Boulder Public Library

The Boulder Public Library is the public library of Boulder, Colorado in the United States. The main branch and the Carnegie Branch Library for Local History are located in downtown Boulder, while the George Reynolds Branch is in south Boulder and Meadows Branch is in east Boulder.

Boulder Public Library
Boulder Public Library main branch at night
40°00′50″N 105°16′54″W
Location1001 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80302, United States of America
TypePublic library
Branches4
Collection
Size333,432
Access and use
Circulation1,446,816
Other information
Websitehttp://www.boulderlibrary.org/
References: BPL Annual Report 2012[1]

History

The Boulder Public Library was originally housed in the Carnegie library on Pine Street, built in 1906, before moving to its present location on Canyon Boulevard in 1961. The original 1906 library was initially built with $15,000 donated by Andrew Carnegie.[2] When the library moved to its present location, the architect selection committee selected James M. Hunter and Associates to execute the new design and construction of the new building. It was to be a two-story building of 23,800 square feet, with sculpture galleries, reading rooms, gathering spaces, video viewing rooms, and music listening rooms. On November 4, 1959, the City Council voted to provide bonds of $450,000 to fund design and construction. The final cost of the building was $486,437.19. The library was dedicated on November 12, 1961.[3]

In late 2013, the main library temporarily housed the Boulder City Council while renovations are made to the main council building.[4]

Collection and circulation

As of 2012, the library's collection was composed of 333,432 items including 94,352 e-books. The circulation in 2012 was 1,446,816.[1]

Branches

The Boulder Public Library system comprises four branches. The main branch is in downtown Boulder near Boulder Creek with an area of 92,164 square feet (8,562.3 m2). An enclosed walkway spans the creek between the two library sections. The Carnegie Branch Library for Local History is also located in downtown Boulder with an area of 4,000 square feet (370 m2). This branch focuses on the history of Boulder and the surrounding area. The George Reynolds branch — named after CU professor of English George F. Reynold — is in south Boulder and the Meadows branch is in east Boulder, with areas of 9,680 square feet (899 m2) and 7,800 square feet (720 m2) respectively.[5][6]

2014 renovations

Renovations funded by municipal bonds began in 2014. The renovations covered expansion and repairs to the main branch, and address aging electrical and data wiring. The renovations expanded other areas of the library and addressed other repairs. The renovations were funded by $2.45 million in municipal bonds, approved as part of a larger bond initiative by Boulder voters in a 2011 referendum.[7]

Boulder Public Library District

The district was formed as a result of the November 2022 referendum. The new library district will be funded by a property tax mill levy.

References
  1. "City of Boulder Library & Arts 2012 Annual Report" (PDF). 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 6, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  2. "Our History". Boulder Library. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  3. "Boulder Public Library - 1961 Construction". Celsus: A Library Architectural Resource. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  4. Meltzer, Erica (14 November 2013). "Boulder council meetings move--briefly--to library". Boulder Daily Camera. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  5. "Locations & Hours". Boulder Public Library. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  6. "Square Footage" (PDF). Colorado Public Library Statistics. Library Research Service. 2001. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  7. Meltzer, Erica (28 May 2013). "Boulder Public Library holds final renovation design meeting Wednesday". Boulder Daily Camera. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
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