Boulder Library District Cuts Security, Staff Amid Revenue Crisis

BREAKING: The Boulder Public Library District (BPLD) has just announced significant cuts to both security and staff across multiple branches due to a dramatic revenue drop. Effective immediately, the district will eliminate dedicated security at the Meadows Library, Reynolds Library, and the new Gunbarrel Branch, alongside reducing security at the main library.

The BPLD faces a staggering drop in revenue from $26.2 million to approximately $21.7 million, leading to a total budget of $20.8 million for 2026. This represents a loss of over $4.4 million in funding, prompting the Board of Trustees to take these urgent measures during a meeting last week.

Director David Farnan revealed that security incidents have been minimal, with only one reported at Reynolds and twelve at Meadows in the past year. Despite an increase in library usage—up 25-30%—Farnan stated, “It’s difficult to justify spending nearly $1 million on security with few incidents at the branches.” This decision will save the BPLD approximately $367,000 by slashing security services spending from $830,000 to $462,920, a reduction of nearly 44%.

The decision to cut security follows heightened measures instituted in 2022 after serious incidents at the main library, including drug-related concerns. Farnan emphasized, “We made a commitment to ensure that nothing like that would ever happen again.”

In addition to security cuts, the BPLD will eliminate about 11.5 staff positions, including both full-time and part-time roles, with two recent layoffs already executed. Salaries for remaining staff will decrease by 4%, dropping from over $10.45 million to just under $10 million, primarily affecting vacant positions. “It sucks,” Farnan expressed, underlining the emotional toll of letting go of dedicated staff during this financial crisis.

Furthermore, the Board of Trustees has decided to bring custodial services in-house, replacing the current contract with an external company. This shift is expected to create approximately four new positions within the district.

As these changes unfold, BPLD employees are also actively pursuing a unionization effort, aiming to restore collective bargaining rights lost when voters approved the separation from the city in 2022. A special meeting regarding union discussions is scheduled for December 2, 2023, where the Board will address this significant topic.

These developments are critical for the Boulder community, impacting not only library services but also the livelihoods of employees. Residents and library patrons will be watching closely as the BPLD navigates these financial challenges and the potential implications for public safety and service availability in the coming months.

Stay tuned for updates on this urgent situation as it continues to evolve.