Timeline of Events
Garfield County Libraries - Timeline of Relevant Events
2006
Voters approved the creation of the Garfield County Public Library District (GCPLD) which is separate from Garfield County.
https://www.gcpld.org/about-us/district-history
To satisfy its statutory obligations, the BOCC adopted Resolution No. 06-111 to initially appoint individuals as Trustees and to thereafter delegate the authority to recommend new trustees to the Library Board. The Resolution states:
’Subsequent appointments to the Board of Trustees and the terms of the Board of Trustees shall be undertaken by the Board of County Commissioners or specified in the Bylaws of the Garfield County Public Library District as appropriate and as required by §24- 90-108, C.R.S., as amended.’
In satisfaction of its statutory mandate and the mandate of the BOCC, the Board of Trustees Bylaws provide the following:
‘The management ... of the District shall be vested in a board of seven trustees appointed by the Board of County Commissioners of Garfield County. Appointees to the GCPLD Board of Trustees shall be ... recommended by the Board of Trustees ... for the consideration of the Board of County Commissioners.’
June 4, 2020
The GCPLD passed a resolution amending its Bylaws. The revision states, in part, that “Appointees to the GCPLD Board of Trustees shall be …. recommended for the consideration of the Board of County Commissioners (Article II(1)) and “Any new member of the Board shall be presented to the Garfield County Commissioners to affirm an appointment.” (Article II(2)).
Mid-2022
An individual or small group of county residents objects to a couple of manga titles, saying the books are a danger to children.
The books in question were already marked as adult-content and shelved in the adult section. One of the titles had been purchased by the library after an adult patron formally requested it.
Nov 3, 2022 - Library Board Meeting in Silt
Standing room only and ~ 20 public comments - majority of comments were opposed to censorship and book removal, while also in support of the LGBTQ+ community
Mid-2023 - Rifle representative on the Library Board of Trustees steps down mid-term
Sept 2023 - Application period opens to fill vacant Rifle seat on the Library Board of Trustees
Sept 7, 2023 - Library Board Meeting in Carbondale
89 members of the public present,
Post Independent, Book restriction effort spurs heated atmosphere at Garfield County Libraries meeting
Aspen Times, book restriction effort spurs heated atmosphere at Garfield County Libraries meeting
Commissioner John Martin was present and spoke during the public comment period to clarify the relationship between Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and GCPLD. (The Commissioners receive but don’t approve the library’s budget and affirm but don’t appoint the Library Trustees.)
Commissioner Martin. as quoted in an Aspen Times article: “It is a special district unto itself. At one time, there used to be a governing body by the BOCC to the library, but once that district was formed, we relinquished all control; other than we get to review the budget — we don’t approve the budget. The only requirement is because (the board) receives funds, we review their budget to see where their dollars are going. Yes, we have applications from the board to replace a member (of the board) or put another member on. But that is it and that is our total authority over the board.”
Late Sept 2023 - Hanna Arauza appointed by Library Board of Trustees to be the Rifle trustee
At the time, the process was that the Library Board of Trustees appointed new trustees and the appointments were then affirmed by the BOCC. Historically BOCC approval was merely a formality.
Oct 5, 2023 - Library Board Meeting
Hanna Arauza is announced as Library’s Board’s candidate pick for the Rifle trustee seat and reads her letter of intent
Oct 9, 2023 - BOCC Meeting
Commissioners Martin and Jankovsky interrogate appointee Hanna Arauza over her stance on manga books and defer vote on board appointment until Commissioner Samson is present.
Oct 16, 2023 - BOCC Meeting
Public comment both in favor of and opposed to Hanna’s Arauza’s appointment was presented at the meeting. Commissioner Samson notes that Ms. Arauza’s husband is running “for my seat”. The Commissioners defer that vote again, stating they want to hear more from the public at the upcoming Freedom to Read Forum. The BOCC issues a directive that “pornographic materials” will not be available to children in the libraries, despite lawyer’s caution against this as unenforceable (there is no legal definition of “pornography”) and in conflict with the 1st Amendment.
Excerpt from official minutes:
Commissioner Samson - Mr. Chair I move that we table this until our November 6 meeting, the reason being is that I think it would be good for all of us as well as our County community to hear what people have to say on this issue.
Commissioner Jankovsky - Second.
Passed by Unanimous Vote
Commissioner Jankovsky - Mr. Chair I move that pornographic materials not be accessible to children in Garfield County libraries and that children are not allowed to check out pornographic materials from Garfield County libraries, and that is direction to the Library Board from the Board of County Commissioners. Commissioner Samson asked questions of the Commission’s legal representative regarding 1st Amendment rights.
*A discussion occurred regarding the legalities of the motion.
Commissioner Samson - Second.
Passed by Unanimous Vote
Oct 18, 2023 - Freedom to Read Forum hosted by GCPLD in Rifle
Prior to this event, a woman entered the Rifle Library and harassed the front desk staff - an incident report was filed. This was not the first incident report of its kind. The woman later attended the Forum and harassed library staff there as well.
The event consisted of a presentation by Library District Director LaRue, followed by an extended public comment (3 minutes per comment). 18 people spoke in support of the libraries while 13 people spoke in favor of book restrictions - of those 13, 5 people spoke twice. Commissioner Samson attended the event.
Nov 1, 2023 - Public Library Board Meeting regarding Appeal by Trish O’Grady
Trish O’Grady was appealing a ruling by the library director regarding the FINDER and Prison School manga series.
The Library Board of Trustees reviewed all applicable official policies and determined they were followed with respect to these books. They also reviewed the opinion of legal counsel and took into consideration community concerns. Library Board of Trustees decides to uphold the director’s original decision to retain the titles as currently cataloged and shelved.
Nov 13, 2023 - BOCC Meeting
BOCC unanimously votes against affirming the appointment of Hanna Arauza to the Library Board of Trustees. They justify this by saying they feel she doesn’t represent Rifle and that the organization she works for, which was incorrectly identified, is “anti oil and gas” and, therefore, Hanna is not working in the interests of the county. The Commissioners do not mention the results of the Freedom to Read Forum, which they previously said they would watch to inform their decision. On that day Hanna was home with Covid and was not allowed to dispute BOCC claims over Zoom (for the record, Hanna does not work on anything related to oil and gas in an effort to avoid any conflict of interest with her partner's job).
Next, the BOCC passed a “Resolution of Disapproval of the Garfield County Library Board’s Policy Regarding Two Specific Book Titles” to clarify the directive they passed on Oct 16. The BOCC notes they have limited authority over the Library Board, with the exception of reviewing (not approving) the budget and approving appointments to the Library Board.
The resolution states “C.R.S. § 24-90-109. Further, the Garfield County Library recommends trustees to be appointed to the BOCC and the BOCC has the authority to approve those appointments.”
Many public comments were presented. Eight comments expressed concern with the resolution/were in support of the Library Board. Seven comments expressed concern with the Library Board and the books in question.
Feb 23, 2024 - Library opens application period for Rifle trustee
Feb 26, 2024 - BOCC Meeting - BOCC takes over Trustee appointment process
In an executive session during a BOCC meeting, the BOCC decided they will take over the appointment process for the Library Board of Trustees, effective immediately.
There was no warning this would happen and no immediate explanation of how this would be implemented.
The process used by the GCPLD is in line with historical precedent - applicants submit a letter of intent to the Library Director so the Library Board can review them. Application period is stated as being open until March 23, 2024.
The BOCC send a letter to Adrian Rippy-Sheehy, President of the CCLD, stating:
“It has recently come to the attention of the BOCC that GCPLD is reappointing its members without coming to the BOCC for the approval of reappointments. The GCPLD had consistently come to the BOCC for reappointments of its recommended trustees through, at least, March of 2021. It is unclear why the GCPLD has changed course and is now failing to bring those reappointment requests forward.”
“The BOCC has determined it will be advertising, accepting applications, interviewing, and appointing the trustee for the Rifle area…”
March 18, 2024 - BOCC Meeting - BOCC passes Resolution to take over Trustee appointment process
Without prior notice of this Resolution, the BOCC passed a Resolution in Executive Session rescinding the authority given on February 19, 2008, permitting the Library Board of Trustees to appoint Trustees to the Library Board.
April 30, 2024 - Freedom to Read Rally and BOCC Special Meeting
The Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) publicly interviewed 9 candidates for the Rifle vacancy on the Library Board of Trustees on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. No public comment was possible. There was a great turnout at the Rally preceding the meeting and a full house watching the interviews in person. The BOCC will discuss the candidates and decide who will fill the Rifle seat on the Library Board of Trustees at its regular meeting on Monday, May 6, at its offices in Glenwood Springs. The meeting starts at 8:00 a.m. and this will be a regular agenda topic. As an agenda topic, public comment will be allowed. If you cannot attend in person, you can click on the following link and register and participate on-line. https://www.garfield-county.com/board-commissioners/meetings/. . Thanks for your continued support.