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Library staff tell Jefferson County commissioners they were unaware of new open‑carry ordinance; ask sheriff for vulnerability assessment
Summary
A Jefferson County Public Library employee told commissioners on May 13 that staff were unaware of an open‑carry ordinance that took effect April 7 and asked the sheriff to conduct a vulnerability assessment and designate libraries as areas where open carry is prohibited after an incident at the Columbine Library.
During the public‑comment period of the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners meeting on May 13, 2025, a Jefferson County Public Library staff member said library employees were not aware of a recent open‑carry ordinance and requested that the sheriff conduct a vulnerability assessment and prohibit open carry in county libraries.
"Library staff were completely unaware of this ordinance until a patron with a holstered firearm created quite a stir in the Columbine Library last week," Christine Contreras told the board. Contreras said she has worked at Jefferson County Public Library for more than 14 years and is participating in union negotiations with library management.
Contreras asked county leaders for two specific steps: ‘‘we would like to have a vulnerability assessment by the Jefferson County Sheriff and for the sheriff to designate Jefferson County Public Library as an area in which the open carrying of firearms is prohibited. We would also like the Jefferson County Manager to assure staff that Jefferson County Public Library is so designated,’’ she told commissioners.
She also described ongoing union activities, including a contract action team, monthly union office hours, and outreach to library trustees. Contreras said libraries are county buildings and serve as polling locations with ballot drop boxes, which she presented as a reason for heightened security and vulnerability assessment.
The board did not record any formal action on the request during the meeting. Commissioners heard the comment during the allotted public‑comment period and closed that segment after additional sign‑ups were checked; no response or directive from the sheriff or county manager was recorded in the transcript.
The library staff representative said the union will continue outreach and planned testimony at the library board of trustees meeting on an ordinance matter later in the week.
