Libraries are community gems, offering everything from books and free internet to language classes, job-search help and safe gathering spaces.
Now, a new library opening in Thornton later this summer will also provide patrons with something else: a connection with nature.
In August, Anythink Libraries, the public library system for Adams County, will open the Anythink Nature Library. The first-of-its-kind, 33,000-square-foot library—which will be the eighth branch in the Anythink system—will be situated on 15 acres of land within the 140-acre Aylor Open Lands.
The overarching goal? To help people find their place in nature, whatever that looks like.
“This library reflects our belief that learning happens everywhere, especially when people feel connected to the natural world around them,” says Mark Fink, executive director of Anythink Libraries. “The Nature Library will create a space where curiosity about nature grows into a deeper sense of stewardship and belonging.”
The $43.4 million facility, which is being developed in partnership with the City of Thornton, will offer indoor and outdoor experiences designed to help the community explore nature, develop environmental stewardship and build deeper connections with the natural world.
Visitors will be able to explore their connection to nature through welcoming environments, hands-on experience kits and guidance from knowledgeable experts—all within a community hub designed for learning, reflection and discovery.
Located at the intersection of East 136th Avenue and Newport Street, the building was designed around the environmental kinship model, a holistic approach to teaching and learning about, in, with and for the whole of the natural world. The facility’s design, created in collaboration with architects at Davis Partnership and THK Associates, is rooted in the idea that “everything in the natural world is interrelated and that humans are a part of this as cohabiters.”
The eco-friendly venue, which is expected to achieve LEED Gold certification, was designed to be intentionally integrated into the site, with architecture inspired by native grasses, floor-to-ceiling windows and a living plant wall. Anythink also convened the Anythink Nature Library Advisory Council, which included Indigenous and Native American leaders from the Denver metro area, who provided expertise on the building’s design.
Visitors will be able to explore a wide variety of spaces and activities at the new campus. It will include an indoor and outdoor nature lab, gardens, gathering spaces and a one-mile loop trail around the property, a café with indoor/outdoor service and seating, and a trailhead that connects to the adjacent Aylor trail systems.
The library will also have public art, a light-filled sunroom designed for quiet reflection and a dark room that mimics a starry night to support sensory experiences and educational programming.
Programming at the Nature Library will center around environmental literacy, creativity and lifelong learning. Experiences will range from outdoor education and gardening workshops to interactive nature-based programs for children, teens and adults.
Cost, transportation and experience gaps keep many residents from fully engaging with nature. The Nature Library is designed to meet people wherever they are in their relationship with nature and lower that barrier.
Visitors will be able to check out more than just books. The library will offer “TryIt” experience kits that let someone try an outdoor activity for the first time, then walk right outside and do it. TryIts at Anythink’s existing branches range from board games and fitness gear to musical instruments, tennis rackets and night vision goggles.
The Anythink Nature Library is an extension of the work the district has been doing for years, including extending library services outdoors through community gardens, offering park passes and forming partnerships with organizations like 4-H and CSU Extension. The district has also incorporated nature into its existing spaces through natural light and biophilia.
“Our vision for the Nature Library is to create a place where people can rediscover their relationship with the natural world,” says Fink. “By bringing together environmental learning, creativity and community engagement, this library will inspire curiosity and stewardship for generations to come.”
New Anything Express Library for Northglenn
Meanwhile, in addition to the new Nature Library, Anythink Libraries plans to build a new Anythink Express Library in Northglenn. Slated to open in the spring of 2027, the new location will restore in-city library access and expand convenient service for thousands of residents.
The 1,800-square-foot space will be located at the intersection of 120th Avenue and Claude Court, in a high-density area near Interstate 25 with limited current library usage.
Northglenn has not had a dedicated library branch in 16 years. Despite that gap, more than 9,300 Northglenn residents currently hold Anythink library cards. The new Express Library is designed to better serve these existing users while also reaching individuals who may not currently access nearby branches.
“Expanding into Northglenn allows us to bring library service back into the city in a way that reflects how people use spaces today,” says Fink. “This location is designed to meet community members where they are and make it easier than ever to access the resources, materials and experiences that support lifelong learning.”
