The public forum has seen notable discussion about libraries in recent months. Many libraries have been navigating increased scrutiny, challenges to books available for check-out and more. Among the actual difficulties that libraries have been facing, some have also had to handle fearful rumors.

Recently, those fears have extended into conversations about Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) libraries. In April, amidst community conversations about the Garfield County libraries, there were anonymous claims that middle and elementary school libraries in Garfield County were in danger of being closed. The Sopris Sun connected with RFSD and the county libraries to investigate. 

Joel Hathaway, RFSD executive director of schools, was quick to dispel these rumors. “We are not aware of rumors about libraries closing,” he said. “There are no plans to close school libraries.” He then offered insight into how RFSD schools manage library access. “Libraries look different across the district because there are various models that work best for various schools,” Hathaway said. “School librarian is not a role that has ever been mandated for each school like a principal, assistant principal or counselor, for example.”

Each school within the district has some autonomy in how it allocates its budget and personnel. Explained Hathaway, “All elementary schools are currently budgeted for one library paraprofessional, but schools have flexibility in how they use this position. School leaders work with their leadership teams and school advisory councils for guidance on the school budgets.” 

In response to rumors that potential risk might be associated with enrollment concerns and associated budgets, Hathaway said that libraries in the schools are not directly based on enrollment numbers. RFSD shares regular available-to-public updates at its bimonthly board meetings, covering topics from budget updates to student engagement to promotions. Agenda packets are available on the district website, and livestreams and recordings of the meetings can be found on YouTube. While both April RFSD board meetings included personnel updates, no librarians were on either list of terminations or resignations. 

Jamie LaRue, executive director of Garfield County Libraries, confirmed that he heard a single mention of rumors about RFSD libraries in early April. LaRue shared that the number of school librarians in Colorado has dropped in the past 10-15 years, but that pattern does not have to prove true at all schools. He also confirmed “I have no direct knowledge of pending retirements or layoffs.”

What LaRue hopes to highlight is how libraries can empower students in addition to the general public. “What I would promote to area students, in addition to our access to over 30 million items through our shared Marmot catalog (combining most of the libraries on the Western Slope) are our digital resources.” County libraries can partner with school libraries to promote reading programs and events. The former are also open year-round, ensuring access to educational resources when school libraries are closed for summer break. 

“Our e-resources include things like BrainFuse (direct online tutoring), college prep resources, and lots of newspapers, magazines and biographies useful for homework,” LaRue shared. “I would advise any student to get and use a local library card.” His concerns about library access are broad; LaRue wants to ensure preservation of library collections and information accessibility as a public resource. 

Hathaway credited public libraries throughout the Roaring Fork Valley for their work. “We have great relationships with our local libraries and are grateful for the mutually supportive relationship.”

You can learn more about Garfield County Library offerings online (at www.gcpld.org). The website has a general events calendar as well as webpages for each branch location. Families interested in learning more about their local school libraries can visit the school website, as each school manages its own library.