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.
History
[
edit
]
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
[
edit
]
As of 2012
[update]
, the library's collection was composed of 333,432 items including 94,352
e-books
. The
circulation
in 2012
[update]
was 1,446,816.
[1]
Branches
[
edit
]
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 m
2
). 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 m
2
). 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 m
2
) and 7,800 square feet (720 m
2
) respectively.
[5]
[6]
2014 renovations
[
edit
]
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
[
edit
]
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
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
