The Ainsworth Library Board held their monthly meeting on October 5, 2022 at the Ainsworth Public Library. This meeting was advertised in the local newspaper, over the radio, posted on the Library’s website and at the Library. President Phyllis Leach called the meeting to order at 5 p.m. Notice was given of the posting of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act. Roll call showed four members present (Todd Flynn, Stacie Gilliland, Phyllis Leach, and Alane Lentz). Member Luke Hitchcock was absent. Library Director, Gail Irwin, was also present for the meeting.
Stacie Gilliland made the motion to approve the minutes which Alane Lentz seconded. Voting showed all members in favor of. Alane Lentz moved to approve the end of the year claims and the monthly claims for payment. Todd Flynn seconded this with all members voting in favor of. An update on the budget was given. The city approved of the library’s budget as submitted. The Monthly Library Report and List of Titles Purchased were presented.
The Onyx Deskset HD Portable Video Magnifier has arrived and is up waiting for people to use. The Nebraska Library Commission and the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired provided one for every library in Nebraska that wished to have it at no cost. The electronic video magnifier has a reference card that explains the simple controls on the attached remote. Most people should be able to sit at the desk and use without any assistance. The unit will remain the property of NCBVI so the agency can repair, replace, or dispose of the CCTVs if/when something goes out on it. Each device comes with a two-year warranty and lifetime tech support from the vendor.
A review was presented on the activities for Banned Books Week held from Sept. 19-24th. A display was made of books that are on the banned books list. We also highlighted the week with posts on the library’s Facebook page and website.
The One Book One Nebraska 2022 title of “The Bones of Paradise” by Jonis Agee will be the October Book Club read. The group will be meeting on October 17th to share thoughts on the title. Our library will be holding a Humanities Nebraska Program with the One Book One Nebraska author on October 20th. We will be serving refreshments for this event. The Central Plains Library System paid for the author to come.
The City Clerk had contacted Threeriver Communications to see when the fiber connection would be completed at the Library. The fiber was connected on the 29th of September. The Clerk stated that the library as part of the City would receive the fastest available speed free of charge in exchange for Threeriver using the City right away for their equipment. She also stated that if we have any network problems, we would need to find someone to do it as Threeriver will not do that anymore. The Library would be responsible for the cost of the new router needed to connect to the Fiber.
A display was put up by Bright Horizon titled “The Silent Witness”. This was to draw attention to domestic violence and promote awareness of this violence.
The Library Foundation Board will be holding a Book Basket Auction in November as a fundraiser for our outside lighting project. We are currently looking for donations of book baskets. The Library Board members were encouraged to provide a basket for the auction.
The library will be part of the Trunk Treat Safe Treat being held downtown on October 31st from 4-6 p.m. We will be handing out bookbags/books.
It was noted that the Library Director had attended three of the Thursday Director’s Zoom Meeting in September (the 8th, 22nd and 29th). Some of the topics discussed included Book Clubs and Book Kits; Fiber Construction grants; Prolife Sanctuary Cities in Nebraska and the legal issues involved with libraries within those communities, censorship, and the Library telescope program.
Under correspondence, we share information on the Nebraska OverDrive Libraries Collection Development Policy and Reconsideration of Materials Form. The directors of all participating libraries will have a chance to vote for or against approval of the policy and the form on October 14th. Information was received and shared on the Library Telescope Program. This program would place a telescope in local public libraries to allow greater general access to the scope which would be put into circulation just like a book. The telescope is a pretty self-contained kit what one can carry tucked under one’s arm. It would stimulate interest in astronomy, help foster scientific literacy, enable people who never looked through a telescope the chance to experience the excitement that comes from discovery and provide a valuable asset for the library. This program would fall in nicely with our STEM/STEAM equipment and the board was in favor of getting the equipment for around $250-$300. Beside the telescope, we would also have a laminated user manual the scope, a pocket sky atlas to find celestial objects, a red flashlight to allow for reading the guide at night while preserving the night vision. This will all fit in a bag that straps to the telescope. The Omaha Astronomical Society will be our partner and set up and maintain the telescope. They will also donate a required zoom eyepiece to use with the telescope and provide staff training. Articles of interest from the Library’s system newsletter and Library Journal were shared. Board member, Todd Flynn, found two articles from “The Guardian” on censorship which was shared with the Board.
The next meeting was set for November 2nd at 5 p.m. Member Todd Flynn stated that he would not be able to attend that meeting. Since there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
