Minutes of the February Library Board Metting

The Ainsworth Library Board held its regular monthly meeting on February 2, 2017.  This meeting was advertised in the local newspaper, over the radio, on the library’s website and Facebook, as well as posted at the Library.  President Mark Kovar called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m.   Give was given on the posting of the Open Meeting Act.  Roll call showed all members present:  Traci Alberts, Todd Flynn, Mark Kovar, Phyllis Leach, and Alane Lentz.  Library Director, Gail Irwin, was also present for the meeting.

Todd Flynn made the motion to approve the minutes which Phyllis Leach seconded.  All members voted in favor of.  Phyllis Leach moved to approve the claims for payment.  Alane Lentz seconded this with all members voting in favor of.  The Monthly Library Report was presented as well as a list of titles purchased during December.  It was noted that the library did closed early one day due to weather and closed the following day due to road conditions.  Discussion was held on icicles hanging from the roof and over the rain gutters making the sidewalk very icy.

It was noted that the 2016 Public Library Data Survey and the Supplement Survey had been submitted on 1-13-2017.  A copy of the report was shared with the Board.  A copy has also been submitted to the City Clerk’s Office for their records.

Phase Two of Library Improvements has now been completed.  The last item of reupholstering the four sitting chairs and the 16 table chairs was completed during December and January by Pam Theis.  The cost of this project is being paid for by the Library Foundation.

An update was given on the sale of surplus items at the library.  It was noted that the six chairs from the 60’s sold for $10 and the island laminate top sold for $40.  The extra shelving will be put up for sale as soon as we get the book sale items off of them.

The Use Book Sale was held from Jan. 16-31. at the cost of $2 a sack.   Due to the cold snowy weather and being closed, the book sale business will continue a couple of weeks more.

It was noted that the yearly weeding of the magazines had been completed the first part of January. Weeding has also been done from the library collection.  These items were placed on the book sale.

Winter Programming for the children was discussed.  It was noted that a Winter Story Time will be held on Mondays from 4-5 p.m. in February for the preschool to second grade.  A Lego Club will be held on Thursdays in February from 4-5 p.m.  This is open to all ages.  The library is providing the Legos to create with.  A Toddler Time will be held in March on Mondays from 4:30 -5 p.m.  Read across America will be celebrated with a Dr. Seuss Storytime on March 2nd from 4-5p.m.

Since February is Love Your Library Month and the celebration of Valentine’s Day, the Library will be holding a “Blind Date with a Book” all of February.  Patrons choose a book without knowing the title.  The patron’s that check out a book will be put a drawing for a special relaxation gift.

The Nebraska Library Commission is in its application process for a grant from the Institute of  Museums and Libraries for a grant proposal entitled “Library Innovation Studios:  Transforming Rural Communities”.  Our library submitted a letter of commitment and indicated that we would be interest in participating in this project.  This grant would place temporary makerspace-type studios in 30 Nebraska public libraries, each for a period of about 20 weeks, in order to help each library be a “community anchor” for community vitality activities.

Under workshops and meetings, it was noted that staff attended the three webinars for Children, Early Literary, and Teens in the Build a Better World by Upstart/CLSP.  It was noted that the Library Foundation Board would be meeting on Feb. 16th.  Staff plans to attend the Winter Workshop in Kearney on Feb. 10th.   Carolyn Schipporiet will run the library that day.  Big Talk for Small Library’s webinars will be held all day on Feb. 24th.  Mark Kovar made the motion to close the library so that all staff could attend this event.  Todd Flynn seconded this with all members voting in favor of.  It was noted that Board members are welcome to attend any of the workshops/webinars so they could be getting some continuing education hours for the Board Certification.  The Summer Reading Program Workshop is set for March 27th in St. Paul.  It was noted that Gail Irwin was appointed to the Nebraska State Advisory Council of Libraries on January 13, 2017.  The term will end on December 31, 2019.  The Advisory Council will meet on March 21 in Lincoln.  Other meetings will happen in July and November.

Under correspondence, an invitation to a Retirement Party for Richard Miller at the NLC on February 8th was shared the Board.  Some information on converting microfilm to digital images was shared with the Board.  No action was taken.  Various items of interest from library newsletters and journals were shared with the Board.

The next meeting date and time was scheduled for March 2nd at 5 p.m.

Since there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:50 p.m.

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