Boulder forms library district advisory committee

On Oct. 6, the City of Boulder announced the formation of the Library District Advisory Committee (LDAC). This committee is an advising body, rather than a decision-making body, and the council chose 12 representatives out of 37 online applications. The application process largely focused on applicants' demographic data (age, ethnicity, income), and asked questions about how applicants planned to best represent the various perspectives in and around Boulder.

Joni Teter, longtime library advocate, was elected to the LDAC; as was Niwot's Deborah Read Fowler and Gunbarrel's Miho Shida.

"I am really pleased to be part of it and I am thrilled with the composition of the group," Teter said.

Similarly, Fowler said, "It's a great feeling, an honor really. I'm a big advocate for Niwot and if it gives us the opportunity for a mini-library in Niwot, that's great."

Shida echoed her colleagues saying, "It's an honor and I am excited to help secure a stable funding base for a very important institution in Boulder that my family has benefited greatly from in so many ways."<

Rather than commissioning new analyses, the group will review materials already put together and make recommendations about a possible Intergovernmental Agreement.

The LDAC will be meeting twice per month from October through April, at which point, a Board of Trustees could be appointed. Conversations have been ongoing about who would make up these trustees; last May, Boulder city council suggested that some advisory members should go on to form the first trustees. Teter expressed hope that some LDAC members will be chosen, saying, "I know that many... would make superb library district trustees."

At their first meeting, the LDAC discussed district boundaries and next meeting, they will be considering the funding model for the district. This is especially important considering that the library's budget largely comes from the general fund, which, in turn, is dependent on sales and use tax. In fact, during 2020, the sales and use tax dropped by more than $6 million compared to 2019; 66 library employees were laid off and 90% of the library's programs are funded by the Boulder Library Foundation. The rest of the library's budget comes from a mill levy dedicated to the library and grants.

"Establishing a district would secure a solid funding base that would enable the library to better plan and thus provide better services to the community," said Shida. "It just makes sense to form a district model which would have its own board of trustees solely focused on the needs of the community as it relates to library services."

Eventually, the LDAC will also consider public engagement, something that Fowler expressed excitement about. "It's important to communicate," said Fowler. "I like talking to [the] people who live here, finding out what people want."

Each of the LDAC meetings, which are held via Zoom, will provide the opportunity for public comment. Their webpage also has an online contact form for community members to submit feedback.

The Boulder Library Champions, and their offshoot branch in Gunbarrel, has been engaging with the public to educate them about the benefits of a district. Fowler also said that there had been some meetings in Niwot where residents expressed interest and enthusiasm.

For more information about the district and the LDAC, visit https://boulderlibrary.org/library-district/