Ainsworth Public Library

The Ainsworth Public Library will be closed on Monday, November 12th, in observance of Veteran’s Day.

The Ainsworth Library Board held its regular monthly meeting on November 7, 2018 at the Ainsworth Public Library. This meeting was advertised in the local newspaper, on the radio, and posted at the Library. The meeting was called to order by President Traci Ganser at 5 p.m. Notice was given on the Nebraska Open Meeting Act. Roll call showed all members present. They included Todd Flynn, Traci Ganser, Phyllis Leach, Alane Lentz, and Pedro Bordes. Library Director, Gail Irwin, was also present for the meeting.

Traci Ganser made the motion to approve the minutes which Todd Flynn seconded. Vote showed all members in favor of. Alane Lentz made the motion to approve the claims for payment. Phyllis Leach seconded this with all members voting in favor of. The Board spent time doing a budget spending review. The Monthly Library Report for October was presented as well as List of titles purchased. The Summary for Fiscal Year (October 2017 to September 2018) was presented. It was noted that the Director is currently working on the State/Federal Public Library Survey for 2017-2018. This will be shared with the Board when completed.

The Nebraska Library Commission sent out a Participant/Maker Survey for the Library Innovation Studio that we hosted last winter/spring. All Board members should have received the survey and were encouraged to complete and submit it. All the library staff has completed it.

Our month long theme of “Sink Your Teeth Into Reading” was discussed. It was noted that Traci Ganser did the float for the Homecoming Parade and passed out vampire teeth. The Fundraiser was held from October 15-18th raising a total of $1500. A few photos of people wearing the teeth were posted on the Library’s Facebook page. The sink was used for the booth at the Trunk and Treat downtown on Halloween. Library staff handed out books and vampire teeth to children. A donate button currently on Facebook will direct people interested in giving a donation to the library to the Library’s website. We are working on getting donations to go directly to Facebooks.

The 2019 One Book One Nebraska title has been released. “This Blessed Earth: A Year in the Life of an American Family Farm” has been selected. Our library will be purchasing a copy for our library. The Book Club will feature this book in the fall of 2019.

Under upcoming meetings/workshops, it was noted that the Ainsworth Library Foundation Board would be meeting on Nov. 14th at 5 p.m. Gail will be attending the State Library Advisory Council Meeting in Lincoln on Nov. 16th. The new certificate was received for the Board. The Public Library Board Certification was renewed until September 30, 2021. The Board as a whole must acquire 20 hours of continuing education credit during the next three years.

Under correspondence, we had information from the Cornhusker State Industries on new library furniture they are now making. Articles of interest from Library Journal, American Libraries, NCompass, and The Voice for America’s Libraries were shared.

Holiday closing was discussed. The Library will be closed on Nov. 12th (Veteran’s Day), Nov. 22nd (Thanksgiving Day), Dec. 24th and 25th (Christmas), and on Jan. 1st (New Year’s Day) with an early closing on Dec. 31st (New Year’s Eve).

Since the Board does not meeting in the month of December, the next meeting date/time was set for January 9th at 5 p.m. Since there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:35 p.m.

As part of our fall fundraiser we have made it easy for you to donate to the Ainsworth Library. Please complete the form below and then mail or drop off your gift at your convenience. All funds raised will be used for ongoing Library improvements and new maker space equipment. We greatly appreciate your support!

During October 7th-13th teens are encouraged to drop by the library and help us celebrate Teen Week Read. The theme for this year is “It’s Written in the Stars: READ”. Visit the Library to find something great to read for your enjoyment. We have a little something for everyone, including folklore, fantasy titles, adventure books, how-to books, sci-fic stories and more.

If regular books are not your thing, the library has magazines, newspaper, e-books, audiobooks, computers, and some makerspace equipment for you to enjoy.

Visit the library and find something to read just for the fun of it!

AINSWORTH LIBRARY BOARD MEETING WILL BE HELD ON OCTOBER 3, 2018 AT 5 P.M.

AGENDA

1. Call meeting to order

2. Notice of the posting of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act

3. Roll call

4. Approve minutes

5. Approve claims for payment/Budget spending review

6. Monthly Library Report for September

7. Internet (wireless hub)

8. “Sink Your Teeth Into Reading” Fundraising Event (Oct. 15-20)

9. Landscaping project

10. Library Accreditation
a. Guidelines
b. Community Needs Response Plan
c. Board Certification
d. Library Director Public Library Certification

11. Update on Library activities/events
a. Library Card Sign-Up Month (September)
b. Banned Book Week (Sept. 23-29)
c. Book Discussion Group
d. Little Paws Preschool Library Visits
e. Teen Read Week (Oct. 7-13)
f. Trunk or Treat Halloween Event (Oct. 31)

12. Meetings/Workshops review by staff and board members

13. Correspondence:
a. New password for NebraskAccess
b. Movie Licensing USA Public Performance Site License
c. Articles of interest from Library Journals/Newsletters

14. Set date/time for next meeting date

15. Adjournment

LIBRARY BOARD MEETING will be held on October 3, 2018 at 5 p.m.
The agenda posted at the Library
This meeting is open to the public!

The Ainsworth Library Board held its regular monthly meeting on September 5, 2018 at the Ainsworth Public Library. This meeting was advertised in the local newspaper, over the radio, posted at the Library, and listed on the Library’s Facebook page and website. President Traci Alberts called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. Notice was given on the posting of the Open Meeting Act. Roll called showed four present: Traci Alberts, Todd Flynn, Phyllis Leach, and Alane Lentz. Member Pedro Bordes was absent. Library Director, Gail Irwin, was also present for the meeting.

Alane Lentz made the motion to approve the minutes. Phyllis Leach seconded this with all members voting in favor of. Traci Alberts moved to approve the claims for payment. Todd Flynn seconded this with all members voting in favor of. The board spent of a few minutes reviewing the budget spending sheet. The Monthly Library Report for August was shared with the Board. Discussion was held on the Director’s upcoming vacation. Staff was been weeding the adult fiction section and placing the withdrawn titles in the Book Sale. It was noted that the wireless hub that runs the internet throughout the library has been acting up and needs to be replaced. Threerivers will be installing the needed new equipment soon.

The Library Innovation Studio was at the State Fair on August 26th. Gail Irwin worked from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. showing items created at our library. The equipment was running all day long for demonstration. Lots of people stopped by and watched items being made. The new Button Maker ordered for our library has arrived. People may make a pin back, mirror, or magnetic button. The fees to use the machine will be the cost of material only. It was noted that the Library Foundation agreed to purchase the Heat Press and needed supplies. It should be here soon.

Phyllis Leach and Traci Alberts shared information on the upcoming fundraiser by the Library Foundation. The “Sink Your Teeth Into Reading” event will be held on Oct. 15th. It is hoped to have the sink in the Homecoming Parade to help promote it. We plan to place photos on the library Facebook page with people smiling with vampire teeth as well as on-line donation button. There will be no Book Basket Auction this year as the Foundation hopes to go with that event every other year.

It was noted that the Accreditation Application forms and the Community Needs Response Plan has been submitted. We showed a total of 252 points on the form. You need at least 250 points to be at the Gold Level. So now we wait and see if they approve all the points and the plan. The last item to be done is the Library Board Certification. The board needs to finish 3 more continuing education hours by the end of September for this.

An update was given on the proposed budget for 2018-2019. The library director attended the city budget workshop on August 27th. It was felt that the Library would receive the budget funds asked for.

The library will observe Library Card Sign Up Month all of September as well as Banned Book Week (Sept. 23-29th). Promotions will be held to raise the awareness of these special events.

Information on the Nebraska OverDrive Libraries 2018-2019 budget proposal and budget splits for the eBooks and audiobooks was shared with the Board.

Information on the IMLS Code Club Grant was shared. They had 350 applications for the 50 spots. Our library was not selected. Library staff will continue to keep looking for grants to apply for as we feel it is important to offer coding to our youth.

It was noted that the Book Discussion Group will start up for the year on Sept. 17th. Readers will share information on a great book they read this summer as well as voted for the titles to read the rest of the year. The October title will be handed out at this time.

Board members shared information on the various webinars/meetings that they have attended. It was noted that they need several more CE hours to get their certification. Traci Alberts shared information from the Library Foundation Board Meeting held on August 16th. The Foundation would like to do some landscaping work around the library. Input was asked of the Library Board on this project. The plan is to remove and clean up the area this fall so it will be ready to work on in the spring with grass seed, etc. The foundation would also like to place a memorial in memory of Freda Hinrichs. The Library Board has no problem with the plans and said to go ahead with it.

Articles of interest from various library journals were shared. It was noted that the Bulletin Board created by Wanda which featured fireflies that light up was featured in the Central Plains Library System.

The next meeting was set for October 3rd at 5 p.m. Since there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:54 p.m.