Ainsworth Public Library

Due to the cold weather, the Ainsworth Library Foundation Board set for today at 5 p.m. has been postponed. We will try to reschedule it early next week. Stay home where it is warm!

Please note that due to the cold weather, the library will be

closing today (Feb. 18th) at 5 p.m. instead of the usual 7 p.m.

Stay inside and keep warm!

The Ainsworth Public Library will be closed on Monday, Feb. 17th, for President’s Day.

The Ainsworth Library Board held its regular monthly meeting on February 5, 2025 at the Ainsworth Public Library.  This meeting was advertised over the radio, at the Library, on the Library website and FaceBook page.  The meeting was called to order at 5:03 p.m.  by President Stacy Gilliland.  Notice was given on the posting of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act.  Roll call showed four members were present (Stacy Gilliland, Luke Hitchcock, Jean Hunt, and Alane Lentz).  Member Tammy Hancock was absent.   Library Director, Gail Irwin, was also present.  There were no public comments.

Luke Hitchcock made the motion to approve the minutes of the last meeting with the correction of the spelling of Alana to Alane on the roll call.  Jean Hunt seconded this with all members voting in favor of.  Luke Hitchcock moved to approve the claims for payment.  Alane Lentz seconded this with all members voting in favor of.  The Monthly Library Report for January was presented as well as a list of titles purchased.

Discussion was held on the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Program.  An Open House was held on Jan. 31st from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. so that people could meet the volunteer workers, learn about the tax program, share some food, and schedule tax appointments. The volunteers include Kay Anderson, Brenda Davis, and Lydia Moody.  Linda Moody from the IRS will also be present to help on certain days. The appointments will be made when the library is closed on Thursdays from 5-7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9-11 a.m.  The library will be making the appointments for the public.  The program will run from Feb. 6 to April 3rd.  There is no cost to have the income tax forms done.

Review was given on the events held at the Library in January.  Storytime was held on Jan. 8th with a snow theme and on Jan. 21st with animals in the winter.  Book Club was held on Jan. 21st with the One Book One Nebraska 2024 title of “Dancing with the Octopus”.  We placed a wooden puzzle out for the public to work on.  It took a whole month to complete it.

Upcoming events were discussed.  Storytime will be held on Feb. 4th with a Valentine’s theme and on Feb. 18th with a penguin theme.  Book Club will be held on Feb. 18th with the title of “The Postmistress” by Sarah Blake.  The Blind Date with a Book started on Feb. 1st and will run to Feb. 28th.  Each person checking out a book will have their name placed in a drawing for a prize.  Read Across America-Dr. Seuss Day will be celebrated on March 4th.

Information from workshops/meetings attended was shared.  Director attended the Thursday Director’s Zoom meeting on the 2nd and 30th and the IRS 2024 EITC 50 zoom meeting on the 23rd. It was noted that the Ainsworth Library Foundation Board meeting would be held on Feb. 19th.  Upcoming workshops include the Color Our World Summer Reading Program in Kearney on Feb. 26th and the all day conference of Big Talk for Small Libraries on Feb. 28th.

Under correspondence, information was shared on the VR Truck out of Norfolk  that libraries in Nebraska are trying to schedule for summer events.  Articles were also shared on South Dakota attempting to defund their state library and on the federal government freeze on all federal grants (LSTA funding included).   This could have a large impact on all types of libraries.  The Board also shared articles of interest from library journals and newsletters.

The next meeting was set for March 5th at 5pm.  Since there was no further business to come before the board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:35 p.m.   

The Storytime kids are showing off the Valentine that they made. I wonder who their special person will be that they give it to? Thank you Central Plains Library System for providing us this wonderful craft to do with the children.

Volunteers – trained by the Internal Revenue Service – ask you the needed questions to find out if you qualify for the EITC and other refundable tax credits. Volunteers at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites, also prepare and e-file (electronically file) your tax return at no cost to you.

VITA is a nationwide program that partners with community groups to offer IRS-certified, free return preparation and assistance. The Ainsworth Public Library and local volunteers (Brenda Davis, Kay Anderson, Lydia Moody, and Linda Moody) are coordinating and preparing tax returns starting at the end of January through the first Saturday in April. Their goal is to assist taxpayers in completing a timely and an accurate tax return receiving all their eligible credits. The filing deadline is April 15, 2025.

Visit our free tax preparation site at:

Ainsworth Public Library, 445 N Main St, Ainsworth NE 69210

Stop in at the Library or call 402-387-2032 to schedule an appointment time on:

Thursdays (February 6th through April 3rd) from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. or

Saturdays (February 1st through April 5th) from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Both federal and state tax returns will be filled at no cost to you. This is free and open to all!

Please arrive 10-15 minutes early with all the need information listed below.

Bring the following to make sure our volunteers get you the right amount of credit you deserve:

• A valid driver’s license or other photo id card
• Social security cards, a social security number or ITIN verification letter for all persons listed on the return
• Birth dates for all persons listed on return
• All income statements: Forms W-2 and 1099, Social Security, unemployment, and other statements, such as pensions, stocks, interest and any documents showing taxes withheld
• All records of expenses, such as tuition, mortgage interest, or real estate taxes
• Copies of last year’s state and federal tax returns, if available
• Bank routing numbers and account numbers to direct deposit any refund
• Dependent childcare information: name and address of who you paid and either the caretaker’s SSN or other tax identification number
• If you purchased coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, Form 1095-A PDF, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement
• Both spouses to sign forms to e-file a joint tax return
• Last year’s tax return would be helpful and highly recommended

Some returns maybe out the scope for this site to file and our VITA volunteers will not be able to prepare your return. Out of scope items include if you are reporting sale of cryptocurrency; if a depreciation schedule is required or a Schedule F (farm) is required; if self-employed with a net loss; has self-employed qualified retirement plan, SEP, SIMPLE; expenses of more than $35,000; has employees; or casualty or theft loss.

This site may be able to prepare a return with a schedule E (rental income, including farm rent); dividends, capital gains, or minimal brokerage transaction, or multiple state returns.

Our community volunteers want to help you get EITC and the maximum refund you’re due. Our goal is to help you get it and get it right. This is money you can save or use to pay off bills, buy that car to get to work or make a down payment on a home. Let us help make your life a little easier. Let us help you get it and get it right!

February Book Club selection will be “The Postmistress” by Sarah Blake. The group will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 18th, at 2 p.m. to share thoughts on this title. The Library has copies of this book available for checkout.

Those who carry the truth sometimes bear a terrible burden. “The Postmistress” is a sweeping novel about the loss of innocence of two extraordinary women-and of two countries torn apart by war. On the eve of the United States’s entrance into World War II in 1940, Iris James, the postmistress of Franklin, a small town on Cape Cod, does the unthinkable: She doesn’t deliver a letter. In London, American radio gal Frankie Bard is working with Edward R. Murrow, reporting on the Blitz. One night in a bomb shelter, she meets a doctor from Cape Cod with a letter in his pocket, a letter Frankie vows to deliver when she returns from Germany and France, where she is to record the stories of war refugees desperately trying to escape. The residents of Franklin think the war can’t touch them- but as Frankie’s radio broadcasts air, some know that the war is indeed coming. And when Frankie arrives at their doorstep, the two stories collide in a way no one could have foreseen.

AINSWORTH LIBRARY BOARD MEETING

February 5, 2025 @ 5 p.m.

AGENDA

1. Call meeting to order

2. Notice of the posting of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act

3. Roll call

4. Public Comment

5. Approve minutes

6. Approve claims for payment

7. Monthly Library Report/List of titles purchased

8. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)

A. Open House-Jan. 31st

B. Schedule Appointment Thursday Evenings and Saturday Morning

9. Review of January events

A. Storytime Jan. &th (Snow) and Jan. 21st (Animals in Winter)

B. Book Club Jan. 21st-One Book One Nebraska title “Dancing with the Octopus”

C. Wooden Puzzle

10. Upcoming Events

A. Storytime Feb. 4th (Valentine’s) and Feb. 18th (Penguins)

B. Book Club-Feb. 18th-”The Postmistress” by Sarah Blake

C. Blind Date with a Book (Feb. 1st-Feb. 28th)

D. Read Across America-Dr. Seuss March 4th

11. Workshops/Meetings:

A. Thursday Director’s Zoom Meeting-Jan. 2nd

B. IRS 2024 EITC 50- Jan. 23rd

C. Library Foundation Board Meeting-Feb. 19th

D. Color Our World Summer Reading Program Workshop-Kearney-Feb. 26th

E. Big Talk for Small Libraries All Day Conference-Feb. 28th

12. Correspondence

A. VR Truck-Summer 2025

B. South Dakota attempt to defund their State Library

C. Federal government freeze on all Federal grants (LSTA Funding included)

D. Articles of interest from library journals and newsletters

13. Set next meeting date
14. Adjournment

Storytime on Feb. 4th will run from 4-5 p.m. Our topic will be Valentine’s.

Storytime on Feb. 18th will feature penguins. Hope to see your child there!