The Ainsworth Library Board held its regular monthly meeting on May 3, 2023 at the Ainsworth Public Library. This meeting was advertised in the local newspaper, over the radio, posted at the Library, and online at the library’s website and Facebook page. The meeting was called to order at 5 p.m. Notice was given on the posting of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act. Roll call showed three members present. They included Phyllis Leach, Stacie Gilliland, and Alane Lentz. Members Luke Hitchcock and Todd Flynn were absent. Library director, Gail Irwin, was also present for the meeting.
Alane Lentz moved to approve the minutes of the last meeting. Stacie Gilliland seconded this with all members voting in favor of. Stacie Gilliland made the motion to approve the claims for payment. Alane Lentz seconded this with all members in favor of. The Board spent a few minutes reviewing the budget spending for this year. The monthly library report for April and the list of titles purchased were shared with the Board. It was at this time that the Director reported that the City would be hiring a different company to do the entire City’s underground sprinkler systems this year than the one we had in the past. It is not known at this time when the sprinklers would be turned on or how much it would cost the library. The president of the board stated that she would contact the city office and speak to them on this matter. Our plants in the landscaping are needing water now .
The Summer Reading Program was discussed. It was noted that the fliers have been delivered to the school and preschools. We have a total of 43 signed up so far. A letter was sent to the businesses for the “Meet and Greet Community Vehicles”. A number of responses have been received with what type of equipment they would bring. The program will run all of June. We will have a Toddler Time; Preschool Time; and k-4th Grade group. Staff continues to get ready for the big month.
An update was given on the NEA Big Read Book Club from the Northeast Community College. We had a total of nine people check out the book. Six attended the Book Discussion on the 17th. A report was sent to the college so they could report totals on their grant form.
Our local Book Club finished with their last title on the 17th of April. We will take the summer off and re-start in August with the One Book One Nebraska.
A view was given on the National Library Week activities. A Berenstain Bear’s Storytime was held on the 25th. We handed out financial literacy story books featuring the Money Monsters for children in grades k-5. The materials have activities to help build habits that children will need as they grow up and start to manage their own money. People could sign up all week long for the plush Berenstain Bear Family. Anna Taylor was the winner of the bears. The Art Guild’s Spring Art Show was on display during this week.
Information was shared on the Rob-See-Co Rural Library Grant. Grant will be awarded to rural libraries for projects such as expanding your book collection, core educational programs for adults or children, or computer or software upgrades. Form is due by June 30th.
The Board spent time working on the proposed budget for 2023-2024. The budge will be finalized at the next meeting. Board told director to contact the County on their part of the budget.
Updates were given on the Thursday Director’s Zoom Meetings, Reader’s Zone Zoom Meeting on the 10th, and the Broadband Access Digital Opportunities Meeting on the 2nd which was attended by Gail Irwin. Ellen Voss attended the Cricut Workshop in Atkinson on April 26th and will be attending the 2023 Annual Early Childhood Meeting of Planning Region Team 1 on May 5th. The Library Foundation Board meeting will be held on May 10th.
Information from the Nebraska Public Service Commission with their Order seeking comment on implementing a program to incentivize new fiber construction for E-Rate eligible entities. Libraries are to comment by May 26th. It was noted that our library participated in the Central Plains Library System’s Week of Weeding. We will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Amazon Gift Card. Winning library will be selected in random drawing on May 12th. Items of interest from various library newsletter and journals were shared with the Board.
The next meeting date and time was set for June 7th at 5 p.m. Since there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:58 p.m.
