Protecting Community Voice

Libraries exist to serve the whole community, not one political party or agenda.

The Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) recent takeover of the advertisement, interview and selection process abandoned 16 years of successful board appointments. This attempt by the BOCC to influence Library policy and operations was and is an overreach and an attempt to impose a political agenda on another statutory body. Moreover, BOCC action was based on false statements made by unreliable book banners. In fact, recent Trustee appointments have declared that the problems that they were put on the board to solve simply don’t exist.

When the BOCC takes took over the entire trustee appointments process, it centralizes centralized power in a few elected officials instead of who refused to make decisions that reflecting reflected the broad community that exists in Garfield County.

Including the Library Board of Trustees in the entire appointment process and allowing for the reappointment of experienced Trustees ensures diverse representation and accountability to all residents. The BOCC refuses to do this despite broad community support for these changes.

One of the reasons given by the BOCC to justify its complete takeover of the appointment process was the allegation that the Library Trustees took too long to recommend applicants. This is exactly what the BOCC has itself done: it turned down one Rifle applicant for reasons not based on fact and will allow the current Rifle position to remain vacant for 6 months.

Guarding Against Partisan Influence

Commissioners are elected on partisan platforms; trustees should not be chosen based on politics. Various Commissioners accused the Library board of “group think” when in fact the Board was following the First Amendment of our Constitution, Colorado law and board policies.

Elected officials are accountable to the voters, not just at elections, but throughout their terms. The library proposed an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to stabilize the Trustee appointment process and ensure a significant role for our library professionals and Trustees. After a rancorous discussion, Commissioner Samson and our other commissioners tabled the proposal. We have 3 Commissioners, not one. May we ask the Commissioners to demonstrate that they are not held hostage to their own group think and be willing to act independently if consensus is not in the best interest of Garfield County residents?

Libraries thrive when decisions are made by people focused on education, literacy, and community service, not campaign talking points.

Allowing the BOCC to control appointments risks turning our libraries into political battlegrounds as we have seen starkly in Garfield County.

Preserving Expertise

Trustees should be selected for their knowledge of education, literacy, finance, and community needs,,  not political or doctrinal loyalty. Library boards function best when they include parents, educators, professionals, and neighbors who understand library services. Handing complete control to County commissioners sidelines expertise in favor of ideology.

Community Trust and Independence

Garfield County residents trust their library as a neutral, welcoming space. That trust is eroded if the Library board is seen as a political extension of the BOCC. This is what is happening in Garfield County.  Keeping trustee appointments independent protects libraries as places for everyone.

The Principle at Stake

Libraries should be guided by community service and intellectual freedom, not partisan agendas.

Including our library professionals and Library Trustees in the entire selection process and allowing easy re-appointments Returning trustee selection to the library system is the clearest way to keep decision-making rooted in what’s best for readers, families, and learners across the county.

The BOCC unilaterally choosing trustees means politics choosing our books. Libraries should belong to the whole community, not one party.