You say your friends were looking forward to hearing you play “Life’s Been Good to Me So Far” on your ukulele at an upcoming party? You know the song by Joe Walsh, with lyrics that go, “My Maserati does 185. I lost my license, now I don’t drive?” But, you loaned your ukulele to a guy you thought was your friend and fear he has absconded with it? Well fear not, Bunky. You are probably in luck. You can check out a ukulele at the Carbondale Branch Library and fulfill your social obligations.
Garfield County libraries have a lot of items other than books, videos and other materials patrons can check out. In Carbondale, they include: WiFi hotspots, laptop computers, Launchpad tablets preloaded with educational games for kids, teens and adults and even Colorado state park passes. To check out laptops and park passes, patrons must be at least 18 years old. And here is something new: “Stay Sharp” kits that are meant to promote cognitive stimulation and tactile movement.
In other news, the Carbondale library is embarking on a multi-year project to digitize its collection of Valley Journal bound volumes. So far, the library is committed to digitizing all issues from 1975 through 1982 at a cost of about $1,000 per year. “I’m currently exploring grants and other funding opportunities to complete the project,” branch manager Tracy Kallassy said. “The digitized volumes will be accessible by the public at Colorado Historic Newspapers starting this summer.”
District-wide
The district launches its new website April 30, said communications director James Larson. He said the new site will allow easier navigation to digital content, contain a revamped calendar of events section, include a patron book recommendation link and make it easier to reserve rooms.
Events and programs
Garfield County libraries present “Music of the West African Kora” with Sean Gaskell, starting with Carbondale on May 6 at 6pm. Gaskell will share a unique program featuring songs on the kora, a 21-stringed West African harp. The kora is traditionally played by oral historians known as “griots.” Many of the songs featured on the kora preserve an 800-year history dating back to the founding of the Mande empire. Gaskell studied under musicians in Gambia and Senegal and has performed throughout the United States and Canada. The program repeats in Glenwood Springs on Tuesday, May 7 at 6pm.
Other upcoming events include a return screening of “The Paradise Paradox” on May 15 at 6pm and “A Day in Tahiti” Polynesian dance on May 18 at 2pm. The library hosts English in Action drop-ins Mondays at 6:30pm offering conversational practice for English learners.
Recent board action
At this month’s library board meeting in Glenwood Springs, the board unanimously voted to deny an appeal and uphold staff’s decision to keep “Kill or Be Killed” on the shelves. Board members noted the book does not have a parental advisory sticker on it. “Kill or Be Killed,” by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, is a series of books generally described on the internet as crime thrillers with supernatural overtones.
Executive director’s report
Executive Director Jamie LaRue presented his monthly report to the library board at the April meeting. Among other items, the report included:
- An update on book bans. His report said the American Library Association (ALA) released censorship figures for 2023 and “the data is alarming.” The ALA documented efforts to censor 4,240 unique book titles in schools and libraries were eclipsing 2022’s high of 2,571. He said the numbers highlight a recent trend: challenging multiple titles, often dozens or hundreds, at a time.
- LaRue told the trustees he submitted his self evaluation at the board’s 2024 retreat in February. As of May 2, he has held the position for two years. He asked the board to let him know if it requires any further reflection or data.
- LaRue told the board his book, “On Censorship: A Public Librarian Examines Cancel Culture in the U.S.,” sold out its first printing. He has given a fair number of presentations about the book regionally and national and has a speaking engagement in Scotland in June.
- LaRue said the library district’s 1 mill property tax, used to build and maintain its branch locations, expires in 2027. “On the one hand, sales tax revenues are almost replacing that income stream. On the other, I do believe that an equivalent to 3.5-4 mill is about right for an effective library,” he said. LaRue concluded this section of his report by saying the district should watch what’s on the ballot “to look for a propitious time if we choose to pursue a mill levy extension.”