Department & Services

• Reference
• Periodicals
• Interlibrary Loan
• Youth Services
• Tapes & Discs
• Videocassettes
• Polley Music Library
• Heritage Room

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Reference

Material is available at each of the branch libraries of the Lincoln City Libraries to assist you with your information needs. Bennett Martin Public Library has the largest reference department in the system and can provide consumer and investment information, and state and local documents. There is also statistical data, travel information, census reports, a computer-based online searching service, a collection of telephone directories, and much more. Some materials can be obtained through interlibrary loan. Each library maintains a Vertical File of pamphlets and clippings on a variety of topics. In most cases, items from the Vertical File collection may be checked out.

Bennett Martin Public Library houses the central Reference Department for the library system. Essential reference materials are also available at each library branch to assist you with your informational needs.

Materials and services offered by the Reference Department include:

• Periodicals
• Interlibrary Loan Services

as well as:

• Consumer information
• Vertical file materials
• Investment information
• State and local documents
• Statistical data
• Travel information
• Telephone directory information
• Online search services

Periodicals
Bennett Martin Public Library has an extensive collection of periodicals, including magazines, newspapers, newsletters, and other materials. Back issues are available in bound volumes or in microform. The Lincoln newspapers from 1867 to the present are available, along with recent issues of many Nebraska newspapers, and daily or Sunday papers from major cities across the country.

Branch libraries have limited periodical collections, keeping two years of most titles. Back issues can be checked out from branches.

Bennett Martin Library does not check out back issues of periodicals (except a small collection of circulating magazines); however, photocopiers are available at Bennett Martin and each branch library.

Microfilm and microfiche readers and printers are available in the Periodicals Room at Bennett Martin Library, and at the Gere branch.

Interlibrary Loan
Interlibrary Loan is a borrower/lender service that provides customers of Lincoln City Libraries with access to materials from other library systems across the country. Usually there is no charge for this service. In some cases the lending library may charge a fee for this service, however, and in those cases the charge is passed on to the customer. The process usually takes several weeks, and there may be substantial delays in processing.

In addition to book materials we are also able to borrow various newspapers on microfilm, often from historical libraries, which may be of use in genealogical research. We are also able to borrow census materials through the American Genealogical Lending Library (AGLL). This material is on microfilm, must be used in the library (readers and printers are available), and is provided for a fee.

For further information on Interlibrary Loan services, contact the Reference Department at Bennett Martin Public Library. The Phone number is (402) 441-8530.

What Types of Material Can I Borrow Through Interlibrary Loan?

We will try to borrow almost any type of material. However, the following categories of material are difficult to borrow:

• Rare, unique or valuable material
• Bulky or fragile items that are difficult or expensive to ship
• Non-circulating material, or materials in high demand at the lending library
• Though it is sometimes possible, it is unusual for libraries to loan video tapes or audio cassettes. Lincoln City Libraries does not lend its audiovisual materials to other libraries through Interlibrary Loan.
• It is also unusual for libraries to loan an entire issue of a magazine. Photocopies of articles from magazines or newspapers can be requested, however. There is often a fee for photocopies, which is passed on to the customer.

Note: We do not borrow items already owned by Lincoln City Libraries, unless our copy is unavailable (lost or at the bindery, for example).

Youth Services
Books, periodicals, CDs, audio cassettes, and video cassettes for young people from infancy through high school ages are available at all Lincoln City Libraries. Preschool story tunes and the Summer Reading Program are among the special services offered for young people.

Headquarters: Bennett Martin Public Library

Note: Youth Services are also available at every Lincoln City Library during the public service hours of any branch.

Tapes & Discs
Lincoln City Libraries have collections of audiobooks (books on cassette or CD) and compact discs of popular and classical music. These items may be checked out.

Videocassettes and DVDs
Adult Services video cassettes and DVDs areavailable at all branches. Subjects include cooking, exercise, home improvement, parenting, sports, travel, children's literature, Boy Scout tapes and many others. With a few exceptions, feature films are not included in the collection.

Polley Music Library
The Polley Music Library maintains a collection of printed music, music magazines, and books about music. This department also offers a reference and information service, including several CD-ROM products for in-house use. Most of the books and printed music in this area can be checked out. Located at Bennett Martin Public Library, 2nd floor.

Lillian Helms Polley
1881-1978

A singer and teacher of singing, Lillian Helms Polley was active in the musical life of Lincoln for most of her life. Because of her interest in the community, she left her estate in trust for the creation of a musical library for the citizens of Lincoln.

Heritage Room
The Heritage Room contains a non-circulating collection of 13,000 books by and about Nebraska authors plus information files, magazines, pictures, manuscripts, artwork and other memorabilia related to these authors. Located at the Bennett Martin Public Library, third floor. Call 441-8516 for hours.

As far back as 1949 the Lincoln City Libraries realized the importance of gathering information about Nebraska authors. Over the years, what was once a single shelf of books has grown into a room-sized collection known as the Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors. The Heritage Room is much more than pioneer stories; there are books on every topic, including psychology, poetry, philosophy, politics, and pop culture. Every flavor of fiction can also be found in the collection, including romance, fantasy, contemporary, western, and even mystery.

The Heritage Room's mission is to preserve and promote works by and about Nebraska authors, past and present. The collection strives to gather written works by all Nebraska authors in one location. The Heritage Room's collection is maintained so that future generations may realize Nebraska's rich literary tradition. These books do not circulate, and preservation measures are taken to help ensure their longevity.

Today the Heritage Room contains much more than books. One can also find information files, photographs, audio and video cassettes, compact discs, artwork and other memorabilia reflecting Nebraska's rich literary tradition.

The Heritage Room is currently supported by an endowment fund established in 1983 by the Nebraska Literary Heritage Association.

A Living Literary Tradition

Nebraska's literary tradition is filled with authors whose work captures the essence of the state's land and people. We define Nebraska authors as those meeting one of the following criteria:

• A writer who was born or spent his or her childhood in Nebraska.
• A writer who received the greater portion of his or her education in Nebraska.
• A writer who spent many of his or her productive years in Nebraska (generally 10 years or more).

The Heritage Room collects information on these authors and their works in many ways, including:

NAIL Database

The Nebraska Author Information Link (NAIL) is a computerized database filled with over 2,700 entries of biographical and bibliographic information about Nebraska authors.

Vertical Files

The Heritage Room maintains over 600 information files on Nebraska authors and subjects. They are regularly updated.

The John H. Ames Reading Series

This series showcases Nebraska authors reading from their own works. It is sponsored by the Nebraska Literary Heritage Association. All readings begin at 7:30 pm in the Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors, located on the third floor of the Bennett Martin Public Library at 14th and N Streets in downtown Lincoln. Videotapes of these readings and other special programs are also available for checkout. Please call 441-8516 for more information

The Tradition Continues...

The Heritage Room staff works to promote Nebraska's literary tradition through a number of outreach efforts:

Heritage Room Tours and Talks

Many civic groups and school classes come to the Heritage Room for guided tours. Staff are also available to provide programs.

NAIL Questionnaires

In an effort to identify and reach out to Nebraska authors, the Heritage Room sends Nebraska Authors Information Link (NAIL) questionnaires to persons who have published their original work and have significant ties to the state.

Writers Write Workshop

The Workshop is a popular program for 8th graders, in which students spend a morning writing and reading their work under the direction and encouragement of four local poets. This program is sponsored by the Nebraska Literary Heritage Association.

The Nebraska Literary Heritage Association (NLHA)

The Nebraska Literary Heritage Association supports the Heritage Room through an endowment fund, and several volunteer projects. It is only through the NLHA's efforts that we can continue to work towards preserving and promoting Nebraska's literary tradition. For more information on the NLHA's activities, or to become a member, please call (402) 441-8516.