"It's my story and I'm sticking to it."

It was the Boulder Library Foundation, not the Boulder Public Library District itself, which released the minutes of the Boulder Public Library District Board of Trustees’ important May 14, 2024, meeting to the public. These minutes are included on the library’s website: Boulder Public Library District -REGULAR MEETING- Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (https://boulderlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/05.14.24-Regular-Meeting-Packet-final.pdf)

Specifics about the Gunbarrel library project, including the Gunbarrel lease, costs, other locations considered, and recommendations to the board are included on pages 7-47 of the document. A link to a virtual tour of the former bank building is found on page 9.

The library district, in contrast, sent an emailed press release to the Courier on May 16, two days after the meeting, from Craig Ruvere, the new Content Strategist at the Boulder Public Library, which said, in part, “The Boulder Public Library District is eager to share some exciting news with the community, and we'd appreciate it if you included this information in your publication…. Given the timeliness of this announcement, could you please let me know when/if you plan to feature it in your publication?”

The Courier responded the same day, writing, “We will want to cover the Gunbarrel Library. Do you have the location yet?” Ruvere responded quickly, saying, “Thank you so much for getting back to me. When we are closer to the opening, I will certainly reach out with all the details.”

A Courier reporter, however, reported receiving the Boulder Library Foundation’s newsletter announcing the selection of the FirstBank location, dated May 16, the same day as the library’s press release. The Courier again contacted Ruvere about the library foundation’s announcement, writing, “Why did you not tell me that the location had been selected?” In response, on May 23, Ruvere said, “We are not the BLF and at the time of our release, we did not have a location otherwise I would CERTAINLY have shared with you.”

But it turned out that the district intentionally instructed its staff not to reveal the selection of the former FirstBank location in its press release, because Ruvere ultimately admitted in a later email, “The location was not supposed to be revealed, but the cat is out of the bag now. The foundation did their own release without us knowing.”

The Boulder Public Library District is a newly formed quasi-municipal corporation, with taxing powers, and subject to Colorado’s “sunshine laws.” Its meetings are recorded, and made available to the public on the city’s website.

In spite of the BLF’s announcement, the district did not modify its own press release giving the specific location of the Gunbarrel branch. Even as recently as Friday, May 24, when asked about whether a news release elaborating on the plans was available, Ruvere responded, “I’m out of the office but can tell you that the release I previously sent from the library is the only release we will have at this time. Another will go out closer to the launch.”

As public officials, the Boulder Public Library District board of trustees should be expected to provide timely progress reports on a publicly-funded project which will be celebrated by area residents, rather than conceal important information from its constituents.