Author Elaine Weiss Shared Nebraska History at 2020 Fundraiser
Annual event became a free, virtual lecture for attendees across the U.S.

More than 100 attendees from Omaha and around the United States got a lesson in the history of Nebraska voting and politics, courtesy of Zoom and the Omaha Public Library Foundation.

Between the Lines with Elaine Weiss, the Omaha Public Library Foundation’s annual fundraiser on October 6, 2020, transitioned to a free, online event earlier this year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s author was Elaine Weiss, whose 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.

Weiss’s presentation included Nebraska’s history during this pivotal time in American history. Weiss credited public libraries for much of her multi-year research when writing the book.

Jo Giles, Omaha Public Library Foundation board president, served as emcee. Douglas County Commissioner Mary Ann Borgeson introduced Weiss.

During the event, the Omaha Public Library 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 Omaha Public Library 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 Omaha Public Library Foundation volunteers and supporters. Bock-Mavis, who received the first award, long advocated starting a library foundation and offered to serve as the library foundation’s first director, a volunteer and unpaid post she held for eight years beginning in 1985. Previous award recipients include Jim Kineen and Eileen Wirth.

Although the online event was free to attend, the event raised funds for two Omaha Public Library projects: collections and a one-year Tutor.com subscription for library patrons. Individual sponsors included Great Plains Communications, First National Bank of Omaha, and the late Judge Laurie Smith Camp. 

Previous authors featured at the annual Omaha Public Library Foundation fundraiser include Margaret Atwood (2014), Wally Lamb (2015), Tobias Wolff (2016), Hope Jahren (2017), Amy Thielen (2018), and Angie Thomas (2019).

Event proceeds from the 2020 fundraiser will support Omaha Public Library programs and services. Such programs at Omaha Public Library’s twelve branches include children’s literacy, teen literacy, adult literacy, the Summer Reading Program, library collections, and more.

To learn more about future events, please contact the Omaha Public Library Foundation: foundation@omahalibrary.org or (402) 444-4589.