Registration is now open for the 2022 Summer Reading Program “Oceans of Possibilities”. Please sign up below, by calling the library, or stopping by in person. Registrations will close on May 15th.
Category Archives: Events
Makerspace Open House
The Ainsworth Public Library will be holding an Open House on May 5th from 4-5 p.m. so that the public can see all the new equipment we have added to our Makerspace. The library was recently awarded a 2022 ARPA Library Improvement Grant in the amount of $1,428 to purchase equipment and supplies for our Makerspace area.
The grant funds were used to purchase a Cricut Mug Press; Wood Burning Kit; American Button Maker 1.25”; and a Laminator to use with paper size 9 x 11.5 and smaller. Supplies were also purchased to use with training on the machines. The Library was also gifted this spring with a large vinyl cutting machine, computer with software as well as supplies from the Innovation Studio Grant. All of these items will be on display along with our other Makerspace items such as our Accut Die Cutter; Cricut Machine; Heat Press; Label Maker; and Engraver. Training Sign-up sheets will be posted for people that would like to have one-on-one training on the machines. Training dates will be scheduled at a later date. Make sure to sign up for several Door Prizes to be given away at the Open House.
The Library Improvement Grant is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Nebraska Library Commission.
Filed under Events, Library News
Agenda for Library Board Meeting
AINSWORTH LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
April 13, 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/List of Titles Purchased
7. Grant Updates
a. Youth Grant for Excellence
1. Purchases completed
2. Open House on 4-17-22
3. Mondays from 4-5 p.m. set as S.T.E.M. Time
b. Library Improvement Grant
1. Purchases completed
2. Plan for Open House/Sign people up for one-on-one training
c. Formula Grant
1. Still working on purchases
d. $500 Teacher’s Grant awarded for S.T.E.M. items
8. National Library Week: April 4-9th
9. Summer Reading Program
10. NebraskAccess Password
11. OverDrive
a. Discontinuing the OverDrive app
b. Transition to Libby app
c. Survey questions for the public on Overdrive website
12. Upcoming Displays/Exhibits
a. Ainsworth Art Guilds Spring Show-April 8-30th
b. Bright Horizons Display-April 11-16th
13. Cleaning Position
14. Public Librarian Certification renewed for Wanda Raymond to 3-23-2025
15. Start work on Budget for 2022-2023
16. Meetings/Workshop
a. Director’s Thursday Zoom Meetings: March 10th, 17th, and 31st
b. Aquatic WILD-March 8
c. NCompass Live
1. Importance of Chit Chat in the Library March 9th
2. If You Build It They Will Come -March 15th
d. Transitioning to Libby March 15th
e. Nebraska 4H S.T.E.M. Reading Connections Workshop-March 13th
f. Nebraska State Advisory Council on Libraries March 18th
g. City Safety Meeting -March 31st
h. How to Train Your Community on Libby-April 7th
i. Reluctant Readers Workshop-April 21st Zoom
j. Golden Sower Reading Day-June 3rd-Kearney
k. Games People Play-June 16th-Hastings
17. Correspondence
a. Items of interest from Library newsletters/journals
18. Set next meeting date/time
19. Adjournment
Filed under Events, Library News
Financial Literacy Class
Take control of your future with financial empowerment.
There will be a Financial Literacy Class starting today at 6 p.m. at the Library hosted by Bright Horizons. The entire community is encouraged to attend the Financial Literacy 101 class in order to have a better chance of gaining financial freedom and losing financial debt.
Filed under Events, Library News
Open House to feature STEM/STEAM
National Library Week will be observed from April 4-9th with the theme of “Connect at Your Library”. This is the perfect time for the Ainsworth Public Library to connect you with all the new STEM/STEAM items added to the Public Library. A special Open House will be held with our STEM/STEAM items on April 7th from 4-5 p.m.
The Library recently was awarded an ARPA Youth Grant for Excellence from the Nebraska Library Commission in the amount of $1100 to address the need for education programs for the young people of our community. STEM/STEAM promotes the subjects of science, technology, engineering, art and math. The funds were used to purchase a Kid Spark STEM Pathways Lab; Ratio Reveal Set; Q-BA Maze ; Keva Color Pops; plus a STEM Supplies Mobile Drawer Organizer. STEM books were also purchased for our children’s non-fiction section. Titles include a set of 5 “STEM: Engaging Hands-On Challenges Using Everyday Materials “ for students in 1st -5th grade; a set of 3 “Year Round Project-Based Activities for STEM” for PreK to 3rd grade students; and “Coding From Scratch”. All these items will be show cased for hands on exploration at the Open House. Please stop by and see all the STEM/STEAM items available at the library!
This project is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Nebraska Library Commission.
Filed under Around Town, Events, Library News
Blind Date with a Book
It’s that time of year again…come have a Blind Date with a Book!! (You may even win a prize!)

Filed under Around Town, Events, Library News
Ainsworth Library Board Meeting Agenda
AINSWORTH LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
February 2, 2022 at 5 p.m.
AGENDA
1. Call meeting to order
2. Give notice of the posting of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act
3. Roll call
4. Approve minutes
5. Approve claims for payment
6. Monthly Library Report
7. 2021 Nebraska Public Library Survey/Public Library Data Survey Supplement
8. ARPA Formula Grant
9. ARPA Youth Grant for Excellence
10. 2022 ARPA Library Improvement Grant
11. Network for Good Donation
12. Donation of Library Innovation Studio Equipment/Supplies
13. Blind Date with a Book
14. Meetings/Workshop:
a. Thursday Director’s Zoom Meeting: Jan.13, Jan.20th
b. NCompass 2022 One Book One Nebraska: The Bones of Paradise-Jonis Agee-Jan. 14
c. Summer Reading Program-Jan. 26th-Broken Bow
d. Library Foundation Board Meeting-Feb. 16th
e. Big Talk for Small Libraries-Feb. 25th
15. Correspondence:
a. Items of interest from Library Newsletter and Journals
16. Set next meeting date
17. Adjournment
Filed under Events, Library News
January Book Club
The Ainsworth Book Club will be meeting on January 18th at 2 p.m. to share thoughts on the title of “The Great Alone” by Kristin Hannah. The February selection will be handed out at this time. Up next will be the book “The Good Lord Bird” by James McBride. Hope to see you there!
Filed under Events, Library News
Book Club Meeting
The Book Club will be meeting on Monday, December 20th at 2 p.m. to share thoughts on the title of “Skipping Christmas” by John Grisham. If you have read this book, please come join us in the discussion!
The title for the January discussion of “The Great Alone” by Kristin Hannah will handed out at this time.
Hope to see you at the discussion!
Filed under Events
Come check out the December Book Club selection. We will meet to share thoughts on the book on December 20th at 2 p.m. “Skipping Christmas” by John Grisham is a funny book. It is sure to brighten up your holiday spirit!

Filed under Events, Library News