Category Archives: Announcements and Press Releases

Lincoln City Libraries Announces Most Popular Titles of 2022

Monday, 23 January 2023 15:27

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Lincoln City Libraries today announced its most popular titles of 2022. Last year, residents borrowed more than 2.8 million items from the eight LCL locations and Lied Bookmobile.

“Our city libraries continue to be hubs of activity where patrons have access to a great collection with the latest in popular titles and new discoveries,” said Ryan Wieber, Director of Lincoln City Libraries.

Lincoln City Libraries saw a 4.3% increase in the circulation of print materials in 2022. Residents visited library web pages over 1 million times and borrowed nearly 700,000 items electronically. Visitations increased by 16% as the libraries resumed in-person programming in March 2022.

The most popular titles in all formats are as follows:

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles — 1,243 checkouts
Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi — 805 checkouts
Sparring Partners by John Grisham — 610 checkouts
The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci — 522 checkouts
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens — 504 checkouts
Run, Rose, Run by Dolly Parton — 484 checkouts
The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand — 473 checkouts
Dream Town by David Baldacci — 471 checkouts
Shattered by James Patterson — 463 checkouts
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney — 456 checkouts

“We find that people love end-of-year lists, and the libraries’ top 10 most read lists is a great way to share what the Lincoln community has been reading this last year,” said Rebecca Aracena, Support Services Coordinator.

In addition to books, e-books and audiobooks, LCL also loans ukuleles, guitars, video games and movies, and provides free access to dozens of databases.

To view top 10 checkout lists in other categories, visit lincolnlibraries.org/most-popular-titles-of-2022 . For more information about Lincoln City Libraries and its services, visit lincolnlibraries.org.

Lincoln City Libraries Offers Reading Challenge in January 2023

Thursday, 29 December 2022 15:58

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Lincoln City Libraries invites residents to participate in the annual Winter Reading Challenge from January 1 through 31, 2023. This year’s Beanstack theme is “All the Feels” and encourages readers of all ages to feel, experience, and dive into how reading enlivens our emotions — all while earning badges on a virtual bingo card.

Participants can earn virtual tickets for reading time they record, which can then be entered into drawings for prize packages worth $50 each. Prize packages include gift cards from:

• Valentino’s and Google Play
• Target and Popeyes
• Lowe’s and Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen
• Francie & Finch and Xbox
• Barnes & Noble and Amigos

In addition to the prize packages, everyone who completes a bingo will be entered into grand prize drawings for a Fire 7 tablet-16GB with Alexa or a Kindle Paperwhite-8G.

To enroll, visit lincolnlibraries.beanstack.org beginning January 1, 2023, or contact library staff for assistance. Bingo cards for keeping track of reading time are available at all library locations. To qualify for the challenge and be eligible for prizes, reading times must be recorded on the Beanstack site by January 31.

Mayor Names Ryan Wieber the Next Director of Lincoln City Libraries

Friday, 21 October 2022 15:15

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Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird today announced that she has chosen Ryan Wieber, the current Director of Kalamazoo Public Libraries, as the new Director of Lincoln City Libraries. He will replace Pat Leach, who retired at the end of August after 40 years of service to the City of Lincoln, including 14 as the last permanent Director of the Library Department. Wieber will begin his new job on December 8.

“Ryan emerged as the unanimous top candidate during our search for the next Director. His enthusiasm for learning, experience as a library leader for over two decades and strong desire to lead Lincoln City Libraries into the future were notable strengths,” Mayor Gaylor Baird said. “As we look to strengthen and expand the library system in Lincoln, I know Ryan has the skills and capabilities to create the consensus needed to achieve our dreams for public libraries in the Capital City.”   

Wieber has served as the Director of the Kalamazoo Public Libraries in Kalamazoo, Michigan, since 2017, leading a public library system with an annual operating budget of $13.5 million, 180 staff and five locations. Prior to that he served as the Director of the Van Buren District Library in Decatur, Michigan from 2013 to 2017 and the Otsego District Library in Otsego, Michigan from 1999 until 2012. He is the current President of the Michigan Library Association. Wieber holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public History from Western Michigan University and a Master of Library Information Science from Wayne State University.

“I am excited to arrive in Lincoln and begin leading a superb library system with strong ties to its communities,” Wieber said. “It is especially evident the City recognizes the value of its libraries, and I am thrilled to begin meeting our staff, stakeholders, and residents, and continuing excellence in public library service.”

Dan Sloan, President of the Lincoln City Library Board of Trustees said, “Ryan has the skills, experience and drive needed to grow, strengthen and innovate our already very strong library system. He is a dynamic leader with a proven record of strong management, collaboration, and innovation. We are thrilled to have someone of his caliber lead the library into what promises to be a very exciting future.”

Mayor Gaylor Baird expressed her sincere appreciation to Jocelyn Golden for serving as the interim director of Lincoln City Libraries during the search process. Golden will return to her duties as an Assistant City Attorney when Wieber assumes his role.

The Search Committee for the position included four appointments by the Mayor and four appointments by the Lincoln City Library Board of Trustees, as provided in the Lincoln Municipal Code.

Lincoln City Libraries (LCL) supports lifelong education for the Lincoln community through its support for learning, literature, and literacy. Within LCL’s eight locations, residents can check out books, DVDs, and CDs, attend special events such as preschool learning times or book groups, use library gathering spaces for study or meetings, and connect to the Internet via the library’s personal computers or the library’s wireless internet.

2022 One Book–One Lincoln Title Announced

Monday, 05 September 2022 07:59

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Lincoln City Libraries (LCL) today announced The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles as the book selected for the 2022 One Book–One Lincoln Community Reading Program. The book is available from LCL in print and large type as well as downloadable audio and eBook formats.

The Lincoln Highway is a coming of age story that details the 10 days following Emmett’s release from a work farm in 1954. He returns to Nebraska to find his mother gone and father dead. His new plan is take his younger brother Billy to California. However, a few stowaways change their plans and the new path leads them on a road trip to New York.

The runners-up for the 2022 program were Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi and Hell of A Book by Jason Mott. The book selection process began in February when a 17-member selection team of community readers narrowed the list of nominees to 72 titles. These titles were closely reviewed by committee members to select the three finalists that were presented to the community.

Programs are being planned for September and October. LCL has sponsored the annual program since 2002 to encourage reading and dialogue by creating a community-wide reading and discussion experience.