Wednesday, DECEMBER 17, 2025 |
Photo – Library – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Board of Commissioners will inform municipalities that the county is not responsible for any library closures.
Recent property tax relief measures have drastically reduced local government revenue this fiscal year. Carbon County lost roughly $500,000 in residential property taxes, forcing budget cuts across all outside agencies, including museums and senior centers. As a result, the Carbon County Library System lost 53% of its county funding. In response, the Public Library Board reduced hours at all seven branches and warned that the Hanna and Medicine Bow libraries could be closed by the first of the year.
On Tuesday morning, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners reviewed a letter from the Town of Medicine Bow regarding the potential closure of its local library. Commissioner Sue Jones clarified that the county is not responsible for managing individual branches. Commissioner Jones said towns help by covering utilities, but closing a branch is entirely up to the Library Board.
While the letter wasn’t read into the record, Commissioner Jones said Medicine Bow officials appeared confused about the authority the county has over the library system. Thanks to the financial contributions of the towns, the Carbon County Public Library Board pays nothing to maintain its seven individual branches.
Commissioner Sue Jones said she shared the letter with Carbon County Public Library Board Chairwoman Adelaide Myers, who promised to meet with officials in Medicine Bow and Hanna to discuss ways to preserve their branches.
County Attorney Ashley Davis suggested directing Medicine Bow to take its concerns directly to the Library Board rather than the county. Commission Vice Chairwoman Gwynn Bartlett recommended sending the same message to every town with a library. The commissioners agreed, instructing Attorney Davis to draft a letter to the municipalities clarifying that the county has no say in the closure of any library branches.
