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Boulder Public Library District Celebrates Promises Delivered

In 2022, community advocates placed a measure on the ballot to create a library district, campaigning on restoring literacy programs, expanding public meeting spaces and operating hours, improving collections and digital resources, restoring hours at Carnegie Library for Local History, reopening the Canyon Theater and BLDG 61 Makerspace, opening a new location in Gunbarrel, increasing STEAM and internet access, and enhancing safety and maintenance at all facilities.

“Five years ago, we were looking at community feedback and surveys that told us what the public wanted from their library, but at that time, the resources simply weren’t there to deliver,” said David Farnan, Library Director. “Now, library staff are proudly hosting openings and launching expanded programs based directly on that community feedback, and we’re excited to continue meeting the goals outlined in the ballot measure to move the library forward as a vital community space for the region.”

Services that have been enhanced and added since the Boulder Public Library District officially formed in January of 2024 include:

  • Restored hours at all library locations to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, including the café at Main Library
  • Increased security at every location
  • Restored open and walk-in hours and staff positions at Carnegie Library for Local History
  • Improved collections including books, bilingual materials and digital resources
  • Increased staff at Canyon Theater to support increased programs and open the theater for public use
  • Opened a fully staffed and stocked North Boulder location
  • Restored staff positions for the BLDG 61 Makerspace in the Main Library and opened Studio 24 Makerspace in the North Boulder Library
  • Increased bilingual staff and community outreach for the BoulderReads literacy program

The new North Boulder Library opened to the public in June 2024. The facility boasts the first and only public meeting rooms in North Boulder, an indoor/outdoor makerspace, and a playground (in the making). It also houses the BoulderReads literacy program.

In 2025, BPLD looks forward to the opening of a new Gunbarrel location that will offer no-cost public meeting rooms, a children’s area, and expanded materials and programming for the community.

“We’ve been working hard to deliver for the greater Boulder community because we made that promise to voters in 2022,” said Doug Hamilton, Board of Trustees Chair. “The Boulder Public Library District was formed to ensure that the library has a direct line of accountability to the public and can be responsive to their needs. I am very excited about the future of Boulder’s libraries.”

As the district continues to deliver on its promises, it invites all community members to continue to engage in dialogue with the library to ensure that the services the district offers match the needs of the community. The district’s volunteer board, composed of district residents, invites the public to attend their monthly meetings online or in-person to voice their opinions and help shape the district’s future.

Their next meeting, a public hearing on the recommended 2025 budget, will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. at Main Library, located at 1001 Arapahoe Avenue.