Progress continues on new Gunbarrel library

Renovation of the former FirstBank building and property at 6500 Lookout Road in Gunbarrel is set to begin this summer to create a new branch of the Boulder Public Library District (BPLD). The project is being funded by community taxpayers through the passage of the 2022 Boulder Public Library District Ballot Issue 6C, establishing the BPLD.

David Farnan, Director of the Boulder Public Library District, said, "One of the unique features of this location is the safe, due to it being a former bank. We want to turn that into a space that anyone can go in and use and be comfortable and have fun in, whether that be loud or quiet."

The nearly 10,000 square feet of space will include a full children's area with toys, books, and a play area. The interior contains some lovely wood paneling and requires only minor restorations to turn it from a bank into a library. The BPLD anticipates one-time capital costs of $1M - $1.5M and an annual rent of about $150,000, plus maintenance and insurance costs.

With the district's recent opening of the Northern Boulder Library Branch on June 29, focus has just shifted to the Gunbarrel project. Farnan and some of his crew have already surveyed the building and will walk through the building with contractors in early August. A full time manager for the building should be hired around September.

Farnan said, "A project like this generally takes 10 to 12 months between the time renovation starts and the time it is ready to be a full service library." He explained that due to the types of projects to create a workable space for the staff and automated sorting system, they will place their orders for shelves, furniture, and books in October or November and it will then take an additional 16 weeks to get those items. The goal is to have the library fully open by June or July 2025, however the district is hoping to do smaller community outreach events before that time.

About 50% of households in Gunbarrel already have library cards. Farnan hopes that that number will increase and it will be easier for the households already attending to come more often. He said, "I believe in public libraries and I have seen the difference they make both in social infrastructure and economic development. You often come back to a library during different episodic periods of your life, and it becomes a need for some more than others."

In addition to providing high speed internet access, various educational programs, and an assortment of books and other entertainment, the Gunbarrel Library will be used for historical research. Part of the historical archives from the Carnegie Library for Local History will likely be moved to free up storage space with occasional days open to the public to view the records.

While no specific programs are set yet, Farnan explained that they are anticipating the space will also be used by large groups of children where the library will provide regular storytimes, which have been popular at other Boulder Public Library branches.

He continued, "There are so many services that a library offers that people don't even know about. They can help with finding a lawyer, with learning English as a second language, even now with getting your high school diploma. Really so much is possible with a library at the community's disposal. In an emergency like the recent heat waves, it is a designated place to go to escape the weather. It is a great equalizer."