Conifer Public Library Community Input Meetings May 13 and 15

This is a public service announcement from Conifer Area Council with an update on the Conifer Library:

The Library has announced two meetings to gather in-put from the Conifer community. The first is an in-person meeting to be held Saturday, May 13 beginning at 10am in the Conifer Library inside the Conifer High School. The second is a virtual meeting held on Monday, May 15th at 7pm. The library will publish the link to the meeting.

Conifer Area Council and the Conifer area community have spent the last two and a half years engaging with the Jefferson County Library administration and its Library board in pursuit of increased library access in Conifer. In early 2021 CAC conducted a community survey on library usage and access. When asked 93% of the 550 + Conifer area respondents said they support a stand–alone library and would be more likely to use it if it were more accessible. CAC took that information to the Library and asked that funding begin.

The Library Board and County Commissioners approved 2.5 million dollars in their 2023 budget for a Conifer Opportunity. The Library began work on the Conifer project by interviewing 16 stakeholders and doing a market analysis of the Conifer area. Next they will hold the two public meetings to get in-put from the community.

Conifer area residents like us have these two important chances to have our voices heard about how this money should be spent on our behalf. May 13 in-person, 10am in the library and virtually May 15 at 7pm.

NOW is the time to raise your voice and have your opinion count. Please attend one of these community meetings, write an email to the library board or submit a comment on the Boards website. jeffcolibrary.org/board-of-trustees/ The best chance for the Conifer community to achieve enhanced library access is right now!

This information and CAC’s library research and survey results can be found on our website at coniferareacouncil.org/conifer-co-area-i...ifer-public-library/

CAC also asked the Library for daytime summer hours and for the second year they have agreed. The additional Summer Hours beginning May 28th through August 12th.
Monday and Thursday​ 10am to 6pm ​
Closed Fridays
Tuesday and Wednesday​ 12pm to 8pm
Saturday and Sunday​​ 9am to 5pm

Conifer Radio will be broadcasting an interview with Jessica Paulsen from the Conifer Library tonight at 5 PM. www.coniferradio.com/

Don't forget to provide your input at the upcoming community meetings, too!

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NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!

Conifer residents have two chances to show our support for the opportunity to have an accessible, stand-alone library! Two meetings are scheduled for our input. These are our best chances to be heard by the powers that determine our future library access in Conifer.
The following are your opportunities to engage with the library about upcoming changes at the Conifer Library

• May 13, 10am-11am, in-person community meeting at Conifer Library in Conifer High School.
• May 15, 7pm-8pm a virtual community meeting. Register HERE.

Take the Jeffco Library Board survey at: jeffcolibrary.org/conifer-community-survey/

Or make a comment to the Library Board at: jeffcolibrary.org/questions-for-the-board-of-trustees/

Information on the whole project can be found on the Conifer Opportunity webpage: jeffcolibrary.org/conifer-opportunity/

Facts about the Conifer Library

• ALL Jeffco property owners pay approx. $200.00 in taxes/year on property valued at $500,000.00 to support the County library system.
• But, Conifer Library receives less than ½ of 1% of Jefferson County library’s $52+ Million annual budget. Conifer area tax dollars have supported the library for over 70 years.
• Conifer area residents live in the only area of Jefferson County that has never had daily daytime library access while paying the same in tax dollars as all other property owners..
• Conifer area children do not benefit from daily morning hours of Baby Time, Toddler Time, Pre-school Time or Let’s Dance programs that are available at all other libraries.
• Conifer area residents have never had the luxury of stopping in at the library during the day, at their own convenience to enjoy browsing the books, audio and movies.

The Conifer Library is the least accessible library in the County system. During the normal school year, Conifer is open 36 hours/week while most other Jeffco libraries are open over 65 hours / week. Due to changes in school hours residents will lose an additional four hours per week in the Fall. NOW is the time to raise your voice and have your opinion count. Please attend the in person meeting, log onto the virtual meeting, write an email to the library board, submit a comment on the Boards website or ALL OF THE ABOVE! jeffcolibrary.org/questions-for-the-board-of-trustees/

Our best chance to achieve enhanced library access is right now!

Thank you all – like they say “it takes a village”!

Conifer Area Council petitioned for and the Library announced additional Summer Hours beginning May 28th through August 12th.
Monday and Thursday 10am to 6pm
Tuesday and Wednesday 12pm to 8pm
Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5pm

STILL TIME TO WEIGH IN ON THE CONIFER LIBRARY

Thanks to those who attended the in-person and virtual meetings about the Conifer Library. There was a standing-room-only crowd of about 70 people at the in-person meeting and more than 40 attended the online meeting. If you weren't able to attend, it's not too late to weigh in about how the library board spends the $2.5 million allocated for the Conifer Library. Take the on-line survey at jeffcolibrary.org/conifer-community-survey/ and/or submit a comment to the Jeffco Library Board of Trustees, jeffcolibrary.org/questions-for-the-board-of-trustees/