In this month’s newsletter: Highlights from the annual Boulder Public Library District board retreat; volunteer opportunities and signed book pre-sale at our sold-out gala; our Legacy Circle planned giving program for Legacy Giving Month; the library’s Democracy Series leading up to the 2024 election; artists to answer the library’s open call for art exhibitions; library news you may have missed.
See below for a message from our Executive Director, Chris, and view the full August newsletter here!
Dear Library Enthusiast –
As I returned from our garden after picking kale for a morning smoothie one morning this week, our daughter was standing half-awake in the kitchen, surprised to learn that this had been my ritual all summer as she slept in. School’s back in session, and so our teens are back to rising early.
This is the time of year when our thoughts turn to the work ahead.
I joined our library district’s board of trustees and senior staff at a special annual retreat last Sunday. We met inside Gunbarrel’s former FirstBank, which is scheduled to become our library’s newest branch next summer, after some light remodeling.
As we toured the building, we were literally standing in the future. It set a great tone for a day of talking about the library’s priorities in the years ahead.
Library District board chair Doug Hamilton previewed an update he’ll deliver on Sept. 19 to Boulder City Council. It’s amazing how much progress has been made since voters approved and funded the new library district on the 2022 ballot. Already, the district has:
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Opened the new NoBo Library with full staffing, brand-new books, a sparkling new maker space and community meeting and study rooms;
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Restored library hours to pre-COVID 19 pandemic levels;
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Increased staff to support programs and free access to the Canyon Theater;
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Improved collections;
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Restored staff positions for BLDG61 and Studio 24 makerspaces.
The library district is also well on its way to:
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Addressing the facilities maintenance backlog;
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Opening a new Gunbarrel Library;
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Taking care of all assets;
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Assuring safety and security for all libraries and patrons;
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Securing the future of the Meadows Library service area;
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Restoring Carnegie Library for Local History staff positions and resuming open hours.
Amidst all of this activity, the library has started focusing more and more on outreach and literacy, with a focus on underserved communities. Just in the past month, staff have expanded their presence at community events in mobile home parks and other local neighborhoods with high concentrations of low-income families. They are spreading the word about BoulderReads’ one-on-one tutoring, adult high school education equivalency, and conversations in English programs for adults. And they are promoting, for children, their Reading Buddies programs, free books, and literacy activities and games in the community.
Their focus moving forward is to:
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Grow their outreach staff team;
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Build more awareness of literacy offerings and all the library has to offer;
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Expand current programs and create new literacy opportunities such as English language classes;
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Strengthen relationships and trust with underserved communities by being present in community and bringing the library to the community;
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Amplify and strengthen partnerships to reach across the community;
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Create an even more welcoming and inviting experience for all who visit the library.
This outreach and literacy work is important because it positions the library to make a difference in the lives of families experiencing poverty, limited English proficiency and low educational attainment.
The Boulder Library Foundation is committed to helping the library lean into its social mission through increased outreach and literacy initiatives. Please help us accelerate this important work with your donation today.
Yours in planning,
Chris Barge
Executive Director
