NCompass Newsletter Vol. 9 No. 1 Page 10, Spring 2002

Open Letter from the
Nebraska Center for Book

Dear Friends of the Nebraska Center for Book:
It is the time of year when we celebrate our accomplishments from the past year and ask for your continued support for the Center's programs! The Nebraska Center for the Book is now able to promote programs and events listed below thanks to your continued membership and the generous assistance from both the Nebraska Library Commission and Nebraska Humanities Council.

Highlights from our tenth year include:

THE NEBRASKA LITERATURE FESTIVAL. Held at Peru State College September 21-22, 2001, this year's festival featured the Nebraska poetry community and honored Nebraska State Poet, Bill Kloefkorn and University of Nebraska at Kearney's Don Welch. In 2002 the festival will change its name to the Nebraska Book Festival.

LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE. In its third annual competition, four students received awards for outstanding letters to authors. As a part of this national competition, the Weekly Reader Corporation awards each first place letter $100, and thanks to Houchen Bindery, Ltd. of Utica, the alternates receive $50. Each receive a book certificate from Lee Booksellers.

NEBRASKA BOOK AWARDS. In its second year, books written by Nebraska authors, published by Nebraska publishers, and/or set in Nebraska or relating to Nebraska are recognized.

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS AND WRITINGS GROUPS. The Center is collecting information about Nebraska book clubs and writing groups. More than 170 groups in forty-six communities have been identified.

THE MILDRED BENNETT AWARD, given to an individual, is awarded for leadership and service to Nebraska Literature. This year's winner was Marion Marsh Brown.

THE JANE GESKE AWARD, given to an association, organization, business, library, school, or academic institution that has made an exceptional, long-term contribution to one or more of these fields in Nebraska: Literacy, Bookselling, Books, Libraries, Writing. This year's winner was Friends of the Omaha Public Library.

Please support our annual membership drive. The newsletter that you, as a member, will receive will outline our many activities all of which you help make possible. With your membership, the Nebraska Center for the Book can continue to not only build on the above programs and events, but further stimulate public interest in books, reading, and the written word. Please contact the Library Commission, 402-471-2045, 800-307-2665, to request a membership form.

Thank you in advance for your 2002 membership!

Sincerely,
Joan Birnie, President
Nebraska Center for the Book

E-Rate Support Reported

Eighty Nebraska public libraries and the Nebraska Library Commission received e-rate discounts for the fourth year of the Universal Service Fund discount program. The total discounts of more than $200,000 help public libraries provide more effective services to customers by improving technology access in libraries. Most libraries received discounts for Internet or telecommunications access. Libraries used the support for improving connections and telephone service. Discount levels for e-rate are based on the percentage of students in each local school district eligible for subsidized lunch programs. In Nebraska, public libraries across Nebraska received discounts ranging from $225 in Emerson to $42,000 in Omaha.

The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) raises concerns for librarians and board members. This law, passed in 2001, affects libraries that receive federal funding for discounts relating to public Internet access. The Children's Internet Protection Act does not affect discounts on telecommunications for year 4 (2001-2002). However, libraries that receive discounts for Internet access for year 4 are required to document that their facility took action toward CIPA compliance. Many libraries used documentation of a CIPA discussion during a board meeting as an example of such action toward compliance.

Libraries that will be awarded funding discounts for Internet access for year 5, (2002-2003) will be required to follow the following guidelines:

Install a technology protection measure (filter)

Adopt and/or revise the Internet Safety Policy, according to guidelines suggested by Schools and Libraries Division, see www.sl.universalservice.org

Post a public notice and hold a public hearing addressing filters and the Internet Safety policy.

The American Library Association (ALA) has filed a legal challenge to CIPA. The trial date for ALA v. United States is March 25. Libraries are not required to make a final decision about installing filtering technology until July 2002. ALA is asking the court to resolve the matter before any library is required to make that decision. For more information see the ALA home page at www.ala.org/cipa; the Library Commission home page at nlc.nebraska.gov, search on E-Rate; or contact Pam Scott, Continuing Education Coordinator, 402-471-2694, 800-307-2665, fax: 402-471-2083, e-mail: Pam Scott.