So many big Boulder stories this year centered around the Boulder Public Library and the foundation whose generous community of donors support it.
Take a walk down memory lane, and while you’re at it, please consider a year-end gift to help ensure next year’s top library stories are even more impactful.
Here are the TOP TEN library stories of 2023:
#10: Seven inspiring leaders joined the Boulder Library Foundation’s board. Sharon Bloom, Kitty L. deKieffer, Adriana Farmer, Andy Sayler, Doug Hamilton, Marc Levinson and Sylvia Wirba have brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to our cause. Read more about them here.
#9: Slay the Runway created safe spaces for LGBTQ teens, and NPR took note. This impressive production was co-founded by Boulder Library Foundation board member Steven Frost, who was named a 2023 Mover & Shaker by Library Journal.
#8: Carnegie celebrated 40 years as Boulder’s library for local history.Originally opened in 1906 as Boulder’s first-ever public library, Carnegie fell out of use as a library when today’s Boulder Main Library opened in 1961. It re-emerged in 1983 as Boulder’s local history archive. A true local gem, it houses, among other things, the Daily Camera’s historical archives and an extensive photo archive.
#7: Artists in Residence Cultural Caravan delighted audiences with eight free Canyon Theater performances, including by living legend Hazel Miller, presented by Boulder Library Foundation. The Cultural Caravan is a 501(c) organization that has been bringing small businesses, social-service nonprofits, municipal organizations, and local artists together since 2021 to make the Boulder community stronger and more vibrant.
#6: Jaipur Literature Festival delivered the world to the Boulder Main Library. At JLF Colorado in 2023, they once again brought forth their hallmark camaraderie, caravan of ideas, and the enchanting flow of conversations. It was a truly unparalleled festival!
#5: One Book One Boulder explored The Book of Joy, with 40 free, public programs funded by the Boulder Library Foundation. It all culminated in an insightful, live talk by author Douglas Abrams, who chronicled a weeklong meeting between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu for his seminal meditation on the essence and meaning of joy.
#4: Summer of Discovery participants read for more than 2 million minutes. Boulder Public Library’s summer reading program was wildly successful, thanks in large part to the support of our donors, who funded the extensive free programming. View this short video celebrating the highlights.
#3: Colorado Poet Laureate Andrea Gibson headlined Boulder Library Foundation’s gala to the delight of a sold-out Canyon Theater audience. Gibson explained that they got their start as a poet writing in a little nook within the Boulder Main Library. Watch them recite their poem, “Say Yes,” which they wrote many years ago at Boulder Main.
#2: Construction began on the new North Boulder Library, and our capital campaign neared $1.1M. The new branch that was planned for a generation finally broke ground in April. North Boulder’s first-ever public building is an architectural marvel. Generous donors have helped the Boulder Library Foundation raise nearly $1.1M of the $1.5M needed to fill funding shortfalls on the $16.1M project. The playground and outdoor plaza were made possible by a $700K grant from the Colorado Health Foundation. Individuals and other foundations have contributed the rest. Only $442K to go!
#1: Our new library district set the stage for expansion of facilities, services and programs. Because our voters were generous last November, our library is transitioning on Jan. 1 to a future of improved financial resources. Because our donors continue to invest in our library, we are able to help make our community’s vision for this place we love more real.
If you supported us financially this year, thank you! If you haven’t yet, there’s still time. Your year-end donation will support transformational programming at the Boulder Public Library.
With you, we’ll help our library continue its mission of connecting people, ideas, and information to transform lives and strengthen our community.
You can give via credit card through our website, or you can write a check to Boulder Library Foundation and mail it to 1001 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, CO. 80302.
Your gift is tax-deductible. Our Tax-exempt ID is 23-7408456.
Thanks for your support.
