America’s first public nature library opens in Colorado
Wildlife cameras, night-vision binoculars, GPS devices, fire sensors, and snowshoes are among the items that have been available to borrow free of charge at a new public nature library.
The country’s first-of-its-kind 33,000-square-foot library sits on 15 acres of land in Colorado. Credit: Anythink Libraries
Wildlife cameras, night-vision binoculars, GPS devices, fire sensors, and snowshoes are among the 850 items that have been available to borrow free of charge since opening in August at Anythink Nature Library, in Thornton, Colorado, America’s first public nature library.
Funded by a local property tax levy, and built on a former ranch spanning 15 acres next to the 140-acre Aylor Open Lands, the library combines traditional services with physical and sensory experiences designed to help visitors get closer to the natural world.
It is the eighth branch of Anythink Libraries, which operates multiple public sites across Colorado’s Adams County and was awarded the National Medal for Museum and Library Service by Michelle Obama in 2010.
While there are nearly 40,000 books, many of which are dedicated to all aspects of nature – from bird-watching to bugs, and from tsunamis to wildfires – the library also lends out everything from microscopes to gardening tools at no cost.
The library is also designed for families, with a sunroom, an immersive dark room, and eight different types of garden. Children are encouraged to explore outdoor trails, water the plants, climb boulders from a local quarry, and splash about in a mud pit.
“Public libraries have always evolved alongside the needs of their communities,” said Mark Fink, executive director of Anythink Libraries. “The Nature Library represents the next evolution: a place where books, nature, science, and community come together to inspire curiosity and connection. We hope every visitor leaves feeling more connected to the natural world and empowered to continue exploring it long after they leave.”
The idea came about in 2022, when Anythink Nature Library Branch Manager Maria Mayo-Peaseley attended the Nature Explore conference. There she was introduced to the Environmental Kinship Guide, and its four pillars of nature-based learning – about, in, with, and for nature. With this in mind, the local community was then invited to share their input in shaping the design.
“They consistently emphasized things like discovery, layered experiences, and feeling immersed rather than enclosed,” said Ben Kallechy, senior associate at Davis Partnership Architects. “That translated into design moves like framing views, creating moments of surprise and organizing the building as a series of moments along a journey, encouraging visitors to explore rather than experience everything at once.”
Sustainability was a core consideration when building the library, which uses a mix of local, recycled, and natural materials. Recently awarded a Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, the library benefits from hundreds of rooftop solar panels, geothermal heating, and a vapor fireplace that releases no pollutants. There are even spots on the windows to prevent birds from flying into the glass. The library has also been shaped by insights from Indigenous and Native American leaders on the Anythink Nature Library Advisory Council.
Some of the first visitors to the library – which opened in August – have been sharing their experiences with the Guardian. “It was such an impressive building,” said Paula Jensen, 64, who attended with her 88-year-old mother. “My mom couldn’t quite believe that everything was free. It made her so happy.” Paula added that she had been inspired by the library’s drought-friendly garden, given Colorado’s current water shortage.
Similarly, Anna Amici, 36, was inspired by the library’s pollinator garden. “We’re thinking of replacing our lawn, which died over the summer, with plants that can support pollinators, so we borrowed a pollinator-garden planning kit and a couple of bird guides from the library.” She added that on her next visit, she would like to borrow a stargazing kit and take her two-year-old daughter up into the mountains.
Nataliya Zasadko, 40, has already made multiple visits to the library with her seven-year-old son, Marko, who has borrowed several items including a $500 camera and a digital wind-speed meter. In his spare time, Marko has been out photographing bees and flowers, and watching a YouTube series about windmills.
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Wildlife cameras, night-vision binoculars, GPS devices, fire sensors, and snowshoes are among the items that have been available to borrow free of charge at a new public nature library.