The Excitement is Building!
After months of planning and construction the Old Town Library remodel, project is finished on the inside. There will be continued work done this fall on the outside front plaza area, as well as the installation of the Children's Play and Grow interactive pieces in the children's area. Library staff are excited about the new expansion. Last year over 3 million items were checked out of the Poudre River Public Library District and over 1 million people walked through the doors of all three libraries. With this remodel and expansion, Old Town Library has become an even better destination place for the downtown and northern area – a true community hub for gathering and learning.

Libraries are truly great and unique places, they offer the same opportunity to anyone, they are part of the American Dream – places for education, enjoyment, and self-help... all you need is a card.

According to a national Harris poll released in September of 2008, 92 percent of all Americans say they view their local library as an important education resource. Seven out of 10 agreed that their local library is a pillar of the community. 70 percent see the library as a destination place for their families, which in these economic times is growing even more important. We are so privileged to have such a vibrant library system, and a community that supports it. In many places in the US library budgets are being cut and libraries are being closed. We were fortunate that our citizens voted for the Poudre River Public Library District in 2006 and because of that we were able to support the Harmony Library, build the Council Tree Library and renew the Old Town Library.

Downtown Fort Collins was the original site of the Fort Collins Reading Room, established in 1882. In 1901 the Carnegie Library just across the park was built to serve the voracious readers of the time. This library was built in 1976 at a time the when the city was booming and the community was looking for a destination that provided universal access to ideas and information.

The library world has seen a lot of changes since then… computers, online catalogs, self check-ins and check-outs, eBooks, virtual library branches and more changes in the world of information come every day. But the library as an economic driver, cultural and community destination will never change.

Come down to the "New" Old Town Library and see for yourself!

Highlights of Remodel
"Green" Components
Trust Campaign for Enhancements
Art in Public Places
New Answer Center
Webster House Administration Center
History: Vote Campaign

Preliminary Energy Analysis (PDF format/665K)
Quality of Carpeting (PDF format/665K)