My name is Bill Rutledge, and I was recently elected to the Cortez City Council. I have used the Cortez Public Library since 1952. Our library began in 1929 as a mere idea of the Ute Mountain Study Club, a Cortez women’s club. By 1930 the women had opened the library for business in a room in the basement of the Calkins Building. In 1935, the WPA built the first library building on Main Street (now part of City Hall) and in 1969 the present library was built.

The Cortez Public Library has begun a new and exciting era in its history. As many of you may have noticed, construction has begun on a 10,000-square-foot expansion. The older part of the library will be completely remodeled.

The library staff has been working hard to raise funds in the community and to write grants for the building project. So far, $35,000 in grants and $39,000 from the community has been raised. The good news is that thanks to good planning on the part of the City of Cortez, the new building will be completely paid for when it is finished; no new taxes will be required for it.

A peek at the library statistics comparing the first quarter of 2000 with the first quarter of 1999 is an indication that people are using the library more. The library currently contains 34,000 books, and with the completion of the expansion it will be capable of holding 80,000 books. The library has computers available for Internet access and word processing. Within the last few years, the use of these computers has skyrocketed. For the quarter January through March in 2000, compared to the same quarter in 1999, the number of people using computers was up by over 1,000. This is more than 50 percent increase.

Through interlibrary loan, books can be borrowed from other libraries in Colorado, all 50 states and internationally. This has been a huge asset to people earning post-graduate degrees in our remote area. Additionally, the use of the library’s books, videos and audio tapes is up 15 percent from last year in the first quarter. The number of new patrons signing up to use the library is up 20 percent.

This outstanding achievement was due to the library staff members: Joanie Howland, director; Lynn Robertson, assistant director; Margaret O’Brien, interlibrary loan; Bonnie Johnson, cataloger; Roberta Conway, overdues, and Janice McGrath, periodicals. The library staff is always helpful, friendly and courteous.

I’d also like to thank the Library Board, the Friends of the Library and Maryellen Brubaker for their dedicated work toward the fulfillment of the expanded library.