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Category Archives: Announcements and Press Releases

Lincoln City Libraries Announces 2019 One Book – One Lincoln Title

Monday, 02 September 2019 10:05
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Lincoln City Libraries announced today The Far Away Brothers by Lauren Markham is the book selected for the 2019 One Book – One Lincoln Community Reading Program. The book is available for borrowing from libraries in print as well as downloadable audio and eBook formats. Programming related to this year’s selected titles begins on Sunday, September 29th!

In The Far Away Brothers Markham shares the story of identical twin brothers who escape El Salvador’s violence to build new lives in California – fighting to survive, to stay, and to belong.

Lauren Markham is a writer based in Berkeley, California, focusing on issues related to youth, migration, the environment, and her home state of California. The Far Away Brothers was named one of the best books of the year by The New York Times Book Review, winner of the Ridenhour Book Prize, Silver Winner of the California Book Award, finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, shortlisted for the J.Anthony Lukas Book Prize, and longlisted for the Pen/Bograd Weld Prize for biography.

The runners up for the 2019 program were The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai, and There There by Tommy Orange.

To enhance readers’ enjoyment of the One Book – One Lincoln finalists as well as the winning title, programs will be hosted at various library locations.

There There
Vision Maker Media & Native American Storytelling
Sunday, September 29; 2:00 p.m.
Walt Branch Library, 6701 S. 14th Street
Executive Director Shirley Sneve discusses her role at Vision Maker Media, a nonprofit organization that empowers and engages Native People to share stories.

The Far Away Brothers
Sunday, October 6, 2:00 p.m.
Gere Branch Library, 2400 S. 56th Street
Kate Damgaard, LPS Language Curriculum Specialist, and Dr. Laura Salem, LPS English Language Learner Program Supervisor, discuss how Lincoln Public Schools supports the educational and emotional needs of English Language Learners in our community.

The Great Believers
Sunday, October 13, 2:00 p.m.
Bennett Martin Public Library, 136 S. 14th Street
The Nebraska AIDS Project hosts a panel discussion on the impact of HIV/AIDS from the 1980s through today. Learn how living with HIV has changed over 30 years and the affect it had on our nation and community.

More information about One Book – One Lincoln, including previous winners, is available here.

Finalists Announced for One Book–One Lincoln

Tuesday, 28 May 2019 09:54
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one book one lincoln c450Lincoln City Libraries (LCL) Director Pat Leach today announced the three finalists for the 2019 One Book–One Lincoln Community Reading Program at an event at The Mill in the Haymarket. The finalists are:



The book selection process began in January when a 15-member selection team of community readers narrowed a list of 112 nominated titles to three finalists. The community is invited to vote to select the top title through July 31st. Votes can be cast four ways:

The books are available at all Lincoln libraries in various formats including print, audio and eBooks.

LCL has sponsored the annual program since 2002 to encourage reading and dialogue by creating a community-wide reading and discussion experience.

Book Reviews from LPD

Tuesday, 02 April 2019 16:12
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Enjoy these fun book reviews from the Lincoln Police Department, partly filmed at Gere Branch Library!

Detained by the librarian?

Officer Bonkiewicz finds himself detained by librarians, rejected by publishers, and scolded by Chief Bliemeister as he reviews “The Cat in the Hat” in this edition of LPD Book Review. And remember, if your class is reading a book that you’d like us to review, contact us at LPDMedia@gmail.com. If we pick your book, Officer Bonkiewicz will come to your class for a book discussion…with pizza! Thank you to the Lincoln City Libraries. @Dr. Seuss

Posted by Lincoln Police Department on Tuesday, April 2, 2019

What can Lincoln's hamsters teach us about life?

Officer Bonkiewicz sets off to find out what Lincoln's hamsters can teach us about life in the very first LPD Book Review. Oh, and if your class is reading a book that you’d like us to review, contact us at LPDMedia@gmail.com. If we pick your book, Officer Bonkiewicz will come to your class for a book discussion…with pizza!Cathedral Eagles Lincoln lLincoln City Libraries Betty G. Birney Betty G. Birney

Posted by Lincoln Police Department on Thursday, March 7, 2019



Lincoln City Libraries Victorious in Winter Reading Challenge

Sunday, 24 February 2019 16:26
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Winter Reading Challenge 2019 logo

Lincoln City Libraries (LCL) announced Monday that it is one of the national winners of Beanstack’s Second Annual Winter Reading Challenge. Lincoln participants read for more than 3 million minutes. The program, sponsored by billionaire investor and Shark Tank personality Mark Cuban, challenged 250 libraries nationally to meet a collective goal of reading at least 5 million minutes and 75,000 books in January.

LCL will donate its share of a $35,000 prize to the Begin with Books program, which provides new books to low-income families. LCL was also a national winner last year, with readers logging more than 1.5 million minutes. Local reading challenge winners include:

  • Kindle Paperwhite eReader – Noah Hensley
  • $50 gift certificate to The Mill, Francie and Finch Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, or the Marcus Theatres – Enny Marrs, Mary McCandless, Donald Schmidt, Vikki Hawkins, Mary Boyington, Benjamin Davis, James Huston, Anthony Brown, Mike Page, and Kathy Ashley.
  • Classroom pizza party – Crystal Starr’s sixth grade class at Schoo Middle School; Mrs. Heimes’ ninth grade class at Lincoln Southwest High School; Cody Wallinger’s seventh grade class at St. Joseph’s Catholic School; Janet Marcelino’s first grade class at Rousseau Elementary; and Amanda Deras’ fourth grade class at Kooser Elementary.

Beanstack by Zoobean is software that helps create, manage, and measure reading challenges.



Lincoln City Libraries Eliminates Late Fees on Youth Materials

Wednesday, 30 January 2019 14:17
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Lincoln City Libraries (LCL) announced Wednesday that overdue fees will no longer be charged on youth materials. Materials that are three weeks overdue will be considered lost and the customer will be charged a replacement fee. The replacement fee will be removed when the items are returned.

Library Director Pat Leach said that LCL research determined overdue fines have become an ineffective motivator to return books promptly. She said fines are an unnecessary barrier for children who often lack the autonomy or ability to return library materials on time, and for families who cannot afford to pay them.

“Libraries across the country are going to a fine-free model as a way to encourage children to read by eliminating barriers to library use,” Leach said. “Early childhood literacy is key in our library’s strategic plan, and a central tenet of our community’s values. We have found room in our budget to accommodate decreased fine revenue in the current budget cycle. We remain careful in our stewardship of tax funding to seek maximum impact.”

LCL participates in many efforts to encourage early literacy, including 15 Minutes a Day, Begin with Books and Prosper Lincoln. “One of the best indicators of academic success is whether children are read aloud to from birth through age 8,” said Vicki Wood, Library Youth Services Coordinator. “We believe this change will lead to more of Lincoln’s families reading aloud to their preschoolers.”

In support of its January Winter Reading Challenge, LCL did not assess overdue fees on any materials returned to the library during the month. Beginning in February, the library will again assess overdue charges on materials for adults.