Connect News from Omaha Public Library • OPL Foundation • Friends of OPL
Volume 27 • Issue 4 • Winter 2020-2021
Reading Challenge
Omaha Public Library (OPL) invites readers to venture outside of their reading comfort zone by participating in its annual Reading Challenge. The Reading Challenge presents 12 themes to tackle—one per month, or at whatever pace you’d like, throughout the year. Patrons are encouraged to read one book that fits each theme. Each month, OPL will publish a blog post and a list of reading suggestions for that month's challenge at omahalibrary.org. Beginning January 2021, participants may visit their local branch to pick up a Reading Challenge notebook (while supplies last), which details the challenge and provides a place to track their reading progress. Suggested titles are geared toward adults, though readers of all ages can participate. Ask a librarian or request a Custom Reading List at omahalibrary.org to get recommendations for younger readers. Beginning in April, participants may submit entries online or using a paper form for a chance to win literary-themed prizes. Everyone who submits an entry will also receive a pin for completing. Participants are encouraged to share what they’re reading by tagging @omahalibrary on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Entries for the 2020 reading challenge will be accepted through December 31, 2020. Learn more at omahalibrary.org/ reading-challenge.
2021 Reading Challenge Themes □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □
Read a book with illustrations Read a book mentioned on The Book Drop podcast Read a book set in Nebraska Read a book of poetry or a novel in verse Read a book from OPL's 2020 Top Shelf Read a book about refugees or the immigrant experience Read a book about animals Read a book by or about a person you'd like to meet Read a book that has been banned or frequently challenged Read a book told from multiple points of view Read a book by a Native, First Nations or Indigenous author Read a book that won an award
Recommended Reads The Opium Prince by Jasmine Aimaq This groundbreaking literary thriller reveals the invisible lines between criminal enterprises and political regimes—and one man’s search for meaning at the heart of a violent revolution. Olive, Mabel & Me: Life and Adventures with Two Very Good Dogs by Andrew Cotter When the pandemic lockdown started and sporting events were cancelled worldwide, Scottish sports broadcaster Andrew Cotter began commentary on his dogs that went viral. Now, these very good dogs are getting the attention they deserve. The Removed by Brandon Hobson Steeped in Cherokee myths and history, this is a novel about a fractured family reckoning with the tragic death of their son long ago.
Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding by Daniel Lieberman Get inspired to start or keep up an exercise regimen. Learn the science behind exercise as humans have developed and lives have changed. Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age by Annalee Newitz Çatalhöyük, Pompeii, Angkor and Cahokia… Why were these cities abandoned? Newitz explores the history and culture of these cities, as well as the people whose stories are often overlooked: the workers. Request your own Custom Reading List at omahalibrary.org by selecting Find Your Next Read under the Services tab.
Director’s Note
Fall Recap
Though 2020 has been challenging in many ways, there are several people who have helped to make it better for OPL, and for them, we are grateful.
Branches reopened
• Mayor Stothert and the Omaha City Council provided excellent leadership during OPL’s closure and reopening. • The OPL Board of Trustees voted to standardize library hours across the system and cancelled overdue fines in 2020 to help make things easier for library patrons. • OPL’s Friends and Foundation advocated for the needs of OPL’s patrons and committed to helping provide resources and programs that our community wants and needs. • The OPL Foundation raised over $160,000 toward the purchase of eBooks, downloadable audiobooks, and other digital items for library patrons. • Library patrons were unceasingly patient and understanding through all the different stages of service in 2020, and encouraged staff with kind words, cards, and more. • OPL’s staff went above and beyond to maintain a high level of service during uncertain times. Looking back on 2020, I prefer to focus on these bright spots, and look forward to better things ahead. As we prepare to turn the page on 2020, I, for one, am relieved and hopeful that 2021 will find everyone safer, healthier, and happier. On behalf of all of us here at Omaha Public Library, I wish you a happy and healthy holiday season, and the promise of a bright New Year!
Laura Marlane Executive Director
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OPL closed on March 16, 2020, in an effort to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, and remained closed for several months due to City of Omaha budget concerns. Following the approval of CARES Act funding by the state and county, Mayor Jean Stothert announced on August 25 that libraries may reopen. The phased reopening plan began on September 21. Curbside services expanded to all open branches.
City facilities workers install plexiglass dividers at OPL branches.
OPL implemented a series of safety guidelines in response to COVID-19, including a face mask requirement, rearrangement and spacing of furniture, capacity limits, plexiglass barriers, book quarantines and more. “Things look a little different than prior to our closure, but there are also many exciting changes,” OPL Executive Director Laura Marlane said. “Branches that were previously open five days a week will now be open six days a week, and adding curbside service is another great benefit that our patrons have come to appreciate.”
Library Aide Kathleen Muldoon works to prepare Saddlebrook Branch for reopening on October 5.
Omaha Reads OPL celebrated “After the Flood” by Kassandra Montag as the 2020 Omaha Reads selection. This debut novel imagines a future in which flood waters have progressively destroyed America as we know it, leaving only mountaintop communities surrounded by water. Myra and her 7-year-old daughter Pearl have learned to survive, mostly by remaining fiercely independent, free from untrustworthy relationships. When Myra learns that her other daughter may still be alive, she will stop at nothing to find her. During the campaign, which ran August-September 2020, the book was checked out 1,391 times. Virtual programming included two book discussions and an appearance by Montag, who spoke about the book and answered questions from the audience. More than 60 people attended these online programs.
A patron at Millard Branch is among the first visitors as the library reopened on September 21.
Author Kassandra Montag prepares for virtual event presigning books at OPL.
Culinary Conference On November 7, during its tenth and final year, the Read It & Eat Culinary Conference moved online with help from local digital production studio ONPXL. During the event, speakers reflected on themes and demonstrations that were featured over the years. OPL also highlighted its cookbook collection and digital archive of local restaurant menus.
Readers & Writers Librarian Erin Duerr hosts a virtual visit with the 2020 Omaha Reads author, Kassandra Montag.
“What began as a way to bring awareness around Omaha’s food culture became an event that many people look forward to every year,” said OPL Adult Services Manager Amy Mather. “We’ve been fortunate to work with a variety of individuals, authors and organizations willing to share their knowledge and talents with OPL patrons.” OPL continues its work toward preserving Omaha’s food history through its menu digitization project, featuring menus from 1889 to present. View a recording of this event at YouTube.com/omahalibrary.
Nancy Williams does a zero waste food demonstration (2019).
Top Shelf
Volunteer Spotlight: Sarah Abrahamson Having grown up in Omaha, Sarah Abrahamson has frequented OPL since she was a child. Raised in a family of readers, she and her brother visited A.V. Sorensen and Milton R. Abrahams branches, and browsed the stacks for books to take home and enjoy, but W. Dale Clark Main Library was always her favorite branch. “It seemed like a wondrous place,” Abrahamson said. “I could always find interesting books, with the size of Main Library’s collection.” Now that she has a daughter of her own, whom she homeschools, Abrahamson has continued to frequent OPL locations for learning materials, as well as books to read for pleasure. In 2018, she attended a meeting at Main Library for the Forgotten Omaha Facebook group, where she met Martha Grenzeback, OPL’s genealogy & local history librarian. Upon learning of Abrahamson’s interest in local history, Grenzeback recruited her to assist with a project researching the histories of local restaurants. This research is indexed with digitized menus (digital.omahalibrary.org— Menu Collection) from Omaha restaurants, which OPL received as a donation from Jim Trebbien, chair of the board of the Omaha Hospitality Hall of Fame and former dean of The Institute for the Culinary Arts at Metropolitan Community College. “I’m always looking for people who are interested in researching photographs or menus in our collection, for indexing and creating metadata,” said Grenzeback, adding that you don’t need a master’s degree in library science, just passion for the work and training.
Each year, OPL staff compile their favorite reads of titles published during the year.
While researching restaurants, Abrahamson says that she’s “fallen down a rabbit hole of Omaha history.” For instance, while researching The French Café (one of more than 500 menus that have been digitized for the collection), she learned about the beginnings of Omaha’s Old Market district. “It’s fun to learn more context about the places I’ve grown up around and the areas I’ve frequented,” Abrahamson said. When OPL locations closed in March 2020 because of COVID-19, Abrahamson had some time off from her weekly volunteer shifts. Eventually she was able to continue working on the project from home using the internet and resources like Ancestry for Libraries, which extended at-home access through December 31, 2020. Though there is still a lot of research and indexing to be done, Grenzeback said that assistance from Abrahamson is helping to expedite the creation of a historical directory of Omaha’s restaurants. In a year where more restaurants have closed their doors than normal, this project seems all the more important to Abrahamson, who emails Grenzeback about any new closings she discovers. Abrahamson said she enjoys giving back to an institution and staff that have given her so much and recommends that others consider doing the same once OPL gets the green light to bring volunteers back.
Introducing Book Bundles This fall, OPL launched a Book Bundle service which provides patrons with another way to request hand-selected books from library staff. Once patrons complete an online request form, library staff put together a bundle of materials tailored to their request. Bundles are for all ages, and patrons can let staff know how many items they would like and a general idea or theme of materials they enjoy. For example, a patron may want three mystery audiobooks to get through the weekend or five shark books for their animal-loving 7-year-old. The bundles will be created using available materials and may be picked up in the branch or through curbside service. If patrons prefer a more personalized list, they may use the Custom Reading List service to request a list of suggested titles based on specific interests. Visit omahalibrary.org and select Find Your Next Read under the Services tab to request either a Book Bundle or Custom Reading List.
View previous years’ selections at topshelf.omahalibrary.org. A list of 2020 titles will be available in December 2020. Lists include books for all ages across a variety of subjects and genres. Some 2020 Top Shelf picks include: Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong Combining memoir, history and cultural criticism, Hong explores the Asian American condition with biting wit and real talk. Recommended by
Anna Wilcoxon, diversity and inclusion librarian
Real Life by Brandon Taylor "Real Life" tells the story of one summer in the life of Wallace, a gay, Black graduate student, working toward an advanced science degree in a Midwestern city. Taylor describes the racism Wallace experiences, the effect of past traumas on his current relationships, and his scientific research in beautiful and brutal prose. Recommended by Sam
Greenfield, youth services specialist
Beauty Mark by Carole Boston Weatherford Marilyn Monroe’s life is set to lyrical poetry in this novel. The poems seem to be snapshots of memories from Marilyn’s life as a very young girl all the way to her adult stardom. Raw and heart-wrenching details of her turbulent childhood and the price of fame tell a complete story of Norma Jeane Mortenson, aka Marilyn Monroe. Recommended by
Melanie Webb, youth services librarian
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Dasher by Matt Tavares
Field Trip to the Ocean Deep by John Hare
Saturday by Oge Mora
KidSpot Early Literacy Calendar Pick up a complimentary 2021 OPL calendar featuring early literacy tips at your local branch or ask for one at your next curbside pick-up appointment (while supplies last).
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InvestiGATORS by John Green
Wayside School Beneath the Cloud of Doom by Louis Sachar
Kate the Chemist: The Big Book of Experiments by Dr. Kate Biberdorf
Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park
Teen
Circle! Sphere! by Grace Lin
Pre-K
How to Po� y Train a Dinosaur by Alycia Pace
Elementary
Holiday Gift Guide Alamo All-Stars: Bigger & Badder Edi�on by Nathan Hale
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Frankly in Love by David Yoon
Stamped: Racism, An�racism, and You by Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi
Costume Characters Visit Virtual Storytimes 2o21 Early Literacy Calendar
Enjoy stories and activities with Taco Dragon, Cookie Mouse, Ladybug Girl, and Clifford via Zoom. Register online at omahalibrary.org.
Taco Dragon | Dec 15-19 Cookie Mouse | Dec 22-26 Ladybug Girl | Dec 29-Jan 2 Clifford | Feb 12-20
TeenSpace 20th Annual
Teen Poetry Bash Sat | Dec 5 | 1:30 PM
Virtual Program • Registration Required The annual Teen Poetry Bash will take place via Zoom. Contestants must prepare two original poems to perform as slam poetry or read aloud. Each entrant will perform one original poem. Top scoring entrants will pass the first round to perform a second poem and be eligible for the cash grand prizes. Louder Than a Bomb coaches from Nebraska Writers' Collective will serve as the judges and emcees. Contestants must be in grades 8-12 and residents of the Omaha metro area. Winners must pick up their prize in person from the OPL branch of their choice. Contestants and attendees must pre-register through omahalibrary.org. Registration for contestants ends 24 hours before the event start time, and for attendees, two hours before start time. A link to the Zoom session will be emailed to registrants.
2019 Teen Poetry Bash 3rd place winner Sophia Mason
Staff Spotlight: Farhana Husain Farhana Husain first applied to be a clerk at OPL in 2013. Husain didn’t have any training or experience working at a library, but left Branch Manager Marvel Maring with such a strong positive impression during her interview that Maring said she was ready to fight to get Husain on her staff. “I knew that she would be an asset to the staff at [Milton R.] Abrahams Branch and she always was,” said Maring. “She’s rock solid, has good instincts, and the most important thing is how she radiates all that positivity both for the patrons and the staff—it’s part of her being.” What began as a job to earn some extra income for her family evolved into a labor of love for Husain, who has spent the past seven years in various roles at OPL. After working as a clerk for one year, Maring and other OPL administrators encouraged Husain to apply for a specialist position, which brought her to W. Clarke Swanson Branch. She worked there as a youth services specialist for six years, until another opportunity presented itself in early 2020. OPL’s Community Outreach and Partnerships department approached Husain regarding a position working on after-school programs in Omaha Public Schools (OPS). Leaving her position at Swanson Branch was a difficult decision, but Husain said she looked forward to serving more people through the innovative programming and initiatives that her new position offered. “I loved my job at Swanson,” Husain said. “Being at a library is great because you’re working with people who want to be there and love being there. It’s nice to be able to take that out to the community, to people who might not have the same opportunities, but who would love it just as much.” Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, things are a lot different than Husain had originally anticipated. She’s spent much of her time in her new role helping the team move their after school programming at eight OPS middle schools to an online format. Husain has shadowed her coworkers as they lead online sessions with the middle school students across the city and helped prepare kits of materials that are distributed to participants. While the format has changed, the goal of the programming remains the same—to provide a safe space for students and to build relationships while promoting literacy. “We try to have interactive activities for them to do in a space where they don’t have to be muted, which is something they don’t get to do very often during the school day,” Husain said.
Husain leads a storytime at Swanson Branch.
Soon Husain will lead a group of students at Nathan Hale Magnet Middle School on her own. Eventually, she hopes to use her experience to help the outreach team bring similar after-school programming to OPS elementary schools. For now, she’s learning about working in virtual spaces, while continuing to spread her warmth, kindness and knowledge about OPL.
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Be a FRIEND! Libraries cannot be built or maintained by tax dollars alone. To ensure the continued excellence and growth of OPL, become a Friend today! Learn more at friendsomahalibrary.org.
New Shelving for Book Sales During OPL's closure, the Friends of OPL suspended their weekly and monthly book sales. Though there is no set date to resume sales, the Friends are working toward making their spaces more userfriendly when their customers return. Thanks to a much-needed shelving donation from Lozier Corporation, the Friends replaced their old shelving and reorganized their book sale room in preparation for future sales. Follow Facebook.com/friendsomahalibrary for updates on their plans to resume book sales.
Partnership Spotlight In a year seemingly defined by delays and deferred deadlines, one major project at OPL sailed to completion with dramatic speed. The genealogy department, housed at W. Dale Clark Main Library, completely overhauled and expanded its space, incorporating over 75 boxes of new periodicals donated by the Lincoln-Lancaster County Genealogy Society (LLCGS)—a transition originally estimated to take years. In November 2019, OPL Genealogy & Local History Librarian Martha Grenzeback received an email from Cindy Cochran, library chair for the LLCGS. The Society would soon be losing the permanent home it had enjoyed for the past 29 years at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska, and was looking to dismantle its collection of roughly 8,000 books and 2,000 periodicals. “I was interested in finding a genealogy library which would be willing to take some of our materials and yet be close enough that our members could still access them for research,” said Cochran. “A place in Nebraska seemed ideal. When I contacted Martha about our tale of woe, the well-known phenomenon of ‘genealogical serendipity’ occurred!”
Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest Young writers in grades 5-8 are invited to submit their original works of fiction to the Friends of Omaha Public Library for the 2021 Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest. Contest participants are asked to select a character from a book they have read on their own and create an original work of fiction featuring that character. Entries will be accepted through February 26, 2021. Winners will be notified in the spring. The top three winners from each grade will receive cash prizes: $100 for first place, $75 for second, and $50 for third. The school libraries of the winning students will be recognized with matching cash prizes. For contest requirements, visit omahalibrary.org/virginia-frankmemorial-writing-contest. The contest is named in memory of longtime University of Nebraska Omaha English professor and Friends volunteer Virginia Frank.
Cochran compiled a list of OPL’s current periodical holdings, carefully noting dates and gaps where the LLCGS could offer materials to complete OPL’s collection, and Grenzeback traveled to Lincoln to evaluate. On March 4, 2020, the boxes of new magazines were delivered to OPL. Since that time, OPL staff have worked feverishly to revamp the entire genealogy department. With library specialist Lynn Sullivan at the helm, the team RFID tagged all the genealogy materials; unboxed, sorted, and interfiled the new magazines; and shifted hundreds of volumes to different shelves. Armed with dusk masks, gloves and microfiber cloths, they also did a massive amount of cleaning along the way. “I think we went through a couple of cases of Spray Nine (a heavyduty cleaner), and I am not joking!” said Sullivan. Though it was dispiriting to be closed to the public during the early stages of the pandemic, it gave staff time to focus their undivided attention on the project and see rapid results. Now, the materials are easier to access and there’s room for even more. Genealogy periodicals contain unique information that can’t be found elsewhere, Grenzeback said. Sullivan added that researchers are more likely to ask for copies or visit a particular location if it offers a complete collection. OPL is able to share its archives nationwide through the use of interlibrary loan. “People just beginning to do genealogical research don't always realize the value of periodicals, but Grenzeback does know this and encourages folks to use them.” Cochran pointed out. “I was very grateful and happy to know that we had found a good place to send these magazines.” Learn more about OPL's genealogy and local history collection at omahalibrary.org.
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Lynn Sullivan works with donated genealogy materials.
Annual Fundraiser More than 100 attendees from Omaha and around the United States got a lesson in the history of Nebraska voting and politics, courtesy of the Omaha Public Library Foundation. Between the Lines with Elaine Weiss, the Foundation's annual fundraiser on October 6, transitioned to a free, online event in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elaine Weiss
Freddie Gray
Weiss's 2018 book, “The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote,” offers an engaging and historic narrative of the days leading up to the passage of the 19th Amendment. Her presentation included Nebraska’s role during this pivotal time in American history. Weiss credited public libraries for much of her multi-year research when writing the book. During the event, the Foundation also presented Freddie Gray with its 2020 Barbara Bock-Mavis Leadership Award. The award recognizes Gray's service to the Omaha Public Library Foundation and as a former OPL trustee. Gray served on the Board of Education for Omaha Public Schools and as its president. She routinely advocates and serves for public education at local and national levels. Community advocate and arts consultant Deborah Bunting presented Gray with the 2020 award. Created in 2017, the Barbara Bock-Mavis Leadership Award celebrates contributions by the Foundation volunteers and supporters. Previous award recipients include Bock-Mavis, who received the first award, Jim Kineen and Eileen Wirth. Although the online event was free to attend, the event raised funds for two OPL projects: collections and technology for library patrons. Individual sponsors included Great Plains Communications, First National Bank of Omaha, and the late Judge Laurie Smith Camp. Learn more about how to support the Omaha Public Library Foundation at omahalibraryfoundation.org or (402) 444-4589.
Financial Gifts Received
Oct 1, 2019 – Oct 1, 2020 $50,000+
Hawks Foundation Holland Foundation Peter Kiewit Foundation The Sherwood Foundation
$30,000+
Anonymous Richard Brooke Foundation Claire M. Hubbard Foundation William & Ruth Scott Family Foundation
$20,000+
Collective for Youth Lozier Dianne & Allan Lozier The Adah & Leon Millard Foundation Omaha Community Foundation Sokolof Foundation in Memory of Richard Rosinsky
$10,000+
Amy L. Scott Family Foundation Gilbert C. Swanson Foundation Stanley M. Truhlsen Family Foundation Union Pacific Foundation Webster Family Foundation Weitz Family Foundation Eileen M. Wirth Estate of Leonard Yelinek
$5,000+
Baer Foundation Bluestem Prairie Foundation Clifton B. & Anne Stuart Batchelder Foundation Cox Ike & Roz Friedman Foundation Lori Hedstrom Dan & Tina Lonergan Metro Omaha Medical Society Foundation Silvia Roffman Fred & Eve Simon Charitable Foundation Jill Slosburg-Ackerman Elizabeth Summers Wally & Barbara Weitz
$2,000+
100 Women Who Care Michael & Michelle Berlin
Paul Dietsch Devin Fox, M.D. Gallagher Foundation Helen Grgich Estate James & Dawn Hammel Theresa Jehlik Special Donor-Advised Fund of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation Richard & Helen Kelley Allan & Ann Mactier Charitable Foundation Maggie & Michael McMeekin Lewis & Winifred Pinch Dave & Anne Rismiller The Soener Foundation Dennis & Patricia Wiederholt
$1,000+
Anonymous (3) Mogens & Cindy Bay Stephen & Anne Bruckner John & Terri Diesing Joseph Drugmand First National Bank Friedland Family Foundation Lance & Julie Fritz Jo Giles Great Plains Communications Deryl & Ramona Hamann Jennifer Hamann Dr. & Mrs. Herbert Hartman John & Jean Hartwell Peggy & John Heck The Heider Family Foundation Harold & Clara Hoover Sandra Jenkins Noreen Johnson Jim Kineen Jack & Stephanie Koraleski Jeffrey Kosse Dave & Vicki Krecek Bob & Kathy Kunkle Michael & Susan Lebens Gary & Lucie Long Gail McFayden John & Merrilee Miller Dave Moline Heidi Moser Rochelle Mullen Phyllis & Bob Newman Sharee & Murray Newman Fund Sandra Price Connie Ryan Ruth Sage Laurie Smith Camp
Streck, Inc. Carol Wang & Jim Phillips Phil & Nancy Wolf
$500+
Anonymous Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Jean Amoura Tracie Balvanz Marjorie & Larry Brennan Richard & Carol Britten William Brown Katie Bruno Dick & Carole Burrows Sandor & Rhonda Chomos Robert & Jill Cochran Leilani & Ron Coe Completely Kids Maurice & Cora Conner Nancy Darst Tim Davlin & Ann O'Connor DMSi Giger Foundation Gilbert Family Mike & Wanda Gottschalk Lynn & Cindy Gray Dwain Horn Memorial Fund Roland & Jean Mariucci William McNiece Jim & Bobbie Montequin Omaha Jaycees Foundation Omaha Schools Foundation Susan Petersen Norma & Cliff Pountney John & Kathleen Ransom Ann Rinne Rotary-Suburban Emma Savory Emily States Christine & Tony Swerczek Bruce & Susan Vosburg Sarah Watson Linda Wedberg-Kraft & Robert Kraft
$250+
Anonymous Trent & Emily Allen Jane Alseth Martha Antonson Zac Baer Benevity Community Impact Fund The Bookworm Bobbie Carlson James & Anne Carroll
Harl & Kay Dalstrom Roy & Gloria Dinsdale Julie Driftmier Carol Ebdon Mary Ann & Daren Folchert Pamala Furey Thomas & Nancy Gallagher Sarah Gilbert David Harding & Sarah Newman Terry & Linda Haubold Howard & Gloria Kaslow Emily Kemp Erwin & Elaine Klabunde Marty Magee James & Patricia Manion Mark & Dianne McMillan Ann Moshman Diana Nevins O'Daniel Honda Frank Partsch Julie Schroeder Shirley Siebler Saddlebrook Elementary School PTA The Salsa Gang Book Club Jane Slezak Susan Stalnaker Pete & Mary Lou Stehr Anh Tran Bill & Joan Truhlsen Judy Vann Jane & David Werner Emily Young
Honorariums & Memorials
Received July 14 — Oct 1, 2020 In Honor of Jerry Ascher
The Salsa Gang Book Club
In Memory of Margaret Blackstone
Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh Gloria Sorensen
In Memory of Michael Deane
Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh
In Honor of Micki Dietrich
Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh
In Memory of Jeri Mason
Stuart & Amy Chittenden Thomas James Bo & Beth Ochsner Mary Jo Pane
Diane Rockhold Jennifer and Erin Vik Julie & David Williams Terri Zacharia
In Memory of Jane Meehan
Robert Adler Suzanne Arney Michael Carroll & Linda Marchello James & Joan Chambers The Countryside Journaling Group Carroll Dischner Eclectic Book Club David & Mary Anne Hoover Susan Jackson Ruth Keene Philip Kelley Maria & Lynn Knudtson Mary Zenk McHugh Joe & Sheila Myers Dennis & Patty Norton Theresa O'Neill Drs. Deb and Greg Perry Joseph Price Rita Price Nancy Rips Christine Zenk Rix Janette Zenk Sammons Gina Samuelson Mrs. A.G. Schatz Stephanie Spelic Charlene Tarsney Dr. Nga Turner Zable/Olsovsky Family David & Cynthia Zenk
In Memory of Donald Moray
Jeanette & Hal Capps Frontier Wealth Enterprises John Hartigan Wes Jensen Jean Mutz Carol Mutz Richard & Cathy Pedersen Joan Riley Stephen & Roberta Skaug
In Memory of Nancy Searl
The Salsa Gang Book Club
In Honor of Wally Thoreson
Cassie Hays
In Memory of Lyle and Louise Wedberg
Anonymous
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215 S. 15th St. Omaha, NE 68102
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Holiday Hours Christmas Eve: Dec 24 - close at 3 pm Christmas Day: Dec 25 - closed New Year's Eve: Dec 31 - close at 6 pm
New Year's Day: Jan 1 - closed Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Jan 18 - closed Presidents Day: Feb 15 - closed
Jane Austen Virtual Tea Party Sat | Dec 12 | 2-4 pm All are welcome for a delightful afternoon in honor of English novelist Jane Austen's 245th birthday. Join OPL via Zoom with your favorite teacup and enjoy a talk by Dr. Janine Barchas, author of “Matters of Fact in Jane Austen: History, Location, and Celebrity.” Barchas will discuss her research on the realworld history behind Austen’s choice of names and settings for her works of fiction. Registration and a working email address is required to attend this program at omahalibrary.org. The Zoom meeting link will be sent 24 hours prior to the event.
Free in-home access through December 31!
Get started at omahalibrary.org