The Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors

As long ago as 1949, the Reference Department at the Bennett Martin Public Library realized the importance of gathering information about Nebraska authors. Over the years, what was once a single shelf of books has now grown into a room-sized collection, the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors.

Our mission is to preserve and promote works by and about Nebraska authors, past and present. The collection strives to gather in one location a representative sample of written works by Nebraska authors.

A Nebraska author is defined as:

• A writer born in Nebraska or spending his/her childhood in Nebraska,
• A writer who received the greater portion of his/her education in Nebraska, or
• A writer who spent many of his/her productive writing years in Nebraska, generally at least ten years.

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

For more than twenty years, the Heritage Room’s John H. Ames Reading Series has showcased Nebraska authors sharing their work. Video recordings of these readings and other special programs are available for onsite checkout and through Interlibrary Loan