Garco Library

Some Garfield County residents are drawing attention to the Garfield County Library District budget, complaining that the library has too much money and that some of it should be returned to taxpayers. At last week’s Garfield County Commissioner meeting, library staff set the record straight, and then some.

KDNK’s news team brings you local and regional news from the Roaring Fork Valley ... and beyond.

KDNK’s news team brings you local and regional news from the Roaring Fork Valley ... and beyond.

Efforts to remove books from public and school libraries have been increasing nationwide. According to PEN America, a non-profit that champions the freedom to write, there was an unprecedented surge in book bans during the latter half of 2023.Here in Colorado, a battle has been playing out in Garfield County, where some community members have been calling for the removal of certain books from public libraries. They have been lobbying the Garfield County Commissioners to override the library board and take action. Now the Commissioners are at odds with the library board. The commissioners are planning on appointing candidates for three open positions on the Garfield County Libraries Board of Trustees, despite the library board already reappointing two trustees. Rocky Mountain Community Radio’s Maeve Conran spoke with Amy Hadden Marsh who says what’s happening in Garfield County is part of a national trend.

Garfield County Commissioners and Adrian Rippy-Sheehy, president of the Garco library board of trustees, interviewed nine candidates for a library board vacancy on Tuesday in front of an audience of close to 80 concerned citizens.

A group of Garfield County residents recently launched a Facebook page called Protect Our GARCO Libraries. KDNK’s Amy Hadden Marsh sat down with Carole O’Brien, spokesperson for the group, to find out more.

The Garfield County Library District is asking voters to decide on Proposition 6A next week. The initiative would raise property taxes within the District…