KPL maintains services, remains at current location

Citizens may have heard a rumor going around town that the Kimball Public Library could be moved into the Kimball Event Center, but such is not the case.

According to Rosa-Ellen Williams, President of the Kimball Public Library Board of Trustees, during the Dec. 10, 2017 board meeting, several interested parties heard a presentation by Christy Warner and Jim Cederberg on the matter.

Following the presentation the board appointed two members, Randal Gunn and Kenneth Mars, to meet again with Cederberg and Warner, to attempt to learn more and discuss the practicality of such a move.

A second meeting was held on Jan. 31 at the Kimball Event Center, where Gunn, Mars, Kimball County Commissioner Tim Nolting, Kimball Public Library Director Jan Sears, Warner, Cederberg and Henry Heeg were present. It was determined early in the meeting that moving the Kimball Library is not currently a feasible option as such a move would leave the current library building empty.

Those present saw no need to continue with the process of obtaining estimated costs and benefits or drafting a timeline. They did continue to discuss how the Event Center might become a more viable entity within the community.

During the regular Kimball Public Library Board of Trustees meeting on Feb. 12, Gunn and Sears gave a brief summary of what the previous month’s meeting contained. After hearing their report, the board agreed the possibility of moving to the Event Center to not be a viable option, and the matter then closed.

According to the letter from Williams, the board restated the commitment to work with the Kimball City Council and the Kimball County Board of Commissioners in order to be an active partner in the on-going welfare and vitality of our community.

“We are not only committed to maintaining the services offered by the library, but to be a positive, active asset that furthers the interests of everyone in our area,” the letter stated.

While the Library isn’t moving at this time or in the near future, the information provided in the annual report for October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017 showed great strength to the small town library.

The report stated that the Kimball Public Library is open 1,950 hours per year, 37.5 hours per week with the exception of holidays. Currently there are 27,286 items in inventory for public use.

The library received a $1,000 grant in 2016 for a library intern, and Nathaniel Mars took that position, through the Nebraska Library Commission and the Laura Bush Library Funding.

The Kimball Public Library continues to provide services to all age groups in the community and surrounding area. According to the report during the statistical period of October 2015 through September 2016.

Their meeting rooms for public use were used 261 times, as for children’s programs, there were 83 programs for children with 1512 children attending. Young adult programs consisted of 30 programs with 134 in attendance, and adult programs included 12 with 405 attending.

Computers for public use were used 1735 times, this includes use for employment opportunities, communication, financial, tax access, and more. Wireless internet access to travelers, new residents, adults taking college courses, and a multitude of purposes, was used 409 times. The fax machine was used 234 times and that income showed $721.

The local library logged 10,307 visits in that time, which includes computer stats, 10,889 physical items checked out and 1805 eBooks on Nebraska Overdrive.

Activities at the library include; a weekly Wednesday pre-school story time with 10-16 children attending. Club Next, the after school program that is Monday afternoons with 10-16 children attending, currently they are learning about companion pets with biology information. In the next session they will be diving more into STEM material. This program is in partnership with UNL Extension staff. Also on the schedule is the Adult Brown Bag Book Club. They meet monthly on the second Tuesday at noon, attendance is normally 5-6 adults.

The Library Board hosted the third annual 5K fun adding a biking segment, and hosted two painting classes during the year as well.

The Friends of the Kimball Library continue to support the library through some fun fundraising events like the Wine and Dessert tasting, and the Mystery Dinner Theater and have also added a Jigsaw Puzzle Contest.

Make sure to keep track of all the different things the Kimball Public Library has to offer all age groups.