Library Commission Distributes State Aid
The Nebraska Library Commission annually provides
direct state aid payments to eligible public libraries. This money augments
local support for library services and is used by local public libraries
to meet a wide variety of growing needs. To be eligible for this annual
state aid payment a library must be accredited and must submit Public
Library Statistical data online using Bibliostat™ Collect. Additionally,
local income must be equal to or greater than that of the three previous
years. State Aid Award letters were mailed at the end of February.
One hundred sixty-six public libraries met the eligibility requirements
and more than $270,000 was distributed in direct state aid payments.
Libraries report that state aid payments are used to fund continuing education
opportunities for staff, to provide enhancements to children’s programming,
to purchase valuable reference materials, and to round out library print
collections in areas of special interest. For more information contact
Kit Keller, Library Data Services Coordinator, 402-471-3216, 800-307-2665,
fax: 402-471-2083, e-mail: Kit Keller.
Average State Aid Award Amounts
Statewide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,220. . . . .$0.91 per capita
Libraries serving less than 5,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 968 . . . . $1.06 per capita
Libraries serving more than 5,000 . . . . . . . . . . .7,503 . . . . $0.24 per capita
Network Services staff are providing workshops throughout the state this spring to train library staff to help Nebraska citizens use online database resources provided by the Nebraska Library Commission. Training focuses on using the netLibrary eBook collection and changes to two of the Commission’s statewide databases, Wilson and bigchalk eLibrary.
Updates on Upgrades: Learn about the new Wilson and bigchalk eLibrary interfaces brings library staff up-to-date on recent enhancements to the Wilson OmniFile Full Text Select and Biographies Plus Illustrated and to the bigchalk eLibrary (formerly Electric Library) databases. Participants will explore the new features and capabilities of each database with hands-on exercises.
netLibrary Training provides an overview of netLibrary eBooks, including searching and checking out titles. Participants will also explore the eBook Tool Kit to learn how to promote the netLibrary collection. Information on the new shared collection of netLibrary titles available from the Nebraska Library Commission will also be included.
Database Roadshows are also planned for seven sites across Nebraska from June through October.
For more information and to register online see <nlc.nebraska.gov/netserv/
training.html> or contact Jeannette Powell, Network Services Staff Assistant, 402-471-7740, 800-307-2665, e-mail: Jeannette Powell.
On March 6, The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Museum and Library Services Act (H.R. 13) on a 416 – 2 vote. H.R. 13 reauthorizes the Library Services and Technology Act for a five-year period. Nebraska Congressional Representatives Doug Bereuter, Tom Osborne, and Lee Terry voted in favor of the bill. Rep. Bereuter’s remarks in support of H.R. 13 are included in the Congressional Record. The Senate must now enact similar legislation.
An important feature of the legislation is a provision that changes the funding formula for the Library Services and Technology Act. The formula would be revised to increase the base amount (not changed since 1971) and authorize the overall amount at $300 million for FY2003 and “such sums” for the next four years. The change in the base amount would help smaller populated states. For more information see the ALA Washington Office Web site at <www.ala.org/washoff/>.
