NSLA Newsletter - April 2026
NSLA President
NSLA April 2026 Newsletter
Read on to learn aboutā¦
School Librarians Meetup
Annual Meeting
Future Ready Conference - Free
ā¦.and much more!
Notes from Your President:
NSLA Annual Membership Meeting
Please join us for our annual meeting on June 1 at 12:00 PM at the Future Ready Nebraska Conference. If you are planning to attend in-person, we encourage you to join us for lunch, our awards ceremony, and our annual meeting. Donāt wait to register, spots fill up fast: Nebraska Future Ready Conference.
Vendor Spotlight: Gumdrop Books
Gumdrop Books is a "one-stop shop" for educators and librarians, specializing in providing high-quality, shelf-ready books and digital resources for Pre-K through college-level institutions.
Why They Stand Out
Wholesale Variety: They offer a massive selection of titles from hundreds of publishers, ensuring diverse content for any collection.
Exceptional Service: Known for their "on-site" shopping experience, they often send sales representatives directly to schools and libraries with physical samples.
Shelf-Ready Solutions: They provide full MARC records and customized processing (labels, barcodes, etc.), so books can go straight from the box to the shelf.
Community & Professional Support: They are deeply committed to the library community, showing strong support for the NSLA and even offering a NETA scholarship to members this year.
Welcome New Board Members
We are thrilled to have the following librarians join the NSLA Board for the upcoming year.
President Elect: Meredith Fickes
Secretary: Dana Fontaine
Board Member at Large: Jordan Cudaback
Board Member at Large: Angela Christensen Fischer
Congrats and thank you to outgoing members for your service! If you are reading this message, please fill out this form to be entered in a drawing for a free tote bag. Thank you for reading our NSLA Newsletter!
ā 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 ā 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 whatās 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.
Future Ready Conference:
ā³ The countdown is on!
The Future Ready Nebraska Conference is happening June 1ā2, 2026 and itās designed with school librarians in mind.
āØ Hear from Kristen Mattson and Jennifer LaGarde
āØ Dig into AI in education, WCAG accessibility, and UDL
āØ 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! Donāt wait to register, spots fill up fast: Nebraska Future Ready Conference
This Monthās Top Socials:
šTRAILS Book and STEAM Kits
The Three Rivers Library System and the other three systems in Nebraska (Nebraska's Regional Library Systems) offer Book Kits and STEAM kits for libraries to borrow! See our catalog to explore whats available. Many of these are Golden Sower titles, and most kits have ten or more copies. If you do not see the title you want, we welcome suggestions. For those libraries located in the TRLS 21-county region, return shipping costs are covered.
š±Green Spaces in Your Library
Want a green library space but don't have any windows? Here are four plants that I have had success with when there is little or no natural light:Ā
ZZ Plant: it actually thrives on neglect and fluorescent light.
Snake Plant: Practically indestructible and great for air purification.
Pothos: A leafy vine that handles low light like a pro, super cute on top of a bookshelf!
Cast Iron Plant: Named for its toughness; it grows steadily even in the dimmest spots.
Ā