1990-1999
This new decade began with Rod Wagner as Executive Director. He took some time to reflect on where the Commission had been in the last decade and on what paths would open up in the future. Cooperative efforts had been a part of the Commission's library services for decades. However, emerging partnerships allowed for broadening the service base in the coming year. (Overtones Year in Review, 1990)
Information Partnerships is the theme for this new decade. It was based on the need for public and private organizations to work collaboratively. Information resources were to prove of vital importance to the "good life" of the people of the state.
Nebraska Online was launched as the Information component of the Nebraska Development Network to provide "a variety of information and communication services to economic development professionals, librarians, educators, entrepreneurs--to All Nebraskans!" (Overtones, V 19, #2, Spring 1992.) It was the topic of discussion at the Nebraska Library Association's Spring Meetings. At those meetings Rod Wagner outlined how libraries can serve as key intermediaries, providing access to information resources.
Grants and contracts provided the backbone for improving the quality of library services across the state. NEON, NEBASE, NEUCAT and NEULIST continue to be the acronyms of choice. Technology would make great strides with automation becoming increasingly more important. The First Search Catalog was OCLC's contribution to online reference searching.
The federally funded Library Service and Construction Act (LSCA) mutated into the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) during this decade. The emphasis was changed from money being designated for certain categories to money being available for a variety of projects all related to improving library service. More projects were included, however no additional funds were appropriated.
Thirty-three libraries received grants that extended their direct access to NEON, the state database used to identify Nebraska holdings in the OCLC Online Union Catalog. Grants to upgrade and implement library technology went to 42 public libraries. Automation Planning grants were awarded to the Private Independent College Libraries and the Public Resource Library Group for planning.
Institutions, Regional Systems, Public Libraries, services for the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (now Talking Book and Braille Services), Education Information Centers,
CHIRS collection development were among those who received a portion of the money pie.
Opportunities for learning more about how to serve our customers better continued to be a priority throughout this decade. A third Colloquium was focused on values, learning, and creativity. Book review sessions were available statewide that emphasized the importance of quality book selection for children and young adults. Emporia (KS) State University launched their Masters of Library Science Program as a distance learning opportunity for working Nebraska librarians and media specialists.
The Wilson Symposium on Rural Libraries was held in Omaha. It featured people on a national level who talked about library service to the rural parts of our country. It was intended for librarians, trustees, governmental officials, and the interested public who are concerned about the future of small and rural public libraries in the United States.
The White House Conference on Library and Information Services was preceded in Nebraska by a pre-conference with the theme, "Nebraska Information Partnerships". The conference promoted services for productivity, information literacy, and democracy. Active partnerships were the centerpiece that emerged from the state conference. (Rod Wagner, NLAQ, v. 22, #4, Winter 1991.)
The Continuous Library Improvement Program (CLIP) encouraged library improvement through community involvement by identifying tangible short-term action steps. Planning teams from communities across the state attended workshops located at four sites to learn how to put their plan into action.
The Nebraska Publications Clearinghouse celebrated its 20th anniversary on September 23, 1992. They held an open house at the Commission's office at 1420 P Street.
The Commission had not moved its operations for a while. 1993 was the year to leave behind the headaches of water problems, not enough space and various other headaches found at 1420 P Street. The Atrium at 1200 N Street provided the new location. The Library Commission reopened for business on July 1. During the month prior, the Commission was closed for public business, but the staff labored on. Nancy Busch, Deputy Director, was Move Coordinator. Her words were, "All in all, Library Commission staff are pleased with the new space and look forward to providing our customers with excellent service in the days and years to come." (Overtones, Year in Review, 1993)
The Commission unveiled its home page in 1995. The page carried such library-related information as the Nebraska Library Directory, the Nebraska Library Calendar and Library Job Listings for Nebraska and the region. Links to other services were included.
They also became hosts to the State Government home page as part of a nation-wide initiative to develop an Internet World Wide Web Home Page for every state's government information. It had information on the Office of the Governor, State Job listings, the Unicameral and links to other state agencies.
A statewide planning retreat was held at the Commission to discuss issues relating to development of Nebraska's Electronic Library. The event was funded by the National Science Foundation and administered by the University of Nebraska Libraries and the Commission.
The latter part of this decade saw a definite shift to more sophisticated computer programming and automation. Microsoft funded Libraries Online! which was launched at Ashland, Nebraska in 1997. Ashland native Jeff Raikes Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Microsoft, was on hand to announce the partnership. Fifty libraries applied for the grant and 15 received the award for public access computer equipment and software.
Continuing education programs in Internet usage, developing web pages, evaluating information on the Internet, use of databases and browser programs found ready takers in the librarians that scurried to learn new skills and upgrade old ones. Online catalogs replaced the familiar cases of drawers with cards; automated checkout became the current "in" thing.
See Access to Electronic Information, Services, and Networks: A Nebraska Library Commission Interpretation March 1997
Summer Reading programs continued to be a winner for the children of the state. Workshops were given on activities appropriate to the summer's theme. Children's Services grants targeted Young Adults, Outreach to Daycare Centers, and innovative story times. The annual spring conference for Children's and Young Adults' Library Services motivated and informed numerous children's librarians. Video taped book reviews helped with selecting quality books for children's collections.
Legislative activity becomes an even more important function for librarians and trustees as the need to keep pace with the rising cost of doing business increases. Advocacy was the mantra we chanted as the need to reach out to community entities becomes more challenging.
In the Fall of 1995, Mary Jackson, Children and Young Adult Services Coordinator; and Mary Jo Ryan, Communications Coordinator, started a series of articles in the
NCompass called A Fresh Look at the Library Bill of Rights. We've combined all the articles in this document, which will be updated as new articles are published. We hope you find them helpful.
Libraries for the 21st Century, a coalition of the State Advisory Council on Libraries, Nebraska Library Association, regional library systems, library representatives and citizens throughout Nebraska, was responsible for adding $550,000 to the Commission's budget to support additional aid to libraries. Legislators in Nebraska are notoriously tough to get to raise budgets, so this was a major step forward in the campaign to increase the level of state aid for library services.
Senator LaVon Crosby spearheaded the legislative effort by sponsoring LB95 in 1997, which succeeded in adding $400,000 to the Commission budget. These additional funds were used for improved library service throughout the state.
The state was chosen as one of the eight states to participate in the Community-Library Advocacy Project, funded by Libraries for the Future and the Viburnum Foundation. This project identified some 16 libraries to be part of this program. Trustees, Friends and Users were brought together to learn the techniques of building grassroots support for library service.
Censorship issues were prominent during this time. Each new technology brings its own brand of risk with it. Concern about protecting children from pornography found its way into several bills. These were not passed.
First Lady Diane Nelson initiated a rejuvenation of the mansion library. The Commission participated in the renovation of the library by donating Notable Nebraskans by Jean Sanders, NLC Commissioner. Burns Davis, then a staff member, helped with the collection of donated books and reorganizing the library. (NCompass Newsletter, v. 5, #2/3, Summer/Fall 1998)
The decade and the century ended as it had begun with many gains in providing the people of the state with library services and with many issues to be addressed in the upcoming years. The vision of the Library Commission still calls for "affordable, reliable, progressive, and equitable library service for all Nebraskans regardless of their economic status and geographic location." (NCompass, v.6 #1)