Protecting Community Voice

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

When the BOCC takes over trustee appointments, it centralizes power in a few elected officials instead of reflecting the broad community.

Returning appointment authority to the library ensures diverse representation and accountability to all residents.

Guarding Against Partisan Influence

Commissioners are elected on partisan platforms; trustees should not be chosen based on politics.

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.

Preserving Expertise

Trustees should be selected for their knowledge of education, literacy, finance, and community needs, not political loyalty.

Library boards function best when they include parents, educators, professionals, and neighbors who understand library services.

Handing control to commissioners sidelines expertise in favor of ideology.

Community Trust and Independence

Garfield County residents trust their library as a neutral, welcoming space.

That trust erodes if the board is seen as a political extension of the BOCC.

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.

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