Boulder Library Champions celebrate voter approval of a library district

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Boulder Library Champions, the community group that placed a measure to form a public library district on the ballot, is celebrating a win. Voters approved Measure 6C to provide dedicated property tax funding for the Boulder Public Library, and to bring Gunbarrel other parts of unincorporated Boulder County into the library’s service area.

The new district will provide dedicated property tax funding for the Boulder Public Library, and allow the library to restore staffing and services; invest in new materials, programming, and partnerships; and establish a corner branch in Gunbarrel.

The Library Champions first pursued a ballot measure in 2019, but withdrew their proposal at the request of Boulder City Council. The following year, the library faced the steepest cuts of any city department as sales tax revenues contracted during the pandemic.

The 2022 library district proposal was approved by City Council, and placed on the ballot by petition after County Commissioners declined to participate. With 97% of Boulder County ballots counted late on Monday, it was receiving 52.98% of the vote.

Campaign manager Claudia Hanson Thiem credits success in a difficult economic environment to energized volunteers, and a community that values education and equity. “Libraries provide essential services for so many of our neighbors, and we had an outpouring of people who were excited to share that message with others.”

Campaign co-chair Juana Gomez expressed gratitude to supporters in both the city and county: “Thank you to the voters in the city and surrounding library district. We joined together to support our libraries, and our community will be stronger for generations to come.”

Campaign co-chair Joni Teter reflected on the steady support from the community over several years. “I’m grateful to the dozens of people who worked hundreds and hundreds of hours to secure stable funding for our library. And I’m grateful to the many, many Boulder residents who voted their values and voted for the future of our community.”

After the vote count is completed and certified, City Council and Boulder County Commissioners will appoint trustees, who in turn will negotiate an Intergovernmental Agreement that outlines the transition from City to Library District operations.