The Ainsworth Library Board held its regular monthly meeting on November 1, 2023 at the Ainsworth Public Library as advertised in the local newspaper, on the radio, posted at the Library and on the Library’s website and Facebook page. President 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 three members present. They include Stacy Gilliland, Phyllis Leach, and Alane Lentz. Members Todd Flynn and Luke Hitchcock were absent. Library Director, Gail Irwin, was also present for the meeting.
Stacy Gilliland made the motion to approve the minutes. Alane Lentz seconded this with all members voting in favor of. Alane Lentz moved to approve the claims for payment. Stacy Gilliland seconded this with all members voting in favor of. The Board reviewed the Budget Sheets from last year and this current month from the City Clerk’s Office. The monthly Library Report for October was shared with the Board as well as a list of titles purchased.
It was noted that the State Statistical Report is due by Feb. 2024. The Director has started to work on the form. Discussion was held on the Public Library Accreditation. It was noted that our library’s accreditation expires in 2024 and we will need to apply for re-accreditation and do a new five-year plan for the library with goals on how the library can meet the needs of our community.
A review was given on the October events at the Library. We had the Silent Witness Display, the Ainsworth Art Guild Barn Exhibit, a Halloween Storytime; plus attended the Trick or Treat on Main Street handing out goodies to 350 + children.
Upcoming activities for November/December were discussed. We will hold Book Club both of these months, and hold a Thanksgiving Storytime as well as a Christmas Storytime
Under workshops and meetings, topics discussed at the Thursday Director’s Meeting on Zoom was shared as well as sessions that Wanda Raymond attended at the Central Plains Library System Tools of the Trade Conference in Kearney on Oct. 19th . Lot of the give a ways from the Conference was shown to the Board. It was noted that Director will be attending the Nebraska State Advisory Council on Libraries Board Meeting on Nov. 17th and that the Ainsworth Library Foundation Board would be meeting in November.
Under Correspondence we shared items of items from various library newsletters and journals. It was noted that our library entered the Prairie STEM Raffle sponsored by the Nebraska Library Commission. Each library pack are for 5th-8th grade level and will have 12 kits with step-by-step instructions with career exploration options and all the materials you need in one bag. Our library said that we were interest in the Pendulum Painting; Toothpaste Challenge; Design a Glider Innovation; or the Quick Escape Challenge. Winners will be drawn on November 29th. It was also noted that the online 2024 Summer Reading Program “Adventure Begins at your Library” has arrived and staff will start to plan for the summer activities. Information from the Nebraska OverDrive on hold limits for OverDrive was shared. Some requests have been received to increase the limit of the number of holds that a patron may have a one time. The Technology & Access Director of the Nebraska group will put this up for a vote if the group wishes.
Discussion was held on the next meeting date/time. The Board usually does not meet in December unless an important issue comes up. The Board decided it will skip the December meeting and hold its next meeting on January 3rd at 5 p.m. Since there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
