Thursday, OCTOBER 16, 2025 |

Photo – Hanna Library – Bigfoot99 file photo

Library Board members say that supporting local branches helps strengthen the entire system.

Statewide property tax cuts have significantly reduced local tax revenue, with Carbon County alone facing a $500,000 reduction to outside services such as senior centers and public libraries.

As a result, the Carbon County Library System saw a 53% reduction in county funding, dropping from $350,964 in 2024 to $164,452 this fiscal year. Due to decline in funding, the Carbon County Public Library Board has reduced hours at all seven branches and is now considering closures at its smaller locations.

On October 15th, the Carbon County Public Library Board held a budget workshop to discuss the financial challenges facing the countywide library system. Library Board Chairwoman Adelaide Myers said the Board has already drawn heavily from its savings to keep all seven branches open, even with reduced hours. Myers added that at the current spending rate, the Library Board will exhaust its funds by the end of the fiscal year.

Myers said the library board expects to receive less money from Carbon County Commissioners in the next fiscal year.

Myers said that after learning about the funding shortfall, Platte Valley residents used Brush Creek Ranch’s annual Embrace the Valley fundraiser to channel donations toward the Saratoga and Encampment branches. Myers said the two Friends of the Library groups raised approximately $139,000 together.

Myers said the Saratoga library will remain open for now with reduced hours. The Encampment branch, however, is at risk of closing its doors. The Library Board Chairwoman said the Friends of the Encampment Library must decide how to allocate the $30,000 in donations it received recently through the Embrace the Valley fundraiser.

One option is to restore the branch to full operating hours, though Myers warned that doing so may not prevent it from closing next year.

Alternatively, the Friends of the Library group could use the funds to cover operating costs, keeping the branch open through this year and into the next, while allowing the Carbon County Library System to direct its limited funding toward outlying branches.

Myers said the decision on how to use the donations is entirely in the hands of the Friends of the Encampment Library.

The fate of the Little Snake River Valley library is undecided, but Myers said the Hanna and Medicine Bow branches are likely to close their doors to the public.

As an alternative, a bookmobile could be used to serve the two communities. While operating a bookmobile to visit the outlying communities would be less expensive than maintaining a physical location, Myers said it cannot offer the same level of in-person services.

Hanna Treasurer, Ann Calvert, asked when the Hanna and Medicine Bow branches are scheduled to close. Myers responded that funding is projected to run out before next June, which coincides with the end of the current fiscal year.

Hanna Treasurer Calvert said people are more likely to donate to their local branch if they know it’s expected to close soon. Myers added that she is working to ensure that any closures are temporary.

The Library Board Chairwoman said donations will determine which branches close and which remain open.

Ultimately, Myers said she will prepare detailed cost estimates for each branch, enabling municipalities and nonprofits to determine how much additional money it will take to keep their local libraries open.

In the meantime, the Library Board Chairwoman is asking anyone with ideas to help prevent branch closures to email her at adelaidemyers8080@gmail.com.

The post Supporting Local Library Branches Strengthen Entire System first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.