NETA 2025: Full Schedule

The NETA Board is excited to welcome you to a dynamic learning experience on May 1-2, 2025, at the Younes Conference Center North in Kearney, Nebraska.

8:30am CDT

Unlocking the Past: Creating Digital Archives for School Communities

Thursday May 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT

Silver 5

Discover how to digitize yearbooks, photographs, and memorabilia to create accessible, user-friendly digital school archives. This session covers best practices for scanning and preserving historical materials, organizing digital collections, and using open platforms to ensure public access. Participants will leave with practical strategies and tools to launch or enhance their own digital archiving projects.

Speakers

Chris Haeffner

Director of Library Media Services, Lincoln Public Schools

Lincoln Public Schools Director of Library Services

Sara Scott

Thursday May 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Silver 5

Concurrent Session (45 minutes where the presenter shares information) Mini Session

Strands that Match Library Media
Tags Leadership, Library Media, Multimedia
Grade Level All Levels
Target Audience All

11:30am CDT

Adventure into Project Based Learning

Thursday May 1, 2025 11:30am - 12:00pm CDT

Silver 5

A meaningful project can provide engagement, depth of knowledge, community building, and more to the learning experience. Establishing what that looks like in a digital world, or expanding upon curriculum in this way can feel like your are lost in the woods at first.

Speakers

Hanna Borgmann

5th Grade Teacher, Norris School District 160

I am currently a 5th-grade ELA teacher. I have been teaching for 6 years; 2nd grade, 3rd grade, and now 5th.I enjoy finding new innovative ways to improve productivity for myself, co-workers, and students. Keeping students engaged and excited about learning is vital to their succ... Read More →

Thursday May 1, 2025 11:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Silver 5

Mini Session

Strands that Match Elementary, Teaching & Learning
Tags Assessment, Creation/Design Tools, Digital Citizenship, Learning Spaces
Grade Level Elementary, Middle, Secondary
Target Audience Novice

1:15pm CDT

Building Digital Citizens: K-12 Objectives & Lessons for Every Grade

Thursday May 1, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT

Silver 5

Explore how our school district launched an integrated approach to teaching digital citizenship. Learn how we developed K-12 objectives and how librarians ensure these objectives are embedded and taught across all subject areas.

Speakers

Joy Harvey

Coordinator of Library Services, Lincoln Public Schools

Joy Harvey works with a dynamic team of leaders to provide resources, support, and coaching that empower school librarians to deliver meaningful and effective instruction. Passionate about digital literacy, she played a key role in developing and implementing digital citizenship instruction... Read More →

Thursday May 1, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT
Silver 5

Concurrent Session (45 minutes where the presenter shares information) Mini Session Show and Share Poster Session

Strands that Match Library Media, Teaching & Learning
Tags Digital Citizenship
Grade Level Elementary, Middle, Secondary
Target Audience All

2:15pm CDT

So Much to Do, so Little Time

Thursday May 1, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm CDT

Silver 5

How do you teach all the technology available today? As an elementary media specials teacher I see students once a week. I will share how I structure my technology classes to teach keyboarding, digital literacy, makerspace, research, computer science and more!

Speakers

Valerie Chmelka

Media Specialist, Grand Island Public Schools

Thursday May 1, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm CDT
Silver 5

Concurrent Session (45 minutes where the presenter shares information) Mini Session

Strands that Match Elementary, Library Media
Tags Computer Science, Digital Citizenship, Library Media, Maker/Makerspace
Grade Level Elementary
Target Audience Novice

3:15pm CDT

Making Your One Book One School a Success

Thursday May 1, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm CDT

Silver 5

Looking for ways to engage readers across multiple grade levels? One Book, One School is a fantastic program to captivate even reluctant readers and build a sense of community through shared storytelling. Discover the triumphs and challenges of Norris Intermediate's OBOS initiative and connect with fellow librarians and educators to exchange ideas, strategies, and tips for launching a successful program at your school.

Speakers

Leia Rumsey

Intermediate School Librarian and Tech Teacher, Norris School District 160

Thursday May 1, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm CDT
Silver 5

Concurrent Session (45 minutes where the presenter shares information)

Strands that Match Elementary, Library Media
Tags Library Media, Primary Elementary (Pre K-2nd)
Grade Level Elementary, Middle
Target Audience Novice

4:15pm CDT

"But I don't have a TA/Para!!!!!?!?!?!"

Thursday May 1, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm CDT

Silver 5

Do you have a TA/para in your library? If not, you probably feel like your hair is on fire and your to-do list is never ending all of the time! With more and more on our plates as media specialist/librarians, our job can become overwhelming and somtimes feel impossible to do without support! In this session, we will talk about ways librarians be more efficient, get things done, and (hopefully) feel less stressed when you don't have the support of a para/TA!

Speakers

Jacob Barry

Media Specialist, Elkhorn Public Schools

Amy Williams

Media Specialist, Elkhorn Public Schools

Thursday May 1, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm CDT
Silver 5

Concurrent Session (45 minutes where the presenter shares information) Mini Session

Strands that Match Library Media
Tags Library Media
Grade Level All Levels
Target Audience All

10:15am CDT

Lesson-Palooza: Over 264 Ways to Rock Your Elementary Library

Friday May 2, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT

Silver 5

Discover how one librarian partnered with school librarians district-wide to create a comprehensive elementary library curriculum. The curriculum includes 44 lessons per grade level with teaching slides, lesson summaries, and materials to enhance student learning. Lessons feature story connections or read-alouds, plus resource fliers to help families extend learning beyond the classroom.

Speakers

Betsy Thomas

11:15am CDT

Digital Curation for Year Round Library Success

Friday May 2, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm CDT

Silver 5

Discover how digital curation can transform your library into a dynamic, year-round resource for your school community. Attendees will explore practical tools and strategies to keep libraries accessible and relevant throughout the year.

Speakers

Betsy Thomas

1:15pm CDT

Parent Power Up: Creative Ways to Communicate with Families

Friday May 2, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT

Silver 5

Build stronger connections between your school library and the families in your community. This session will explore creative strategies for engaging families with library programs and resources, from sharing read-aloud plans to leveraging digital tools. Learn how to communicate effectively, promote transparency, and extend library learning beyond the classroom.

Speakers