About the Nebraska Literary Heritage Association

The Nebraska Literary Heritage Association exists to "encourage the collection, preservation, and promotion of work by and about Nebraska authors through support of the Lincoln City Libraries special collection, the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors, and to foster the creation and appreciation of this literature through programs, collaborative partnerships, and the use of technology."

Lincoln City Libraries staff began developing this special collection in 1949. It was moved to its present location on the third floor of Bennett Martin Public Library in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1978 and was supported by city funding until 1981.

Due to fiscal constraints, city funding was no longer available after that year. With city funding eliminated, the Junior League of Lincoln formed the Nebraska Authors Project to provide continued support for the growing collection. The Nebraska Literary Heritage Association (NLHA) grew out of this project. NLHA was established in 1983 under the auspices of the Foundation for Lincoln City Libraries. A newsletter for the membership, now News from the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors, was started in 1984.

NLHA provides financial and programming support for the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors. The room currently houses more than 12,000 volumes representing more than 3,350 authors. Financial support comes from membership dues and from the Spelling Bee (begun in 1984). The Foundation for Lincoln City Libraries administers the Heritage Room Endowment Fund which contains funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge Grant (1989) and funds deposited by NLHA. Money raised by NLHA helps maintain public access to the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors collection and supports NLHA programs.

Programs sponsored by NLHA include the Writers Write workshop for 8th graders, the monthly Lunch at the Library programs, the Write Stuff adult creative writing groups, and the Read to Me programs in elementary schools. All are designed to encourage an interest in reading and writing and to further knowledge and understanding of Nebraska authors.

Since 1988, NLHA has sponsored the Literary Heritage Award, in cooperation with the Lincoln Arts Council and presented annually as part of the Mayor’s Arts Awards. This award recognizes a writer or an individual that promotes excellence in writing and literature in Nebraska.

Membership in NLHA is open to anyone interested in supporting Nebraska authors. We invite you to join us. For more information, please see the membership page.