Connect OPL Spring Newsletter

Connect News from Omaha Public Library • OPL Foundation • Friends of OPL

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Volume 26 • Issue 1 • Spring 2019

The Common Soil Seed Library is a collection of open-pollinated and heirloom seeds from which Seed Library you can borrow to plant and grow at home.

Omaha Public Library (OPL) cardholders of all ages and levels of gardening experience are invited to browse for seeds in person at Benson Branch, Bess Johnson Elkhorn Branch and South Omaha Library, or search the online catalog at omahalibrary.org. Reserve seeds through the catalog and have them sent to your preferred location for pickup.

Cardholders may check out up to 10 seed packets at a time. Seeds do not need to be returned, but patrons are encouraged to learn about seed saving to donate seeds back to the library’s collection. Seed selections vary based on seasonal changes and donations, so be sure to check back often for new offerings.

Seed Library Spring Workshops | Saturdays at 2 pm Vegetable Gardening

Starting Seeds Indoors

March 2 | Elkhorn Branch March 23 | Willa Cather Branch

March 9 | Elkhorn Branch March 16 | Willa Cather Branch

Composting 101

Spice Up Your Garden with Herbs

March 9 | Millard Branch March 23 | Elkhorn Branch March 30 | Benson Branch

March 16 | Benson Branch May 4 | Elkhorn Branch

New Spring Titles The Affairs of the Falcóns

by Melissa Rivero This is a stunning debut novel about a young, undocumented Peruvian woman fighting to keep her family afloat in New York City.

If, Then by Kate Hope Day The residents of a sleepy mountain town are rocked by troubling visions of an alternate reality.

Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee

by Casey Cep This is the stunning story of an Alabama serial killer and the true-crime book that Harper Lee worked on obsessively in the years after “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Zoo Nebraska: The Dismantling of an American Dream

by Carson Vaughan This is a resonant true story of small-town politics and community perseverance, and of decent people and questionable choices.

National Library Week April 7-13, 2019 The American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country first sponsored National Library Week in 1958. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support.

Participate by visiting your local library branch, supporting OPL on social media @omahalibrary (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) using #NationalLibraryWeek and #LibrariesTransform; or share your library story with OPL any time at omahalibrary.org/share-your-story.

The Dictionary Wars: The American Fight over the English Language by Peter Martin Read a compelling history of the national conflicts that resulted from efforts to produce the first definitive American dictionary of English.

Request your own customized book list at omahalibrary.org and select Custom Reading List under the Services tab.

Director’s Note

You can also learn about composting or make this the year to get that vegetable garden up and running! Check out seeds from OPL’s Common Soil Seed Library to help you get started. There is a large Spring always makes me think of cleaning out closets, organizing selection of open-pollinated and heirloom seeds that you can check my life (or at least my house), and starting a garden! I think I get the cleaning urge from my mom, who did big cleaning projects in the fall out to plant and grow at home, and you don’t have to return the and spring—which, of course, I was required to help complete. If you, seed packets—though we do encourage patrons to learn about seed saving to donate back to OPL. too, get the cleaning and organizing bug when the weather starts to get warmer, then OPL has something for you!

These resources and more are available at a branch near you, and friendly staff Check out Marie Kondo’s “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” are always available to help you find to help you find joy in the objects you decide to keep in your home. whatever you need! Happy spring!

You may also be interested in one of OPL’s top circulating titles from 2018, “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning” by Margareta Magnusson to aid you in your organizing!

If garden plans are on your horizon this year, be sure to check out OPL’s events calendar and plan to attend a seed-starting program.

2018: Year-in-Review

Laura Marlane Executive Director

Winter Recap 18th Annual Teen Poetry Bash

Items Borrowed | 3,000,876 Library Visits | 1,765,216 Website Visits | 2,106,118 Desktop Computer Sessions | 452,117 Digital Downloads | 441,792 Current Library Members | 301,500

Service Statistics 34,150 kids, teens & adults registered for the Summer Reading Program

OPL partnered with the Nebraska Writers Collective to host the Teen Poetry Bash at W. Dale Clark Main Library on December 1. Nine teens braved inclement weather to Lillian McEvoy perform their original works of poetry and compete for the opportunity to win cash prizes from the Friends of Omaha Public Library. The top five performers moved on to perform a second poem.

Three winners were selected. 1st place: Jules Wuestewald; 2nd place: Lolon Timmons; 3rd place: Lillian McEvoy.

This event supports literacy, fosters creativity and provides teens with a welcoming space to share their works. Poem topics often address challenging life issues, and the event provides an opportunity to express feelings in an environment of support without judgment.

Kate Klise Visit

32,813 adults attended a meeting in one of our rooms individuals attended a library

119,957 program

Top Circulating Titles Adult fiction: The Woman in the Window

by A.J. Finn Adult nonfiction: Girl, Wash Your Face

by Rachel Hollis Adult eBook: Origin by Dan Brown DVD: The Shape of Water Youth/Teen: The Hate U Give

by Angie Thomas Children’s: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway by Jeff Kinney 2

Author Kate Klise

Golden Sower Award-winning author Kate Klise visited Millard Branch on December 3. The author of the bestselling “43 Old Cemetery Road” series led attendees in a group activity where they wrote and shared short stories. After the presentation, Klise signed books for attendees and answered questions.

Nick Bruel Visit New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Nick Bruel visited W. Dale Clark Main Library on January 30 to celebrate the release of his newest book in the “Bad Kitty” series, “Kitten Trouble.” Bruel met with fans, signed books and led a discussion about his career.

Author Nick Bruel with an OPL patron

These events provide attendees with opportunities to meet wellknown authors and get tips and insights about the writing process.

Michael Phipps Gallery Main Library | 215 S. 15th St. | 1st Floor Available free of charge to local artists and art groups for exhibitions throughout the year. Exhibits are displayed for one or two months, and scheduled 12 months in advance through an open application process. Learn more at omahalibrary.org/michael-phipps-gallery.

March: “Scorched and Scarred” by Traci Schacht Opening reception: Fri | March 1 | 4-6 pm Traci Schacht, normally a poet who performs readings, is making her first foray into visual art. Her exhibition, “Scorched and Scarred,” is a collection of laser cut panels with text. Schacht is a spoken-word poet and visual artist from Omaha. She works for the Nebraska Writers Collective as a teaching artist in the Louder Than Text panel by Traci Schacht a Bomb program, as well as for the Collective For Youth program in middle schools. She is also a teaching artist with the Nebraska Arts Council for Poetry Out Loud and a resident visiting artist with the Lied Center in Lincoln.

April: “OPL—A Year in Photographs” Opening reception: Fri | April 5 | 4-6 pm OPL sees nearly 2 million visitors each year at its 12 locations. The individuals served by OPL represent all ages, backgrounds and walks of life. Each person comes to the library for a different reason, and OPL strives to capture some of those moments throughout the year. A year in images will be represented through this exhibit selected from OPL’s 2018 photo archive. The photos will feature OPL’s patrons – your family, colleagues, Scamper at annual Storybook Land event on neighbors and friends.

April 15, 2018.

May/June: Rexo Droppers, Bob Mathews and Sophie Newell Opening reception: Fri | May 3 | 4-6 pm Join us for a discussion with the artists at 5 pm.

The artists featured in this exhibition draw from the ephemera of memory and inner consciousness to explore narrative through color, fabric and found objects.

Influenced by her upbringing in Papua New Guinea, Droppers creates vivid mixed media textiles that respond to intuition and memory.

Mathews depicts animal figures in vibrant paintings that playfully assert the obvious in bold strokes and French phrases.

In a more subtle manner, Newell carefully constructs stories that slip between imagined and real using found materials and photographs.

“The Span of His Hand,” 2018, by Rexo Droppers

“Toothbrush,” 2017, by Sophie Newell

“The Ship of the Desert,” 2018, by Bob Mathews

Volunteer Spotlight: UNO Day of Service No classes were held at University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), Metropolitan Community College or Omaha Public Schools on January 21, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Yet, students from all three schools came together at UNO’s Community Engagement Center to work on a service project for OPL as part of UNO’s annual MLK Day of Service, which is organized by the University’s Office of Civic and Social Responsibility.

Volunteers helped assemble packets for OPL’s Baby Reads program, sponsored by the Omaha Public Library Foundation, which feature books, a DVD for parents and their babies to watch, and resources for parents about the importance of reading aloud to young children.

Jessica Sanchez, a freshman at UNO, was the student coordinator assigned to the project, which resonated with her personally. She is bilingual today, but when she moved to the

United States with her family from Mexico at age 7, learning English was not an easy task. “It was a challenge because my peers were learning how to formulate sentences while I was still learning my ABCs,” said Sanchez. “I know that my situation would have been better had I learned English earlier, so that’s why I’m an advocate for early literacy.”

Preparing 2,147 Baby Reads packets took the student volunteers about two hours, to the amazement of Jody duRand, OPL’s partnership and community engagement manager. “We have a small staff and what the volunteers accomplished in two hours would have literally taken us weeks,” said duRand.

Panyoua Yang, R.M. Marrs Magnet Center’s gifted and talented specialist, brought a group of 25 students in grades 5-8 to get firsthand experience with service, a topic they talk about often in student leadership groups. “Experiencing giving back is a really

valuable lesson for the students and helps them fully grasp the concept,” Yang Jessica Sanchez said. “When I told the kids we’d be working to help the public library, their eyes lit up because most of these kids are high readers who visit the library often, so there is a connection there.”

Sanchez said that knowing that many families will benefit from their efforts “makes me feel like I did something today to help make change.” OPL is appreciative of these students and all volunteers who help with unique contributions to their libraries each day.

If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering at OPL, visit your neighborhood branch or omahalibrary.org/volunteer for more information.

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KidSpot

Costume Character Enjoy stories & activities with children’s book characters. Don’t forget your camera!

Biscuit Visits Storytime

March 29 March 30 April 1 April 2 April 3 April 5

10:30 am. . . . . . . . . . . . Florence 10:15 am. . . . . . . . . . . . . Benson 10:30 am. . . . . . . . . . . Abrahams 10:30 am. . . . . . . . . Washington 10:30 am. . . . . . . . . . . Sorensen 9:30 am. . . . . . . . . Saddlebrook

TeenSpace Teen Tech Week | March 3-9 Teen Tech Week is a national initiative sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association and is aimed at teens, their parents, educators and other concerned adults. The purpose of the initiative is to ensure that teens are competent and ethical users of technologies, especially those that are offered through libraries such as DVDs, databases, audiobooks and video games.

Teen Tech Week encourages teens to use libraries’ nonprint resources for education and recreation, and to recognize that librarians are qualified, trusted professionals in the field of information technology.

R Registration Required

Tues–Sat | March 5–9

Saturday | March 9

A.V. Sorensen Branch

Millard Branch

Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit

Storybook Land (Featuring 8 book characters)

April 7 | 1-4 pm | Saddlebrook Branch

OPL will celebrate its sixth annual Storybook Land—an exciting afternoon with storytimes throughout the day featuring some of our visiting characters and their friends.

1:30 pm: Biscuit Storytime 2:15 pm: Pete the Cat Storytime 3 pm: Lilly Storytime This year’s characters include Biscuit, Pete the Cat, Elephant & Piggie, Madeline, Lilly, Mouse, members of the 501st Legion, and OPL’s mascot Scamper. These characters are excited to meet their fans and pose for photos, so don’t forget to bring a camera! All children attending Storybook Land will receive a free book to keep.

1 pm–Sphero Obstacle Course R

Thursday | March 7

2 pm–Nintendo Switch Gaming

South Omaha Library

2 pm–Get Connected

5:30 pm–Building Block Drones

Friday | March 8

3:15 pm–Teen Food & Fun W. Dale Clark Main Library

A.V. Sorensen Branch Florence Branch

3 pm–Minecraft Saturday R Millard Branch

Staff Spotlight: Paige G. Wagner Being the daughter of a librarian, some would say the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, but Paige G. Wagner would not have agreed with that as a child.

“I didn’t really like libraries,” Wagner said. “We always had to go there after school and wait for my mom, and I really wanted to be outside playing.”

Growing up in beautiful Hawaii, who could blame her? However, over years of being read to every night by her mother, this self-described reluctant reader grew to appreciate books, and decided that she would like to write and illustrate children’s books herself. She studied literature, languages and art, then attended library school at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

After working in libraries in Hawaii, California and Colorado, Wagner joined the OPL staff as a children’s librarian in 1992. She worked at various locations throughout the OPL system, including W. Clarke Swanson, A.V. Sorensen, Benson, Willa Cather, Millard and Florence branches. In her time as a children’s librarian, she most enjoyed storytimes.

Omaha Symphony Visits Storytime

This special storytime will feature pirates and a rhythmic reading using percussion instruments with an Omaha Symphony artist. Explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, talking and reading. Recommended for children ages 3-7, but children of all ages are welcome.

Contact the hosting location or visit omahalibrary.org for more information.

March 11 March 18 March 22 March 27

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10:30 am. . . . . . .

10:30 am. . . . . . .

10:30 am. . . . . . .

10:30 am. . . . . . .

Millard Abrahams Swanson Saddlebrook

“Storytimes are a great opportunity for interacting with children and sharing the world of books,” said Wagner. Wagner’s storytimes were brought to life with dress-up, activities, movement and having fun.

After 26 years of service to OPL, Wagner retired in December 2018. She has many ideas for retirement – art, fitness, writing, jewelry-making, spending time in nature and more – but she also knows that the library will never be too far from her thoughts.

“Libraries are the only places you can walk into and feel welcome. You can be yourself and it’s where connections take place,” said Wagner.

“I’ve made a lot of connections with people over the years and I plan to maintain them.”

UNL Extension Hatching New Partnership this Spring It was only a matter of time before Katie Krause collaborated with OPL. Krause is a Nebraska Extension Educator with the University of Nebraska - Lincoln (UNL) Extension’s The Learning Child team.

This group of educators focuses on early childhood development and education across the state. After five years on the job developing curricula, connecting with childcare providers, and providing training sessions in Douglas and Sarpy counties, Krause set a personal goal of reaching more families in 2018.

When Nancy Chmiel, children’s librarian at W. Clarke Swanson Branch, and Krause first met to discuss ways OPL and UNL Extension could work together, they quickly realized that a partnership would be mutually beneficial. Not only could Krause connect with families through OPL, but OPL staff could observe her presentation of the programs and learn to present it themselves.

“I’ve been so impressed with the educators at the library—they really value children and the role that they have as some of the children’s first teachers,” said Krause. “Everything that we do is rooted in research and best practice models, and the library educators are very much the same way, which aligns with our mission at the University.”

For OPL, the research-based information and programs add another layer to normally offered programs. Last fall, Krause brought The Learning Child’s Block Play program to three Family Storytimes at Swanson Branch. This spring, seven OPL branches will host egg incubators with chicken eggs that will hatch after approximately 21 days as part of the partnership.

UNL Extensions eggs and incubators can be found at Milton R. Abrahams, Bess Johnson Elkhorn, Florence, Saddlebrook, South Omaha Library, W. Clarke Swanson and Charles B. Washington branches from March 5 hrough March 30.

The eggs are part of a curriculum, “Look Who’s Hatching: Exploring Oviparous (egg-laying) Animals with Young Children,” that Krause developed. As kids observe the eggs in the incubators, they’ll be prompted to think about what animals might come out of them. Librarians and parents can support learning by introducing materials about the animals they think might hatch from the eggs.

Once the chickens hatch, the exercise becomes an exploration of chickens and the many roles that they play in agriculture.

“I have wanted to hatch chicks since I started as a children’s librarian doing butterflies,” said Chmiel, who has similarly brought in caterpillars that metamorphose into butterflies at the library.

“Kids remember things that are out of the ordinary, so to provide something as a touchstone for them that’s hopefully a positive learning experience is exciting.”

Summer Volunteers Needed Share your time, creative ideas & enthusiasm for reading!

Help out during OPL’s Summer Reading Program (SRP)! Volunteers must attend a training session at the beginning of the program to learn their responsibilities. Typical tasks may include registering people for SRP, preparing crafts and materials for children’s programs, assisting with setup and clean-up for programs, photocopying, cutting paper, cleaning books, straightening shelves, and shelving books. Schedules are created on an individual basis and may be flexible around vacations and other commitments. Contact your local branch to learn more about SRP volunteer opportunities.

April 5-28, 2019 The seventh annual Nebraska Science Festival will take place across the entire state. The mission of the festival is to make science accessible, interactive, relevant and fun for all ages. OPL will offer a variety of family-friendly programming during the festival to showcase how science affects every part of our everyday life – from simple activities like reading, using technology or building with LEGO bricks, to learning basic coding and flying drones. Visit omahalibrary.org for OPL programs, and nescifest.com for information about the festival.

Día de los Niños Celebrate the diversity of our community during the annual Children’s Book Day (Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros). Children in attendance will receive a free book to keep while supplies last!

Children’s Day/Día Celebration or Storytime

Fri | Apr 19 | 1:30 pm | South Omaha Wed | Apr 24 | 10:30 am | Main Library Tues | Apr 30 | 4:30 pm | Florence Tues | Apr 30 | 10:30 am | Abrahams Thurs | May 2 | 10:15 am | Benson Fri | May 3 | 10:30 am | Swanson Sat | May 4 | 10:30 am | Swanson For more information, visit omahalibrary.org.

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Annual Meeting The Friends of Omaha Public Library held their annual meeting on January 12 at the University of Nebraska Omaha’s Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center. During the meeting, Board President Jeanne Spence reported another recordbreaking year of book sales and support for Omaha Public Library. In 2018, in-person book sales yielded over $98,000, with an additional $50,000 raised through internet sales.

More than 10,275 customers made purchases, 91,000 items were sold, and 8,500 volunteer hours were served.

Friends volunteers Judy Mahoney and Barbara Nielson were honored with the Special Friends Award, which recognizes service and dedication to the mission of the Friends.

Outgoing board member Euem Osmera was also recognized for her service, and new board members Mark Manhart, Brian Overton and Amanda Reid were welcomed.

Guests enjoyed a presentation by guest speaker Jeff Koterba, award-winning author and Omaha World-Herald cartoonist.

Learn more about the Friends at friendsomahalibrary.org.

Euem Osmera and Jeff Koterba

Book Sales

W. Clarke Swanson Branch | 9101 W. Dodge Rd. Weekly Sales Monthly Sales Thursdays | 10 am-3 pm 1st Saturday | 10 am-3 pm

John Davis Retires from OPL John Davis retired from his position as a school librarian with Bellevue Public Schools in 1999. He worked as school educator for 36 years— the first half as a classroom English and history teacher, and the second half as a librarian. “It was a natural fit,” Davis said, “I always loved books.” Truer words were never spoken, as after enjoying his retirement for some time, he decided to apply for a position at OPL as a library aide. “It’s funny,” he said, “I used to have aides working for me!”

Davis worked in the Collection Processing department at W. Dale Clark Main Library, which processes materials for all 12 locations in the OPL library system. “I like the feel of books in my hands and seeing people every day,” Davis said. “Working at OPL made me feel like I was helping the community in a way.”

Though Davis decided to give retirement another try in December 2018, and travel plans are imminent, he likely won’t be away from the library for too long. “I live close. This is my neighborhood branch, so I will be around,” Davis said. Thank you for your service, John!

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OPL Assistant Director Rachel Steiner, David J. Hibler Sr. and Trudy Ahlstrom of Benson Plant Rescue, and OPLF Executive Director Wendy Townley

Donor Spotlight: Benson Plant Rescue

by Dr. David J. Hibler Sr.

On December 9, 2018, the Benson Plant Rescue/Community Produce Rescue (BPR-CPR, Inc.) donated $10,000 to OPL toward the purchase of children’s books and educational software. Library Foundation Executive Director Wendy Townley said she couldn’t think of a larger donation given by a local community group. Over the past 20 years, the Benson Plant Rescue has donated over $65,000 to OPL for children’s books, computers and iPads.

The story of how the Benson Plant Rescue started stretches back to 1918 when a heartbroken 7-year-old learned her father had abandoned her mother. Young Charlotte Hauser’s way of coping with this family tragedy was to spend countless hours in the downtown Omaha Public Library.

Flash forward 75 years to an older Charlotte, who decided to give back to the library for all those wonderful moments of peace amidst her painful childhood. To raise money for children’s books, she founded the Benson Garden Walk to show off the midtown gardens of her “dirty green thumb” neighbors and friends. In 1999, a recently retired University of Nebraska-Lincoln English professor, “Dr. D,” and his wife Judy asked Charlotte if she would accept a beginner’s garden on her walk. Charlotte thought that a delightful idea.

Dr. D was charged with digging up the front lawn while Charlotte and Judy planned what to plant. One day, Dr. D noticed a large quantity of stressed plants outside the Osco Drug greenhouse near 90th & Maple.

When the manager said the plants were on their way to the dumpster, Dr. D offered to haul them away for free. Some rescued plants were planted in Judy’s garden, and many others were nursed back to health and given away as prizes at the Benson Garden Walk. Thus, quite by accident, the Benson Plant Rescue was born.

In two decades, the BPR has evolved from a part-time, seasonal event to one of the largest volunteer gardening groups in the Midwest. Plant sales now support not only OPL, but also area-wide organic recycling.

The organization saves countless tons of plant waste from landfills, and has distributed over 40 tons of reclaimed produce to area nonprofits, food pantries, and refugee families in 2018 alone.

Since 2012, the BPR has developed their site at 7224 Maple Street into a virtual plant paradise with numerous flower beds, a meditation garden anchored by a majestic 125+ year old cottonwood tree, two large alumalite murals on urban agriculture and floriculture themes, and an acre of rescued potted perennials for sale.

Learn more about BPR’s hours and offerings at facebook.com/BensonPlantRescue.

Technology, Branch Improvements Part of 2019 Fundraising Projects For OPL, there is a strong correlation between excellence in services and the strength of its public/private partnership with foundations, corporations and individual donors.

Each year, the Omaha Public Library Foundation (OPLF) meets with OPL administrative staff to discuss library needs that public dollars alone do not support. Private funding sustains vital OPL programs and services like Summer Reading Program, literacy events for all ages, community outreach, technology and collections. OPLF funds about two-thirds of OPL’s literacy programming budget, and more than half of the community services and outreach budget.

This year, OPLF will continue to raise private dollars for these projects and other OPL needs, such as touch-screen children’s computers for all 12 OPL branches and new furniture and literacy development elements.

In addition to annual program support, OPLF has funded the following special projects since its establishment in 1985: • Automation of the library’s card catalog • An expanded children’s collection through two campaigns that raised $700,000 • A new computer lab at Main Library and desktop computers for all branches • In part, the opening of South Omaha Library on the Metro Community College campus • The establishment of teen centers in two branches

Financial Gifts

Received Jan 1–Dec 31, 2018

$50,000+

Anonymous Holland Foundation Claire M. Hubbard Foundation McGowan Family Foundation The Sherwood Foundation

$20,000+

Anonymous Richard Brooke Foundation Omaha Community Foundation William & Ruth Scott Family Foundation Sokolof Foundation in Memory of Richard Rosinsky Weitz Family Foundation

$15,000+

Hawks Foundation Lozier Foundation Amy L. Scott Family Foundation

$10,000+

Benson Plant Rescue The Adah & Leon Millard Foundation John & Ruth Sage Webster Family Foundation Weitz Family Foundation

$5,000+

Clifton B. & Anne Stuart Batchelder Foundation Bluestem Prairie Foundation Cox Communications Dan & Kari Kinsella Dundee-Memorial Park Association Dwain Horn Memorial Fund Ike & Roz Friedman Foundation Michael & Susan Lebens Allan & Ann Mactier Charitable Foundation Mutual of Omaha Companies Omaha Steaks International Silvia Roffman Fred & Eve Simon Charitable Foundation

The Todd & Betiana Simon Foundation The Soener Foundation Elizabeth Summers Gilbert C. Swanson Foundation Wally & Barbara Weitz Tenaska, Inc.

Fraser Stryker PC LLO Friedland Family Foundation Lance & Julie Fritz Carol Gendler Peggy & John Heck The Heider Family Foundation Kate & Neil Holstein $2,000+ Harold & Clara Hoover Aflac Sandra Jenkins Baer Foundation Noreen Johnson Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska Dave & Vicki Krecek Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Leo A Daly Oldfather Karen & Jim Linder Deloitte & Touche LLP Gary & Lucie Long Devin Fox, M.D. Deborah Macdonald James & Dawn Hammel Greg & Lori McMillan Edward Hotz & Trish Nipp Mark & Dianne McMillan Humanities Nebraska Mike & Dana Meyer Special Donor-Advised Fund of the Jim & Bobbie Montequin Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation Phyllis & Bob Newman Richard & Helen Kelley Sharee & Murray Newman Fund Jim Kineen Olsson Associates Dan & Tina Lonergan Lewis & Winifred Pinch Steve Martin & Amy Haddad RDG Planning & Design Maggie & Michael McMeekin Kathy & Chad Roum Metro Omaha Medical Society Nola & David Schettler Foundation Security National Bank Morrissey Engineering Streck, Inc. Rochelle Mullen Jon & Alka Swanson RBC Wealth Management UNO/UNMC Dave & Anne Rismiller Valmont Industries, Inc. Jill Slosburg-Ackerman Carol Wang & Jim Phillips Paul & Annette Smith Sarah Watson Dennis & Patricia Wiederholt $1,000+ Philip & Nancy Wolf Anonymous Arun Agarwal $500+ Mary Joy Anderson Anonymous (2) Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture, P.C. Doug & Cathy Aden Mogens & Cindy Bay Jean Amoura BCDM Architects Martha Antonson Berger & O’Toole, CPA’s George & Kathleen Bigelow Michael & Michelle Berlin Richard & Carol Britten Anne & Brian Branigan Dick & Carole Burrows Stephen & Anne Bruckner Sandor & Rhonda Chomos BVH Architecture Maurice & Cora Conner Julie & Scott Cobb Stewart & Lisa Dale Nancy Darst DMSi John & Terri Diesing Joseph Drugmand DLR Group Linda & Charles Duckworth Dollar General Literacy Foundation Eclectic Book Club Carol Ebdon Steve & Cathy Gilbert First National Bank Jo Giles

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The introduction of technology targeted to underserved populations Literary events that have enriched cultural life in Omaha, such as hosting authors Tom Clancy, Stephen Ambrose, Alexander McCall Smith, Alex Kava, U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser, Walter Dean Myers, Margaret Atwood, Wally Lamb, Tobias Wolff, Hope Jahren, and Amy Thielen The purchase of the Gilbert M. and Martha H. Hitchcock Omaha World-Herald Digital Archives (1878-1983) in 2014, by raising $650,000, and the digital archives of the Omaha Star newspaper for $12,000 An increased digital books collection in 2015, by raising $31,000 OPL’s Toy Library, which launched in 2016

Private gifts have made thousands of programs and services available to OPL patrons throughout our community for more than 30 years.

Visit omahalibraryfoundation.org/donate or call 402-444-4589 for more information.

Traci Hancock Harry & Gail Koch Roland & Jean Mariucci Laura Marlane & Paul Richards Gail McFayden John & Merrilee Miller Shirley & Daniel Neary Sheri Oakes Frank Partsch Susan Petersen Sandra Price John & Kathleen Ransom Ann Rinne Greg & Sue Rusie Sylvia Schreiner Susan Stalnaker Stanley & Dorothy Truhlsen United Way of the Midlands Bruce & Susan Vosburg Molly Wickert Eileen M. Wirth

$250+

Anonymous AmazonSmile Foundation Lynn & Thomas Ashby Brooke Ayoub Marcia Bechtel Benevity Community Impact Fund David Bowman Jeffrey Boyum Marjorie & Larry Brennan Bobbie Carlson James & Anne Carroll Lou & Ellie Clure Leilani & Ron Coe Mark & Teri D’Agostino Harl & Kay Dalstrom Holly Dunning Thomas & Nancy Gallagher Lynn & Cindy Gray David Haas & Joan Lusienski David Harding & Sarah Newman ilumin Carolyn Ireland Theresa Jehlik Barbara & Adam Karpf Katie & Justin Kemerling Emily Kemp Erwin & Elaine Klabunde Devi Kotaru Marc & Joan Kraft Marty Magee

Marilyn Marsh Stephanie McClellan Sharon L. McGrath John & Meg McNeal Diana Nevins Ken Pohlman Norma & Cliff Pountney Mary Anne & Bruce Ramge Rotary Club of Omaha--North Rotary-Suburban Saddlebrook Elementary School PTA Shirley Siebler Gloria Sorensen Jeanne & Robb Spence Matthew & Vera Stefan Pete & Mary Lou Stehr Drs. Jon & Ann Taylor Jonell Tempero Mark Thalken & Katie Wadas-Thalken Union Pacific Fund for Effective Government Judy Vann Jim & Maureen Waldron Gary Wasdin

Honorariums & Memorials

In Memory of Louise Grosse Katharine Stuthman

In Honor of Joan McManus The Vana Family

In Honor of Patrick and Barbara McNeal Mary Ann & Daren Folchert

In Honor of the Mooter Family Sharon Appleby

In Memory of Ted Newman David Harding & Sarah Newman

In Honor of Phyllis Olson Stephen Douglas

In Memory of Beverly & Roger Picken Glenda Pierce

In Memory of Bev Pohlman Ken Pohlman

In Memory of Marion & Harold Slosburg Jill Slosburg-Ackerman

In Memory of Marjory Received Oct 20—Dec 31, 2018 Smith David Haas & Joan Lusienski In Memory of Susan Butler In Memory of Dr. Jacqueline Lisa Ciecior St. John In Honor of Nancy Darst Julie Jardine

In Memory of Bill Day

Sandi Skorniak

In Honor of Wendy Townley

Mrs. Barbara Jackson

Wally & Barbara Weitz

Harl & Kay Dalstrom

Gloria Sorensen

In Memory of Virginia Frank In Honor of Paige Wagner In Memory of Robert Frederickson

In Honor of Carol Wang & Wendy Townley

Mind Benders Book Club

Nichole & Kevin Turgeon

In Memory of Ruth Frederiksen

In Honor of Nancy Webster Holly Dunning

Barbara How

In Honor of Michelle Friend Rachelle Greenfield

In Honor of Noemi Gilbert Rabbi Deana Berezin Victoria Kaplan

In Memory of Anna Wiesman Teddi & Joel Berlatsky Nancy Rips David Wiesman

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HOURS & LOCATIONS

Nonprofit Org U.S. Postage

215 S. 15th St. Omaha, NE 68102

W. DALE CLARK MAIN LIBRARY

215 S. 15th St. / 402.444.4800 ______________________________________ _______ MO, TU, WE & TH . . . . . . . . . 10 AM - 8 PM FR & SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 AM - 6 PM SU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 6 PM

PAID Omaha, NE Permit No. 1818

MILTON R. ABRAHAMS BRANCH

5111 N. 90th St. / 402.444.6284 ______________________________________ MO, TU, WE & TH . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 9 PM FR & SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 6 PM SU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 6 PM

BENSON BRANCH

6015 Binney St. / 402.444.4846 ______________________________________ _______ TU, WE & TH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 8 PM FR & SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 6 PM SU & MO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLOSED

BESS JOHNSON ELKHORN BRANCH

2100 Reading Plz. / 402.289.4367 ______________________________________ _______ MO, TU, WE & TH . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 8 PM FR & SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 6 PM SU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLOSED

FLORENCE BRANCH

2920 Bondesson St. / 402.444.5299 ______________________________________ _______ TU & WE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 AM - 8 PM TH, FR & SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 AM - 6 PM SU & MO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLOSED

Summer Reading Program Kick-Off Parties Sat | June 1 | 1-3 pm All OPL locations (except) Elkhorn Branch & Main Library May 31 | 10:30 am-12:30 pm

Register for SRP and take part in events at each OPL location.

MILLARD BRANCH

13214 Westwood Ln. / 402.444.4848 ______________________________________ _______ MO, TU, WE & TH . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 9 PM FR, SA & SU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 6 PM

SADDLEBROOK BRANCH

14850 Laurel Ave. / 402.444.5780 ______________________________________ _______ TU, WE & TH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 AM - 8 PM FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 AM - 5 PM SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 4 PM SU & MO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CLOSED

A.V. SORENSEN BRANCH

4808 Cass St. / 402.444.5274 ______________________________________ TU & TH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 AM - 8 PM WE, FR & SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 AM - 6 PM SU & MO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLOSED

SOUTH OMAHA LIBRARY

2808 Q St. / 402.444.4850 (call for hours during MCC quarter breaks) ______________________________________ _______ MO, TU, WE & TH . . . . . . . 7:30 AM - 9 PM FR & SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 6 PM SU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLOSED

W. CLARKE SWANSON BRANCH

9101 W. Dodge Rd. / 402.444.4852 ______________________________________ _________ TU, WE & TH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 AM - 8 PM FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 AM - 6 PM SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 6 PM SU & MO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CLOSED

CHARLES B. WASHINGTON BRANCH

2868 Ames Ave. / 402.444.4849 ______________________________________ _______ MO, TU & WE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 8 PM TH, FR & SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 6 PM SU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLOSED

Ta x Preparation Services

Feb 1–Apr 12

Get assistance with filing your federal and state tax returns!

Fridays • Noon–4 PM

WILLA CATHER BRANCH

1905 S. 44th St. / 402.444.4851 ______________________________________ _______ TU & TH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 AM - 8 PM WE, FR & SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 AM - 6 PM SU & MO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CLOSED 24-hour renewal of materials: 402.444.4100 Hours subject to change. or omahalibrary.org

NoveList’s librarian-created read-alike suggestions and appeal mixer can help. Search from home at omahalibrary.org then click Resource Center and select Books & Reading and NoveList Plus. Then borrow and read.

Abrahams Branch • 5111 N. 90th St.

The Nebraska Golden Sower Award The Nebraska’s Children’s Choice Literary Award is presented annually to the authors and illustrators of the best books, as voted by school-age children. To see the nominees and learn how to submit your vote, visit goldensower.org. Voting eligibility requires readers to have read or heard a minimum of four of the current nominees from the category in which they will be voting: Picture Books, Chapter Books, or Golden Sower Novels. Voting ends April 15, 2019.

Check the availability of these books and more at omahalibrary.org.