Minutes of the August Library Board Meeting

The Ainsworth Library Board held its meeting on August 11th at the Ainsworth Public Library.  This meeting was advertised in the local newspaper, on the radio, on the library website as well as at the Library.  The meeting was called to order at 5 p.m. by President Phyllis Leach.   Notice was given on the posting of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act. 

Roll call showed all five members present.   They included Todd Flynn, Stacey Gilliland, Luke Hitchcock, Phyllis Leach, and Alane Lentz.  Library director, Gail Irwin, was also present for the meeting.  Alane Lentz made the motion to approve the minutes.  Todd Flynn seconded this with all members voting in favor.  Alane Lentz moved to approve the claims for payment.  Phyllis Leach seconded this motion with all members voting in favor of.  The monthly library report for July was shared with the Board as well as a list of titles purchased.  It was noted at this time that the library was closed for the funeral service of Josie Voss on August 7th as approved by email by the board members.  A note from the City Clerk was shared that stated the 1% merit increase in wages is for full time employees only and does not cover part time employees.  It was noted that library staff are working on setting up titles for the upcoming Book Club year.

It was noted that the part-time Library Aide position has been filled by Ellen Voss.   She started her training on August 19th.

A review was given on the Young Adult Program held in July.  An Escape Room was held on July 8th and 9th.   A STEM event was held on July 13th with build a house of cards activity.    We will retry again later in the fall and see if we can generate more involvement with the middle school & older students.

Information was shared on the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) and the FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund Grants.  Our library will be receiving $4,196 for the ARPA Formula grant. Two other grants will be coming out soon which our library will apply for.

Randy Voss started work on the soffit/fascia on the 20th of July and should be finished up this week.  The Board walked around the building and inspected the work.  It was noted at this time that the drip system was installed on the east side of the library.   The Library Foundation is paying for the drip system.

There was no new information on the upcoming budget.  The City Clerk said that the health insurance premiums would increase beginning September 1st.  This may change the amount in the line item for insurance.  The budget workshop should be held later in the month.

The Library has applied for the 9/11 Poster Exhibition from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.  This is to honor the 20th anniversary of this event.   It will include 14 posters featuring archival photographs and images of artifacts from the Museum’s permanent collection plus an online collection of resources.   

The Chamber of Commerce has asked if someone from the Library could be at the Back to School Bash to sign-up children for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library on August 21st from 5-7 p.m. at the East City Park.  This is open to children from birth to 5 years of age that live in Brown County.  Phyllis Leach stated that she could help with this.  Deanna Taylor from the Library Foundation thought that she could help also.

Under workshops and meetings we shared information from the Thursday Director’s Zoom Meeting on July 1st, 8th, 22nd, and 29th; and the Nebraska Library Commission’s ARPA Formula Grant webinar on July 13th.  Director did not attend the Nebraska State Advisory Council of Libraries meeting in Lincoln on the 16th as planned due a family member funeral service that same day.  Coming up will be the Ainsworth Library Foundation Board Meeting, the System Grant Writing Workshop on August 18th and the Nebraska Makerspace Conference in Lincoln on Nov. 2nd and 3rd.

Under correspondence, we had a thank you note from North Central District Health Department, the google performance for June 2021, information on the Early Development Network Free Books Literary Project, and letters from Nebraska Congress members on investing in library facilities.   Items of interest from library newsletters and journals were shared with the Board.

The next meeting date was set for September 8th at 5 p.m.

Since there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m.

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