Ainsworth Public Library

The Ainsworth Library Board held its regular monthly meeting on November 6, 2019 at the Ainsworth 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 three members present for the meeting. They included Traci Ganser, Phyllis Leach, and Alane Lentz. The members that were absent included Pedro Bordes and Todd Flynn. The Library Director 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. Alane Lentz moved 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. A list of titles purchased during the month was shared. The monthly library report for October was shared as well as a summary for fiscal year 2018-2019.

The Library had a table at the Trunk and Treat event downtown on Halloween. We handed out a total of 150 books and 100 plastic vampire teeth. We ran out about 15 minutes before the end.

The One Book One Nebraska title for 2019 will be the featured book for November 18th. The finalists for the 2020 One Book One Nebraska titles were shared with the Board. There will be no Book Discussion held in December.

An update was given on the Macmillan lending model that will take effect on November 1st on our Overdrive. There will be challenges with managing these changes. When there is a wait list, Overdrive will add the following message: Due to publisher restrictions, your library is unable to purchase any more copies of the book until (date). Overdrive does remain committed to advocating for fair and equitable access for library patrons worldwide.

Discussion was held on the From Book to Movie Basket fundraiser set for Nov. 30th. Several different ideas were shared and will be presented to the Foundation Board at their meeting tomorrow. It was noted that the Library will be providing free tickets for children 12 and under at the Nov. 30th 10 a.m. showing.

It was noted that the library was awarded the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition: World War 1: Lessons and Legacies. The eight posters are currently on display at the library. The Library staff also put together a nice display of books from our collection on WW 1.

Under meetings and workshops, it was noted that the Ainsworth Library Foundation Board would be meeting on Nov. 7th. Library Director, will be attending the Nebraska State Advisory Council on Libraries in Lincoln on Nov. 15th. Library staff will be attending the Cricut 2.0 Make and Take Workshop in Atkinson on Nov. 22nd. This workshop will help us decide if we want to purchase a vinyl cutter like what was in the Makerspace or get a cricut. Staff also plans to attend the Grand Summer Reading Program 2020 Workshop in Broken Bow on Jan. 29th.

Under correspondence the Board shared information on the Nebraska Free Legal Answers from the Nebraska State Bar Association. Articles of interest from library journals and newsletters were also shared.

Board discussed holiday closings. Traci Ganser made the motion to close the library on November 28th for Thanksgiving, December 24th and 25th for Christmas, and December 31st and January 1st for New Years with the approval of the Mayor. Alane Lentz seconded this with all members in favor of. The Library will be open on the Friday after Thanksgiving. The director will visit with the City Clerk on this.

We set the next meeting date for January 8th at 5 p.m. Since there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 6 p.m.

LIBRARY BOARD MEETING will be held on November 6, 2019 at 5 p.m. at the Ainsworth Public Library. The agenda consists of the following items:

1. Call meeting to order
2. Notice of the posting of Nebraska Open Meeting Act
3. Roll call
4. Approve minutes
5. Approve claims for payment/Budget spending review
6. Monthly Library Report for October 2019
7. Summary of Fiscal Year 2018-2019
8. Update on Trunk & Treat Event on Main Street-October 31st
9. One Book One Nebraska
a. Book Club discussion on Nov. 18th
b Finalist for the 2020 One Book
10. Update on Macmillan US lending model change in Overdrive starting Nov. 1, 2019
11. From Book to Movie Basket Auction Fundraiser with Grand Theater and the providing of
Free tickets to children on Nov. 30, 2019
12. Meetings/Workshop:
a. Library Foundation Board Meeting-Nov. 7th
b. Nebraska State Advisory Council on Libraries-Lincoln-Nov. 15
c. Cricut 2.0 Make & Take Workshop-Atkinson-Nov. 22
d. Grand Summer Reading Program 2020 Workshop-Broken bow-Jan. 29
13. Correspondence:
a. Information on Nebraska Free Legal Answers from Nebraska State Bar Association
b. Articles of interest from Library journals and newsletters
14. Approve holiday closings for November (Thanksgiving), December (Christmas),
and January (New Year’s)
15. Set next meeting date (We usually do not meet in December)
16. Adjournment

The Ainsworth Library Board held its regular monthly meeting on October 9, 2019 at 5 p.m. This meeting was advertised on the radio, in the local newspaper, on the library’s website, plus at the library. The meeting was called to order and notice was given on the posting of the Open Meeting Laws. Roll call showed three members present. Two members that were absent. The Library Director was also present for the meeting.

Alane Lentz made the motion to approve the minutes of the last meeting. Phyllis Leach second this with all members present voting yes. Traci Ganser moved to approve the claims for payment. Alane seconded this motion with all members present voting yes. A budget review was done. The Monthly Library Report for September was presented as well as List of Titles Purchased. It was noted that the Director had started on the End of Year Report and would have it ready to share at the next meeting. The OverDrive Circulation statistics for September was shared. It was noted that the Mayor and City Clerk would begin the process of performance evaluations for all employees. With pay increases to start October 1st, employees will receive a 2 % increase now and the other 1% will be applied retroactively after the evaluation is done.

The Board discussed the promotional work done to make people aware of National Library Card Sign-Up Month in September. Banned Books Week (Sept. 23-28th) was also discussed. The staff put up a display with a wagon full of books that have been challenged. Each book had a slip on it stating the reason why. The display received lots of attention by library patrons.

A storm hit on September 10th, breaking off large branches from two trees on the north side of the library landing on director’s vehicle. The City workers removed the mess the next day. One tree was deemed a safety hazard and NPPD removed it later that afternoon for the City so it would not break an electrical line.

An update was presented on the 2019-2020 budgets. The County did approve the amount of $11,000. The City approved our request also. A copy of the budget was handed out to board.

The Nebraska Library Commission sent out information on the Library Innovation Studio to all the host libraries. It was noted that the IMLS extended the grant for one year with additional grand funds. This will allow another eight to nine libraries participate in the grant. This will now be open to three libraries from communities over 25,000 populations. The downside is the originally libraries in the grant will have to wait to find out which piece of used equipment they could receive because of their participation as a host library. A fact-finding and networking event will be held with all the project libraries in April or May 2021 to share knowledge, experiences, successes and challenges with the Maker Space.

The Library does plan to take part of the Trunk and Treat Event on Halloween downtown. We will be handing out books until our supply is gone.

The “From Book to Movie” fundraiser with the Grand Theater was discussed. Funds will be shared between the two groups. We will be working with the Chamber Christmas Kickoff on Nov. 30th. We want to display the basket a week ahead of time. Baskets should be on display starting Nov. 22-23. The final auction will take place on Nov. 30th when the free movie of the kids will be shown. The fire department will pay for the cost of the movie. The library/foundation will pay for the tickets for the kids.

The staff plans to attend several workshops: The Cricut 2.0 Make & Take Workshop in Atkinson and the Grand Summer Reading Program Workshop in Broken Bow. Under correspondence, a thank you note from Deb Fischer was shared for holding her mobile office visit at the library. A letter from the Library Commission was shared with information on the Movie Licensing USA Public Performance Site License. A thank you note was shared for taking the Technology and E-rate Survey. Information was shared on the grant titled DigitalLead which would provide digital skills funding opportunity for rural libraries. The problem with sending text messages through our circulation system has been fixed and seems to be working fine. Information from Overdrive included the simultaneous access to “After the Flood” title, update on desktop app for Mac, and the Macmillan Us lending model change. Articles of interest from library journals and newsletters were shared.

The next meeting date was set for November 6th at 5 p.m. Since there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m.

What book will all Nebraskans be encouraged to read in 2020? We will all find out on November 9th. A Pearl Harbor memoir, a Midwest family saga, and an American/refugee cultural narrative—all stories with ties to Nebraska and the Great Plains—are the finalists for the 2020 One Book One Nebraska statewide reading program. The finalists are:

The Plain Sense of Things by Pamela Carter Joern, University of Nebraska Press (2008)

All the Gallant Men: An American Sailor’s Firsthand Account of Pearl Harbor by Donald Stratton (with Ken Gire,) William Morrow (2016)

The Middle of Everywhere: Helping Refugees Enter the American Community by Mary Pipher, Mariner Books (2003)

The One Book One Nebraska reading program, now in its fifteenth year, is sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book, Humanities Nebraska, and Nebraska Library Commission. It encourages Nebraskans across the state to read and discuss the same book, chosen from books written by Nebraska authors or that have a Nebraska theme or setting. A Nebraska Center for the Book committee selected the three finalists from a list of twenty-four titles nominated by Nebraskans. In the coming weeks, Nebraska Center for the Book board members will vote on the 2020 selection.

Nebraskans are invited to attend the Celebration of Nebraska Books on November 9, where the choice for the 2020 One Book One Nebraska will be announced at 5:30 p.m. at the Nebraska History Museum, 131 Centennial Mall North, in downtown Lincoln. This year’s One Book One Nebraska selection, This Blessed Earth: A Year in the Life of an American Family Farm (Norton & Company, 2017) by Ted Genoways will be featured in a keynote presentation by the author at 2:45 p.m. See http://onebook.nebraska.gov or https://www.facebook.com/OneBookOneNebraska for more information about ongoing 2019 One Book One Nebraska activities.

The November 9 Celebration of Nebraska Books is scheduled for 2:30 – 6:30 p.m., with the Nebraska Center for the Book Annual Meeting to be held at 1:30 p.m. Awards will be presented to the winners of the 2019 Nebraska Book Awards, and some of the winning authors will read from their work. A list of Nebraska Book Award winners is posted at http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/awards.html. The Celebration of Nebraska Books is sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book and Nebraska Library Commission with support from History Nebraska’s Nebraska History Museum. Humanities Nebraska provides support for the One Book One Nebraska keynote presentation.

The Nebraska Center for the Book is housed at the Nebraska Library Commission and brings together the state’s readers, writers, booksellers, librarians, publishers, printers, educators, and scholars to build the community of the book, supporting programs to celebrate and stimulate public interest in books, reading, and the written word. The Nebraska Center for the Book is supported by the national Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and the Nebraska Library Commission.

As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, “bringing together people and information.”

Banned Books Week is held annual in September to spotlight current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools. By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship.

Banned Books Week was launched in the 1980s, a time of increased challenges, organized protests, and the Island Trees School District v. Pico (1982) Supreme Court case, which ruled that school officials can’t ban books in libraries simply because of their content. Today, Banned Books Week coverage by mainstream media reaches an estimated 2.8 billion readers, and more than 90,000 publishing industry and library subscribers. The Banned Books page remains one of the top two most popular pages on the American Library Association (ALA) website.

Books are still being banned and challenged today. A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials.

While books have been and continue to be banned, part of the Banned Books Week celebration is the fact that, in a majority of cases, the books have remained available. This happens only thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, students, and community members who stand up and speak out for the freedom to read.

The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 347 challenges to library, school and university materials and services in 2018. Of the 483 books challenged or banned in 2018, the Top 10 Most Challenged Books are:
1. George by Alex Gino
Reasons: banned, challenged, and relocated because it was believed to encourage children to clear browser history and change their bodies using hormones, and for mentioning “dirty magazines,” describing male anatomy, “creating confusion,” and including a transgender character
2. A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller
Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ content, and for political and religious viewpoints
3. Captain Underpants series written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey
Reasons: series was challenged because it was perceived as encouraging disruptive behavior, while Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot was challenged for including a same-sex couple
4. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Reasons: banned and challenged because it was deemed “anti-cop,” and for profanity, drug use, and sexual references
5. Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ characters and themes
6. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Reasons: banned, challenged, and restricted for addressing teen suicide
7. This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
Reasons: banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and certain illustrations
8. Skippyjon Jones series written and illustrated by Judy Schachner
Reason: challenged for depicting stereotypes of Mexican culture
9. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: banned and challenged for sexual references, profanity, violence, gambling, and underage drinking, and for its religious viewpoint
10. This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Kristyna Litten
Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content

The Ainsworth Public Library has put up a display to highlight some of the books that have challenged or banned through the years. We have a wagon full of books with the sign that reads “Jump on the Banned Wagon”. Each book has the reason listed for being requested for removal from libraries and readers. You might be surprised and shocked, as some are classics that are loved by many. Please stop by the library and look the display over. You might even want to check out of one or two of them.

Censorship leaves us in the dark. Keep the light on!