The Ainsworth Library Board held their monthly meeting on November 10, 2021 at the Public Library. This meeting was advertised in the local newspaper, over the radio, and posted at the Library. President Phyllis Leach called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m. Notice was given on the posting of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act. Roll call showed four members present. They included Todd Flynn, Stacie Gililand, Phyllis Leach, and Alane Lentz. Member Luke Hitchcock was absent. Library Director, Gail Irwin, was also present for the meeting.
Alane Lentz made the motion to approve the minutes. Todd Flynn seconded this. All members voted in favor of. Alane Lentz moved to approve the claims for payment. Phyllis Leach seconded this. All members voted in favor of. The Monthly Library Report for October was presented as well as a list of titles purchased. The Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Library Report was shared. A copy has been sent to the Mayor and City Council. It was noted that the Public Library Survey would be available on Nov. 15, 2021 and we had until Feb. 11, 2022 to submit. Bibliostat Training will be held on Dec. 9th at 2 p.m. Gail Irwin does plan to attend this as changes are made from year to year on the forms.
An update was given on the ARPA Library Formula Grant submitted last month. Our library has received a total of $4,196 which will run through the Library Foundation. Final decisions will be made on how to spend the funding once we hear back on the application for two other grants. Word has been received that the awarding of the ARPA Library Improvement Grant and the ARPA Youth Grants for Excellence will take place later than first thought due to large number of applications. We should hear something by November 19th.
Word has been received from the school librarian at Lexington Middle School on the possibility of helping her with a presentation for the Big Talk For Small Libraries Conference with the 9/11 poster exhibition we held at the library this fall. She is hoping to connect with other Nebraska libraries that had hosted this and do a group showing.
The Library took part in the Trunk and Treat on Main Street on October 29th. We handed out two boxes of books to all the children. The Chamber of Commerce had asked if I would set up by their photo booth and watch the donation jar. The donations were going to go towards the expense of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Around $270 was collected. Over 300 people had their photo taken by Jen. In looking at the Brown County Sign-up page, we now have a total of 50 children in the program.
Discussion was held on the Covid-19 exposure at the Library on Nov. 2nd and 3rd. Board felt that a notice on the door, on Facebook, and our website was fine and a good way to alert people to be on guard. If the covid cases go down, the library is looking at starting up children’s programing again in January.
The Board did a review of the holiday closings for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.
An update was given on meetings and workshops. One Thursday Director’s Zoom meeting was attending on Nov. 7th. Wanda and Gail attended the Nebraska Makerspace Conference in Lincoln on Nov. 2nd and 3rd. The ladies did a presentation on the 3rd on how to have a Makerspace in a small library. The Innovation Studio Grant that our library was part of for the last four years paid for two nights in the motel and our Conference registration plus $.28 mileage. Items made at the Conference were shared with the Board. The Library Foundation Board will be meeting this month. Gail will be attended the Nebraska State Library Advisory Council Meeting on Nov. 18th. Library Board member, Phyllis Leach, attended the Cricut Workshop in Atkinson on Nov. 10th. She shared the items that she made. Wanda and Ellen will be attending the Fall in Love with Cricut Workshop in Grand Island on the 30th. The zoom Ethics in the Library Virtual Workshop will be held on Dec. 14th.
Under correspondence, the survey on our Library’s Internet service and specific areas of work, health, and education, including telework, telehealth, and tele-education from the Library Commission was shared. Items of interest from library newsletter and journals were shared.
The next meeting date was set for January 5th at 5 p.m. Since there was no further business to come before the board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
