Library Laws, Policies, and Standards

Board & Trustee - Info | Election Resources | Legal and Policy Issues | Patron Privacy | Strategic Planning | Resources

Board & Trustee Information

Public Library Trustee Training & Support

Recorded webinars (YouTube)

• Colorado Public Library Board Essentials (for Governing Boards)
• Colorado Public Library Board Essentials (for Advisory Boards)
• Protecting Patron Privacy: Library Policy Development
• Colorado Public Library Standards: A Tool for Trustees
• The Community Centered Library
• Closer to Free: Aspirations v. Legal Limitations in Public Libraries

Resources from the Colorado State Library

• Colorado Public Library Board & Trustee Handbook (to request printed copies, call the Colorado State Library, 303-866-6891)
• Library Trustee News & Updates (Colorado Virtual Library)
• Colorado Library Trustees Email List (COLT)
• Hiring a Library Director: Designing a Successful Interview Process (PDF) 

Additional Resources for Public Library Boards

• The Accidental Facilities Manager, WebJunction
• Advocates of All Ages: Recruiting and Retaining Younger Generations as Trustees and Friends, Nebraska Library Commission (YouTube)
• Budget Basics Presentation, Colorado Department of Local Affairs (Prezi)
• Getting on Board: Tools for Board Development and Assessment, WebJunction (YouTube)
• Public Library Facilities Projects 101, Ohio Library Council (AdobeConnect)
• Trustee Trouble: The Misadventures of a New Library Board Member, Wyoming State Library (YouTube)
• What Every Trustee Should Know, New York State Library (Vimeo)

• 2022 Election Calendar (CO Secretary of State)
• Guidelines for complying with Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA) (PDF)
• Archived Webinars
  • Before the Ballot: How to Prepare for an Election (EveryLibrary) [Slides (PDF)]
  • Nuts & Bolts (and Bricks!): Library Elections Primer for Operating and Building Projects (Butler Snow LLP & George K. Baum & Co.) [Slides (PDF)]
  • How to Get a Yes Vote for Your Library Mill Levy (Arapahoe Libraries) (note: some audio issues at the beginning)
  • Voter Perceptions of Libraries: Results and Methodology of the 2018 "From Awareness to Funding" Study (RIPL)
• Additional Information
  • From Awareness to Funding 2018 (OCLC)
  • Colorado Public Libraries Mill Levy Data (2016)

• 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
• Sample Policies
• SB21-088: 2021 Child Sexual Abuse Accountability Act
• Fact Sheet: Protecting Personal Information of Library Users (PDF)
• Going Fine Free - Removing Barriers to Access (PDF)
• Privatization of Public Libraries (American Library Association)
• Library Districts
  • A library district is one of the four types of Colorado public libraries specified in the Library Law (CRS 24-90-101...). It is a political subdivision of the state, funded by a voter-approved property tax. Once the library district is approved by the voters, the appointed board of trustees has full governance powers and responsibilities, including mill levy certification, budget appropriation, and the authority to issue bonds.
  • Library District Legal Documents (Bylaws, Establishment and Maps)
• Forming a Library District
  • Library Districts: The Basics ... and More (PDF)
  • For additional resources related to library district formation or to request a training for your city, town or county, contact the Colorado State Library at 303-866-6900.

Disclaimer: This is not intended as legal advice or to serve as a legal opinion of the Colorado Department of Education. Please consult with your city, county or library district attorney, as applicable, for any legal implications for your library.

• Colorado Library Law: Privacy of User Records (PDF)
• Fact Sheet: Protecting Personal Information of Library Users (PDF)
• Data Privacy Best Practices Toolkit (Pacific Library Partnership) (PDF)
• Archived Webinars
  • Patron Data Protection Webinar Series
  • Protecting Patron Privacy: Library Policy Development

• 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.
• LRS Resources for Community Analysis
• Aspen Institute 
• Archived webinars:
  • The Community Centered Library (Jamie LaRue)
  • Colorado Public Library Standards: A Tool for Trustees

• For Library Directors:
  • ​New Director's Guide for Public Libraries (CLiC)
• Directories:
  • Directory of Colorado Libraries: Displays a list or map of libraries to your specifications.
  • 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) responsible for collecting and organizing library data
  • Colorado Public Library Data
  • National Public Library Statistics 
• COVID-19:
  • Colorado Public Libraries: Health Guidance by COVID-19 Phase
  • COVID-19 Youth Services Resources

For more information, contact Sharon Morris, Public Library Leadership Principal Consultant: morris_s@cde.state.co.us