Vartan Gregorian wrote, “Libraries are the critical component in the free exchange of information, which lies at the heart of our democracy. (Libraries) hold our nation’s heritage, the heritage of humanity, the record of its triumphs and failures, and of its intellectual, scientific, and artistic achievements. In both the actual and symbolic sense, the library is the guardian of freedom of thought and freedom of choice, standing as a bulwark for the public against manipulation by various demagogues.”
La Plata County is fortunate to have five exceptional public libraries, which freely provide information through educational materials, community programing, physical and digital resources and the internet. Our dedicated staff members work diligently to serve all who make the time to stop by.
Our libraries are funded by local property tax mill levies. Our libraries also receive support from the Colorado State Library. This support strengthens our libraries and provides services that local libraries by themselves cannot.
In addition to library leadership and professional development training for public and school libraries, the Colorado State Library provides library materials and staff for 52 state institutions and facilities. It has digitized and archived many local publications to create the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. The State Library hosts many library and museum websites, and assists libraries in developing and conducting research and related projects.
By circulating free audio, braille and large-print books via the Talking Book Library, the State Library assists those unable to read standard print. Colorado State Library personnel oversees statewide interlibrary loan, and circulate book club collections and exceptional resource kits to local libraries. They also assist with literacy programs for toddlers, students and adults, and for English language learners.
Providing these beneficial services requires funding. The Library Services and Technology Act is federal legislation that supports the distribution of federal funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to state library agencies based on population. State libraries use grant money from LSTA to support state and local initiatives. Each state determines how best to use the funding and are not obligated to follow federal mandates. States are required, however, to provide additional state funding for library services. Currently, LSTA provides roughly 60% of the Colorado State Library’s operational budget, with the state of Colorado providing the remaining 40%.
Unfortunately, the federal act that provides this funding, the Museum and Library Services Act, will sunset on Sept. 30. Your support for the reauthorization of this act will allow our libraries to continue to play their vital role: enriching our communities, sparking creativity, preserving our shared history and providing access to learning and resources for all. Additionally, support for this act will aid La Plata County’s many unique museums. Please take a moment to reach out to your federal senators or representative through a quick phone call or email and ask them to support the renewal of the Museum and Library Services Act. Together, we can keep our cultural and educational spaces alive and thriving.
Rep. Jeff Hurd’s Durango office phone number is (970) 317-6167. Sen. Michael Bennet’s Durango office phone number is 259-1710. Sen. John Hickenlooper’s Durango office phone number is (970) 880-7236.
Rebecca Benally is director of Southwest La Plata Library District.
