George Reynolds Branch Library

The George Reynolds Branch Library, the first branch library in the city of Boulder, was opened in October of 1968, and dedicated in March of 1969. A gift from the estate of Dr. George F. Reynolds provided the original funds for the Reynolds branch. Dr. Reynolds was a noted University of Colorado English Literature professor; he was also a well-respected Biblical and Shakespearean scholar.

The original building design, by architect Bill Heinzman, used arches, courtyards, brick walls, and an open-floor design to create a living room atmosphere for a small branch library. The library opened with a collection of 7,000 books.

During the next 25 years, the Reynolds Branch Library stayed relatively the same, as the neighborhood and the community surrounding it grew very rapidly. The demands for a larger branch library also grew. Following the successful 1987 Library Bond Issue, plans were made to expand the Reynolds Branch Library but not until 1993, was construction started on the expansion.

The expansion, at a cost of approximately $980,000, doubled the size of the Reynolds Branch Library to 9650 square feet. At this time, the library's collection had grown to over 26,000 items, including books, videotapes, compact discs, audiotapes, magazines and more.

The expansion, designed by architect Peter Heinz, provided additional necessary space, while remaining faithful to the building’s original design concept. The building's new features include an expanded children's area, an interior flagstone courtyard, a larger centralized circulation desk, and a comfortable reading room for magazines and newspapers.