This letter to the editor by Laurie Raymond appeared in the October 27, 2026 edition of the Post Independent.
As recent letters here attest, Garfield County residents love and use our libraries and support the passage of ballot measure 6B. Without increasing the tax rate, this measure will continue to fund programs, staffing, materials and facilities management for a robust future.
But in addition to the everyday benefits we take for granted, do you realize that libraries are tasked with being information first responders in emergencies and natural disasters? FEMA has assigned them this role, and they have performed it heroically, including:
Acting as community information and communication headquarters, providing technology and assistance to residents and emergency workers, aiding with navigating government resources and restoring free Wi-Fi, workstations and equipment for stranded people. Librarians are the professionals uniquely qualified to restore critical information systems as quickly as possible and enable people with varying degrees of tech savvy to use them effectively.
Because library buildings are designed for public comfort and safety, they provide spaces for sheltering, information hubs and distribution centers as needs evolve. During and after fires, floods, storms, slides and mass disruptions such as shootings, librarians have served residents of all ages and abilities with flexibility and skill.
To do this, libraries must maintain up-to-date information and communication systems technology and the professional expertise to use them. These requirements are costly and often not acknowledged in “normal” times. We are so fortunate to have a district that is managed with such dedication to all its community obligations, maintaining adequate financial reserves to guarantee it can meet them.
No one likes to think our beloved valley may need to call on our libraries to be lifesavers in a disaster. But isn’t it comforting to know we can? Don’t take our precious libraries for granted. Vote yes on 6B!
Laurie Raymond, Glenwood Springs