Ainsworth Public Library

The OverDrive authentication problems have been fixed. If you have further problems, please let us know. We apologize for the inconvenience and frustration.

I have been contacted by several people that they were not able to access OverDrive this weekend. So sorry about this! Please note: That it is being worked on. There was a problem in Lincoln on Sunday and this is what has been reported to our library:

The State of Nebraska’s Internet service was down for nearly 24 hours, beginning Friday evening at 5:45. We don’t know exactly what happened, but it was triggered by a power outage. Unfortunately, that prevented users from accessing any of our Internet-based services during that time. The affected services include our web sites, the “Nebraska Libraries on the Web” (WordPress) library websites, Overdrive authentication (for those whose authentication is routed through NLC), Ncampus (Moodle), the mailing lists, the Nebraska Center for the Book website, and more.
I’m sure the outage caused frustration for many, unfortunately. It was certainly frustrating for those of us at NLC who do everything in our power to provide reliable services.

The Ainsworth Library Board held its regular monthly meeting on Feb. 5, 2020 at the Ainsworth Public Library.  This meeting was advertised in the local newspaper, on the radio, and posted at the Library.  President Traci Ganser called the meeting to order at 5 p.m.  Notice was given on the posting of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act.  Roll call showed four members present.  They included Todd Flynn, Traci Ganser, Phyllis Leach, and Alane Lentz.  Member Pedro Bordes was absent.  Library Director, Gail Irwin, was also present for the meeting. 

Phyllis Leach made the motion to approve the minutes of the last meeting.  Alane Lentz seconded this with all members voting in favor of.  Traci Ganser moved to approve the claims for payment.   Alane Lentz seconded this motion with all members voting in favor of. The Monthly Library Report for January was presented as well as a list of titles purchased.  The monthly circulation for January in OverDrive was shared noting the number of Advantage copies checked out by our library.  A notice from the Nebraska Library Commission was shared on the fact that our state aid funding would be reduced. 

A review was given on the NET-PBS Kids: Movies and More with the free screen of the new Arthur show titled “The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur” on Jan 21^st.  Due to the winter weather that day, we only had 9 people attend. They all had a Arthur birthday hat to wear and everyone received a family tree to take home and complete with the help of their family.  All that attended had a great time and liked the show.  It was noted that the Feedback Survey was completed and submitted. It was noted that one of the posts on FaceBook announcing this event showed 1,105 people reached and 54 engagements. 

Blind Date with a Book is currently being held at the Library and will run all of February.  We have 20 books covered with wrapping paper so people cannot see the title.  We put clues on the front of the book.  Our theme this year is “Read Me If You Liked….”   We listed another title similar to the book, as well as another author and subject/genre.  If the reader completes the “Rate Your Date” slip, their name will go into the drawing for the Love Basket which was donated by Wanda Raymond and Gail Irwin.

It was noted that Read Across America Day would be celebrated with a Dr. Seuss Hour on March 2^nd.

The survey on how our library used the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition posters titled World War 1: Lessons and Legacies was submitted on 2-28-20.  The Book Club readers spent time reviewing the posters after the book discussion they had on with their title on WW1. The posters will be saved and available for teachers/students to use in the classroom.

It was noted that an application had been submitted for a Continuing Education and Training Grant from the Nebraska Library Commission for Wanda Raymond to attend the Association of Rural and Small Libraries 2020 Conference in the fall in Kansas.   If awarded it would be for $500. 

An update was given on the Summer Reading Program Workshop that staff attended in Broken Bow on Jan. 29^th.   Some of the crafts and prizes won were shared.  It was noted at this time that the Reading Program will run all of June.  We will have Toddle Time and Preschool groups on Tuesday and the K-4^th groups on Thursday.  The Puppet Show is scheduled to be on June 19^th.

Workshops and meeting coming up include the Full S.T.E.A. M. Ahead workshop in North Platte on Feb. 12^th and the Library Foundation Board meeting on Feb. 13^th. The Big Talk from Small Libraries Conference will be on Feb.28^th.   The schedule of events was shared with the Board and they were encouraged to attend all or parts of the day with library staff.  The Board had previously approved the Library being closed that day so staff could attend.  It was noted that the library director would be attending the State Advisory Council on Libraries meeting in Lincoln on March 5^th.

Under correspondence, we shared articles of interest from various library journals and newsletters.

The next meeting date and time was set for March 4^th at 5 p.m.   Since there was no further business to be held, the meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

AINSWORTH LIBRARY BOARD MEETING

Feb. 5, 2020 at 5 p.m.

AGENDA

1.         Call meeting to order

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

3.         Roll call

4.         Approve minutes of last meeting

5.         Approve claims for payment/Budget spending review

6.         Monthly Library Report/List of titles purchased

7.         Review of NET-PBS Kids: Movies & More-The Rhythm & Roots of Arthur-Jan. 20^th

8.         Blind Date with a Book to be featured all of February

9.         Read Across America Day-Dr. Seuss Hour-March 2^nd

10.       Survey for the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition on the posters titled World War 1: Lessons and Legacies submitted 2-28-20

11.       Application for Continuing Education and Training Grant from Nebraska Library Commission for Wanda Raymond to attend the Association of Rural and Small Libraries 2020 Conference (9-30 to 10-3-20)

12.       Meetings/Workshops:

            a.       Summer Reading Program Workshop-Broken Bow-Jan. 29th

      b.         Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead Workshop-North Platte-Feb. 12^th

            c.         Library Foundation Board Meeting-Feb. 20^th

            d.         Big Talk from Small Libraries Conference-Feb. 28^th

            e.         State Advisory Council on Libraries-Lincoln-March 5^th

13.       Correspondence:

            a.         Articles of interest from library journals and newsletters

14.       Set next meeting date/time

15.       Adjournment

Love is in the air!   After all, it is the month of February.  And with this month, comes the most important day of the year for lovers-Valentine’s Day.    Even book lovers! 

We have books wrapped in paper with a few clues on the outside to indicate what kind of surprise the reader might be in for. This year we will be using the theme of:  “Read Me If You Liked…”  We have listed another title, a subject, and genre similar to the book. This collection includes everything from mystery, romance, classics, horror, adventure, science fiction to young adult.  Checking out one of these books can be a fun way to discover something new or read outside your comfort zone, but like many actual blind dates, things don’t always work out. We will ask you to rate your date with the book. The form is very short and easy to complete.  You just circle one of the choices under two questions to rate your time with the book.  a. What are your first impressions of the book?  b. Was it a good match? 

How do you do a Blind Date with a Book?  Step 1:  Read the clues and select your book

Step 2:  Check out your book   Step 3:  Read your book   Step 4:  Rate your date with the provided form.  Step 5: Bring your book and Rate your Date form back to the Library to enter a prize drawing. The drawing will be held on February 29^th. 

The Ainsworth Public Library will be holding the Blind Date with Book all month long.   This event has been very popular in the past and we hope that you will participate in the fun.  

The February read for the Book Club is now available
(“Goodnight, Nebraska” by Tom McNeal). We will be meeting on Feb. 18th at 2 p.m. to share thoughts on the book.

At the age of 17, Randall Hunsacker shoots his mother’s boyfriend, steals a car and comes close to killing himself. His second chance lies in a small Nebraska farm town, where the landmarks include McKibben’s Mobil Station, Frmka’s Superette, and a sign that says The Wages of Sin is Hell. This is Goodnight, a place so ingrown and provincial that Randall calls it “Sludgeville”-until he starts thinking of it as home.

Tom McNeal explores the currents of hope, passion, and cruelty beneath the surface of the American heartland. In Randall, McNeal creates an outcast whose redemption lies in Goodnight, a strange, small, but ultimately embracing community where Randall will inspire fear and adulation, win the love of a beautiful girl and nearly throw it all away.

The Ainsworth Public Library will host a free screening of a brand-new Arthur  show on January 21^th at 4 p.m. thanks to NET-PBS KIDS: Movies and More.   This one hour special is titled “The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur” and focuses on what it means to be family.    So pack your bags, buckle your seatbelts, and get ready for an Arthur road trip to the Read family farm.  Arthur’s Great-Grand Uncle Theo is celebrating his 85^th birthday, so the Reads (plus Buster) are off to join in the festivities.  With the help of Cousin Miles, some llamas, and a little bit of music, they all discover what it truly means to be family. 

This event will be a fun time for the whole family, but please remember, the show has a target age range of 4-8 years old.  The special showing will run for one hour and will include making an Arthur birthday hat.  All the children will take home special Family Tree that they can do at home with the whole family.

Please call 402-387-2032 or stop by the library if you have any questions.  We hope to have lots of Arthur lovers at the showing!