Colorado opens "first-of-its-kind" library built around nature
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The Anythink Nature Library in Thornton. Photo: Courtesy of Unfound Door
At a new library outside Denver, you can get you a book, a pair of snowshoes — and a trail to use them on.
Why it matters: The Anythink Nature Library, opening Saturday in Thornton, offers a glimpse at how libraries are evolving as they search for new ways to serve their communities in the digital age.
The big picture: Anythink Libraries, Adams County's public library system, calls the project "the nation's first nature library," designed so visitors can learn about the outdoors, then step outside to experience it.
- The concept brings a 33,000-square-foot library, nature center and community gathering space under one roof, with a focus on making outdoor recreation and environmental education more accessible.
Zoom in: The $43.4 million project sits on 15 acres, with a collection that includes wildlife cameras and camping gear alongside books and other nature-focused materials.
- Inside, visitors will find a nature lab, a sunroom and a darkened space for quiet reflection and sensory learning.
- Outside, the property features gardens, a trail loop and a café with indoor and outdoor seating.
- A trailhead connects the library to the 140-acre Aylor Open Lands trail system.
What they're saying: "This library reflects our belief that learning happens everywhere, especially when people feel connected to the natural world around them," Anythink executive director Mark Fink said in a statement.
- "The Nature Library will create a space where curiosity about nature grows into a deeper sense of stewardship and belonging."
If you go: 6811 E. 136th Ave. in Thornton
- Hours: 9am-8pm Monday-Thursday and 9am-5pm Friday-Saturday