Central Plains Library System

Sharon Bohling, McCook, Library Customer
Stephanie Branham, Orleans, Library Director
Lisa Mount, Grand Island, CCC Resource Center Supervisor
Kina Stefka, Sargent, School Librarian
James Tidei, Kearney, Circulation Librarian

Minutes from the Annual Meeting held in St. Paul on July 8, 2022.

In November 2021, Cozad’s Wilson Public Library was awarded a Nebraska Library Commission Library Improvement Grant for a permanent StoryWalk at Muny Park. This project is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Nebraska Library Commission.

A StoryWalk is a movement and literacy boosting project that places an illustrated children’s book, taken apart and displayed page by page, along a community walking route. Twenty StoryWalk posts were installed by the Cozad Street Department around the walking track at the park in mid-April and the Cozad Library Foundation provided additional funds beyond the grant.

“During COVID, StoryWalks were a way for us to encourage literacy while the library was closed, and we did them around the library, downtown, and at several city parks. Once we re-opened, we continued with them because our patrons, especially families, told us how much they enjoyed spending time together outside reading the stories. With the Library Improvement Grant, we now have a permanent solution—Mother Nature tended to destroy the laminated stories after a week,” said Library Director Laurie Yocom. “Our plan is to have monthly StoryWalks around the park, not limited to children’s picture books, and we will partner with other businesses and organizations who might want to provide information to our town in a unique way.”

“For example, in November, we want to put up biographies of Cozad veterans. Maybe in September we could do a StoryWalk about the history of our community’s Hay Days event. We’d like to have something different up every month with a potential follow-up program at the library,” said Yocom.

The library is asking the public to help reach a monthly goal of at least 50 participants by filling out brief surveys via QR codes located on the last page of each StoryWalk. “I think our attendance goals will be easily met in the summer, as you have families coming in for swim team events and baseball games, and even in the fall with youth league football. The harder times will be when the weather is cold,” continued Yocom. Ultimately, the StoryWalks are aimed at bringing people back to the library. “If you enjoy the stories, know that there’s a lot more at the library.

Two of Central Plains Library System’s Libraries were awarded grants through this national program. They are the ONLY two public libraries in Nebraska to receive this funding. Congratulations go to Joy at the Ravenna Public Library and to Amy at the Hastings Public Library!! The University of Nebraska – Omaha was selected, as well.

Click here for full details.

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has awarded $2 million in humanities funding to libraries nationwide, part of a grantmaking program to deliver relief to libraries recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.

With funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the libraries will use funds to anchor themselves as strong humanities institutions and vibrant centers of learning, conversation and connection.

Two hundred libraries each will receive a $10,000 grant through ALA’s American Rescue Plan: Humanities Grants for Libraries opportunity.

“Libraries have faced significant hardships throughout the pandemic —from budget cuts to staff furloughs to building closures — especially in our communities of the greatest need,” said ALA President Patty Wong. “This crucial support from NEH will enable our beloved institutions, and the dedicated people who run them, to rebuild and emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever.”

The libraries, selected through a competitive, peer-reviewed application process, include public libraries, academic/college libraries, K-12 libraries, and tribal, special and prison libraries. The recipients represent 45 states and Puerto Rico and serve communities ranging in size from 642 residents in Weir, Kansas to the city of Los Angeles. Libraries were chosen with an emphasis on reaching historically underserved and/or rural communities.

The American Rescue Plan opportunity will help libraries create or preserve jobs; support or maintain general operations; create or sustain humanities programs; and implement new humanities activities or sustain existing activities.

“Strong public libraries are at the heart of healthy communities,” said NEH Chair Shelly C. Lowe. “The National Endowment for the Humanities is grateful to the American Library Association for their exemplary work in helping distribute NEH American Rescue Plan funding to assist our nation’s libraries in recovering from the financial impact of the pandemic, and strengthen their role as local centers of humanities learning, research, and public programs.”