- Bob Zaruba, President
- JoAnn Heddens, Vice President
- LeAnn Siekman, Secretary
- Connie Wickham
- Judy Raumaker
Public Notice
BENNINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2009; 5:45 P.M.
COMMUNITY ROOM; 15505 Warehouse Street, Bennington, Nebraska, 402-238-2201
Notice is hereby given that on Monday, December 28, 2009, a regular meeting of the Bennington Public Library Board of Trustees will be held in the community room.
The agenda is available for public inspection at the Bennington Public Library, 15505 Warehouse Street, Bennington, Nebraska during normal operating hours.
Library Trustees Elect Officers, Make Plans
Story & photo by Dori Settles
The Bennington Public Library Board of Trustees held their first meeting of 2008 on Tuesday, January 28th. Two newly appointed board members were present, JoAnn Heddens and Judy Raumaker (pictured). Also in attendance were board members LeAnn Siekman, Connie Wickham, and library directory Lisa Flaxbeard. The board elected new officers for 2008. Mr. Bob Zaruba will serve as President, Ms. Heddens as Vice President, and Ms. Siekman as Secretary.
Ms. Flaxbeard reported on finances, circulation, programming and other library business. In December 2007, the library saw a slight increase in circulation over the same period in 2006. Majority of the new library cards are being issued to county residents.
The Bennington Public Library now offers a weekly storytime to children birth through 5. Siblings are welcome and parents are asked to stay with their young children. During January, 64 children attended these sessions. The monthly preschool storytime led by Sally Hansen hit capacity at 30 children for its January session.
The library’s teen group, B.A.T.S. (Bennington Advisory Teen Scene) continues to thrive. Several members volunteered to do kid crafts at the Bowtique for Jakson’s House in December. They recently held a game night, and have activities planned through June. Mary Beth Budz from Sugar Cubes/Courteous Kids came and spoke with the group about classes she offers and working on a cooperative effort in March called Preppin’ for Prom and Other Social Events involving members of B.A.T.S.
The library has two book clubs. The Jr. High Book Club is led by Stacy Nobel and Debby Kois. Each month, a handful of Jr. High students come to discuss the books they’ve read. The adult Book Club has about a dozen regular members. They meet the 3rd Tuesday of the month, and information about the books they are reading can be found on the library website.
The staff at the library is very excited about this year’s Summer Reading Program, Catch the Reading Bug. They will be attending a workshop in February in Fremont.
A grant application has been submitted to install WIFI at the library and purchase a portable projection unit which could be used for computer presentations or to show movies. The library could hear back as soon as March if the application has been approved.
The board and Ms. Flaxbeard discussed business regarding internet filtering of social networking and gaming sites. Libraries around the country are faced with protecting children from potentially harmful material, and making the determination of what is harmful has been an ongoing concern since the enactment of CIPA (Child Internet Protection Act) in 2000. The board suggested researching how other libraries in the area are dealing with these types of sites.
The final item on the agenda was Strategic Planning. The last time a plan was put together for the library was in 1993. The board agrees with Ms. Flaxbeard that it’s important to look at the needs of the community and how the library can best fulfill those needs. Ms. Flaxbeard is pulling together an advisory team and scheduling meetings to work on a vision for the Bennington Public Library. The next Board of Trustees meeting will be held on Monday, March 10 at 5:45pm at the library.
- Bob Zaruba, President
- JoAnn Heddens, Vice President
- LeAnn Siekman, Secretary
- Connie Wickham
- Judy Raumaker
Please click on this link to view the complete Bennington Public Library Policy, which is compiled, reviewed and maintained by the Board of Trustees.
By-laws of the Bennington Public Library Board of Trustees
Article I: Name
This organization shall be called “The Bennington Public Library Board of Trustees”. The Board exists by virtue of Section 51-201 et. seq. of the Revised Statues of the State of Nebraska and Article VI, Section 1-601, Ordinance No. 316, section 2 of the Municipal Code of the City of Bennington.
Article II: Members of the Board
Section 1: The Board shall be composed of five (5) members who shall be residents of the City of Bennington. One board member may reside outside the city limits, but within Douglas County.
Section II: The members of the Board shall be appointed by the Bennington City Council for individual terms of four (4) years. Members of the board may be reappointed at the end of such term. The members’
terms of office shall be staggered to provide for continuity in policy and orderly transition of membership.
Section III: In cases of vacancies by resignation, removal or otherwise, the City Council shall fill such vacancy for the unexpired term.
Article III: Officers and Their Duties
Section I: The officers of the Board shall be a President, Vice-President, a Secretary, and such other officers as may be deemed necessary.
Section II: It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Board, to appoint Board members to standing committee’s and to carry out such other duties as the Board or these By-Laws may impose.
Section III: The Vice-President shall preside at all meetings of the Board in the absence of the President, and carry out such other duties as the Board or these By-Laws may impose.
Section IV: The Secretary shall maintain a true and accurate written record of all meetings of the Board, shall carry out such other duties as the Board or these By-Laws may impose.
Section V: Should the President or Vice-President be absent from any meeting of the Board, a member shall be selected to preside by a motion.
Section VI: In the absence of the Secretary another Board member shall be appointed to act as Secretary pro tempore by the presiding officer.
Article IV: Terms of Office and Elections
The officers shall be elected annually at the first board meeting of the calendar year. The newly elected officers shall assume the responsibilities of their offices upon election and until their successors are duly elected.
Article V: Meetings
Section I: Regular meetings of the Library Board shall be held monthly, or at such times as the Board deems appropriate. Written notice of the time and place of the meeting shall be posted at least three (3) locations in the community, in conformity with the provision of the law of the State of Nebraska.
Section II: Special meetings may be called by the President or by any three (3) Board members.
Section III: Three members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Section IV: Proceedings of all meetings shall be governed by “Robert’s Rules of Order”.
Article VI: Order of Business
The order of business at the regular meeting shall be established by the presiding officer.
Article VII: Amendment of the By-Laws
These by-laws may be amended at any meeting of the Board by affirmative vote of at least three (3) members of the Board, provided notice of the proposed amendment is presented for consideration. These by-laws shall be reviewed annually. All other written policies for operations, collection management and personnel shall be reviewed annually.
Adopted 11/27/06
