Ainsworth Public Library

Please note that the Library will be closed on this Friday, Feb. 23rd, so that library staff may attend this all-day conference. We will be open on Saturday as usual!

The Book Club’s March selection “Educated” by Tara Westover is now available. Come check out the title and join us on March 18th at 2 p.m. to share thoughts on it.

A memoir about a young girl who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent. When another brother got himself into college, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home.

Great news! Our library now has a Community Blood Pressure Monitor for the public to use. This action was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the North Central District Health Department and the HeartCorps Program of Public Health AmeriCorps at the American Heart Association. There will be no fee to use the monitor. Come try it out!

The Storytime topic on Tuesday will feature “Love”. This will run from 4-5 p.m. for the Preschool-Second Grade children. Hope to see you there!

Library will be closed on February 19th for the holiday.

The Ainsworth Public Library held its regular monthly board meeting on February 7, 2024 at the Ainsworth Library.  This meeting was advertised in the local newspaper, on the radio, on the Library’s website and Facebook page, plus posted at the Library.  President Phyllis Leach called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m.  Notice was given on the posting of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act.  Roll call showed three members present (Phyllis Leach, Todd Flynn, and Luke Hitchcock).  Members Stacy Gilliland and Alane Lentz were absent.  Library Director, Gail Irwin, was also present for the meeting.  

Todd Flynn made the motion to approve the minutes of the last meeting.  Phyllis Leach seconded this with all members in favor of.  Luke Hitchcock made the motion to approve the claims for payment.  Todd Flynn seconded this with all members present voting in favor of.  The Monthly Library Report and list of titles purchased was shared with the Board.  The Statistical Report for 2023 and the Nebraska Library Commission Supplement Report was shared with the board. This was submitted to the Nebraska Library Commission on January 22^nd.  A copy of this report has been given to the City Clerk for her records and to share with the Mayor/City Council.  

A review was given on recent activities at the Library.  Discussion was held on upcoming events such as Book Club, Story Time, the Primary Poison Education/Prevention Class on March 12^th, and the Blind Date with a Book program.   It was noted at this time that the American Heart Association and Heart Corp will be delivering a Blood Pressure Monitor for the public to use at the library.  A Heart Program will be presented in March to go along with this monitor.  Smokey the Bear is turning 80 years-old this year.  The Forest Department will be working with the public libraries on doing a Smokey Bear Reading Challenge through November 2024.  Information was shared on this program.  Our library will be doing the challenge later in July and August.

Reviews were given on workshops/meetings that staff has attended.  It was noted that staff attended the Director’s Zoom Meetings on Jan. 4^th, and 11^th; plus the Word Press meeting on Jan. 18^th, the NCompass Auditing Library Website on Jan. 26^th and Word Press Website Refresher on Jan. 31^st.  Wanda and Gail attended the Summer Reading Program Workshop in Lexington on the 23^rd.  Upcoming meetings include the Library Foundation Board on Feb. 21^st and the All-Day Conference of Big Talk from Small Libraries on Feb. 23^rd.  Luke Hitchcock made the motion to close the library that day so that staff could attend the sessions.  Todd Flynn seconded this with all members voting in favor of.  Board members were encouraged to attend. The Board needs 6 more continuing education hours for their certification in September.

Under correspondence, a letter from a nine year-old from Bowling Green, Ohio was shared.  The Library is in the process of replying back with information from our local area.  Information from the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation’s Wander Nebraska Program was shared.  Articles of interests from library journals and newsletters were shared with the Board.

The next meeting date/time was set for March 6^th at 5 p.m.  Since there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:50 p.m.

Ainsworth Library Board Meeting for the month of February will be held on

Feb. 7, 2024 at 5 p.m. This meeting is open to the public.

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/List of Titles Purchased

7.         Statistical Report 2023/Nebraska Library Commission Supplement Report

8.         Upcoming events/Review events

            a.         Book Club

            b.         Storytime

            c.         Primary Poison Education/Prevention Class

            d.         Blind Date with a Book    Jan. 31^st to Feb. 29^th

9.         Blood Pressure Monitor-Heart Corp/American Heart Assocation

10.       Smokey Bear Reading Challenge

11.       Workshop/Meetings

            a.         Thursday Director’s Zoom Meetings:  Jan. 4^th;  Jan. 11th

            b.         Word Press Zoom Meeting-Jan. 18^th

            c.         Summer Reading Program 2024 Workshop-Jan. 23^rd-Lexington

            d.         NCompass: Auditing Library Website Jan. 26^th

            e.         NCompass:  Word Press Website Refresh  Jan. 31^st

            f.          Library Foundation Board-Feb. 14^th

            g.         Big Talk From Small Libraries All Day Conference-Feb. 23^rd    Close Library?

12.       Correspondence:

            a.         Letter from 9 year-old from Bowling Green, Ohio

            b.         Articles of interest from library journals/newsletters

13.       Set next meeting date/time

14.       Adjournment

It is “Blind Date with a Book” time. This will run from Feb. 1-29th.

It is easy to do! Read the clues to select your Blind Date Book. Check out your book. Read your book. Let us know if the date was a success or not.

Your name will be entered to win a prize when you check out a Blind Date with a Book.

The Ainsworth Library Board will be meeting on February 7, 2024 at the Ainsworth Public Library starting at 5 p.m. The agenda is posted at the Library. This meeting is open to the public.

We finally have finished the Christmas Puzzle. Thank you to all that helped to put this together. Time to start a new puzzle! Come in and help us complete it!