MEEKER | The Meeker Regional Library Board held its regular monthly meeting last week in the community room at the Meeker Public Library. Board President John Moffitt, Vice President Keri Grieser, Secretary/Treasurer Toby Leavitt, and member Dan Olson attended. Member Michael Cobb did not attend the meeting that evening, but was excused from it.
The meeting began with the approval of the evening’s agenda and minutes from the April 29 meeting. With no changes made to either they moved onto the public comment period.
During the public comment portion, community member Dan Francis spoke first, encouraging the board to adopt both short- and long-term planning strategies for the library.
“I think it’s wise when an organization has a plan and direction,” Francis said. “In order to come up with a plan, I think it would be wise to survey. Survey the board, survey the patrons, and survey the community—even those who may not currently use the library.”
Francis also proposed creating a Meeker Library Educational Resource Center, similar to learning centers found in libraries across Colorado. He explained that these centers typically have dedicated rooms within the library to support students of all ages, including adults and seniors, and offer a variety of programs and resources to promote skill-building and independent learning.
“The difference when you have a learning center is it’s centralized,” Francis said. “Spaces within libraries are designed to facilitate learning and support students’ educational needs. They cater to different learning styles and offer opportunities to develop research skills, digital literacy and critical thinking.”
He concluded by highlighting the potential for partnerships with local colleges and universities, such as CNCC, Colorado Mesa University and Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
Community member Mary Jo Carroll followed with a positive message, commending the library and its programs.
“I was here today with my three grandchildren for storytime,” Carroll said. “There were probably 30 kids in there today. It’s the first Wednesday of summer break, but Ann did a fabulous job reading to them. I just want to celebrate it—I think it’s a beautiful place and I appreciate being a part of it.”
Following public comment, the board approved the April financial report. Library Director Kristina Selby gave her report to the board, and reported that checkouts were slightly down from the month of March. She then shared updates on upcoming programs, including the summer reading program and different art projects. She also mentioned attending recent trainings.
In old business, Leavitt and Olson shared an update on the board’s ongoing efforts with State Farm Insurance and a bonding requirement for the treasurer role.
“We are now covered for the employee disclosure policy for the board and Kristina,” Leavitt said. “But the bonding issue is complicated because I don’t have direct access to the accounts. Kristina handles that.”
Attorney Glory Schmidt, who attended the meeting virtually, recommended updating the bylaws to clarify who has account access and under what conditions.
“If we include language in the bylaws about the director’s access and restrictions, State Farm may move forward,” Schmidt said. “But I also reached out to the Special District Pool, which insures many Colorado libraries. They may offer a more suitable solution.”
Schmidt advised the board to pursue the pool first due to its experience with special districts.
Regarding the roof project, Schmidt recommended a design-build approach involving a general contractor and architect. She advised issuing a formal invitation to bid, which would ensure the library receives a comprehensive and well-managed project plan.
The board also received a presentation from Ingrid Skrehart of Employers Council, who shared results from a recent compensation and benefits study. Skrehart explained the methodology behind the study, including market comparisons and percentile targets for employee wages.
“We typically aim for the 25th percentile as the minimum of a pay range,” Skrehart said. “Going below that risks being the lowest-paying employer in the market.”
Board President Moffitt cut the presentation short so they would have time to get through the rest of the agenda. Later in the meeting, Moffitt responded to a letter from community member Jeni Morlan asking why he does not support the American Library Association (ALA), as he stated in a March 2025 meeting.
Founded in 1876, the ALA is the oldest and largest nonprofit professional organization for librarians in the United States. Its mission is to promote access to information, defend intellectual freedom, and support libraries and their workers. The ALA is known for opposing censorship and advocating for the inclusion of diverse viewpoints in library collections.
Moffitt cited four reasons for his opposition:
• The ALA’s focus on combating censorship of sexually explicit materials. Moffitt believes the ALA is overly concerned with protecting and promoting sexually controversial content in libraries.
• Its opposition to book challenges. The ALA opposes book challenges and bans, viewing them as censorship which restricts access to information and diverse viewpoints. He disagrees with that framing.
• Its political activism against funding cuts. Moffit criticized the ALA for its resistance to cost-cutting efforts like those proposed during the Trump administration, viewing the organization as politicized.
• The ideology of ALA leadership, which Moffitt described as being in “direct opposition” to his Christian worldview.
He concluded by stating he believes the ALA’s values “lead to burdens and death,” while Christianity “leads to true diversity and life.”
The board also acknowledged a letter from community member Kathleen Kelley but offered no public response.
Before adjourning, the board provided a brief update on its bylaws workshop. The next board meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on June 25 in the community room at the Meeker Public Library.
