Ainsworth Public Library

AINSWORTH LIBRARY BOARD MEETING

March 2, 2022 at 5 p.m.

AGENDA

1.         Call meeting to order

2.         Give notice on the posting of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act

3.         Roll call

4.         Approve minutes

5.         Approve claims for payment

6.         Monthly Library Report

7.         Grant purchase updates on ARPA Formula Grant, ARPA Youth Grant for Excellence,

            ARPA Library Improvement Grand, and Network for Good

8.         Blind Date with a Book Review

9.         Read Across America Day-Dr. Seuss Hour-March 1^st

10.       Summer Reading Program

11.       Ainsworth Art Guild Spring Art Show  April 9-30

12.       Information on NLC Library Fine Survey

13.       Update policy on Challenges/Reconsideration of Material

14.       Meeting/Workshop

            a.         Thursday Director’s Zoom Meeting: Feb. 3, 20, and 24

            b.         Big Talk for Small Libraries Conference-Feb. 25

            c.         Reader’s Zone for SRP-Feb. 28

            d.         Aquatic Wild-Nebraska Game and Parks/System-March 8

            e.         Nebraska 4/H STEM on Reading Connection-March 18

            f.          State Advisory Council on Libraries-March 18-Lincoln

15.       Correspondence

            a.         Response Letter from Rep. Adrain Smith

            b.         Email on starting mail list for NE Makerspaces to network/communicate

            c.         Items of interest from library newsletters/journals

16.       Set next meeting date/time

17.       Adjournment

The Nebraska Library Commission recently awarded $115,466 in grants for Excellence in Youth service. Of the grants awarded to seventy-eight Nebraska libraries, several addressed the need for educational programs, furniture for children’s and teen spaces, book kits, and materials like LEGO^®, STEAM, and other activities to encourage creativity in young people. The Nebraska Library Commission congratulates all the libraries who received grants as they develop new and innovative programs to ensure excellence in library service for Nebraska young people. You can find the full list of grant recipients on the Nebraska Library Commission grants database. 

Proposals include:

• Coding clubs
• STEAM programing and materials
• Book club activities
• Creative writing projects
• Afterschool programing
• Summer Reading programs
• Music and movement class
• New furniture for children’s and teen spaces
• Makerspace items for children/youth
• Builders’ Club with Lego
• 1000 Books Before Kindergarten

Youth Grants for Excellence are made available by the Nebraska Library Commission with funding provided from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the federal stimulus bill passed by Congress, as administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The Nebraska Library Commission has received a one-time award of $2,422,166. A portion of this funding was allocated for the Youth Grants for Excellence.

As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, “bringing together people and information.”

“Ordinary Grace” by William Kent Krueger will be the featured Book Club title for the March read. The Ainsworth Public Library has copies available for you to check out. The group will be meeting on March 21st at 2 p.m. to share thoughts on the title. Hope to see you there!

NOTICE:   The Ainsworth Public Library will be closed on Friday, February 25^th, so that library staff may attend an all-day conference.