The Ainsworth Library Board held its regular monthly meeting on January 5, 2022 at the Ainsworth Public Library. This meeting was advertised on the radio, in the local newspaper, posted at the Library, and on the library’s Facebook page and website. President Phyllis Leach called the meeting to order at 5 p.m. Notice was given on the posting of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act. Roll call showed all five members present: Todd Flynn, Stacie Gilliland, Luke Hitchcock, Phyllis Leach, and Alane Lentz. Library Director, Gail Irwin, was also present.
Alane Lentz made the motion to approve the minutes from the November meeting as there was no meeting held in December. Stacie Gilliland seconded this with all members voting in favor of. Alane Lentz moved to approve the claims for payment. Luke Hitchcock seconded this with all members voting in favor of. The Monthly Library Report for November and December 2021 was presented as well as the list of titles purchased.
The Public Library Survey was discussed. It will need to be submitted by mid-February. It was noted that two more sections needed to be finished on it. There were a number of changes on the form this year to cover covid-19 issues.
The ARPA Formula Grant, NLC Youth Grant for Excellence, and the 2022 ARPA Library Improvement Grant were discussed. We will be receiving the full amount ($1,428) of the grant for Makerspace items and supplies in the Library Improvement Grant. We will be receiving partial funding ($1,100) in the ARPA Youth Grant for STEM/STEAM items. It was noted that the Agreements and Payment forms have been signed and submitted for these grants. Once the funds are here, we will start the purchasing of needed items.
Darlene Cleal had informed the library director of a $500 grant that the teachers had. A form was submitted on 12-6-2021 for a total of $500 to purchase STEM/STEAM items not covered on the Youth Grant. We will hear back in February on this grant.
Our Library was part of the Library Innovation Studio Grant for the past four years. This grant finalized at the end of 2021. Our library will be awarded the Vinyl Cutter that was used in the Makerspace Project. It will come with the computer and CorelDraw Software, weeding tools, and some vinyl to get started with. We will also be receiving Pigment consumables since we have a pigment printer. This may include cotton t-shirts and cotton bags. Delivery of equipment will be in January.
Library programming for the winter and spring was discussed. It was noted that the Library offered Christmas Movie Bundles in December. We had 12 bundles made with 8 of them circulating. The Bundles consisted of a Christmas DVD, a coordinating book, a ready-to-go craft, plus microwave popcorn and hot cocoa packets. Lots of nice comments received on the Bundles. It was noted that staff wanted to do an Open House and start training on the Makerspace items and STEM/STEAM equipment after purchasing with grant funding. Story time will be started once the Covid-19 dies down.
Updates and reports were made on meetings/workshops attended in November and December. It was noted that the director attended the Thursday Director’s Zoom Meeting on Dec. 2nd, 9th, and 23rd. Phyllis Leach gave an update on the Library Foundation Board meeting held on November 29th. Director gave an update on the Nebraska State Advisory Council on Libraries meeting held on November 18th. Two staff members (Wanda Raymond and Ellen Voss) attended the Fall in Love Cricut Workshop in Grand Island on Nov. 30th. Several of the items made were shared with the Board. Director attended the Survey Bibliostat Training on Dec. 9th, the Code of Ethics Workshop on Dec. 14th, and the Professional Behavior Workshop on Dec. 17th. Staff will be attending the Summer Reading Program Workshop in Broken Bow on Jan. 26th. The all-day Big Talk for Small Libraries Conference will be held on Feb. 25th. Discussion was held on closing the library that day so staff could attend all the sessions. Alane Lentz made the motion to close the library on Feb. 25th so staff could do continuing education hours. Luke Hitchcock seconded this with all members voting in favor of.
Under correspondence, the Board spent time on items of interest from the NCompass Newsletter, the Plain Speaking Central Plains Library System Newsletter, the Library Journal, and American Libraries Magazine.
The next meeting date was set for Feb. 2nd at 5 p.m. Since there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
