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Category Archives: Youth Services
#BookFaceFriday “Over My Dead Body” by Sweeney Boo
Creepy and cooky, mysterious and spooky, they’re all together ooky, the #BookFace family!
We’ve been at the Nebraska Library Association Conference this week connecting with Nebraska’s librarians and Library staff! Sally Snyder, NLC’s Children and Youth Services Coordinator, also had a table there full of her giveaway books, all available for libraries to take home with them. One of those books is this week’s #BookFace, “” by Sweeney Book (Candlewick Press, 2022). Aimed at readers grade 8 and up, this witchy graphic novel set at a magical school is sure to round out your YA collection of Halloween and October themed reads!
“Spooky, mysterious, and also full of heart, this graphic novel is an enchanting story of friendship and found family. An exciting fantasy full of mystery and witchcraft.”
—Kirkus Reviews
This title comes from our large collection of children’s and young adult books sent to us as review copies from book publishers. When our Children and Young Adult Library Services Coordinator, Sally Snyder, is done with them, the review copies are available for the Library System Directors to distribute to school and public libraries in their systems.
Love this #BookFace & reading? Check out our past #BookFaceFriday photos on the Nebraska Library Commission’s Facebook page!
Posted in Books & Reading, General, Youth Services
Tagged Book Covers, bookface, bookfacefriday, Fantasy, Halloween, Over My Dead Body, Reading, Sweeney Boo, YA books
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NCompass Live: Discovering New Grants for Your Library: Think Outside the Box
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.
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, Grants, Library Management, Programming, Technology, Youth Services
Tagged NCompLive
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Apply now for 2026 Science Kits for Public Libraries (SKPL) Grants
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
The Application deadline is January 15, 2026. Those libraries which have previously applied for the grant but did not receive funding are invited to submit again.
Public Libraries have a long tradition of building stronger communities by providing life-long learning opportunities for children and teens. The SKPL Team is honored to have the opportunity to enrich the services that public libraries offer. SKPL enables children, parents, and teachers the chance to borrow library kits for hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning at home or in classroom.
Visit the SKPL website, https://r4.ieee.org/skpl/ for the application form and submission details. Contact Doug DeBoer (Douglas.DeBoer@Dordt.edu) with any questions.
Region 4, Science Kits for Public Libraries (SKPL) organization is a volunteer-based organization affiliated with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). SKPL believes all children – regardless of race, gender, financial condition, or home environment – should have access to high-quality, hands-on STEM learning experiences. By making catalyst grants available to public libraries, we empower them to start their own science kit collections that are free and accessible to the public.
Posted in Grants, Technology, Youth Services
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NCompass Live: The Do’s & Don’ts of D&D
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.
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.
NCompass Live: Letters About Literature 2025
The Nebraska Center for the Book is a statewide organization dedicated to the promotion of reading in all its forms. Its annual Nebraska Letters About Literature contest allows students in 4th through 12th grade to write to authors (living or deceased) about their favorite book or poem about how his or her book affected their lives.
This session will provide helpful information for teachers and librarians interested in the competition. It will also cover the submission process and be an excellent opportunity to ask questions about the entire competition process. Teachers will be interested in this program that will help enhance and extend their classroom instruction.
Presenters: Tessa Timperley, Communications Coordinator, and Sally Snyder, Coordinator of Children and Young Adult Library Services, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Oct. 8 – The Do’s and Don’ts of D&D
- Oct. 22 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!
- Oct. 29 – Nebraska Celebration of Books 2025
- 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.
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.
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.
#BookFaceFriday “Family Ties” by Gary Paulsen
As far as anyone knows we’re one big happy #BookFace!
Snap a picture, it’s time for this week’s #BookfaceFriday, “Family Ties” by Gary Paulsen (Wendy Lamb Books, 2014). Book five in his Liar Liar series, family antics and the ties that bind are put on center stage in this quirky, funny YA read. Family Ties is available as a book club kit from the Nebraska Library Commission. You can also find the first four books in the Liar Liar series as e-books through Nebraska OverDrive Libraries: Kids & Teens. Family ties is one of thirteen titles by Gary Paulsen available to schools and public libraries as a book club kit.
This title came to us via a donation from the John A. Stahl Library in West Point! We love that book clubs around the state regularly donate their books so that more book clubs can read them. So we want to say a big THANK YOU to all those who have sent us donations!
“The fifth book (following Vote) about now fourteen-year-old Kevin Spencer is funny and off-beat. He continues to see life through his self-centered lens, but, in a bid to impress the beautiful Tina, Kevin volunteers to plan his uncle’s wedding. The plot is a bit over-the-top, but since Kevin is not an entirely reliable narrator, readers won’t expect logic.”
— School Library Journal
Book Club Kits Rules for Use
- These kits can be checked out by the librarians of Nebraska libraries and media centers.
- Circulation times are flexible and will be based upon availability. There is no standard check-out time for book club kits.
- Please search the collection to select items you wish to borrow and use the REQUEST THIS KIT icon to borrow items.
- Contact the Information Desk at the Library Commission if you have any questions: by phone: 800/307-2665, or by email: Information Services Team
Libraries participating in the Nebraska OverDrive Libraries Group currently have access to a shared and growing collection of digital downloadable audiobooks and eBooks. 194 libraries across the state share the Nebraska OverDrive collection of 26,898 audiobooks, 36,794 ebooks, and 5,133 magazines. As an added bonus it includes 130 podcasts that are always available with simultaneous use (SU), as well as SU ebooks and audiobook titles that publishers have made available for a limited time. If you’re a part of it, let your users know about this great title, and if you’re not a member yet, find more information about participating in Nebraska Overdrive Libraries!
Love this #BookFace & reading? We suggest checking out all the titles available for book clubs at http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ref/bookclub. Check out our past #BookFaceFriday photos on the Nebraska Library Commission’s Facebook page!
2026 Infinite Sums Rural & Small Libraries Cohort Grant Program
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
The Infinite Sums Rural & Small Libraries Cohort Grant Program is supported by the Simons Foundation as part of its Infinite Sums national initiative and offered in partnership with SciStarter. The Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) is proud to offer this educational training experience and financial support to small and rural libraries across the U.S.
Fifteen library workers will be selected to receive $10,000 grants to host math inspired community-wide events for patrons of all ages on Pi Day, Infinity Day, and Fibonacci Day in 2026. Cohort members will attend monthly virtual training sessions and two in-person gatherings.Apply by September 30, 2025 for a chance to receive:
- $10,000 program grant
- A year-long learning cohort experience
- Support for events on Pi Day (3/14), Infinity Day (8/8), and Fibonacci Day (11/23) in 2026
- Two in-person gatherings (NYC & ARSL 2026 Conference in Montgomery, AL)
Who can apply:
- Public libraries in the U.S.
- Must serve a small and/or rural community
- ARSL membership not required
Don’t miss out – submit your application today at https://www.arsl.org/infinite-sums-grant
For questions about grant eligibility, email info@arsl.org
Posted in Education & Training, Grants, Youth Services
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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
#BookFaceFriday “Flunked” by Jen Calonita
Will this #BookFaceFriday be on the test?
“Calonita blithely samples from fairy tales, nursery rhymes, and folklore in this lighthearted first book in the Fairy Tale Reform School series…. Recognizable fairy-tale characters abound (profiles of the school’s instructors, like Xavier Wolfington, the wolf from Little Red Riding Hood, appear throughout), and questions of whether goodness or badness run to the core of a person leave readers with plenty to consider.”
— Publishers Weekly
Libraries participating in the Nebraska OverDrive Libraries Group currently have access to a shared and growing collection of digital downloadable audiobooks and eBooks. 194 libraries across the state share the Nebraska OverDrive collection of 26,898 audiobooks, 36,794 ebooks, and 5,133 magazines. As an added bonus it includes 130 podcasts that are always available with simultaneous use (SU), as well as SU ebooks and audiobook titles that publishers have made available for a limited time. If you’re a part of it, let your users know about this great title, and if you’re not a member yet, find more information about participating in Nebraska Overdrive Libraries!
Love this #BookFace & reading? We suggest checking out all the titles available for book clubs at http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ref/bookclub. Check out our past #BookFaceFriday photos on the Nebraska Library Commission’s Facebook page!
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Supporting the Launch of the Presidential AI Challenge
From the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS):
Help Us Inspire the Next Generation of AI Innovators – Announcing the Presidential AI Challenge
We’re excited to share that the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is supporting the launch of the Presidential AI Challenge.
We’re reaching out to ask for your support in helping us spread the word about this incredible opportunity.
About the Challenge
The Presidential AI Challenge is a national challenge where K-12 youth, educators, mentors, and community teams come together to solve real-world problems in their communities using AI-powered solutions, with an opportunity to showcase their solutions at a national level. Students and educators of all backgrounds and expertise are encouraged to participate and ignite a new spirit of innovation as we celebrate 250 years of independence and look forward to the next 250 years.
Why It Matters
“In the coming years, artificial intelligence will revolutionize the ways that Americans work, learn, and communicate. Initiatives like the Presidential AI Challenge ensure that our young people are prepared to meet these changes” – Keith Sonderling, IMLS Acting Director.
The Presidential AI Challenge will:
- Equip youth with foundational knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in an increasingly digital society.
- Empower educators to confidently guide students through this complex and evolving field.
- Connect students and educators with AI experts from industry and government for guidance, coaching, inspiration, and collaboration.
- Provide widespread access to resources, training, and support.
How You Can Help
“Libraries are often the de facto provider of public computing resources and offer spaces to gather and prepare for rapidly shifting workforce needs. We hope community members will look for ways to get involved in the Presidential AI Challenge and consider the natural role of libraries in solving real-world problems” – Teri DeVoe, IMLS Associate Deputy Director for Libraries.
Support the challenge by:
- Sharing the Challenge with your networks—schools, youth programs, educators, parents, and community leaders.
- Encouraging local schools, afterschool and out-of-school programs, or youth-serving organizations to participate and/or support team formation.
- Promoting registration via newsletters, social media, and events.
Key Information
- Open To: Youth teams in grades K–12; each team must have a supervising adult such as a parent, mentor, educator, or community leader. Educator teams are also eligible.
- Registration Opens: September 2025
- Challenge Website: AI.GOV > Presidential AI Challenge > Read More
- View and share key details with the Challenge campaign materials.
Together, we can empower the next generation to explore AI, build innovative solutions, and shape the future.
Thank you for helping us make this vision a reality! Learn more.
Posted in Technology, Youth Services
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NCompass Live: Ditching 1000 Books: A New Initiative
Read for 20 is an innovative new reading program designed by the Ritter Public Library in Vermilion, Ohio, to push back against the intimidation factor of 1000 Books Before Kindergarten. Launched June 2024 and targeted at children birth-18, this yearlong reading program is designed to parallel the Science of Reading initiative in Ohio and gamify the experience for children and their grownups. Session attendees will learn how to implement this program including adapting the structure, incentive ideas, and where to find deals. Join this revolutionary new movement!
Presenter: Aimee Adams, Youth Services Manager, Ritter Public Library, Vermilion, OH.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Aug. 20 – Banding Together: Lessons from the MPLA Leadership Institute
- Aug. 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Upcoming Changes to Nebraska Libraries on the Web Service
- Sept. 3 – E-rate 101: Just the Basics for 2026
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.
Institute of Museum and Library Services and Second Lady Usha Vance Promote Childhood Literacy
From the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS):
IMLS supports the Second Lady’s Nationwide Summer Reading ChallengeWASHINGTON, DC— The Institute of Museum and Library Services proudly supports Second Lady Usha Vance’s nationwide Summer Reading Challenge. The challenge encourages kindergarten through eighth-grade students to continue their intellectual and personal development throughout the summer by reading at least twelve books.
To participate, students and their parents should download the Summer Reading Challenge Log, after reading twelve books over the summer. Successful participants can submit their completed logs to read@mail.whitehouse.gov by September 5th to receive a personalized certificate, a small prize, and entrance into a raffle to visit the Nation’s Capital.
“Summer reading reinforces the skills and important lessons that our students learned during the school year while addressing the summer slide, cultivating intellectual curiosity, and fostering a lifelong love of books,” said IMLS Acting Director Keith Sonderling. “The Second Lady’s Summer Reading Challenge is an excellent way to empower young people to dive into reading beyond the classroom.”
As the largest federal funder of museums and libraries, IMLS recognizes the critical role that public and school libraries play in ensuring that students have year-round access to books. For that reason, we are working with our partners in every State Library Administrative Agency to increase awareness of the Summer Reading Challenge.
“In every US state and territory, State Library Administrative Agencies partner with local libraries and community leaders to provide reading materials that support educational opportunities. By sharing the Summer Reading Challenge with their constituents, SLAAs can leverage their broad reach and ongoing alignment with literacy initiatives,” said Teri DeVoe, IMLS Associate Deputy Director.
To learn more about Second Lady Usha Vance’s Summer Reading Challenge, please visit www.imls.gov/our-work/partnerships/summer-reading-challenge.
Posted in Books & Reading, Youth Services
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#BookFaceFriday “My Ideal Boyfriend is a Croissant” by Laura Dockrill
Sink your teeth into #BookFaceFriday!
Well butter my #Bookface and call me a biscuit, because this week we’ve got something good a cooking. Just kidding, “My Ideal Boyfriend is a Croissant: A Novel“ by Laura Dockrill (Delacorte Press, 2019) isn’t a cookbook, it’s a funny teen drama centered around one sixteen year old’s relationship with food, her body, and life. It’s available as an audiobook through Nebraska OverDrive Libraries: Kids & Teens and is currently in the “Sunshine & Reading Time: YA beach reads” collection. Featured on the Kids & Teens main page, this collection has the 300 titles ranging from romance to sci-fi to thriller, and we think it’s the perfect way to soak up just a little more summer.
“BB’s honesty, her comfort with her own body, and her love for her family and best friend shine through. Full of heart, BB’s authentic voice will strike a chord with anyone who doesn’t want to be defined by the way they look.”
— School Library Journal
Libraries participating in the Nebraska OverDrive Libraries Group currently have access to a shared and growing collection of digital downloadable audiobooks and eBooks. 194 libraries across the state share the Nebraska OverDrive collection of 26,898 audiobooks, 36,794 ebooks, and 5,133 magazines. As an added bonus it includes 130 podcasts that are always available with simultaneous use (SU), as well as SU ebooks and audiobook titles that publishers have made available for a limited time. If you’re a part of it, let your users know about this great title, and if you’re not a member yet, find more information about participating in Nebraska Overdrive Libraries!
Love this #BookFace & reading? We suggest checking out all the titles available for book clubs at http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ref/bookclub. Check out our past #BookFaceFriday photos on the Nebraska Library Commission’s Facebook page!
Lois Lenski Covey Foundation Bookmobile Grants
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
Through the Bookmobile Grant Program, the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation awards grants to organizations that operate a lending bookmobile that travels into neighborhoods populated by underserved youth. The grants are for purchasing books published for young people preschool through grade 8, Early Reader books through Young Adult and Hi-Lo books.
Bookmobiles operated by charitable [501(c)(3)] and other non-taxable agencies, including public libraries or schools, are eligible. The Foundation provides grants to organizations that serve economically or socially at-risk children, have limited book budgets, and demonstrate real need.
Grants range from $500 to $3000 and are specifically for book purchases, and cannot be used for administrative or operational uses.
Only hardcopy (paper) applications will be accepted by mail. A link to a downloadable application and detailed instructions for completing and sending the application are available at the Bookmobile Grant Application webpage.
2025 Applications must be postmarked by August 15, 2025.
Questions regarding the Foundation’s bookmobile grant program may be emailed to bookmobile@loislenskicovey.org.
About the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation
The purposes of the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation are to advance literacy and foster a love of reading among underserved and at-risk children and youth. Lois Lenski, celebrated author and illustrator of over one hundred children’s books and the 1946 Newbery medalist for Strawberry Girl, established the Foundation as a charitable institute in 1967. Since then the Foundation has assisted over 400 organizations in their efforts to nurture reading skills, gain access to books, and instill a love of reading.
Posted in Books & Reading, Grants, Youth Services
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#BookFaceFriday “Miss Liberty” by Erin Moonyeen Haley
Miss Congeniality meets #BookFace!
Practice your pageant wave with this week’s #BookFaceFriday, “Miss Liberty” by Erin Moonyeen Haley (Storytide, 2025), a novel for 3-7 graders. Hailed as Dumplin’ meets the small-town drama of Gilmore Girls, this fun fourth of July read is the perfect summer read for kids.
“In this heartfelt debut, Haley sensitively portrays a character who’s struggling to hold on to the comfort of the familiar while contending with fear regarding an uncertain future. Savvy’s personal ambitions collide with her desire to support her sister’s efforts making for engaging, relatable familial and internal drama.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
The Nebraska Library Commission receives a large number of children’s and young adult books sent to us as review copies from book publishers. When our Children and Young Adult Library Services Coordinator, Sally Snyder, is done with them, the review copies are available for the Library System Directors to distribute to school and public libraries in their systems. You can see some of her favorites of the past year in the recent NCompass Live webinar episodes: Best Teen Reads of 2024 and Best Children’s Books of 2024.
Love this #BookFace & reading? Check out our past #BookFaceFriday photos on the Nebraska Library Commission’s Facebook page!
Posted in Books & Reading, General, Youth Services
Tagged Book Covers, bookface, bookfacefriday, Erin Moonyeen Haley, juvenile fiction, Miss Liberty, Novel, Reading, Sally Snyder
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#BookFaceFriday “Cat + Gamer: Volume 1” by Wataru Nadatani
You cat to be kitten me right meow, it’s #BookFaceFriday!
Cat got your tongue with this adorable #BookFace? “Cat + Gamer: Volume 1” by Wataru Nadatani (Dark Horse Manga, 2022) is the first book in a collection of eight manga novels. Only recently published in English, this manga series is hailed as a cute, fun, and heart-warming story of a gamer learning to live with a cat. It’s available as an eBook through Nebraska OverDrive Libraries: Kids & Teens and is currently in the “New Titles” collection. Featured on the Kids & Teens main page, this collection has the 200 latest editions to the collection.
“Although the protagonist, Riko, is an adult, the overall story is still appealing to younger audiences because of the cute cat hijinks and the focus on video games over Riko’s life as an OL (office lady). In many ways, the manga is about both how to raise a cat and the basics of Japanese video game culture. This focus is why the series ultimately has a younger appeal and is relevant to all ages. There truly is something for everyone, unless for some blasphemous reason the person doesn’t like cats (which is preposterous).”
Libraries participating in the Nebraska OverDrive Libraries Group currently have access to a shared and growing collection of digital downloadable audiobooks and eBooks. 194 libraries across the state share the Nebraska OverDrive collection of 26,898 audiobooks, 36,794 ebooks, and 5,133 magazines. As an added bonus it includes 130 podcasts that are always available with simultaneous use (SU), as well as SU ebooks and audiobook titles that publishers have made available for a limited time. If you’re a part of it, let your users know about this great title, and if you’re not a member yet, find more information about participating in Nebraska Overdrive Libraries!
Love this #BookFace & reading? We suggest checking out all the titles available for book clubs at http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ref/bookclub. Check out our past #BookFaceFriday photos on the Nebraska Library Commission’s Facebook page!
Friday Reads: All Better Now by Neal Shusterman
Covid-19 is over but now there is a new virus called Crown Royale. It kills 1 person out of 25 or 4% of those infected, which isn’t too bad. Those who recover feel completely happy and have empathy for everyone. They have no negative feelings – jealousy, hatred, selfishness, racism – all are gone. The people in power feel this threatens “economic and political stability” and want to eradicate it.
Mariel (about 15) and her mother are living in their car at the book’s beginning. Mariel’s mom dies from the virus, but later Mariel learns she, herself, is naturally immune. Tiberón (16 or so), who goes by Rón, is the youngest son of the third richest man in the world. Rón turns out to be a super spreader of the virus.
Soon there are plots for spreading the virus to save the world; and plots to eradicate the virus to save the world. Mariel and Rón are at the center of everything. Misinformation is being spread, and countered by others. Some people lock themselves up in their homes to avoid the virus and its effects. Many people aren’t sure what to believe.
Kirkus (12/1/24) says, “In his trademark, darkly witty, wonderfully over-the-top style, the author meanders through interesting ethical questions as the action plays out globally with a cast of diverse background characters, eventually leading to a conclusion that leaves things wide open for a sequel.”
Shusterman, Neal. All Better Now. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025.
NCompass Live: One Book For Nebraska Kids & Teens 2025
NOTE: This is a rescheduled session, due to technical issues with the original show.
Join Sally Snyder, the NLC’s Coordinator of Children and Young Adult Library Services; Aimee Owen, Information Services Librarian; and Bailee Juroshek, Office Specialist, to learn all about the One Book for Nebraska Kids and Teens program.
Our 2025 titles are: One Book For Nebraska Kids – Lions & Liars by Kate Beasley, and One Book For Nebraska Teens – Where You See Yourself by Claire Forrest.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- April 30 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Computers in Libraries 2025 Highlights & Trends
- May 7 – Everyday Advocacy for Smaller Libraries: Practical & Affordable Solutions
- May 14 – The 2025 Public Library Accreditation Process
- May 28 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- June 11 – Sparking Community Connections: Rural Public Library Partnerships
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: One Book For Nebraska Kids & Teens 2025
Join Sally Snyder, the NLC’s Coordinator of Children and Young Adult Library Services; Aimee Owen, Information Services Librarian; and Bailee Juroshek, Office Specialist, to learn all about the One Book for Nebraska Kids and Teens program.
Our 2025 titles are: One Book For Nebraska Kids – Lions & Liars by Kate Beasley, and One Book For Nebraska Teens – Where You See Yourself by Claire Forrest.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- 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.
