Boulder Public Library

One of the best public libraries I have seen. Being Boulder not a huge city ‘I as not expecting this huge, modern and well organized library just right next to the airbnb place we stayed during the weekend. We stopped by to take a look, a rest, a visit to the bathrooms and check out what was in store and the local activities posted on the wall. Everything was perfect I can’t believe this library is from 1992, it looks like a very modern construction, very neat. Also the most stylist and comfortable yellow-​ochre chairs ever seen!

Ever since the age of 5 I have been wild about libraries. The boulder public library has helped re-​kindle this excitement.
Over the past 3 years there have been many different things that have brought me to the library: viewing a silent film accompanied by live music, hunting down a new book, logging work hours on my computer, as well as hosting a lecture in one of their community rooms.
I enjoy perusing the aisles of books and appreciate the email due date reminders as well as the email notifications letting me know that my long awaited book is in and ready for my pick up.
Though I haven’t ordered from the café I enjoy walking through and seeing people socializing and enjoying each other’s company.
The community board (just south of the café) has lots of great local info and I’ve been known to hang some event happenings there myself from time to time.
Looking forward to returning soon to pick-​up my next highly anticipated read.

I can not say enough good things about this Boulder Public Library. I grew up coming here. I have found memories of playing in the children’s section and checking out mountainous stacks of books.
I thought the best way to organize this review would be to make a list.
1) the building is absolutely beautiful. All the reconstruction it underwent has really made the library functional and aesthetically pleasing.
2) the staff are some of the nicest people you will meet. They are always willing to go the extra mile to help out patrons.
3) considering how many people frequent the library the organization is nearly flawless. (There is some problems in the CD section from people not putting things back where they belong)
4) they have plenty of community events and educational classes
5) the little café above the Boulder Creek is a great place to spend an afternoon.
Honestly I could go on and on. The BPL is one of my favorite places in Boulder. I will continue to go here for years to come.

I, and my now grown up children, have been coming to the Boulder Public Library since 1992, when we moved to Boulder. We have loved the Main branch since it opened, and frequented it often. We have also gone to all the other Boulder branches at one time or another for movies, books, researching, books on tape, story time, etc. However, since the main branch was, until the NOBO branch opened recently, the closet one to us, it’s the one I mostly went to. We also liked that the Main branch afforded us the chance to walk along the creek, visit the play area, hang out in the little court yard, attend art shows in the connecting gallery in the Annex on Canyon, see a variety of performances in the theater in the Annex, hold meetings and attend meetings, and walk over to Alfalfa’s or downtown before or afterwards for a bite to eat without having to move the car.
One of the greatest assets of the Boulder library is majority of the staff. They’re almost all very friendly, and well educated, and they go out of their way to be helpful. As a retired school librarian myself, that is critical to the patrons. I also love that I can just sit down with some of them and have an interesting conversation about books, magazines, news, etc. They often enlighten me about some new CD or book, or just give me some other insight into something. And when I can’t remember the title or author of something, they are pretty good at helping me figure it out.
It is one of the most beautiful libraries I’ve been to, partly because the area it’s located in and partly due to the amazing architecture, and I’ve been to a few, as I’ve lived in a number of other cities and love going to libraries. Even in cities I’m just visiting, I’ve found myself checking out their libraries too. I love architecture and find library architecture can often be wonderful, but not always, as is true of the other Boulder branches. Our other branches need serious updating!
I’m so happy Boulder remodeled the Main branch again, as it was in need of some updating. I was very sorry to see the café close a few years back, and haven’t actually been in the library for a few months, so I haven’t seen all the changes or the new café yet. However, I hear from my youngest daughter, now 25, who frequents the library at least twice a week still, mostly for internet access, research, and to meet with friends, that the remodel has made it much better.
One of the things I’m most pleased with in recent years has been the ability to borrow ebooks. My house is very small and I decided some years ago to stop buying books and just borrow them. I’ve donated a great many of my books to this library too. Luckily, I can get most anything I want, either in the library, by an inter-​library loan, on my computer, or on my e-​reader. I used to borrow Nook e-​readers from the library, but I finally bought a Kindle for myself in late 2014 and when I couldn’t figure out how to work it to load the books, I just called them up on the phone. They not only sent me to the instructions page (which I saved on my computer and printed put too), but also walked me through the process (twice), to make sure I knew what to do.
One last note, I’m not so happy about the shortened hours, which is why I dropped it from 5 to 4 stars. I know our city budget is tight, but honestly, I don’t think cutting library hours is good for the community at all.

This is a spectacular place to visit and right on the Boulder Creek. They just did a stunning remodel that replaced much of the reading room with computers. The book selection is just adequate but they are tied in with inter-​library loans that normally come through.
The space is the main draw for me except for the ad hoc homeless shelter that has developed on site in the last several years. It’s still a nice place to go to.

As homeowners and taxpayers in Boulder for 30+ years, my family and I have appreciated this library and all it has to offer. The experience today was different – very unusual. This afternoon, I went in to do some job research. I hadn’t been in for a long while and did not know the closing time had changed from 9pm to 8 pm. As soon as someone let me know I finished quickly with what I was working on. It was 1 minute after 8 when I walked out the main entrance. But my polite cooperation and compliance weren’t enough for the security guard. He totally harrassed and talked down to me while I was getting ready to leave my work station at 7:57pm. It was overplayed on his part and completely unnecessary. Very upsetting.
Thank you for listening.

What a great library. Its architecturally beautiful and its massive. It is also the most modern library I have been too and there is nearly every type of publication to be found in its stacks. The digital book check out is also really cool and the employees are all really nice.

I truly love this library. I thought it was beautiful before but the new renovations have really kicked it up a notch. There are plenty of cubbies and comfy chairs all around the library to cozy up and read while you’re here. A few new things to note:
— the hold section is now next to the desk on the Arapahoe side of the entrance
— the old hold section by the spiral stairs is now movies. There is new seating along the windows in this area too
— the children’s section is up the walkway before the bridge. It’s partitioned off and has couches and tables to sit and read together.
— a new café, the Seeds Library Café, is coming. It’s slated to open the 2^nd/​3^rd week of April. It will be run by the Boulder Farmers Market.
— at the top of the spiral staircase, the computers section is more spread out and open. I think there are magazines and periodicals up there too.
— The fiction section is in the front area on tht first floor near the movies and music. Nonfiction is still upstairs but I think there are new comfortable orange seats by the front windows.
The book return in the Arapahoe entrance foyer uses a RFID scanner to scan in books as they are sent through the belt. Make sure you have them facing the right way! The librarians can also still scan them in for you at the desk. You can tell the book will work on the scanner if there is a green marker line near the spine on the side of the book. There are new checkouts machines that use the RFID scanning too. I haven’t used them yet but they look pretty fancy!
My last trip here was great as usual. I usually put a book on hold to pickup so rarely walk the stacks but I took a quick mini tour this past trip to check out the new digs. I really like the new colors (bright teals, orange and lime green). There’s still your usual eclectic crowd but way more seating stashed around the place to accommodate. I can’t wait for the new café. I read that they’re going to serve Silver Canyon coffee which makes me happy!

The boulder public library is nicer than most government buildings that I have ever been to. I felt like a big idiot because I tried to use my Denver public library card in the fancy pants new Boulder self check out thingy ma jig. I really just wanted to feel special. Anyway, the Eagletonian-​ish (watch: parks and rec) librarian was pretty close to getting me kicked out of the library so my friend and I had to quickly walk by all the fancy overpriced seating options. I don’t even know if the booth was comfortable. It looked comfortable. I am hoping to return to this library at some point in my life and sit by the floor fountain. I’ll probably need to call in to work so I can spend half my day at the BPL, and the other half at the public library in the Center for Atmospheric Research.

Since I’m not a Boulder resident, I can’t really give this place too many stars which I’ll get into later.
This is by far the cleanest and fanciest library I have ever been to. They have a fountain. An actual Fountain. in the library. This library has multiple floors and is now two buildings attached by a walkway. They have super fancy self checkout machines that seem to be from the future. My library companion decided to try swiping her Denver Public Library Card in the fancy Boulder Public Library Machine and surprise, it did not work. A helpful Boulder Public Library Staff Person came over to help and my friend explained she was trying to see if her Denver card would work here and they employee was kinda like ‘um no dude’ and walked away once she found out we were lowly Denver residents.
The chairs and couches are very nice at this library. They also have booths just like at restaurants such as Bill Grays for you to sit at with your friends and read or maybe do some important research or hide from your annoying spouse. First thing I noticed was that the seating in the library did not smell like BO or urine and also they do not let homeless citizens sit in this library.
The orange chairs spin around and their are windows so I can see this being a place I would come and sit when I pretend I’m sick and don’t go to work. I guess I’d just read book there since I can’t take out Boulder books.
They are also building a café so you can have a snack.

Just another reason why I hate Boulder… This library is all showcase and no warehouse. I don’t see how it’s possible to have a library that looks this large from the outside and has so little study space on the inside. There’s WAAAAAYYYY too much space dedicated to «Staff Only». It’s insane, they basically take up half the damn library. If you want a quiet spacious place to study, look elsewhere because your options here are going to be limited.

This library is more beautiful than almost all the corporate offices I’ve ever been to, and it’s the best one for its size that I’ve been to as well. Wifi is blazing, great panoramic views with the walls being glass, and a staff that I’m sure would be helpful if I had to interact with them :) wish I lived closer!

I’ve been through a plethora of libraries over the past five months. From Walla Walla, Washington to Assawoman, Virginia. Trust me, I know what I’m talking about when I say depositories of books are my thing.
The Boulder Public Library is like a sensitive girlfriend that fakes orgasms for you but you think it’s real so there’s no harm done. And she’s cool, she’ll cook you breakfast everyday so why are you complaining?
Libraries are the forgotten cool sibling who just shows you all this rad shit to do. This particular sibling has relevant magazines, free/​fast wifi, and so many study areas to shake an African walking stick at. Plus, the architecture is something to admire — art galleries, outdoor gardens, and a beautiful pass over Boulder Creek.
So boogie your bike down Broadway and pinfold your face into a book. You ain’t cool unless you go to the library.

Such a beautiful library. I read a review comparing it to the Seattle Public Library (which still stands as my favorite in the country), so I had to come here when I had a day to kill in Boulder.
First impressions were great. You walk into a beautiful space filled with books, there’s a little aquarium to take a gander at, lots of work space, and even an art gallery. The area surrounding the library is really scenic and offers a great way to take a break from working.
After sitting down and setting up at a table in between the library and gallery wings, I started to see what everyone was saying about the homeless community. I live in a van, so I’m not one to judge, but this place certainly seems to be a big gathering spot, and a lot of people disrespect this space as a LIBRARY. Very loud talking, snoring from folks sleeping, serious wafts of odors I didn’t think humans were capable of producing, and I’ve gotten winked at like 6 times since I sat down. Oy vey.
Other than that, I really love this place. For those who complain about paying to park, the first three hours are free! If you stay longer than three hours, just make sure you return to your car and pay up.

This has been one of my favorite hangout spots since I’ve moved to Colorado. It’s in the center of everything in boulder, and they have a great selection of books. There is an art gallery in the south wing that is always displaying different work. My favorite thing to do is wonder around, check out a book, and sit by the stream outside on a nice day and return it once I’m done.

My daughter and I have been coming to this library since she was a baby. It is wonderful that they welcome you leaving with armfuls of books. This is fun for my daughter because she loves to read stories, and especially nice for me because it drives me CRAZY reading the same stories over and over again! On Saturdays they have story time for the kids, which is great fun. However, I encountered some trouble with the weekday story times. They told me you have to sign up in advance… and I never followed through with that. If that has changed, someone please let me know!

Large space with lots of nooks and crannies to study in. A surprising amount of people do not adhere to the library standard of being quiet, had to listen to s lady speak to a police officer on the phone re her ex husband and a child custody battle! Really? At the library? But, other than that it’s a great place to be.

Absolutely love having the day off and spending it at this place. Sure there is the random angry vagrant, or that annoying bum stench, but most of the time this place glows with beauty.
I usually start my time browsing through the magazines, then maybe I might bust out my computer for the free wifi, then look through their cookbooks for dinner ideas, heading down to check out the movies and cds then like to just randomly walk and see what books catch my eye.
Lots of great books on hiking and travel too.
The staff is very knowledgeable and usually jump at the chance to help you out. There is an amazing online program that can do anything from teach you a language to allow you to download full-​print books.

Boulder Public Library competes with Seattle as one of the coolest public libraries I have ever been into, architecturally speaking. You are surrounded by water, whether it be sitting in the overpass walkway above Boulder Creek or admiring the water-​fountains spread throughout the building. It’s a calming experience that creates some white noise for additional library quietness. I’m a bit bummed that you have to pay-​to-​park, but I guess with Boulder being environmentally friendly and all, I should walk, ride my bike, or take a bus (which has a stop dedicated to the library).

Before I moved to Boulder, I had a library-​related panic attack (because I’m a nerd). I thought, «This is a fairly small city, with lots of hippies, in the mountains… dear god, do these people read?!» I should have never worried. This library is pretty great, with an inter-​library loan system you’ll love.
The library staff is always helpful and the apple cider at the café is superb.
The reason it’s getting 4 stars instead of 5 is twofold: (a) the wait to get a computer sometimes is ridiculous, especially if you just want to print something and (b) all the homeless people, who are clogging up the list to get on the computers. Seriously… do NOT enter the library through the glass dome-​thing during the summer, the stench is overpowering.