The Ainsworth Library Board held its regular monthly meeting on September 6, 2017 at the Ainsworth Public Library. This meeting was advertised in the local newspaper, over the radio, posted at the Library and on the library’s website. President Mark Kovar called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m. Notice was given on the posting of the Open Meeting Act. Roll call showed all members present (Traci Alberts, Todd Flynn, Mark Kovar, Alane Lentz, and Phyllis Leach). Library Director, Gail Irwin, was also present for the meeting. Two guests were present.
Two members of the Brown County Community Foundation Fund were present to share information on their foundation. Marilyn Williams and Diane Syfie updated us on raising funds and on grants that they have awarded.
Alane Lentz moved to approve the minutes which was seconded by Traci Alberts. The motion passed with all members voting in favor of. Phyllis Leach moved to approve the claims for payment which Todd Flynn seconded. Vote showed all members in favor of. A review of the budget spending was done. The Monthly Library Report for August was presented as well as the list of titles purchased this month. Review done on goals and strategies.
It was noted that the Northeast Community College provided 150 certified solar eclipse glasses for our library to hand out. The glasses disappeared very fast!
The digitalization project was discussed. This project should be completed very soon and made available to the public.
The Library has been awarded the Library Innovation Studio Grant or the Makerspace grant. Training for library staff will now be at the end of October in Lincoln. The equipment will arrive the first part of November with train the trainer taking place then. A list of equipment and what they can do was shared with the Board. Space needs was also noted. We will have the equipment at our library from November 2017 to April 2018. Discussion was held on possible local people to help with promotion of this project as well as training the public to use.
The proposed budget for 2017-18 was discussed. It was noted that Commissioner Small was pretty sure that we would get the funding requested but that the County still needed to hold a Budget Hearing. The City Budget Workshop was held on August 28th. It is believed that our request will be honored.
The Little Paws Preschool schedule for library visits was discussed. The school has asked for a 10 a.m. visit and a 2 p.m. visit. A schedule was drawn up for those times every other week but stated that it might change if the Board didn’t want to do the 10 a.m. time due to the library actually opening at 11 a.m. After a discussion, the Board agreed to go with the 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. visits.
The Lego Guy, Curtis Mork, is currently booking shows in the Northern part of Nebraska for June that will feature the summer reading theme for 2018 “Libraries Rock”. We could have him at our library on June 8th. The Rock County Public Library and our library would share the cost of lodging in Atkinson on June 7th. The Board agreed to have this program at the library.
Upcoming events include promoting Library Card Sign-Up Month; Banned Book Week (Sept. 25-30th), and Teen Read Week (Oct. 9-14). The Book Discussion Group will start up on Sept. 18th. The One Book One Nebraska title of Black Elk Speaks will be handed out. Group will vote on upcoming titles to read this year. The Library will join in the Trick or Treat Event downtown the last of October.
Several Library Foundation members gave an update on the Library Foundation Board meeting held on August 24th. They will hold the Book Basket Auction this fall. Plans are still being worked out at this time.
Under correspondence, the Board was given the new password for NebraskAccess, shared several thank you notes, and articles of interest from library newsletters and journals.
The next meeting date was set for October 4th at 5 p.m. Since there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 6 p.m.
