The Library continues to explore the possibility of forming a library district. In November 2006, the Library Board of Trustees voted unanimously to ask the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners for approval to further research the advantages and any potential disadvantages of becoming a library district. This decision was made after more than a year of thorough deliberation and research. Their thoughtful approach led to the strong belief that the best way to continue to meet the growing needs for library service in Jefferson County is through a library district.
The next step was to bring the issue to the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners. After learning that forming a library district may be the most effective and efficient way to serve the needs of the residents, the Board of Commissioners approved the Library Board’s request on Dec. 19, 2006 and authorized the formation of a steering committee, comprised of key staff from the Library and other county departments to research district formation.
Why should we consider becoming a library district? In my experience, libraries best serve their communities by focusing on their mission--delivering quality library services. Since library districts operate independently, they are not bound by unnecessary organizational requirements that sometimes compete with that mission. Library districts also have more control and flexibility over operating decisions and greater taxpayer accountability.
Nearly half of the 114 public libraries in Colorado are districts and the number continues to increase. Most large counties provide library service through this proven organization model, including Arapahoe Library District, Douglas County Libraries, Fort Collins Regional Library District, Rangeview Library District, Pikes Peak Library District, Pueblo City-County Library District and Weld Library District to name just those along the Front Range.
While researching other organizational models, the Jefferson County Library Board of Trustees learned that library districts continue to maintain high levels of service while, in many cases, dealing with significant growth by finding savings through economies of scale in operations.
If the Library Board of Trustees and the Board of Commissioners proceed with formation of a district, I want to ensure you that JCPL will always belong to the residents of Jefferson County. Our services and the quality of our collections will not change. In short, you will see no significant difference in the day-to-day operations of the Library. Taxes will not increase as a result of forming a district, and your Library Board of Trustees will still be appointed by your Board of County Commissioners.
There are a number of ways to get more information about the status of district formation. A public hearing will be held in late summer or early fall. Details about this hearing will be heavily published in our monthly newsletter, at each of our libraries and on our web site. In the meantime, you can contact me, or you can attend one of the monthly Library Board Meetings. The meeting schedule is listed at the following link: http://jefferson.lib.co.us/board/minutes.html.
