Author Archives: Mary Jo Ryan

Nebraska Library Friends Groups and Foundations Invited to IRS Webinar

This Thursday, May 29 at 1:00 p.m. CT, the IRS will host a free Webinar on Form 990-N and 990-EZ Filing Tips.  Topics include:

  • Tips to help you save time preparing the forms
  • Steps to avoid penalties
  • Discussion of automatic revocation
  • New reinstatement procedures under Rev. Proc. 2014-11
  • Online resources that will help your library Friends Group and/or Foundation

To receive CE credit (and a certificate of completion) you must view the presentation for a minimum of 50 minutes. Register for this presentation.

If you have a technical or procedural question relating to Exempt Organizations, visit the Charities and Nonprofits homepage on the IRS.gov Web site.

If you have a specific question about exempt organizations, call EO Customer Account Services at 877-829-5500.

Posted in Education & Training, General, Library Management | Leave a comment

Nebraska Librarians Invited to Celebrate Children’s Book Week May 12-18

CBW_Poster-smallChildren’s Book Week is the annual celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading. Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. Every year, commemorative events are held nationwide at schools, libraries, bookstores, homes — wherever young readers and books connect! May 12-18, 2014 is the 95th anniversary of this nationwide celebration. For more information, see http://www.bookweekonline.com/about. Order free posters at http://www.bookweekonline.com/poster.

 

Posted in Books & Reading, General, Programming, Public Relations, Youth Services | Leave a comment

Join Us Online April 30 for Smart Investing: Reference Strategies and Resources

Learn how librarians can take advantage of “Smart Investing: Reference Strategies and Resources,” a self-paced course to promote confidence and competence in responding to library customers’ questions on personal finance and investments. The April 30 edition of NCompass Live: Smart Investing: Reference Strategies and Resources will give you a guided tour to the resources that can help you direct your library customers to the best in money management resources.

This online training course was originally developed for Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) reference staff. It is available to all Nebraska librarians who would like to improve their reference strategies and knowledge of financial literacy concepts and resources.

This online curriculum is being offered as part of the Nebraska Library Commission and Northeast Library System’s “Smart Investing @ your library® Builds Nebraska Communities” project funded by a $100,000 FINRA Investor Education Foundation grant. Although the 22 public libraries participating in that project will benefit by receiving Financial Literacy Resource Kits and  customer financial literacy training in their libraries later this year, all of Nebraska’s libraries are welcome to participate in the online librarian  training.

This program is made possible by a grant from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation through Smart investing@your library®, a partnership with the American Library Association. The project is coordinated in Nebraska by the Nebraska Library Commission.

 

 

 

Posted in Education & Training, General, Information Resources, Library Management, Programming, Public Relations | Leave a comment

Registration now open for Choose Privacy Week 2014 webinar,’Defense Against the Digital Dark Arts’

Dark forces conspire online to undermine privacy, compromise accounts, stalk, troll and just plain creep us out. Libraries have a longstanding tradition of protecting their users’ privacy and confidentiality, but often fail to take basic steps to protect patrons’ use of their public access computers and digital resources.

Registration is now open for “Defense Against the Digital Dark Arts,” the 2014 Choose Privacy Week webinar. Presenter Eric Stroshane, field services librarian for the North Dakota State Library, will discuss how online surveillance works, give practical tips on improving privacy on public computers and provide a better understanding of current legal threats to digital privacy and online anonymity.

Ann Crewdson and Helen Adams, co-chairs of the ALA-IFC Privacy Subcommittee, will provide a brief introduction to the newly revised ALA Privacy Tool Kit that includes new sections on the impact of emerging technologies on library users’ privacy.

The free, hour-long online webinar will take place from 2 – 3 p.m. Central time on Monday, May 5, 2014. Register for this free webinar: http://ala.adobeconnect.com/choose_privacy_2014/event/event_info.html. Space is limited, and registration is first come, first serve. Registrants will be able to access the recorded and archived webinar after May 5. For questions about registration or using the webinar platform, contact Deborah Caldwell-Stone at dstone@ala.org.

Choose Privacy Week 2014 takes place May 1-7 and asks librarians and library users to engage in a conversation about protecting privacy rights all year long, both inside and outside the library.

Sponsored annually by the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF), Choose Privacy Week provides individuals with resources to think critically and make more informed choices about their privacy.

For information about Choose Privacy Week 2014, visit chooseprivacyweek.org or email Deborah Caldwell-Stone at dstone@ala.org.

Contact:

Deborah Caldwell-Stone
Deputy Director
Office for Intellectual Freedom
800-545-2433 ext.4224
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Nebraska Libraries Urged to Apply for Citizens Save Libraries Grant by May 5

powerguide united image

Applications for cycle two of the Citizens-Save-Libraries grants from United for Libraries, made possible by a grant from the Neal-Schuman Foundation, are due May 5.

The 10 libraries that are selected will receive two days of onsite consultation by advocacy experts, who will help friends of the library groups, library directors and trustees develop individual blueprints for advocacy campaigns to restore, increase or save threatened library budgets.

Among the criteria to apply is a willingness to “pay it forward” by sharing what is learned with others in their states through presentations at local conferences, articles written for the state library association journal and a willingness to answer questions and support other advocacy campaigns via digital media and Skype. The first 10 libraries were selected in 2013.

As part of the grant, a Citizens-Save-Libraries Power Guide that lays out a step-by-step blueprint for libraries to follow in generating advocacy campaigns is available to all libraries at no cost. The Power Guide is available at www.ala.org/united/powerguide.

To apply for the grants, visit www.ala.org/united/grants_awards/neal-schuman.

The Neal-Schuman Foundation, established in 2000 by Neal-Schuman Publishers‘ founders Patricia Glass Schuman and John Vincent Neal, strives to aid and promote charitable research and education for the improvement of libraries. An active American Library Association member and past president (1991-92), Schuman founded the Library Advocacy Now program and co-founded the Library Champions program.

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association that supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries. United for Libraries brings together library Trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information or to join United for Libraries, visit the United for Libraries website or contact Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org.

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Join us April 22 for a Webinar Discussion on the Regional Library Systems Configuration Task Force Preliminary Report

NLClogo4PCjan03-webRod Wagner, Nebraska Library Commission Director, and Richard Miller, Nebraska Library Commission Library Development Director, will summarize the report of recent Regional Library Systems Configuration Task Force discussions and will solicit questions and comments from Nebraska library staff and board members.

State and federal budget cuts over several years and flat funding in recent years prompted discussions among regional library system directors, system board members, and Nebraska Library Commission staff to address funding constraints and regional organization. Those discussions resulted in formation of the Regional Library Systems Configuration Task Force. The Task Force recommended options for reducing the number of regional systems from the current six to five or four regions. The March 14, 2014 report of this task force can be accessed at: http://nlc.nebraska.gov/systems/

Participants in this Webinar discussion will be encouraged to provide input via live chat or microphone connection. For more information contact Richard Miller, Nebraska Library Commission Library Development Director, richard.miller@nebraska.gov, 800-307-2665, or 402-471-3175.

This Webinar will be broadcast live on April 22, 2014 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website or use the World Clock Time Zone Converter. In the Time Zone Converter, NCompass Live is broadcast from U.S.A – Nebraska – Lincoln.

This webinar will be presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. It will be recorded and archived. Registration is not required to view the archived recording, but GoToWebinar login instructions are sent to registered attendees after registration for the session closes on April 20, 2014. 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.

REGISTER AT: http://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/calendar/eventshow.asp?ProgId=13080

 

Posted in General, Public Library Boards of Trustees, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Nebraska Librarians Invited to Free Webinar: The Copyright Conundrum

Tune in Thursday, April 10 at 1 p.m. Central, Noon, Mountain time for this free, streaming video broadcast that you can view from your home, library or on-the-go. Copyright issues pose many challenges for librarians. In  an era when we rely increasingly on electronic materials while still making use  of traditional resources, our picture of rights and responsibilities can get  cloudy. In “Copyright  Conundrum” a panel of experts will discuss the challenges we face and strategies  you can use to help navigate copyright in this rapidly evolving area. Speakeers include:
  • Rebecca Butler, Professor in the Department of  Educational Technology, Research, and Assessment, College of Education, at  Northern Illinois University, author of Copyright for Teachers  and Librarians in the 21st Century
  • Sandra Aya Enimil, Head of the Copyright  Resources Center at The Ohio State University Library
  • Carrie Russell, Director,  Program on Public Access to Information, Office for Information  Technology Policy (OITP) of the American Library Association
  • Laura Quilter, Copyright and  Information Policy Librarian at the UMass Amherst Librarie

AL Live is an immediate and  effective way to get to the heart of the real issues in libraries. With the  help of real-time technology, it’s like having your own expert on-hand. We look forward to your joining us. To receive e-mail reminders, register at http://goo.gl/2G50AD, or go to www.americanlibrarieslive.org at the time of the event. If you’re unable to attend live, this event will be  recorded and available at www.americanlibrarieslive.org shortly after it concludes. Please comment below to share a receint copyright question that you dealt with.

Posted in Education & Training, General | Leave a comment

Nebraska Librarians Encouraged to help Library Customers Access Financial Aid Toolkit

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid recently launched a new website called the Financial Aid Toolkit :A One-Stop Shop for Financial Aid Resources

Who is the Financial Aid Toolkit for?

The toolkit is for

  • librarians;
  • staff or volunteers at community based organizations;
  • guidance counselors;
  • college access advisers; and
  • anyone who assists students through the process of learning about, receiving, and repaying financial aid for their higher education.

What information is in the Financial Aid Toolkit?

The toolkit consolidates financial aid resources into a searchable online library, making it easy for users to quickly access the information they need to support their students. The searchable library provides resources covering the entire financial aid lifecycle from applying for financial aid to repaying loans and includes items such as

  • “financial aid night” materials and presentations,
  • brochures,
  • videos, and
  • sample tweets and Facebook posts.

The toolkit also offers professional development information such as training opportunities and resources for self-instruction.

Where can a student find other financial aid resources?

Students should visit StudentAid.gov for financial aid information and can find a library of resources designed for them at StudentAid.gov/resources.

How can library or museum professionals spread the word to colleagues about the toolkit?

You can share information about the site by distributing the Financial Aid Toolkit fact sheet.

– See more at: http://blog.imls.gov/?p=4536#sthash.MTZZ02MR.dpuf

Please comment below to share information about whether you are seeing more students and their families seeking financial aid information in your library.

From: James Lonergan, Senior Library Program Officer, IMLS

Posted in General, Information Resources, Now hiring @ your library | Leave a comment

Nebraska Libraries: What are you doing for National Library Week, April 13-19

The Campaign for America’s Libraries would like to hear about any plans your library is making for National Library Week 2014 around the theme Lives change @ your library. Nebraska libraries are asked to email their National Library Week plans to atyourlibrary@ala.org to be shared on the National Library Week tools page. In addition to these tools, a downloadable PSA featuring author and intellectual freedom advocate Judy Blume as the Honorary Chair of National Library Week is also available. Instructions on how to request a customized PSA are also available on the website. See this press release for details. Please be sure to share any ideas about ways to enhance this year’s collaborative social media efforts.

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Nebraska Library Foundations Invited to Participate in New Discussion List

Library Foundation staff, board members, volunteers, etc. are invited to participate in the United for Libraries electronic discussion group focused on topics of interest to library Foundations. To join the electronic discussion group, visit http://www.ala.org/united/electronic-discussion-group-foundations. Both those with expertise in library Foundations as well as those in the beginning stages of creating a Foundation are encouraged to participate in the free form discussion. Discussion topics might include fundraising, event planning, capital campaigns, planned giving, effective meetings, board recruitment, etc. Among the United for Libraries board members offering their expertise on the discussion group are Jeffrey Smith, president of the Foundation for Baltimore County (Md.) Public Library.

Like United for Libraries on Facebook: www.facebook.com/unitedforlibraries

Follow United for Libraries on Twitter: twitter.com/ala_united

Manage your electronic discussion group subscription at http://lists.ala.org/sympa.

Contact: Jillian Kalonick, Marketing/Public Relations Specialist, United for Libraries, A division of the American Library Association,  jkalonick@ala.org, 109 S. 13th St., Suite 117B, Philadelphia, PA 19107, (800) 545-2433, ext. 2161, fax (215) 545-3821, www.ala.org/united

 

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Nebraska Libraries to Celebrate National Library Week April 13-19, 2014

Judy Blume has been named the 2014 Honorary Chair of National Library Week (April 13-19, 2014). This year, National Library Week will be celebrated with the theme Lives change @ your library. As Honorary Chair, Blume will appear in print public service announcements (PSAs) promoting National Library Week. The PSAs, developed by the American Library Association’s Campaign for America’s Libraries, will be placed in magazines and online throughout the spring. ALA will also offer free customization of the PSAs for libraries. Visit ala.org/NLW to learn more.

Adults as well as children will recognize such Judy Blume titles as: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret; Blubber; Just as Long as We’re Together; and the five book series about the irrepressible Fudge. She has also written three novels for adults, Summer Sisters, Smart Women and Wifey, all of them New York Times best-sellers. More than 80 million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into thirty-one languages.

Blume is a longtime advocate of intellectual freedom. Finding herself at the center of an organized book banning campaign in the 1980’s she began to reach out to other writers, as well as teachers and librarians, who were under fire. Since then, she has worked tirelessly with the National Coalition Against Censorship and the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom to protect the freedom to read. She is the editor of “Places I Never Meant To Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers,” and is currently writing a novel.

Additional promotional materials include a sample op-ed, proclamation, press release and scripts for use in radio ads. All incorporate the 2014 National Library Week theme, Lives change @ your library. Tools are available at www.ala.org/nlw. ALA Graphics products supporting National Library Week are also available and can be purchased through the ALA Store.

National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians and to promote library use.

The American Library Association’s Campaign for America’s Libraries (www.ala.org/@yourlibrary) is a public awareness campaign that promotes the value of libraries and librarians. Thousands of libraries of all types – across the country and around the globe – participate. The Campaign is made possible by ALA’s Library Champions.

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Nebraska Librarians Invited to Broadband Technology Fairs

A series of Broadband Technology Fairs is scheduled across the state in March and early April. The theme highlights “The Power of Business – What’s Next” as experts will focus on how businesses can adapt and use online applications successfully in their operations. The events are part of the Broadband Initiative that is expanding efforts to help businesses across the state harness the power of broadband technology for successful operations. “We need to focus on the Power of Business – entrepreneurs everywhere need to understand how broadband and technology applications can help them be more efficient and potentially reach a new audience,” said Connie Hancock, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension educator. “These technology fairs are a hands-on approach to learning about online tools and how to protect our business information as well as our customers.

The sessions will offer the latest information on broadband technology tools and techniques with experts from UNL and the Nebraska Public Service Commission. Featured presenters will discuss remote video for security and monitoring, cloud technology, information security and mobile technology. Attendance is free and the approximately three-hour fairs are open to all. “We are focusing on providing information that will be valuable and immediately useful to small businesses and entrepreneurs,” Hancock said.

This is an excellent opportunity for Nebraska libraries to position themselves as resources for communty business development. Details on times and locations will be posted at broadband.nebraska.gov. “The Power of Business – What’s Next” Broadband Technology Fairs are set for:

– March 11, Atkinson

– March 12, North Platte

– March 13, McCook

– March 25, Norfolk

– March 26, Seward

– March 27, Grand Island

– April 2, Sidney

– April 3, Alliance

These events are part of the Nebraska Broadband Initiative. This Broadband Mapping and Planning Initiative is funded through a grant to the Nebraska Public Service Commission by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration and aims to increase broadband adoption and use. Project partners include the University of Nebraska, Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Nebraska Information Technology Commission, Nebraska Public Service Commission, and the AIM Institute.

Posted in Education & Training, General, Information Resources, Library Management, Technology | Leave a comment

Start Planning for April: School Library Month

Jeff Kinney, New York Times bestselling author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, has been named the national spokesperson for the 2014 observance of School Library Month. Celebrated in April and sponsored by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), School Library Month honors the essential role that strong school library programs play in a student’s educational career.

“I don’t know where I’d be without my school library,” said Kinney. “Our librarians were passionate about putting great books in the hands of kids, and making us into lifelong readers. School libraries introduce kids to whole new worlds and new perspectives and are so important in broadening kids’ minds. It’s crucial that we support our school libraries, especially in times of tightening budgets. I’m so grateful for the well-stocked libraries and knowledgeable, dedicated school librarians that were a part of my childhood.”

Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid is the story of middle-school underdog Greg Heffley who shares his life in a journal filled with cartoons and text. The first book in the series was released in April 2007 and was an instant bestseller, capturing the attention of reluctant readers, their parents and librarians everywhere. There are now eight books in the series, the most recent, “Hard Luck”, released on Nov. 5, 2013. It was the No. 1 bestselling book of 2013, adult or children’s.

“In creating such widely appealing characters, Jeff has enriched the lives of both students and school librarians,” said Susan Hess, School Library Month committee chair. “As such a popular author and illustrator, AASL is extremely fortunate to have Jeff Kinney as the School Library Month 2014 spokesperson.”

More information on the 2014 School Library Month celebration can be found on the AASL website at www.ala.org/aasl/slm.

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library field.

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has been a fixture on the USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. The series has remained consistently on the New York Times lists since the publication of the first book. The books have been sold in more than 44 territories in 42 languages. Published by Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS, Kinney’s work has been widely praised for its ability to turn reluctant readers on to books. Jeff Kinney was named one of Time magazine’s most influential people in the world. Three movies based on the book series have grossed more than $250 million internationally. The book series won Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards in 2010, 2011, and 2012, and Jeff Kinney won a Children’s Choice Book Award in 2012 and 2013. Books in the series have won numerous awards voted on by students and teachers around the globe. The Wimpy Kid Island (Wimpy Wonderland) on poptropica.com, a virtual world for kids, remains one of the most visited on the site.

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Nebraska Libraries Invited to Apply for Grant

Nebraska Public libraries are invited to apply by March 6 to receive $8,000 Libraries Transforming Communities grant and 18 months of professional development in community engagement. The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office is accepting applications for the Libraries Transforming Communities Public Innovators Cohort, an 18-month, team-based professional development opportunity for public libraries, developed by ALA and the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation.

The Libraries Transforming Communities project, made possible through a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, addresses a critical need of the field by developing and distributing new tools, resources and support for librarians to engage with their communities in new ways; strengthens librarians as community leaders and change agents, and strengthens ALA’s capacity as a lead library support entity.

In April, up to 50 individuals representing teams from 10 public libraries nationally will be selected to participate in the Public Innovators Cohort. Selected libraries will receive:

•           An $8,000 grant to support Cohort expenses.

•           An intensive 18-month Public Innovators Cohort experience, including training and team coaching to develop and implement a community engagement plan.

•           Cohort training at the intensive three-day Public Innovators Lab, May 20-22, 2014.

•           Virtual and in-person “innovation space” meetings.

•           Access to six in-depth distance learning session.

•           Monthly coaching and peer dialogue calls with a Harwood Institute coach and cohort peers to support implementation work.

•           Access to publicity and marketing resources to support local-level communications.

The Public Innovators Cohort is grounded in the Harwood Institute‘s approach of “turning outward,” which emphasizes shifting the institutional and professional orientation of libraries and librarians from internal to external. Participants will develop and implement a plan for community engagement and learn how to:

•           Identify community issues rooted in people’s shared aspirations;

•           Strategically share this knowledge with your community to build public will for action;

•           Develop strategies that align with local context;

•           Create community conditions that enable change;

•           Identify the right community partners to work with; and

•           Develop networks for innovation and learning.

Complete guidelines and application instructions can be found at: ala.org/LTC. A conference call for interested applicants will be held at 1:00 p.m. central time on February 12, 2014.

For more information contact:

Mary Davis Fournier

Deputy Director, ALA Public Programs Office

312-280-5056, mfournier@ala.org

 

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Nebraska Libraries Invited to Learn More about Library-led Community Engagement

The American Library Association calls its “The Promise of Libraries Transforming Communities” program a groundbreaking libraries-as-change-agents initiative. ALA has partnered with the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to provide librarians with the tools and training they need to lead community engagement and innovation. The two-year project includes in-person training and coaching of librarians and ALA staff and member leaders to support the transformation of library services and the expanding role of libraries as community conveners. ALA will also offer conference-based and distance-learning opportunities.

Libraries interested in the in-person training and coaching to advance library-led community engagement will be recruited through an open application process that will be announced in January 2014. Please take a look at the details at http://www.ala.org/transforminglibraries/libraries-transforming-communities and comment below about whether you would be interested in getting involved in this program.

Posted in Education & Training, General, Library Management, Programming, Public Relations | 3 Comments

Nebraska Libraries Invited to Apply for BOOKS FOR CHILDREN Grant

The Libri Foundation is a nationwide non-profit organization which donates new, quality, hardcover children’s books to small, rural public libraries in the United States through its BOOKS FOR CHILDREN program. Only libraries within the 50 states are eligible to apply. Libraries are qualified on an individual basis. In general, county libraries should serve a population under 16,000 and town libraries should serve a population under 10,000 (usually under 5,000). Libraries should be in a rural area, have a limited operating budget, and an active children’s department. Please note: Rural is usually considered to be at least 30 miles from a city with a population over 40,000.

Applications are accepted from school libraries only if they also serve as the public library (i.e. it is open to everyone in the community, has some summer hours, and there is no public library in town). Please note: Town libraries with total operating budgets over $150,000 and county libraries with total operating budgets over $450,000 are rarely given grants. The average total operating budget of a BOOKS FOR CHILDREN grant recipient is less than $40,000.

BOOKS FOR CHILDREN grant recipients that have fulfilled all grant requirements, including the final report, may apply for another grant three years after the receipt of their previous grant. Grant recipients that do not fulfill all the grant requirements, including the final report, are not eligible for another grant.

To obtain a grant application from The Libri Foundation:

  • Read the application instructions and fill out the form online. The form must be printed out, STAPLED, signed, and returned to The Libri Foundation via mail.
  • To receive a paper application in the mail, please email your name and your library’s name and mailing address to The Libri Foundation at libri@librifoundation.org. You may also request an application packet by mail, telephone, or fax at the address or phone numbers given on the Libri Foundation home page.

Applications for this round must be postmarked by January 23. Grant recipients will be posted on the Grant Recipients page within a few days after grants are awarded. Acceptance packets are usually mailed 14-18 days after grants are awarded. http://www.librifoundation.org/apps.html

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Free Webinar: Community Building and Makerspaces

ALA President Barbara Stripling’s Winter Webinar series “Building Community Through Making,” featuring nationally recognized speakers and innovative library leaders, begins at 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Central time on Monday, Dec. 16, 2013.

The December webinar, “Community Engagement through Making,” includes Steve Teeri, technology training associate at the Detroit Public Library and founder of the HYPE Makerspace, which allows teens to level up in abilities such as STEM and inventive thinking; Dara Schmidt, branch manager of Anythink Brighton and Matthew Hamilton, Anythink IT manager, from the Rangeview Library District; and Nate Hill, who oversees the daily operations of Digital Services and the 4th Floor Innovation Team as assistant director of the Chattanooga Public Library.

The Winter Webinar series will center on Making through innovation, community engagement and literacy, three focuses of Stripling’s Libraries Change Lives initiative. The sessions are intended to showcase best practices, successes and to transfer knowledge among ALA members. “Making Strategic Partnerships” will take place on Jan. 13, 2014, and “What is and What’s Next – Making Assessment and Opportunities” will take place on Feb. 14, 2014.

These webinars are presented by the ALA Office for Library Advocacy and co-sponsored by the Library Information Technology Association (LITA) and Barbara Stripling’s Presidential Advisory Committee. For more information about this series or for questions about registration, please contact the ALA Office for Library Advocacy at advocacy@ala.org.

Registration is mandatory, and limited to the first 100 participants who arrive in the virtual room. Visit the Adobe Connect event page to sign up today: http://ala.adobeconnect.com/e1k1sfpdrss/event/registration.html

The Winter Webinar Series is part of Stripling’s Libraries Change Lives Webinar Series, which will explore these focuses through partnerships, literacy innovations, and more, throughout her presidential year. For information on these webinars, or for speaking opportunities, please contact Sue Considine at sconsidine@fflib.org.

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Library Design Showcase Submissions Now Open

Nebraska libraries are invited to apply for inclusion in the American Libraries 2014 Library Design Showcase, an annual feature celebrating new and newly renovated or expanded libraries of all types. The showcase will be featured in the September/October 2014 issue.

Nebraska libraries that are shining examples of innovative architecture and that address patrons’ needs in unique, interesting, and effective ways are encouraged to submit. Previous submissions have consisted of everything from outdoor facilities and LEED certifications to expanded high-tech teen areas and restorations of libraries from the turn of the century. To be eligible, projects must have been completed between May 1, 2013, and April 30, 2014. The deadline for submissions is May 31, 2014.

To have your library considered, send a completed submission form, along with high-resolution digital images, to American Libraries, Attn: Library Design Showcase, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. Submissions can also be sent via YouSendIt to ALShowcase@ala.org. Unfortunately, not all submissions can be featured. For more information, email ALShowcase@ala.org.

View the 2013 Library Design Showcase at americanlibrariesmagazine.org/article/building-future.

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Deadline to apply for National Friends of Libraries Week Awards extended to Dec. 31

The deadline to apply for United for Libraries’ National Friends of Libraries Week Awards has been extended to Dec. 31, 2013. Nebraska Friends of the Library groups are invited to apply for this award.

Two awards of $250 will be given to Friends of the Library groups for activities held during National Friends of Libraries Week (Oct. 20-26, 2013). Application materials are available at www.ala.org/united/grants_awards/friends/friendsweek.

Applicants will be judged on creativity and innovation; involvement of Friends, library staff, Trustees and/or advisory committee; recognition of Friends group and promotion of Friends group to the community, school, students and/or faculty.

For more information or to join United for Libraries, visit the United for Libraries website or contact Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org.

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Applications for Trustee Conference Grant due Jan. 15

United for Libraries is accepting applications for the United for Libraries/Gale Trustee Conference Grant through Jan. 15, 2014. Nebraska library board members are invited to apply for this grant.

The United for Libraries/Gale Trustee Conference Grant enables a public library Trustee to attend the ALA Annual Conference for the first time. A grant of $850 plus full conference registration is awarded annually to a public library Trustee who has demonstrated service to the library. The Conference Grant, made possible by an annual gift from Gale Cengage Learning, is administered by United for Libraries. A formal presentation to the winner is made at the ALA Annual Conference. The upcoming 2014 Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV is scheduled for June 26-July 1, 2014.

For more information and to apply, seee www.ala.org/united/grants_awards/trustees/trusteegrant.

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