Save Jeffco Libraries had a WHALE of a weekend at the Library Foundation’s “Whale of a Book Sale” at the Jeffco Fairgrounds. SJL had a prominent and professional booth between the parking lot and the entrance to the exhibit hall.
We gathered the names of nearly 1,500 supporters who want to send the Jefferson County Commissioners a message:
“I want to create a library district because
- I want to preserve and protect the Library’s future by ensuring it has stable and reliable funding.
- I believe the Library’s funding should respect voters’ wishes expressed by election in 1986.
- I believe the Library should be governed without undue political influence so it can focus on its mission of providing the best possible library service to the patrons of Jefferson County.“
The whole experience of asking for people’s support was incredibly rewarding. It is amazing and encouraging to us that nearly everyone quickly “got it”. They understood the benefits of converting JCPL into an independent library district; They understood the risks to the library of the County “shifting” property tax revenues from the library’s dedicated levy to other County purposes; and they understood the importance of respecting voters’ wishes, both for the library’s tax levy and for responding to our voters’ petition for creation of a library district.
We experienced so many people who immediately volunteered that what the Commissioners have done is wrong and should be stopped. Many asked why we haven’t sued the Commissioners over funding issues. We explained our belief that a better solution is to let the voters solve the problem by creating a library district, but that we are incredulous at having to sue to get the Commissioners to comply with the Library Law.
Our booth was staffed by dedicated hard-working volunteers for the entire 20 hours the book sale was open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Alice and I would like to thank all our volunteers: Wanda Blackburn, Elliot Brown, Pat and Don Clair, Carol Coppock, Keith Grebe, Carol Hickam, Clarence Kissler, Elaine Olson, Dodie Ownes, Jackie Powers, Kay Stafford, Paulette Whitcomb, Nancy Whitsel, and John Zacrep. We’d also like to thank Table Mountains Conservation Fund for the loan of the booth.
The book sale was a wonderful event put on by the hard-working volunteers of the Jefferson County Library Foundation and the Friends of the Jefferson County Library. We thank them for permission to set up our Save Jeffco Libraries table on the Fairgrounds property outside the exhibit hall.
You are VITAL in spreading the word throughout Jefferson County. PLEASE ask your friends to visit www.savejeffcolibraries.org and sign the Statement of Support.
Remember, it’s up to us!
Tom and Alice Atkins
