NSLA Newsletter - March 2026
NSLA President
NSLA March 2026 Newsletter
Read on to learn about…
School Librarians Meetup
Nebraska School Librarian’s Day is back - see info below
Sora Parental Controls
Follow Me Fridays!
Future Ready Conference - Free
….and much more!
Notes from Your President:
🏔️ NSLA Leadership Opportunities
The Nebraska School Librarians Association is currently seeking nominations for the positions of President-Elect and Secretary. If you or a colleague are interested in shaping the future of our profession, please submit your nominations today! Email nsla...@gmail.com with your photo and a short description explaining why you would make a great board member.
☕ Connect & Collaborate: School Librarian Meet-Up
Come to UNO for a School Librarians Day Meet Up! Whether you want to troubleshoot a tech hurdle, share a successful lesson plan, or just chat with folks who "get" the library life, this is the space for you.
The Details
When: Saturday, May 9, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Where: UNO Campus, Roskens Hall, Parking is available for free in the East parking garage.
Location: IDEAS Room, 4th Floor (Directly across from the elevator)
Format: Open house style, feel free to drop in whenever you can
Why Attend?
Peer Support: An open forum to ask questions and share what’s working in your library.
Stay Connected: Use the available Wi-Fi to share digital resources on the spot.
Community: Meet new colleagues and catch up with old friends over casual conversation.
Note: RSVPs are appreciated to help us gauge numbers, but walk-ins are always welcome! Please email cpen...@unomaha.edu if you plan to attend.
🍂 Fall in Love with School Librarianship: NSLD 2026!
Get ready to celebrate! Nebraska School Librarians Day (NSLD) is back on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Join us in person at either UNO or UNK for a morning of networking and professional growth. We’ll kick things off with coffee and conversation at 8:30 AM, followed by a fantastic lineup of sessions from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM.
If you’re already an NSLA member, you're in luck—registration is totally free! Not a member yet? No problem! For just $40, you can snag your spot and get a full year of NSLA membership included in the price. We’ve also got a great deal for students, who can join the fun for only $20 and get that same annual membership as part of the package.
We need your expertise to make this day a success. Whether it's a favorite lesson, a tech hack, or a management tip, please consider submitting a session proposal! It’s a low-key, supportive environment—perfect for first-time presenters or dynamic duos.
Deadline: April 19 by 11:59 PM
Requirement: Just a title and basic description (you have until October to build the slides!).
Sora Update: Parental Controls Approved for the Shared Collection
The OverDrive Sora Shared Collection Committee has officially approved the activation of Parental Controls within Sora. This update is a proactive step in ensuring our digital library remains a flexible, student-centered environment while supporting the involvement of families in their child’s reading journey.
Important: Notably, the implementation of this feature helps our participating schools meet the requirements of LB 390, providing the necessary tools for parental transparency and management of digital library materials. We strongly encourage all librarians to communicate this update to parents and guardians as soon as possible to ensure they are aware of these new oversight tools.
How it Works
Parents and guardians can now manage access directly within the Sora app:
Activation: By navigating to Settings > Support: Parental Controls, parents can enable the feature and create a secure PIN to access Parent Mode.
Locking Titles: In Parent Mode, guardians can manually lock or unlock specific titles. A locked title cannot be borrowed or read via the student’s main collection or any added public libraries.
Seamless Transition: Exiting Parent Mode instantly returns Sora to the standard student experience.
Key Details to Remember
Individual Selection: Titles must be locked individually (e.g., the eBook and audiobook versions of the same title are managed separately).
Student-Specific: Adjustments made in Parent Mode apply only to that individual student’s account and do not affect the broader collection for others.
Always Secure: While an internet connection is required to change settings in Parent Mode, locked titles remain inaccessible to the student whether they are online or offline.
By opting into this feature collectively as the Nebraska Schools Shared Collection, we are providing a consistent, compliant, and safe digital reading experience across all our member schools.
Future Ready Conference:
⏳ The countdown is on!
The Future Ready Nebraska Conference is happening June 1–2, 2026 and it’s designed with school librarians in mind.
✨ Hear from Kristen Mattson and Jennifer LaGarde
✨ Dig into AI in education, WCAG accessibility, and UDL
✨ Connect with educators across the state
In partnership with the Nebraska Department of Education, this FREE statewide event is built for you. Join us in person or on Zoom! Don’t wait to register, spots fill up fast: Nebraska Future Ready Conference
This Month’s Top Socials:
Nebraska Access Promotional Items
Did you know NebraskAccess provides promotional posters and bookmarks you can share with students and families? Some can even be customized to your school! Check out this link to find them: NebraskAccess - Promotional Material
Organize Student Seating in Your Library
Need an easy way to get students organized? Label seats by color or shape, and 1A or 1B, 2A or 2B, etc. When students come in, they know their exact spot (for example, “Dark Blue 1A”). This makes partner work easy—“Partner A talks first, then Partner B”—and helps with quick transitions. You can dismiss students by table color, by A/B groups, or use the labels for lining up and checkout.
Follow Me Friday
Meet Jessica! Check out our latest Follow Me Friday video! You can also check out the previous Follow Me Friday videos under the Library Visits tab on the NSLA website. Follow Me Friday - Jessica
Marking the Page: AASL Delegate Updates - March 2026
Upcoming Events
We are jumping into 4th quarter and School Library Month will be here in just a few weeks! Check out some April events with links to resources below. -Rachel
School Library Month is the American Association of School Librarians' celebration of school librarians and school libraries.
Neurodiversity Celebration Month
Neurodiversity Celebration Month is a time to celebrate neurological differences, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and bipolar, as identities to be accepted and respected. The goal is to move beyond awareness and celebrate these differences as strengths rather than hindrances.
Arab American Heritage Month celebrates and recognizes the rich culture, history, achievements, and contributions of Arab Americans to the United States
National Library Week was first celebrated in 1958 in response to American spending more time with their radios and TVs than their libraries with the theme, “Wake Up and Read”.
Right to Read Day is celebrated on the Monday of National Library Week and was established on April 17, 2023 by the American Library Association as a day of action.
National Library Outreach Day (originally National Bookmobile Day) celebrates the efforts that libraries and library professionals do to bring the library out into the community.
D.E.A.R - Drop Everything and Read Day
D.E.A.R. stands for "Drop Everything and Read," a national celebration of reading designed to remind families to make reading a priority activity in their lives.
Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22, is a global movement dedicated to raising awareness about environmental protection, sustainability, and climate action.
Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah)
The internationally recognized date for Holocaust Remembrance Day corresponds to the 27th day of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar and it marks the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
El día de los niños/El día de los libros
El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day) is a celebration every day of children, families, and reading that culminates yearly on April 30.
Vendor Spotlight
News from Tom Adamich at The Library Corporation
Looking for a better way to obtain MARC Records or an attractive and easy to use catalog? If so, take a look at the products offered by The Library Corporation.
If you currently use ITS-MARC from TLC, they are asking users to complete the ITS MARC Customer Survey 2026. TLC offers free trials of ITS MARC, if you are interested in learning more. If you are looking for a new public access catalog, TLC encourages you to take a look at their Library Solution.