Did you know that Boulder offers five public libraries in different areas around town? Each library offers unique programming and convenient location. In honor of National Library Week, here is a guide to all five of Boulder’s public libraries.
Boulder Public Libraries [Interactive Map]
#1 Boulder Public Library – Main Library
Photo Credit: movetoboulder.com
Boulder’s Main Branch, located in central Boulder, features a fun Children’s area, a Teen Space as well as the Seeds Library Cafe, a full-service coffee shop right inside the library! The Children’s area is glass-enclosed, allowing kids to make some noise without disturbing other patrons and offers a vast collection of books as well as hands-on activities, a story time meeting area, and kid-sized computer desks and seating. The area has its own private bathrooms for kids & caregivers. The Teen Space is located on the second floor for teens in 6th-12th grade (AND ages 11-18). Teens enjoy the comfy chairs, music, iPads, technology lab, computers, games, crafts, coffee, tea as well as people to answer questions. The calendar for children’s and adult programming at the main library is available here.
The Seeds Library Cafe, located on the bridge overlooking Boulder Creek between the main library and the arts & media area. The cafe is operated by the Boulder County Farmers’ Markets and offers not only coffee and espresso drinks but breakfast and lunch as well. The cafe is open Monday-Thursday from 9-5, Friday & Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 12-5.
The Main Branch is open Monday – Thursday 9am-8pm, Friday & Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 12-6. Monday – Friday the parking for the first 90 minutes is free, additional time can be purchased for $1.25/hr. Saturdays and Sundays parking is always free.
#2 George Reynolds Branch Library
Named for George Reynolds, a retired professor of English at the University of Colorado, the George Reynolds Branch was built in 1968 and then expanded in the mid 80s, serving the South end of Boulder. Reynolds left the city of Boulder $32,000 from his estate in 1965 to construct the city’s first library. Reynolds left the money with no strings attached, but the city decided to name the library after him anyway.
Located near the Table Mesa Shopping Center the George Reynolds branch great community resource with a wide selection of books, children’s programming, a Teen Space, and meeting spaces. The library’s Teen Space is a place to socialize, browse books, play games, and study with tables, computers, and comfy chairs. Open to grades 6-12. Teen Space hours: Tues-Thur: 2-9, Friday: 2-6, Sat: 10-6, Sun: 1-5. The branch offers a wide range of children’s programming, click here for the calendar.
The library is open Monday – Wednesday 9-8, Thursday-Saturday 10-6, Sunday 12-6.
#3 Carnegie Branch Library for Local History
Photo Courtesy Carnegie Branch Library Wikipedia Page
The Carnegie Branch Library for Local History collects and preserves Boulder’s rich history for future generations of researchers. Written, visual and audible materials created by and about Boulder-area residents are housed in our documents room, and are available to the public and scholars for research. Collections documenting early geographic, cultural and social regions of Boulder County including documents, photographs, oral history interviews as well as historic Boulder and Boulder County newspapers in microfilm ranging from 1869-present as well as the Boulder Daily Camera archives.
The Carnegie Branch Library also holds the Boulder Genealogical Society’s collection. This collection consists of a wide range of materials including obituary indexes (1859-1925 and 1960-present), mortuary and burial records as well as histories and directories for various Boulder churches. This collection is in the process of being cataloged and is searchable online.
The Carnegie Branch is open Monday – Friday 1-5 and Saturday 10-3.
#4 Meadows Branch Library
Photo Courtesy Boulder Public Library Facebook Page
Recently updated in 2016, the Meadows Branch has a fresh, modern style. The branch is designed to look like a bookstore and is located inside a shopping complex. Meadows Branch has a nice sized meeting room, computer stations, children’s programming and a great selection of books and periodicals. The Teen Zone caters to kids ages 12-18 to hang out, study, and play. Click here to view a calendar for kid’s and adult programming!
The library is open Monday – Wednesday 9-8, Thursday – Saturday 10-6, Sunday 12-6.
#5 NoBo Corner Library
Photo Courtesy Boulder Public Library Facebook Page
Th NoBo Corner Library is Boulder’s newest branch, packing all the amazing services of the Boulder Public Library into a small space. The shelves are stocked with 900 books for children and adults, including a small Spanish language collection, as well as 200 DVDs. The book collection includes board books for very young readers, chapter books for mid-level readers and adult fiction and non-fiction options. Although the collection is relatively small, patrons are able to order books from larger libraries through the inter-library loan system available in the library or through an online account.
The branch is a place for patrons to stop in quickly, pick up books they ordered from other branches, return books or use the handful of computers that sit along the library’s west wall. The library also offers children’s programming. Click here to view the storytime calendar for kids of all ages!
The NoBo Library is open Monday & Tuesday 10-6, Wednesday 10-8, Saturday 10-6, Sunday 12-6.
