Professional Standards & Support

The ALA provides nationally recognized professional development, training, and resources that our library staff rely on.

Membership ensures our library follows best practices for literacy, accessibility, and inclusivity that benefit all patrons.

Leaving ALA would isolate us from the largest network of library professionals in the country.

Local Control Remains

ALA does not run our library, our local board, staff, and community do.

Membership is about accessing resources, not about giving up authority.

Withdrawing would not give us more control; it would only reduce access to expertise.

Cost vs. Value

ALA membership is a modest investment compared to the return in professional tools, advocacy, and grants.

The training and resources we receive often save us money and time we’d otherwise spend independently researching or contracting.

Opposition is Ideological, Not Practical

Calls to leave ALA are rooted in national political culture wars, not in what’s best for Garfield County.

These efforts often aim to weaken public libraries’ ability to serve diverse communities.

Our board should base decisions on the needs of our patrons, not partisan talking points.

Impact on Community

Membership strengthens our library’s ability to provide accurate information, defend intellectual freedom, and support lifelong learning.

Cutting ties would harm our credibility and reduce opportunities for innovation and collaboration.

Patrons of every age, from children in story time to seniors in technology classes, benefit when our staff has the best training and support.

Leaving ALA doesn’t make our library stronger or more independent, it makes us weaker, less connected, and more vulnerable to outside political pressure.