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 8th of September. Josie Voss was hired for the position and started training on the 23rd.
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. 28th to Oct. 3rd 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. 28th to Oct. 2nd. 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 125th 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 4th at 5 p.m. Since there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
