Ainsworth Public Library

To maintain security, NebraskAccess passwords are changed twice a year on April 1 and October 1. A new password is now available to the Ainsworth Public Library. This new password will officially go into effect on April 1, but you can start using it immediately. This password will remain in effect through September 30, 2019. The old NebraskAccess password will continue to work through the of March. We have business cards available at the library with all the needed information to use these databases.

LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
April 3, 2019 @ 5 p.m.
Agenda posted at library.
This meeting is open to the public.

Book Discussion Group will be meeting on March 18th at 2 p.m. The featured title will be “The Widow of the South” by Robert Hicks.

If you have read this book, please come and join the talk.

The Ainsworth Library Board held its regular monthly meeting on March 6th at the Public Library. This meeting was advertised in the local newspaper, radio, and posted at the Library.
The meeting was called to order at 5:06 p.m. by President Traci Ganser. Notice was given on the posting of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act.

Roll call showed three members present. They included Todd Flynn, Traci Ganser, and Phyllis Leach. Members Alane Lentz and Pedro Bordes were absent. Library Director, Gail Irwin, was also present for the meeting.

Phyllis Leach made the motion to approve the minutes. Traci Ganser seconded this with all members voting in favor of. Todd Flynn moved to approve the claims for payment. Phyllis Leach seconded this with all members voting in favor of. The Monthly Library Report for February, the OverDrive Circulation statistics for February with the checkouts of Advantage copies owned by other libraries to our patrons, and the list of titles purchased were presented. The director noted at this time that the roof is having an ice jam by the back door. Both the front entrance and back door has water running over the rain gutter as the gutter has frozen water in it and it is making the sidewalks very icy. We may have to add more insulation or roof vents to stop the icicles from forming.

An update was given on the “Blind Date with a Book” held the whole month of February. We had 18 different books selected for the program. All of them were checked out at least once. We had a total of 25 books checked out. Most of the readers had a favorable commit on the Rate Your Date Slip. The winner of the basket with the two books and candy was Marsha Fuchs.

An update was given on the Library Innovation Studio Grant. Our library will need to complete quarterly surveys until the Library Commission makes its final report to IMLS. This quarter’s survey was completed and revolved around sustainability of our project, did you purchase any equipment, are you fundraising for equipment, etc. A discussion was held on purchasing some S.T.R.E.A.M. items for our Makerspace. The Brown County Foundation is currently accepting grant applications until the end of March and it was felt that this project would be a match to the grant objections. Traci Ganser made the motion to apply for the grant to purchase some S.T.R.E.A.M equipment. Todd Flynn seconded this with all members voting in favor of.

The Summer Reading Program was discussed. It was noted that the Library signed up for the STAR Net’s “Summer of Space” program. It will provide a newsletter, programming, STEM activities and more. The Space Science Institute will be giving away NASA space books to the first 500 libraries that sign up. Our library signed up for this. Pricing for programs from the Edgerton Explorit Center in Aurora was shared. They have limited dates to book. The Middle School Summer Programing was shared. The System is trying to do a bulk purchase on Breakout EDU kits. Our library expressed interest in purchasing this. It was felt that we could do an escape room with this age group if we get this kit. Another event will be hands on/demonstration of the STEAM items from the library system. Staff will be attending the SRP workshop at the end of the month to get more ideas of crafts and programming for the summer.

For Read Across America Day, the library held a Dr. Seuss Hour on March 1st. We had a total of 15 attend. The kids made a Fox in Socks puppet, played a Cat in the Hat toss, as well as enjoying lots of Seuss stories. Each child went home with a medal to wear.

Possible activities to be held during National Library Week (April 7-13th) were discussed. A box/sack book sale will be held all week long. A story time for the kids, a relax with coloring day, plus a no fine day will also be held.

Phyllis Leach and Traci Ganser gave an update on the Library Foundation Board meeting held on Feb. 28th. Library director gave an update on the Big Talk From Small Libraries 2019 online sessions held on Feb. 22nd. It was noted that the Director will be in Lincoln for the Nebraska State Advisory Council Meeting on March 12th. Two staff members plan to attend the Summer Reading Workshop in Ravenna on March 29th. It was noted that Traci Ganser had submitted two different CE programs that she attended: Reclaim your success: Lessons from Disrupters and Strategies from women who break the mold and GIS in your classroom-what is new, contests, and cool stuff. On Feb. 27th, Traci had attended the Emerging cyber-attack trends and defensive tactics which should supply a total of 7 CE credits.

Under correspondence, items from the Library Commission was shared that included information on the Public Library Accreditation, One Book One Nebraska 2019 title, the new State Poet, and the OverDrive Magazines Subscription. Articles of interest were shared from library newsletters and journals.

The next meeting date/time was set for April 3rd at 5 p.m. Since there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:42 p.m.

The Ainsworth Library Foundation Board held its regular quarterly meeting on February 28, 2019 at the Ainsworth Public Library. The meeting was called to order at 5:04 p.m. Roll call showed six members present. They included Wendy Allen, Marsha Fuchs, Traci Ganser, Phyllis Leach, Deanna Taylor, and Bev Whitney. Member Gary Kinzie was absent. Library Director, Gail Irwin, was also present for the meeting.

The previous minutes were read and approved. The Treasurer’s Report presented by Wendy Allen was approved. The Income and Expenses for 2018 was shared. The filing the Income Tax Forms will be completed soon.

Several bills were presented: $20 to the Secretary of State and $519.49 for the heat press/printer/supplies to Amazon. Both were approved for payment.

The Gift Transaction List from November 2018 to February 2019 was shared. We received memorials in memory of:
Mr. Clayton Bejot from Cottonwood Villa, Mr. Steve Bejot, and from Clayton’s memorial from family and friends
Mr. Joe Bejot from Mrs. Shelia Bejot
Mr. Kenneth O’Hare from Mr. and Mrs. Doug Pankowski
Mr. Tony Day from Mr. and Mrs. Phil Fuchs
Donations were received from Mr. and Mrs. Jim Adkisson, Ms. Traci Ganser (Network for Good on FaceBook),Mrs. Shirley West, and Mr. Matthew Kulek with his Honeywell International Charity Matching Fund.
Other revenue came from one person paying his fee from our “Sink Your Teeth into Reading” fundraiser, recycling of ink cartridges, sales of the Art Club Cards, the donation jar, and the coffee station.

The Nonprofit Corporation Biennial Report for the State of Nebraska is due by April 1st. The form was completed and signed so it could be mailed off.

The Ainsworth Library Makerspace was discussed. It was noted that the heat press/printer/supplies are here and almost ready for people to use. Next on the list of equipment to purchase from the Makerspace Survey is the vinyl cutter. The library staff has been investigating which would be best for our library: a vinyl cutter or a cricut machine. This information will be shared at the next meeting. Library staff had recently attended a S.T.R.E.A.M Workshop and shared some of the items that the library would like to purchase for our patrons to use.

The library landscaping is on hold due to the winter weather. A work night will be held in April to remove the tree stumps and border, level the dirt, and plant grass.

Future fundraising was discussed. We will be having the Book Basket Auction this fall. A Garden Walk will be set for the summer of 2020.

The next meeting date was set for May 23rd at 5 p.m. Since there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m.

Congratulations to our Blind Date With a Book prize winner Marsha Fuchs.

Marsha won a large basket with two books, a chocolate rose, and several boxes of chocolate candy.

Thanks so much to everyone that participated! We had selected 18 different titles for this year’s Blind Date. Each one was checked out at least once! According to the “Rate Your Date” slips, most of the “dates” with the books were enjoyed by the participants.

Can’t wait till next February and our next “Blind Date with a Book”!

Ainsworth Library Board Meeting will be held on March 6, 2019 at 5 p.m. at the Ainsworth Public Library.

AGENDA

1. Call meeting to order

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

3. Roll Call

4. Approve minutes of the last meeting

5. Approve claims for payment/Budget spending review

6. Monthly Library Report/List of titles purchased

7. Blind Date with a Book

8. Library Innovation Studio Grant Survey

9. Summer Reading Program
a. Star Net’s “Summer of Space” items/free NASA Tactile Books
b. Edgerton Explorit Center Programs
c. Middle School Program in July
1. Breakout EDU kits

10. Read Across America Day: Dr. Seuss Hour-March 1st

11. National Library Week-April 7-13th

12. Workshops/Meetings:
a. Library Foundation Board Meeting-Feb. 2019
b. Big Talk From Small Libraries On-line Session Feb. 22, 2019
c. Nebraska State Advisory Council Meeting-March 12th-Lincoln
d. Summer Reading Program Workshop-March 29th-Ravenna
e. Library Board CE by Traci Ganser

13. Correspondence:
a. Information from the Nebraska Library Commission: Public Library Accreditation,
One Book One Nebraska 2019 title, OverDrive magazines subscription, New State Poet
b. Articles of interest from Library Newsletters/Journals

14. Set next meeting date/time

15. Adjournment

The Ainsworth Library Foundation will hold its quarterly board meeting today at 5 p.m. This meeting was originally set for last Thursday but due to the weather it was moved to the 28th.

There will be no Library Foundation Board Meeting tonight.
We are currently working on setting a new date.