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University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Nebraska Libraries Nebraska Library Association 8-15-2015 Nebraska Libraries - Volume 3, Number 3 (August 2015) Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/neblib Part of the Library and Information Science Commons "Nebraska Libraries - Volume 3, Number 3 (August 2015)" (2015). Nebraska Libraries. 12. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/neblib/12 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Nebraska Library Association at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Libraries by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. NebraskaLIBRARIES August 2015, Vol. 3, No. 3 The Journal of the Nebraska Library Association NebraskaLIBRARIES August 2015, Volume 3, Number 3 Published by the Nebraska Library Association CONTENTS Membership in NLA is open to any individual or Editor’s Message 3 institution interested in Nebraska libraries. Featured Nebraska Library: To find out more about NLA, write to: Falls City Public Library and Arts Center 4 Nebraska Library Association Rachel Kenny interviews Hope Schawang c/o Executive Director, Michael Straatmann P.O. Box 21756 Working Together for Student Success Lincoln, NE 68542-1756; Sherrie Dux-Ideus, Dee Johnson, 8 [email protected] Dixie Codner Small Libraries, Big Grant Opportunities Opinions expressed in Nebraska Libraries are those 10 Jessica Votipka of the authors and are not endorsed by NLA. The Story of the Platte County Bookmobile 13 Articles in Nebraska Libraries are protected by Drew Brookhart copyright law and may not be reprinted without prior written permission from the author. Driving-Tests.org Partners with Nebraska Libraries to Help Patrons Become Safe Drivers 16 Nebraska Libraries Staff Jennifer Huebner Davidson Rachel Kenny, Interim Editor [email protected] U.S. Rural Libraries in an Energy-Uncertain World 18 Nebraska Libraries Editorial Board Eric Green Rachel Kenny Candidates for 2015 NLA Election 20 Emily McIllece Martha Grenzeback College & University Section 29 Jessica Votipka Joyce Neujahr Amy Tasich Technical Services Round Table Dixie Codner 30 Dan Nieman Emily Dust Nimsakont Tina Walker The Knee Bone’s Connected to the... 32 Monica Rogers © Nebraska Library Association Digital Watercooler 33 Nebraska Libraries (ISSN 2326-3237), formerly Emily McIllece known as Nebraska Library Association Quarterly (NLAQ,) is published online quarterly in spring, Book Bites: Book Reviews (and More!) 35 summer, fall, and winter by the Nebraska Library Editorial Policy 38 Association. Submission Policy 39 Cover Photo Credit: North entrance to Falls City, Picture This 40 Nebraska, on Highway 73. Photo by Rachel Kenny. 2 EDITOR’S MESSAGE Welcome readers to the August issue of Nebraska Before you dive in, I’d like to introduce you to our new Libraries! Our theme for this issue is small libraries — a editorial board members. Nebraska Libraries is pleased to category into which the vast majority of Nebraska welcome Jessica Votipka, Amy Tasich, Dixie Codner, libraries fall. With the changing landscape and shrinking Tina Walker, and Dan Nieman. Hard at work since our budgets, these nostalgic institutions have truly very first issue, Emily McIllece, Martha Grenzeback, and demonstrated hard work and dedication to the myself round out our team. They’ll be contacting you all communities they serve, no matter the size. This issue is shortly in hopes you will become the next great Nebraska our salute to you! Libraries author. For this issue, I sat down with Hope Schawang of the The theme for the November issue of Nebraska Libraries Falls City Public Library and Arts Center. Garnering is access — access to the long-distanced, underserved, much hype upon their initial opening, this library has truly and minority populations of Nebraska will be our focus. If listened to their community’s needs by delivering library you have an idea for an article, column, or you want to service with a touch of art. Hosting multiple art exhibits become a regular contributor to our “Book Bites: Book throughout the year and displaying countless local works Reviews (and More!)” column, contact me now at of art, the Falls City library is undoubtedly a reflection of [email protected]. the creative community in which it resides. As always, we are open to any feedback regarding the We’ll also look at efforts made by small libraries across content and overall nature of our journal. As this the state and resources essential in providing quality publication is still relatively new, outside insight is service to a limited population. Learn how Central welcomed to further develop this into a one-stop-shop Community College expands their services through for anything and everything related to Nebraska collaboration. Gear up for the next fiscal year with a librarianship. prime listing of current grant opportunities. Turn back the clock and discover the evolution of the Platte County Keep your eyes peeled for our next issue, and we’ll see bookmobile. Explore a free, new resource that can offer you all at Conference! your patrons online assistance with driving tests without breaking your budget. Learn how peak oil may be the small, rural library’s new worst enemy. Rachel Kenny As in the previous year, the special feature of this issue Interim Editor, will be a listing of the current candidates for the Nebraska Libraries upcoming Nebraska Library Association election. 3 FEATURE Featured Nebraska Library: Falls City Public Library and Arts Center Rachel Kenny interviews Hope Schawang For this issue, Rachel Kenny sat down with Hope Schawang of Falls City Public Library and Arts Center. Her unique, small library has quenched the creative thirst of Falls City, Nebraska, at its current location, for eight years. First of all, this library is really unique and connected to the culture of Falls City. So, tell me how the overall concept came about? Falls City Public Library and Arts Center in Falls City, Nebraska. The Lydia Bruun Woods Memorial Library donated to we had raised approximately half of the three million Falls City in 1902, had been completely outgrown. dollars needed for construction. An initiative to pass the Fundraising began to build a new library. After ten years, additional half-cent sales tax passed and paid for half of the library construction and 100 percent of our city’s new aquatic center. The Library & Community Foundation was formed, and grants were received from the Kiewit Foundation and the Nebraska Library Commission’s LSTA funding for all new technology. We opened in January of 2007. I would definitely describe your library as a creative space. Do you believe this approach better serves your patron base? Yes! Our Stalder Art Gallery exhibits art from museums, other organizations, The circulation desk sits at he entrance of the library in front of a private collections, and an annual K-12 stained glass window with a quote from Henry Ward Beecher, student exhibit sponsored by the Falls “A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessities of life.” City Federated Women’s Club. 4 FEATURE Winners from the student exhibit go on to regional, state, and national competitions of which we have had multiple winners. Exhibits are arranged, curated, and sponsored by the Arts & Humanities Council of Richardson County, headed by Christina Wertenberger. The gallery exhibits attract people from surrounding communities and area cities, enhancing our community’s rich history in the arts. We offer children’s programming to increase attendance and a love of reading. Our Library has collected art over its The Merle and Marcia Stalder Art Gallery at the Falls City Library, with its 100+ year history. The collection has been current exhibit, “Cloth as Community: Hmong Textiles in America.” enhanced recently by generous donations from local artists and collectors, bringing in celebrated artists from around the world. We are also able to loan I read on your website that you have a “Monsanto pieces to other museums. 100” program. Tell me about that. With a generous donation from America’s Farmers Grow Communities, our library has received a $2,500 donation from the Monsanto Fund for the third time. This year, with funding from the program, we are waiving our non- resident fee for families to allow many new families to receive library services without the additional cost. What other organizations support your library? In addition to our art gallery sponsorship from the Arts & Humanities Council of Richardson County, we are also supported by a Library Foundation, Friends of the Library, donations and The library hosts a Farmer’s Market , sponsored by the Friends of volunteers. We average about 50 volunteer hours the Library, every Thursday in their back parking lot. per month, which we could not do without. 5 FEATURE What are some of your most successful programs? Least successful programs? We have always had the support of area families in children’s programming, monthly book groups and films for youth, teens, and mature audiences. We offer six to eight art exhibitions per year, and multiple meeting spaces for groups. Our computer lab has 20 computers that are available without a waitlist or time limits. We offer basic computer training and partner with other organizations to offer formal classes. Our Art Council has hosted the Vienna Boys Choir, as well as jazz evenings, classical and popular musicale reviews. Our Friends of the Library group has sponsored children’s programming and have a goal of sponsoring one author visit per year. When we start a new program The teen area, located at the front corner of the series, we are not discouraged if only two people attend; library with plenty of window view. we can and have built on that! What is the biggest challenge facing small libraries? Competing for budget funding! We have 3.3 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff and are open 43 hours a week.