Loveland Public Library Marks 120 Years of Community Service
The Loveland Public Library is celebrating 120 years of serving the community, marking its official establishment as a city service in 1905 when the Loveland Town Board accepted responsibility for funding the library.
While the library first opened in 1901, the 1905 date represents when it became an official Loveland municipal service, transitioning from a community-supported facility to a publicly funded institution. The milestone places Loveland among the early adopters of public library services in Northern Colorado during the early 20th century.
The library's history began in the home of Anna Duffield, Loveland's first librarian, before moving to its first dedicated building in 1908. That original facility was constructed through local fundraising and a donation from Andrew Carnegie, whose philanthropic library program established 35 Carnegie libraries across Colorado between 1901 and 1917, according to the U.S. National Park Service. Carnegie's program required communities to demonstrate need and commit to maintaining the libraries through public funding, establishing the foundation for municipal library services still seen today.
The Carnegie building at 6th Street and Cleveland Avenue served the community for 60 years before being replaced with a larger facility in 1968. The library moved to its current location at 300 N. Adams Avenue in September 1987 as part of the Civic Center Municipal Complex east of downtown.
The current building earned distinction as the first facility in Loveland to receive LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The certification, which launched in 2000, recognizes buildings that meet environmental standards including energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable materials, and indoor air quality improvements.
Today's library extends far beyond its origins in borrowed residential space, offering digital collections, eBooks, movies, music, public computers, Wi-Fi access, 3D printing services, and laptop and hotspot lending. The facility serves as a community hub supporting diverse programs including a teen hangout space, monthly Veteran Meet Up sessions, and laundry services through the Homeward Alliance partnership.
The library maintains study rooms and meeting spaces for community use while hosting programs and events for all ages. Services include a Digital Navigator Program, developed through a grant from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, which helps residents build skills with digital tools including cell phones, internet access, and social media.
Funding for the library comes primarily from Loveland's General Fund, supplemented by grants and support from the Friends of the Loveland Public Library Foundation. Library operations in similarly sized Colorado cities typically represent 2 to 3 percent of municipal General Fund expenditures, according to city budget analyses.
To commemorate the 120-year milestone, the library has released limited-edition library cards designed to resemble vintage library due date cards, highlighting key dates in the institution's history. The commemorative cards are available to residents updating existing cards or requesting new library access.
Residents can obtain information about library services by visiting lovelandpubliclibrary.org or calling 970-962-BOOK (2665). The library continues operating from its current location in the Civic Center Municipal Complex at 300 N. Adams Avenue.