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Tag Archives: public Library
#BookFaceFriday “The Underground Library” by Jennifer Ryan
Take a look, it’s in a #BookFaceFriday!
This week’s #BookFaceFriday is all about celebrating Library Card Sign Up Month! Join in with “The Underground Library: A Novel” by Jennifer Ryan (Ballantine Books, 2024). Libraries- More than Meets the Eye is this year’s theme. What can you do to help your community celebrate? Get out to your library, sign up for a library card, tell someone what you love about your library, and tell your local library staff how much you appreciate them! It’s that easy. This title is available as a an eBook and Audiobook through Nebraska OverDrive Libraries, and can be found in the specially curated collection “Library Card Sign Up Month,” which is filled with library themed titles.
“This uplifting and inspirational story is perfect for readers looking for heroic home front World War II novels with connections to actual events.”
— Historical Novel Society
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!
#BookFaceFriday “Public Library and Other Stories”
O magic place it was — still open thank God.
-Alexandra Harris
What could be more appropriate than this week’s #BookFaceFriday highlighting National Library Week! Celebrate with “Public Library and Other Stories” by Ali Smith (Anchor, 2016). Libraries = Strong Communities is this year’s theme and nothing could be truer. What can you do to help your community celebrate? Get out to your library, sign up for a library card, tell someone what you love about your library, and tell your local library staff how much you appreciate them! It’s that easy. This book is a part of our NLC Book Club Kit collection, and is a great read!
Why are books so very powerful? What do the books we’ve read over our lives—our own personal libraries—make of us? What does the unraveling of our tradition of public libraries, so hard-won but now in jeopardy, say about us?
The stories in Ali Smith’s new collection are about what we do with books and what they do with us: how they travel with us; how they shock us, change us, challenge us, banish time while making us older, wiser and ageless all at once; how they remind us to pay attention to the world we make. — book jacket
This week’s #BookFace model is NLC’s Talking Book & Braille Service Audio Production Studio Manager, Gabe Kramer! He is the only one we could talk into laying on the sidewalk outside the office, so he deserves an extra high-five this week.
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!
Posted in Books & Reading, General
Tagged Ali Smith, Book Covers, bookface, bookfacefriday, books, National Library Week, public Library, Reading, Short Stories
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150 Attend Sparks Grant Open House in Verdigre
On Tuesday, October 16th, over 150 residents attended the Sparks Grant Open House at the Verdigre Public Library.
“Which one is the homework computer?” asked Carter Nelson, a 6th grader at Verdigre Public School, the day after attending the open house. Those homework computers that Carter was referring to are part of an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), National Leadership Grant (NLG) awarded to the Nebraska Library Commission in partnership with the Nebraska Office of the Chief Information Officer in April of 2018.
The IMLS Sparks Grant, Nebraska Schools and Libraries–Breaking the Ice and Igniting Internet Relationships, as the name implies, is intending to kindle partnerships between schools and libraries, and through Internet sharing, to help narrow the Homework Gap for public K-12 students. The Verdigre Public Library has a new Homework Hotspot located in the library, with the internet for the hotspot provided by Verdigre Public Schools. The school offers internet speeds that are 7 times faster than internet speeds offered at the public library. Students and staff members from Verdigre Public Schools can access the school’s internet connection to complete homework by using either one of the two new desktop computers purchased by the grant or their own school issued devices. The library offers a location for students who may not have internet at home, have poor connectivity or very slow internet at home to complete their schoolwork.
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts attended the Open House. The Governor summarized the Sparks Grant and answered questions from the open house attendees for an hour. The 100 plus students attending the event asked some tough and light-hearted questions ,”How does a state know how much money it will spend next year before knowing its income?”, “What are food stamps?”, and “Did I hear you’re a Cardinals fan?”
Verdigre is one of five Nebraska communities that are participating in the grant project. The other communities include Bancroft, Genoa, Imperial, and Wymore. The Sparks Grant is for one year, at the end of that year, each community will evaluate the project and decide if they want to continue the project with local funding.
This shared internet is made possible in part by IMLS grant: LG-99-18-0018 and the following partners.
Posted in Education & Training, Grants, Technology
Tagged #IMLSGrant, #SparksNebraska, grants, public Library, Verdigre
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Solar Eclipse Resources Part Three: 39 Days and Counting…
The countdown to the celestial event of the century continues…only 5 weeks, 4 days, 19 hrs, and 56 mins!
Is your library ready? In 39 days, on August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse will sweep across the United States. The sight of the fully eclipsed Sun will be visible along a 70-mile-wide path arching from Oregon to South Carolina, and Nebraska will be one of the BEST places in the country to view it! Millions of people are expected to travel to this “path of totality” to watch as the moon entirely covers the face of the Sun.
To help your library prepare for this historic event, the Nebraska Library Commission is doing a series of blog posts about resources you can access for your Eclipse programs:
Part 3: Eclipse Programming and Activity Ideas for your Library
Sorting Games: How Big? How Far? How Hot?
This NASA@ My Library Activity Guide will help library staff facilitate these sorting activities in large or small groups, with patrons from Pre-K to adult.
Using simple materials, participants explore the vast distance between the Earth and Moon and model how solar and lunar eclipses happen.
Scale Model of Sun and Earth
This is a lesson about size and scale, also called the Solar Pizza.
Make a Pinhole Viewer — Shipping Box Version
Use a long box or tube and other common materials to create a safe way to view the Sun.
Make a Pinhole Viewer — Cereal Box Version
Use a cereal box and other common materials to create a safe way to view the Sun.
Sun Cookies 
Learners will use candy pieces and a cookie to make an accurate model of the Sun that they can eat.
Guest Speaker Talks
Connect with your local college or university astronomy department, science museum or high school science or astronomy teacher to see what they’re planning for the eclipse. Ask if someone could give a public talk about the eclipse.
Besides watching the eclipse, activities might include arts and crafts, providing handouts, and having local speakers.
Have fun checking out all the resources available, and stay tuned next week for Solar Eclipse Resources Part Four!
**Note for Nebraska Libraries:
The Nebraska Library Commission has received a shipment of Eclipse viewing glasses for free distribution:
- Only libraries that are hosting Eclipse events are eligible to receive free glasses
- Libraries are welcome to request and pick up glasses directly from the Library Commission in Lincoln.
- Regional Systems will have glasses available at upcoming meetings.
- Contact Mary Jo Ryan at the Nebraska Library Commission.
Posted in Education & Training, General, Information Resources, Programming
Tagged Nebraska, public Library, Solar Eclipse, Total Eclipse 2017
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Solar Eclipse Resources Part Two: 54 Days and Counting…
…or 7 weeks, 5 days, 23 hrs, and 14 mins, depending on when you read this of course!
Is your library ready for the celestial event of the century? In 54 days, on August 21, 2017, the shadow of the moon will sweep across the United States from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean in a spectacle that hasn’t occurred in decades. In fact, the last total solar eclipse for the United States was nearly 40 years ago, and the next total eclipse that will be visible in the continental United States will be in 2024. Did you know that Nebraska will be one of the BEST places in the country to view it?
To help your library prepare for this historic event, the Nebraska Library Commission is doing a series of blog posts about resources you can access for your Eclipse programs:
Part 2: Educational Resources
Books & Articles: This section has a great eclipse bibliography for libraries, plus some of the best eclipse related books and articles available for download or purchase: The “All-American” Eclipse: A Guide for Public Libraries and Their Communities, When The Sun Goes Dark: A New, Richly-illustrated Children’s Book on the Science and Fun of Eclipses are just two suggested books available.
Eclipse Videos: In this section, you will find educational videos to educate your library patrons about the 2017 eclipse, courtesy of Exploratorium and Sky & Telescope (each of which has their own great resources). Examples of some of the videos: What is a Solar Eclipse (in English and Spanish), Earth-Sun-Moon Scale Model, and Getting to the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse.
Eclipse Websites: There are a wide variety of really cool websites in this section! NASA, the National Science Teachers Association, the Fiske Planetarium, the Great American Eclipse, and STARnet to name just a few.
Have fun checking out all the resources available, and stay tuned next week for Solar Eclipse Resources Part Three!
Solar Eclipse Countdown: 71 Days and Counting…Part 1
Is your library ready for the celestial event of the century? In 10 weeks, on August 21, 2017, the shadow of the moon will sweep across the United States from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean in a spectacle that hasn’t occurred in decades. In fact, the last total solar eclipse for the United States was nearly 40 years ago, and the next total eclipse that will be visible in the continental United States will be in 2024.
To help your library prepare for this historic event, the Nebraska Library Commission is doing a series of blog posts about resources you can access for your Eclipse programs:
Part 1:
Media Toolkits, where you will find a variety of resources to assist your library in developing educational and promotional materials.
In Images and Videos, you will find lots of pictures for viewing, downloading, and printing out for display. There are also a variety of short clip videos for viewing, downloading, and showing during a program or event.
In Downloadables there are posters of various sizes that you can print out for displays.
And in Media Templates there are Word templates that your library can use to promote your eclipse event to your community: Press Release, Public Service Announcement, Community Letter, and Media Alert.
Just a few things to help get you started with planning library programs for Total Eclipse 2017! Stay tuned for Part 2!
Star Net Eclipse Webinar Series
Is Your Library Ready for the Astronomical Event of the Decade?
Star Net is presenting a series of webinars in preparation for the solar eclipse next year.
Next Webinar: Wednesday, October 19th, 2016 at 11:00 am MT, 12:00 CT, 1:00 ET
On August 21, 2017, we will be treated to the first total eclipse of the Sun visible in the continental U.S. in almost 40 years. The spectacular total eclipse will only be visible in a narrow band about 60 miles across, stretching diagonally across the country from a beach in Oregon to a beach in South Carolina. However, everyone in North America will see a partial solar eclipse, where a big “bite” will be taken out of the Sun.
This will be the first major U.S. eclipse of the Internet age, and most people will need clear reliable information on when and how to observe the eclipse of the Sun safely. Astronomers are hoping libraries will play a key role in getting this information out to their communities. Working with astronomy groups in their communities, they could also be a central place for safe observing.
Get an early start in preparing for this eclipse, how to explain it, how to observe it safely, and what role libraries can play in organizing and informing their communities.
Join us for a 45 minute webinar where you’ll get great information about the eclipse, and be able to ask questions about the role your library can play. Hosts: Dennis Schatz (NSTA, Pacific Science Center), and Andrew Fraknoi (Foothill College; co-author of a new book on eclipse education). Click here for an Eclipse FAQ sheet.
To register, please click here. Password is “star”.
Get Your Library Ready for the Total Solar Eclipse — August 21, 2017
Are you ready for the celestial event of the century? In just over a year from now (August 21, 2017), the shadow of the moon will sweep across the United States from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean in a spectacle that hasn’t occurred in 99 years! The National Center for Interactive Learning (NCIL) at the Space Science Institute has recently been awarded a grant for its NASA@ My Library program. Partners include NASA, ALA, The Girl Scouts, SETI, and many other organizations. The STAR Library Education Network (STAR_Net) is managed by NCIL. The STAR_Net team wants to work with your library and thousands of others to participate in this national event. Some fortunate libraries will be able to experience a total solar eclipse though every library in the country will observe at least a partial eclipse.
So jump on the eclipse train!
Go to: Eclipse Registration to register your library.
We will, in turn, let you know how to access the following valuable resources:
· Vetted Multimedia for Programming/Promotion (Images, Video, Animations, Artwork)
· Media Template Package (Press Release, PSA, Community Letter, Media Alert)
· Private Eclipse Forum (registered libraries)
· Inclusion in Special Eclipse Promotions (Social Media, Blogs, Newsletters, etc.)
· Enrollment in STAR_Net’s Eclipse Newsletter
When your eclipse event is planned, you can share your press release, flyer, website link, or like material with us to receive 50 free Solar Shades for your patrons to watch along with us! (shades are available on a first come, first serve basis).
The STAR Library Education Network (STAR_Net) is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation and other funders. STAR stands for Science-Technology Activities and Resources. This ground-breaking program includes a traveling STEM exhibition program, the development of STEM activities for public libraries, a comprehensive training program that includes in-person workshops and webinars, the development of the STAR_Net Online Community, and a research and evaluation program. STAR_Net is led by the Space Science Institute’s National Center for Interactive Learning. Partners include the American Library Association, Lunar and Planetary Institute, and the Afterschool Alliance along with many other organizations.
Posted in Books & Reading, Education & Training, General, Information Resources, Library Management, Programming, Uncategorized, What's Up Doc / Govdocs
Tagged 2017 Solar Eclipse Library Programing, free, Library Programing, Nebraska, public Library, Solar Eclipse, Total Eclipse 2017
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Nebraska Libraries on the Web
Imagine that a new resident has just arrived in your town. She’s eager to read the new Ruth Ware novel, but isn’t familiar with your library, so she hits the Internet to search for you. What does she find? What would you like for her to find?
Nebraska Libraries on the Web is a free service open to any public library in Nebraska. We use the WordPress platform to create robust and user-friendly library websites. Our sites are controlled by “themes” that modify the display of your site, meaning that your content will be presented in an appealing fashion automatically. You don’t have to worry about coding, just add text and images that tell the world about your library. For those who wish to alter aspects of their site’s theme, controls are available that allow you to tweak your font, colors, and more. You can even change your entire theme with one click to give your site a brand new appearance.
Because WordPress is so widely used, it’s not surprising that it works well with the biggest names on the Internet. Your site will arrive ready to connect to Facebook, Pinterest, and more. Any content that you add to your website can be automatically posted to your social networks, too. If you use Google Calendar, you can incorporate that directly into your new site, or use add-on tools called plugins to create a new calendar that displays your library’s events. Plugins also allow you to create surveys, contact forms, and forums, and host them all on your site. There’s probably a plugin for anything that you’d like to do with your site and Commission staff are available to assist you in tracking down the right tools. We also take care of software updates and security concerns, so you never have to worry about maintenance.
If this sounds like an approach that might work for your library, please contact Craig Lefteroff, or by phone at (402) 471-3106. For more information on the service or to view our current sites, please visit http://libraries.ne.gov/projectblog/.
Strategic Planning Workshops offered in the Western Library System
If your public library is slated for re-accreditation in 2016
or in 2017, these workshops are for you!
Every three years accredited Nebraska public libraries have the opportunity to seek accreditation again for another three-year period. Libraries are accredited at one of three levels – Bronze, Silver or Gold – based on the number of points accumulated on the accreditation application form. Accreditation also requires that the library submit and have approved by the Commission, a strategic plan (learn more about Strategic Planning and Accreditation here).
Next month three Strategic Planning workshops will be offered in the Western Library System area:
• Tuesday, July 12, 2016 – Alliance Public Library (1750 Sweetwater Ave., Alliance)
• Thursday, July 14, 2016 – Lied Imperial Public Library (703 Broadway, Imperial)
• Tuesday, July 19, 2016 – Sidney Public Library (1112 12th Ave., Sidney)
Each workshop will run from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. You should have had lunch before you get to the workshop. To register for one of the workshops, go to the following link which will take you to the Commission’s Calendar on which you can register.
In case you are not sure of your accreditation status, following are the public libraries in Western Library System slated for re-accreditation in 2016, and 2017:
2016:
Bridgeport Public Library
Chadron Public Library
Chappell Memorial Library & Art Gallery
Dundy County Library (Benkelman)
Nancy Fawcett Memorial Library (Lodgepole)
Paxton Public Library
Sidney Public Library
Trenton Public Library
2017:
Crawford Public Library
Hastings Memorial Library (Grant)
Morrill Public Library
Goodall City Library (Ogallala)
Rushville Public Library
In addition the following unaccredited libraries which submitted their annual statistics this year (and received funding under the “Dollars for Data” program) are eligible to become accredited libraries:
Arthur County Library
Bayard Public Library
Sioux County Public Library (Harrison)
Hayes Center Public Library
Hemingford Public Library
Lewellen Public Library
Lyman Public Library
Minatare Public Library
Hooker County Library (Mullen)
Stratton Public Library
Wauneta Public Library
So, how about it? Come to one of the above workshops (and bring a board member or two along too) and find out what this strategic planning is all about. You might see that it is easier than you anticipate.
For questions, contact me at the Nebraska Library Commission:
Richard Miller
(800) 307-2665
