Annual Reports

2022 Annual Report
After 2 years of the pandemic, 2022 was a year of recovery. Library staff tirelessly worked to bring our programming, services, and circulation back up to pre-Covid levels.  At the beginning of 2022, we completed our plan to expand library hours and opened up all 6 branches to full services on Sundays. This was also a year of new leadership with the promotion of 3 staff members to Library Branch Manager, the addition of a new board member, and the hire of our new Executive Director, Jamie LaRue. One of our major goals for the year and going forward was to further extend our services to the local Hispanic community. In September, we hosted our first annual Hispanic Heritage Festival at the Rifle Branch Library, attracting over 500 people! In addition, we also hosted our first ESL class in years and began greatly expanding our Spanish language materials. And, last but not least, our largest programming event, the Summer Reading Challenge saw a record number of participants and minutes read.

2021 Annual Report
The world was still in the midst of the pandemic when 2021 started. However, our libraries remained open and continuously made adjustments to keep services and programming available to our patrons. We began bringing back on-site programs by mid-year, starting with our Storytimes. In the fall, we began implementing expanded hours at all six branches, which was one of the big initiatives we promised the voters of Garfield County when they passed our mill levy in 2019. Other highlights of the year include the launch of our laptop loan program and focusing on strategies to recruit and retain qualified staff to better serve our community for years to come.

2020 Annual Report
Needless to say, 2020 was a year like no other. We started out the year with plans to expand staffing, hours, and services. Then came the Covid-19 pandemic. This challenging time showed the incredible resilience and resourcefulness of our entire staff, who quickly adapted, transitioning all of our events and programming online and adopting quarantine and sanitation protocols to our operations. While most libraries closed their doors for the better part of a year, Garfield County Libraries, thanks to our staff and the support of our patrons, was only closed for 6 weeks while still expanding staff and resources.  

2019 Annual Report
We reached out to the community to find out what was most important to those we serve. The libraries decided to go on the ballot for a mill levy increase because of the feedback we received and the need for stable funding to reach our goals. Voters approved the mill levy and restored healthy funding levels to the libraries allowing us to restore hours, retain qualified staff, maintain access to educational classes and events, improve technology, maintain library buildings, and purchase more books.

2018 Annual Report
We celebrated our 80th anniversary with over a half-million visitors, who read nearly a half-million library books in 2018. However, continued declines to revenues meant that the library board and staff remained focused on pursuing financial sustainability. One step toward this goal was to ask voters if the Library District could DeBruce (retain all tax revenue it is allowed to collect). Voters approved with an astonishing 73% in favor of the ballot measure.

2017 Annual Report
Our libraries faced tremendous challenges in 2017 due to a $1.2 million decrease in property tax revenue, which equated to a roughly thirty percent drop in our operations budget. Despite these challenges, staff continued to work hard to keep the libraries running as well as began the process for a new strategic plan.

2016 Annual Report
In 2016, we welcomed our new Executive Director and faced decreasing property tax revenues alongside an increase in use of library services by our communities.

2015 Annual Report
In 2015, we focused on increasing the quality of events and materials in our buildings while also saying fond farewells to our award-winning Executive Director and longtime board members.

2014 Annual Report
2014 was another exciting year of growth for the Garfield County Libraries. We shifted focus from building libraries, to building community.

2013 Annual Report
We marked our 75th anniversary by lending over 675,000 items and hosting almost 1,400 events. In addition, we completed our construction phase by opening the final two new libraries in Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. 

2012 Annual Report
We celebrated the grand openings of the New Castle and Silt Branches and broke ground on new libraries in Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. 

2011 Annual Report
We implemented the Prospector network for borrowing materials statewide as well as a mobile app, GCPLD 2 GO. We also continued working on new facilities hiring architects for three projects in Silt, Carbondale, and Glenwood Springs which began their design phases in 2011.

2010 Annual Report
We celebrated the grand openings of our new Parachute and Rifle Branches and continued working toward new branches in our other communities.

2009 Annual Report
In 2009 we broke ground on our capital improvement projects, including renovation of the Parachute Branch and construction of a new Rifle Branch.

2008 Annual Report
2008 was a great year for the Garfield County Public Library District! We saw increases in circulation, programming, and library card holders.

2007 Annual Report
On January 1, 2007, the Garfield County Public Library System became the Garfield County Public Library District. The District also welcomed new Executive Director Amelia Shelley.

2006 Annual Report
Voters approved a one mill property tax increase for 20 years, paving the way for major capital improvement projects for all six branches.