Ainsworth Public Library

HIRING

The Library is now accepting applications for the position of a

PART TIME CLEANING PERSONNEL

Applications forms need to be returned by May 2^nd.

The Ainsworth Library Board held its regular monthly meeting at the Library on April 13^th. The meeting was called to order at 5 p.m.  Notice was given on the posting of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act.  Roll call showed three members present:  Todd Flynn, Stacie Gilliland, and Alane Lentz.   Members Luke Hitchcock and Phyllis Leach were absent.   Library Director, Gail Irwin, was also present for the meeting.

Stacie made the motion to approve the minutes which Todd had seconded.  All members voted in favor of.  Alane moved to approve the claims for payment.  Stacie seconded this with all voting in favor of.  The Monthly Library Report for March was presented as well as a list of titles purchased.

Updated were given on the grants.   It was noted that the Youth Grant for Excellence has purchased all the needed items.  An S.T.E.M. Open House was held on 4-7-22 with all the items out for people to see and try out.  We had around 12 attend.  We plan to hold a weekly Monday S.T.E.M. Time for 4-5 p.m.   The final report still needs to be completed and submitted.  The Library Improvement Grant now has all of the Makerspace equipment and supplies ordered on hand.  Plans are in the works to hold a Makerspace Open House on May 5^th from 4-5 p.m.  We will have one on one training sign-up sheets by each item.  The Final Report needs to be completed in June.  The Formula Grant is still being worked on. It was noted that the funds for the $500 Teachers Grant came in and S.T.E.M items ordered.  The fort building, books, Makedo, and Visual Clock will be used on our Monday S.T.E.M. time.  Final report for this grant included copies of receipts plus photos of the items. 

National Library Week was honored from April 4-9^th with the theme of “Connect at your Library”.  We promoted this week on FaceBook, our website, in the newspaper, and radio.  Gifts were received from different people:  relish tray/dip; flowers, and vase full of candy.  We held our S.T.E.M. Open House during the week.

The Summer Reading Program was discussed with dates and time for each group from Toddlers to 4^th Grade.  The flier was shared with the Board that the school students will be getting. We will be using Reader Zone to keep track of time read.  It was noted that a Balloon Twisting Program by Ethan Boggs would be held on June 13^th from 2:30-3:30 p.m.   The program will be held in 26 libraries and is being paid for by the Central Plains Library System with ARPA funds. 

It was noted that the NebraskAccess has a new password.   The new business card with all the needed information was handed out to the Board members.

OverDrive has discontinued the OverDrive app and transitioning to just the Libby app.  Staff has attended several zoom meetings on this issue.  There was a survey for the public to take on the OverDrive website in regard to this.  It was noted that the libray’s website had the OverDrive app information removed and the new Libby app posted instead.  It still remains a problem on Kindle books and Amazon working with Libby but it is being worked on. 

The Ainsworth Art Guild currently has the Spring Art Show on display.   The show went up on the 8th and judging done on the 9^th.  Art work will be here till the end of the month.  Bright Horizons had a display which will be up from April 11-16^th.

We need to find a new cleaning person for the Library due to our cleaning lady going to college.  The Job Description was reviewed and approved by the Board.  We would use the application form from the City.  The City Clerk would like to continue the use of a Form 1099 at the end of the year to show earning if possible.  The Board directed the director to place an ad for two weeks.  The Board would review the applications at the next meeting and decide whom to hire at that time.  If no applications come in, we will keep on advertising the position until filled.

Public Librarian Certification for Wanda Raymond was received and renewed till 3-23-2025.

The Budget for 2022-2023 was postponed until the next meeting.

Various meetings and workshops that staff attended were shared with the Board.  They included the Director’s Thursday Zoom Meeting on March 10^th, 17th, and 31^st; the Aquatic WILD on March 8^th; NCompass Live Importance of Chit Chat in the Library on March 9^th and If you build it they will come on March 15^th; Transitioning to Libby on March 15^th; Nebraska 4H S.T.E.M. Reading Connection Workshop on March 13^th; Nebraska State Advisory Council on Libraries on March 18^th; City Safety Meeting on March 31^st; and How to Train Your Community on Libby on April 7^th.  Upcoming workshops include the Reluctant Readers Workshop by zoom on April 21^st; Golden Sower Reading Day in Kearney on June 3^rd; and Games People Play in Hastings on June 16^th.

Information was shared under correspondence on the release of the 1950 Census records and the Stroke of Genealogy: Searching U.S. Census Bureau Records course on the Library Commission Website.  The library received 196 bookbags/books from the Early Development Network Free Books Literacy Project.  We plan to hand them out during Children’s Book Week which is May 2-7^th.  An email was received from the Library Commission on the State Aid for 2022.   Our library will receive a total of $1,237.  The amount was determined using the following formula:  Base amount of $565; Per Capita Pay $162; Accreditation Bonus $400; 1% Incentive pay $110.  The State Advisory Council on Libraries was made aware of what was happening in the State Legislature on LB 1213 and LB 75.  Articles of interest from journals and newsletter were shared.

The next meeting was set for May 4^th at 5 p.m.  Since there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m.

The Ainsworth Library Board held their regular monthly meeting on March 2, 2022 at the Ainsworth Public Library.  This meeting was advertised in the local newspaper, over the radio, and on the Library’s website.  President Phyllis Leach called the meeting to order at 5 p.m.  Notice was given on the posting of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act.  Roll call showed four members present (Todd Flynn, Stacie Gilliland, Luke Hitchcock, and Phyllis Leach).  Member Alane Lentz was absent.  Library Director, Gail Irwin, was also present for the meeting.

Stacie Gilliland made the motion to approve the minutes.  Todd Flynn seconded this with all members voting in favor of.  Stacie Gilliland moved to approve the claims for payment which Todd Flynn seconded.  All voted in favor of.  The Monthly Library Report and List of Titles Purchased were shared with the Board.

The Board spent some time on the purchases from the ARPA Formula Grant. Discussion was held on purchase of security cameras and different types to buy.  The STEM items purchased with the ARPA Youth Grant for Excellence was shown to the Board.  The Library Staff will now start programs with them. The ARPA Library Improvement Grant funds have not arrived yet so Director is still working on items to order with it.

A review was done on the Blind Date with a Book program held all of February.  We had a total of 13 readers try a blind date.  Danielle Witte was the winner of the “Love” basket.

For Read Across America Day, the library held a Dr. Seuss Hour on March 1^st from 4-5 p.m.  We had a total of 25 attend.  We read several Seuss stories, played some games and activities, plus did a Thing 1 and Thing2 Hand Print Craft.

It was noted that the staff continues to work on the Summer Reading Program as time allows.  Due to the lower numbers of covid-19 in the area, we do plan on holding Toddler Time this year.

The Ainsworth Art Guild has asked if they could hold their Annual Spring Art Show at the Library.  It will be on display from April 9th-30^th.  The winning selections will then move on to the state competition.

Some data about library fines was shared with the Board.  Many libraries in the U.S. are not charging fines anymore. The Nebraska Library Commission recently did a short survey asking if fines are collected for overdue items.  The survey received 189 responses.  31% charge fines for everything that is overdue, 11% charge fines for some items or borrower age groups, and 48% don’t charge any fines.  Our library has not been collecting much revenue from fines and the Board may decide to not charge fines when they see how much was collected this fiscal year.

Discussion was held on the library’s Challenges/Reconsideration of Material Policy and our Request for Withdrawal of Material Form.  The Board would like to update the form to include all items found in the library (ebooks, movie, magazine, audio recording, digital resource, game, newspaper, etc.) besides just books and to add the following question: Do you represent yourself or an organization?   Luke Hitchcock made the motion to add the new Library Request for Reconsideration of Material Form to our existing policy and the following four paragraphs to our policy:

Potential Problems or Challenges:  The Ainsworth Public Library recognizes that some materials are controversial and that any given item may offend some patrons.  Selection of materials will not be made on the basis of anticipated approval or disapproval, but solely on the basis of the principles stated in this policy. 

Responsibility for the reading of children rests with their parents or legal guardians.  Selection of library material will not be inhibited by the possibility that materials may come into the possession of children.

Library Materials will not be marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of their contents, and no library material will be sequestered except to protect it from damage or theft.

Although materials are carefully selected, there can arise differences of opinions regarding suitable materials.  Patrons requesting that material be withdrawn from or restricted within the collection may complete a “Request for reconsideration of Material” form which is available at the library.  The inquiry will be placed on the agenda of the next regular meeting of the Ainsworth Library Board of Trustees.

Stacie Gilliland seconded this with all members voting in favor of.

A review was given on the Thursday Director’s Zoom meeting that the Director attended on Feb. 3^rd, 17^th, and 24^th.  It was noted that all staff attended the day long Big Talk for Small Libraries Conference on the 25^th.  Library Board member, Alane Lentz, joined the group for one session that day.  Staff had attended a Reader’s Zone Update Zoom Meeting on the 28^th.  It was noted that staff plans to attend the Aquatic WILD by Nebraska Game and Parks/Library System on March 8^th.  Board member Todd Flynn stated he would be interested in watching a recording of Aquatic Wild if possible.   Library Director will arrange this for him.  Coming up will be the Nebraska 4/H STEM on Reading Connection Zoom Meeting and the State Advisory Council on Libraries on March 18^th in Lincoln.

Under correspondence, a response letter from Rep. Adrian Smith was shared.  An email was also shared on the starting of a mail list for Nebraska Makerspaces to network and communicate with each other. 

The next meeting date was set for April 13^th at 5 p.m.   Since there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m.

AINSWORTH LIBRARY BOARD MEETING

March 2, 2022 at 5 p.m.

AGENDA

1.         Call meeting to order

2.         Give notice on the posting of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act

3.         Roll call

4.         Approve minutes

5.         Approve claims for payment

6.         Monthly Library Report

7.         Grant purchase updates on ARPA Formula Grant, ARPA Youth Grant for Excellence,

            ARPA Library Improvement Grand, and Network for Good

8.         Blind Date with a Book Review

9.         Read Across America Day-Dr. Seuss Hour-March 1^st

10.       Summer Reading Program

11.       Ainsworth Art Guild Spring Art Show  April 9-30

12.       Information on NLC Library Fine Survey

13.       Update policy on Challenges/Reconsideration of Material

14.       Meeting/Workshop

            a.         Thursday Director’s Zoom Meeting: Feb. 3, 20, and 24

            b.         Big Talk for Small Libraries Conference-Feb. 25

            c.         Reader’s Zone for SRP-Feb. 28

            d.         Aquatic Wild-Nebraska Game and Parks/System-March 8

            e.         Nebraska 4/H STEM on Reading Connection-March 18

            f.          State Advisory Council on Libraries-March 18-Lincoln

15.       Correspondence

            a.         Response Letter from Rep. Adrain Smith

            b.         Email on starting mail list for NE Makerspaces to network/communicate

            c.         Items of interest from library newsletters/journals

16.       Set next meeting date/time

17.       Adjournment