Ainsworth Public Library

Please note that the library will be closed on November 26th and November 27th for the Thanksgiving holiday. We will be open as usual on Saturday, November 28th.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

The Ainsworth Library announces changes to its procedures due to the increase of Covid-19 in our local area.   Our goal is to provide library service and keep the public safe. 

Face coverings must be worn inside the library.  We are requiring this to keep our library patrons and staff safe.  With our small staff,the building will be closed if library workers get sick.  All library staff will continue wearing masks when working with the public or in a public area.  Everyone visiting the library is required to use hand sanitizer before entering the main area of the building.  Social distancing of six feet or more is encouraged and recommended.  Individuals are allowed a maximum of thirty minutes in the library per visit. If you would like curbside service, please let the library know by calling (402-387-2032) or by emailing (aplibrary@threeriver.net).

Patrons using the computers will also have a time limit of thirty minutes and can use the equipment once a day.  Please note, staff may not be able to help with computer use due to social distancing. Those who need additional time for applications, coursework, tax documents or similar items are asked to talk to the staff.  You may access our Wi-Fi connection outside of the library in your vehicle or just sitting on the benches.

The book drop is open 24 hours, seven days a week.  All returned items must be returned through the book drop and are subject to a cleaning and a 72-hour quarantine.  We ask that if your family has been sick and need to return items, please put your items in a plastic bag and tie it shut.  A note on the bag would also be nice so that staff can take extra precaution measures.  Library organizations that have done scientific testing on library materials have shown that covid-19 virus can live up to six days on some items.

While we are open shorter hours than usual each day, we are open Monday through Saturday.  The hours include Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Wednesday and Saturday from 1-5 p.m.  Thank you for your continued patronage!

The Ainsworth Public Library will be closed on November 11th, Veteran’s Day. Please say thank you to a vet when you see one!

The Ainsworth Library Board held its regular monthly meeting on November 4, 2020 at the Ainsworth Public Library.  This meeting was advertised on the radio, in the newspaper, posted at the Library, and on the library website.  Notice was given on the posting of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act.  President Phyllis Leach called the meeting to order at 5 p.m.  Roll call showed Todd Flynn, Phyllis Leach, Alane Lentz, and Stacey Gilliland present.  Member Luke Hitchcock joined the meeting at 5:10 p.m.  Library Director, Gail Irwin, was also present for the meeting.

Alane Lentz made the motion to approve the minutes of the last meeting.  Todd Flynn seconded this with all voting in favor of.  Alane Lentz moved to approve the claims for payment.  Stacey Gilliland seconded this with all members in favor of.  The List of Titles Purchased was also shared. 

The Monthly Library Report for October was shared with the board.  The Summary of Fiscal Year 2019-2020 was also shared. This summary has also been shared with the City Clerk.

It was noted that the Bibliostat 2019-2020 Public Library Survey scheduled to launch on Nov. 2 to Feb. 12, 2021.  We are required to submit this report to maintain our library accreditation.  A training session is sent for next week to review the questions and changes made due to Covid.

The Board reviewed the Performance Report for the Library Director which the Board President completed for the City. 

Discussion was held on the Covid-19 restrictions at the library.  No adjustments were made at this time.  Library Director will contact the Board if she feels any changes need to be made.

Board reviewed the holiday closings for November and December 2020. 

A review was given on the Thursday Central Plains Library System Zoom Meeting attended on October 8^th, 15^th, 23^rd, and 29^th.  Upcoming meetings/workshops include the Public Library Survey Training On-Line on Nov. 10^th; Library Foundation Board Meeting on Nov. 19^th; and the State Library Advisory Committee Meeting by way of Zoom on Nov. 20^th. 

Correspondence items shared with the Board included the REALM Visual Aid on how long the virus survives on commonly used library materials;  the announcement of the new One Book One Nebraska 2021 title of Prairie Forge by James Kimble, and articles of interest from library newsletters and journals. 

The Board usually does not hold a meeting in December unless something important comes up.  The next meeting is set for January 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. 

People across Nebraska are encouraged to read the work of a Nebraskan —and then talk about it with their friends and neighbors. Prairie Forge: The Extraordinary Story of the Nebraska Scrap Metal Drive of World War II (Bison Books, 2014) by James J. Kimble is the 2021 One Book One Nebraska selection.

Prairie Forge: The Extraordinary Story of the Nebraska Scrap Metal Drive of World War II takes readers across the entire state of Nebraska during the scrap metal drive early in America’s involvement in World War II. When Henry Doorly initially developed a plan to urge citizens to donate scrap metal to help with arms production, he had no idea that his plan would expand from Omaha to the entire state and then be used as a model for a national scrap drive. Readers from the selection committee felt that this book would draw readers into good discussions about the entire state’s participation in the challenge to provide scrap metal. Readers were impressed that the book covered every county’s participation in the Nebraska Plan, and how this fit into the larger effort on a national level.

2021 will mark the seventeenth year of the One Book One Nebraska reading program, sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book. It encourages Nebraskans across the state to read and discuss one book, chosen from books written by Nebraska authors or that have a Nebraska theme or setting. The Nebraska Center for the Book invites recommendations for One Book One Nebraska book selection year-round at http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/obon-nomination.asp.

One Book One Nebraska is sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book, Humanities Nebraska, and the Nebraska Library Commission. The Nebraska Center for the Book brings together the state’s readers, writers, booksellers, librarians, publishers, printers, educators, and scholars to build the community of the book, supporting programs to celebrate and stimulate public interest in books, reading, and the written word. The Nebraska Center for the Book is housed at and supported by the Nebraska Library Commission.

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.”

The Ainsworth Library Board held its regular monthly meeting on October 7, 2020 at the Ainsworth Public Library.   This meeting was advertised in the local newspaper, over the radio, and posted on the library’s website as well as at the library.  The meeting was called to order at 5:02 p.m.  Notice was given on the posting of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act.  Roll call showed four members present.  They included Todd Flynn, Stacey Gilliland, Phyllis Leach, and Alane Lentz.   The City Council appointed Luke Hitchcock to complete the term of Traci Ganser.  Luke was not present for the meeting.   Library Director, Gail Irwin, was also present for the meeting.

Phyllis Leach made the motion to approve the minutes.  Todd Flynn seconded this with all members voting in favor of.  Phyllis Leach moved to approve the claims for the end of the year and the claims for the month.  Stacey Gilliland seconded this with all members voting in favor of.  The budget spending sheet for September was shared as well as the budget sheet for the new fiscal year.  The monthly report was shared with the Board as well as the List of Titles Purchased.  It was noted that the End of the Year Report would be shared next month.

Discussion was held on the Part-Time Library Aide position.  Director had interviewed two people for the position on the 8^th of September.  Josie Voss was hired for the position and started training on the 23^rd.

Job Performances was discussed.  In order to get our yearly wage, employees need to have this review completed and forwarded to the City Clerk.  Josie will not have her review done until her six month probation period is up in March.  The review on Wanda Raymond was approved and signed by the board.  The Board President will complete the review on the director.

The Covid-19 restrictions were reviewed.  What area libraries are doing in light of the recent increases of covid cases was shared.  Board has decided to continue as we have been and leave the rules the same. 

Book Club was discussed.  Director has been working on getting a title list.  With the holidays coming up, it was decided to wait until January and hope that Covid-19 cases are down.

An update was given on the Dolly Patron’s Imagination Library Sign-Up.  We signed up 19 children at the park on the first sign-up date in August.  In September we signed up 10 more at the library. 

Library Card Sign-Up month was in September.   We had a total of 8 new card holders this month.  Banned Books Week was honored from Sept. 28^th to Oct. 3^rd with the theme of “Words Have Power”.   Both of these special events were promoted in the library, on FaceBook, and on the library website.

It has not been decided yet if there will be the annual “Trunk & Treat” event downtown this year.  The Board directed the library to not participate this year.

An update has given on the meetings attended by staff.  It was noted that staff has attended the Thursday Director’s Zoom Meetings on Sept. 3, 10, 17, & 24.  Wanda Raymond and Gail Irwin received a Continuing Education Grant from Nebraska Library Commission to attend the 2020 Online ARSL Conference from Sept. 28^th to Oct. 2^nd.  A list of sessions attended was shared. 

Under correspondence we had a thank you card from the Sandhills Care Center for some items we donated to them.  Our library applied for the free membership to the Nebraska Library Association for their 125^th anniversary.  A letter from the Nebraska Library Commission was received to inform libraries that they had renewed the Public Performance Site License.  It will run from October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021.  Articles of interest from various library newsletters and journals were shared.

Election of officers was held.  Alane Lentz moved to appoint Phyllis Leach as President.  Stacey Gilliland seconded this with all members voting in favor of.  Phyllis Leach made the motion to have Alane Lentz appointed as Vice President.  Stacey Gilliland seconded this with all members voting in favor of. 

The next meeting was set for November 4^th at 5 p.m.  Since there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m.