged e-rate, erate
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Call for Speakers: Big Talk From Small Libraries 2022
The Call for Speakers for Big Talk From Small Libraries 2022 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 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!
Submit your proposal by Friday, January 14, 2022.
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 2022 will be held on Friday, February 25, 2022 between 8:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (CT) via the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Speakers will present their programs from their own desktops. The schedule will accommodate speakers’ time-zones.
This conference is organized and hosted by the Nebraska Library Commission and is co-sponsored by the Association for Rural & Small Libraries.
Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash
Internet Librarian (Oct. 26th-28th) 2021 Going Virtual, Discount Still Available
The 2021 Internet Librarian Conference, originally scheduled to be held on October 26th-28th in Monterey, California, is switching to a virtual format. See their online announcement for more information. While this is a disappointment for those who were planning to attend in person, it does open up opportunities for those interested in attending virtually.
The virtual event is scheduled for the same week that the in-person conference was scheduled to be held, and a Virtual Pass for October 26-28, 2021, will provide you with access to all keynotes and main conference sessions, networking, and the virtual exhibit hall. See the Internet Librarian Connect 2021 website for more details.
Nebraska librarians are also still eligible for a discount if they sign up for a Virtual Pass to this conference using the Nebraska Library Commission discount code: 21NLC. The discounted rate for a Virtual Pass is $199. This is a $100 savings of the regular $299 price.
To receive a Virtual Pass discount for Tuesday, October 26th – Thursday, October 28th, 2021:
- Go to the Register Now page and click “Attendee.”
- Complete the form and click “Proceed to Tickets.”
- Select 1 Virtual Pass ticket and scroll to the bottom of the form.
- Type 21NLC in the Promotion Code field and click “Apply.”
- You should see a pop-up telling you the code has been successfully applied. You should also see that the Virtual Pass price of $299 has been reduced to a total of $199 on your form. At this point you can enter your payment information and click “Checkout.”
If you have questions, please contact Susan Knisely.
NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech – Gadgets & Gizmos Aplenty: Makerspace Edition
Get some STEM and tech gadget recommendations on this week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘Gadgets & Gizmos Aplenty: Makerspace Edition’, on Wednesday, September 29 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related ‘Pretty Sweet Tech’.
There’s too much stuff in the world of STEM and tech gadgetry. Trying to find the right tool for the job can get confusing and downright frustrating. This session will cover a wide variety of gadget options for your makerspace or STEM activities. Recommendations will be organized by target audience: kids, teens, adults , and older adults. There’s a little something for everybody.
By the end of this session you will have:
- A healthy list of recommendations for every budget
- Tips for choosing equipment
- Tips for maintaining equipment
- Tips for training staff and patrons
If you’re a Nebraska library, I am also available for makerspace and tech gadget consultations. I like tech. It’s kind of my thing. I hope to see you there!
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- October 6 – The Queer Omaha Archives: The First Five Years
- October 13 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!
- October 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- November 3 – Letters About Literature
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.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Technology, Youth Services
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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Over $11.2 Million in First Emergency Connectivity Funding Wave Awarded to Nebraska Schools and Libraries
Congratulations to all Nebraska schools and libraries who have been funded!
If you haven’t received your ECF Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) yet, don’t panic! There are more Waves to come as USAC processes more applications.
As soon as you do receive your ECF FCDL, you should also view the e-learning modules, live trainings, recordings of past trainings and webinars, and register for USAC’s weekly office hour sessions at https://www.emergencyconnectivityfund.org/training/
To stay informed about the ECF program, sign up for the weekly ECF Newsletters, and read the previous newsletters, at https://www.emergencyconnectivityfund.org/stay-informed/
From the FCC Press Release:
Second Filing Window Set for September 28 to October 13 Providing Funding for Eligible Equipment and Services Between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022: https://www.emergencyconnectivityfund.org/
WASHINGTON, September 24, 2021—The Federal Communications Commission today announced that it is committing $1,203,107,496.88 for 3,040 schools, 260 libraries, and 24 consortia that applied for support from the $7.17 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund Program. This first wave of funding commitments will provide students, school staff and library patrons in all 50 states and Guam, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia access to the devices and broadband connectivity they need to support their off-campus education needs. The funding will support 3,081,131 devices and 774,115 broadband connections and help connect over 3.6 million students who, according to their schools, would otherwise lack devices, broadband access, or both.
Read the full press release and details about which schools and libraries will receive funding in this first Wave at:
https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-commits-over-12b-first-emergency-connectivity-funding-wave
Posted in Broadband Buzz, Grants, Technology, Youth Services
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NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech – Tech-Friendly Book Club Ideas
The best way to learn about technology is to read about it! Get some ‘Tech-Friendly Book Club Ideas’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, August 25 at 10am CT.
Even if they are not all going to make it themselves, people are infinitely curious about robots, computers, artificial intelligence, mixed reality, and all the tech that is changing the world. While libraries can’t be expected to teach all of this directly, books can help tackle the big stuff! Over the years I tracked the books I used to learn about all my favorite tech and practiced with different discussion questions and ways to talk about tech.
By the end of this session you will have:
- A list of recommended titles for book clubs & discussion
- Tech topics to tackle in book groups
- Ideas for wraparound activities
- Book groups as market research
I focus mainly on options for adults and teens in this session, but harvested some options from people who specialize in K-12 to help out the kids!
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.os Live shows:
- Sept. 1 – NLC Grants for 2022
- Sept. 8 – Manga and Graphic Novels in Your Library
- Sept. 15 – Library School Now – Library Workers Talk about Their Library Science Coursework
- Sept. 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- October 6 – The Queer Omaha Archives: The First Five Years
- October 13 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!
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.
Posted in Books & Reading, Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Technology
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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2022 ARPA Youth Grants for Excellence Now Available
The Nebraska Library Commission (NLC) is pleased to announce the availability of Youth Grants for Excellence to legally-established public libraries, tribal libraries, and institutional libraries in Nebraska, through a competitive grant process. The purpose of the Youth Grants for Excellence is to make funding available specifically for innovative projects for children and young adults in Nebraska communities.
This year’s funding is provided from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), as administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). ARPA is the result of the federal stimulus bill passed by Congress. Nebraska has received a one-time award of $2,422,166. A portion of that amount will be available via these competitive grants.
Some of the usual rules and requirements for Youth Grants for Excellence will be suspended for this year only:
- No local match is required.
- All legally established public libraries are eligible, both accredited and unaccredited, as well as tribal libraries and State run institutions.
- Libraries will be able to use the grant funds for improving their collection (buy any books you feel you need), and to purchase AWE workstations or an equivalent item, Playaway Launchpad, computers, and furniture for the children’s or teen areas.
Online applications will be accepted through 11:59 PM (CT) on October 7, 2021 and recipients will be notified of funding by October 29, 2021.
Visit the grant webpage for the full grant details and the online application form.
And to learn more, sign up for the September 1 NCompass Live webinar, NLC Grants for 2022.
