Public Library Leadership

Board of Trustees

Library Directors

Law, Policy, and Elections

Strategic Planning

Staff Development

Other State Library Initiatives

Public Library Leadership Team

Public Library Data Tools

Public Library Standards

• In-Person Trustee Training 
• United for Libraries Short Takes for Trustees
• Register for free
• Access via Colorado's portal
• Colorado Public Library Board & Trustee Handbook 
• To request printed copies, email Polly Gallagher
• Key Statistics for Trustees
• Colorado Library Trustees Email List (COLT)
• Library Advocacy - Trustee Tools from United for Libraries

Get Started:

• Colorado Public Library Standards: The Public Library Standards conform to language in CRS 24-90-105(2)(a.3) calling for improvement in standards for public libraries.
• Colorado Public Library Standards Data Tools: This site provides public library data as maps, charts, and graphs that supplement the Colorado Public Library Standards.
• The Public Library Factbook: Basic & Essential Information for Managing Your Library (Word)
• ​New Director's Guide for Public Libraries (CLiC)
• New Director's Toolkit: Resources for Colorado Public Library Directors (CSL)

Community:

• LRS Resources for Community Analysis
• The Community Centered Library (Jamie LaRue) (Archived webinar) - One of the key changes in 21st Century public librarianship has been a shift in focus from library-centric to community-centric. This is sometimes called "turning out. But pragmatically, what does this shift mean to library operations? In this recorded webinar, Jamie LaRue, former public library director, author, and consultant, explores the Community Centered Library as it applies to human resources decisions, building projects, strategic planning, and the larger issue of advocacy.

Directories:

• Directory of Colorado Libraries: Displays a list of libraries.
• Library Email Lists

Professional Organizations:

• American Library Association
• Colorado Association of Libraries
• Colorado Libraries Collaborate! (CLC) Colorado’s reciprocal borrowing program. It provides FREE access to library resources for library users of all CLC member libraries.
• Colorado Library Consortium (CLiC)
• Public Library Association (PLA)
• Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL)

Statistical Data:

• Library Research Service: (LRS) is responsible for collecting and organizing library data
• Colorado Public Library Data
• National Public Library Statistics 

Law

• Colorado Library Law: (CRS 24-90-101 et seq). Full text, Quick Guides, and other information on the Colorado Library Law.
• Other State Laws Impacting Public Libraries
• Recent Colorado Legislation

Policy

• Sample Policies
• Fact Sheet: Protecting Personal Information of Library Users (PDF)
• Going Fine Free - Removing Barriers to Access (PDF)

Elections

• 2025 Election Calendar (CO Secretary of State)
• CO Secretary of State Campaign Finance
• Campaign and political finance manual: Issue Committees (PDF)
• EveryLibrary - EveryLibrary works with citizen groups around the country to help them be effective supporters for their libraries on Election Day.

Check Out Colorado State Parks

A partnership between the Colorado State Library and Colorado Parks and Wildlife provides State Park passes and educational materials for checkout in every Colorado public library and academic library.

Colorado Broadband Roadmap

The purpose of the Colorado Broadband Roadmap is to implement strategies that leverage funding to meet the goal of connecting 99% of households to high-speed internet by 2027. Included in the Colorado Broadband Roadmap is the Colorado State Library's 5-year plan, Colorado State Library Plan on Broadband

Connect to Health

Telehealth project assisting libraries to provide spaces or kits for checkout for patrons to have private telehealth appointments.

Early Literacy Kits

These kits were created by the same State Library staff members who worked on the Growing Readers Together initiative. 

Growing Readers Together

Supports libraries in engaging family, friends, and neighbors (FFN) caregivers in early literacy.

Spanish for Libraries

Language access information and resources.

Kieran Hixon

Rural & Small Library Senior Consultant

hixon_k@cde.state.co.us 

719-285-9173

Polly Gallagher

Public Library Leadership Senior Consultant

gallagher_p@cde.state.co.us 

720-879-1594