CHAPTER ELEVEN
LIBRARY ORGANIZATIONS & ASSOCIATIONS
Networking With Other Libraries
How can library board members and librarians network with library board members and librarians from other libraries?
Nebraska’s library staff and board members benefit from memberships in national,
regional and state organizations which provide educational and promotional
programs designed for public library board members. Memberships in professional
associations foster the sharing of solutions to problems, innovative ideas, and
resource information, not only among trustees but also between trustees and librarians.
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National Organizations
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The following national library organizations offer information and materials
that provide assistance to library staff and board members. |
Networking Within Nebraska
How can library board members connect with others within the state?
Several organizations within Nebraska provide assistance to library board members.
These organizations offer activities related to local board member interests.
They offer the opportunity to work with board members from libraries across the state.
Nebraska Library Association (NLA) is the professional association for librarians,
trustees and interested persons in Nebraska. NLA supports and promotes all libraries,
library media centers and library services in the state. Its foremost concerns are the
professional development of its members, library advocacy and open access to information
for all citizens. NLA is a member of MPLA and ALA.
NLA is divided into five sections and five roundtables. These reflect the diverse interests of
its membership. NLA sponsors an annual fall conference. It supports a lobbyist to represent
library legislative interests at the state level. The committees, sections and roundtables
of NLA offer an opportunity to be involved in library activities and issues beyond the
trustee’s own library.
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The Nebraska Library Commission
What types of services does the Nebraska Library Commission offer to board members and librarians?
The mission of the Nebraska Library Commission is statewide promotion, development and coordination of library services.
The Library Commission is governed by a board of six commissioners, appointed by the Governor. |
As a state library agency, the Commission is an advocate for the library and
information service needs of all Nebraskans. In meeting its mission,
the Nebraska Library Commission's major goals are that:
- Goal 1: All Nebraskans will benefit from life-long learning and cultural enrichment delivered through their library programs and services.
- Goal 2: Library staff and supporters will have the tools and skills to provide and sustain needed programs and services to their target audiences.
Nebraska Library Commission programs and services that support library development include:
- Continuing education programs and activities for library board members and library personnel.
- Collection of books, governmental documents, periodicals, and audiovisual materials available for use by trustees and library staff.
- Administration of public library accreditation and certification programs.
- Statewide summer reading program.
- Grant and state aid programs for public libraries.
- Statewide readers’ advisory and delivery service of materials in
recorded and Braille formats to Nebraskans who experience visual,
or other physical conditions which limit their use of regular print.
- State and federal government publications.
- Online access to journals, magazines, newspapers, genealogy and business information.
- Interlibrary loan
- Book club sets
- Back-up reference
- Statewide databases
A 20-member State Advisory Council on Libraries meets three times annually.
It reviews major Library Commission programs, federal Library Services and
Technology Act (LSTA) plans, and funding and library aid requests.
It advises the Commission on statewide library development and
planning and offers advice and planning on matters brought before it.
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Nebraska Regional Systems
What are the Nebraska regional library Systems and how can they be of assistance to board members and librarians?
Nebraska has four regional library Systems
established to assist all types of libraries and media centers within their regions.
Each system is managed by a Director and an elected board of directors. The System boards, through a written agreement with
the Nebraska Library Commission, operate, develop and implement a plan of services to meet the needs of the libraries within their systems.
All library systems provide consultation, training and promotional activities. Each System
also provides additional services appropriate for the needs of its member libraries. Those services may include:
- Cooperative purchasing
- Rotating collections, bulk loans and other special collections such as book kits
- Special programming
- Electronic access to library-related professional journals
System services are supported by state and federal funds from the Nebraska
Library Commission and from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
on the federal level. For more information about library Systems contact the
regional library System office in your area or the Nebraska Library Commission.
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created 2006; rev. 7/2015
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Holli Duggan
