Like any library, the Anythink Nature Library will still offer books to check out, but visitors will also be able to borrow outdoor gear and scientific equipment.
“It’s kind of part library, but also part REI,” Mark Fink, Anythink Libraries’ executive director, said on a private early tour of the site.
Anythink Libraries is Adams County’s library district. The Nature Library will be the district’s eighth branch when it opens in August.
The building is on 140 acres of land called the Aylor Open Space. The open space will have walking trails that are accessible from the library, according to the Nature Library website.
The building is still under construction right now, but when completed, it will be 33,000 square feet and feature amenities like a cafe, a sunroom, and climbable boulders.
“This library was actually built around the boulders. They had to be placed first before we could pour any concrete,” branch manager Maria Mayo-Peaseley said while guiding the tour. “It's a place for somebody who might not feel comfortable going rock climbing in the mountains.”
The project costs $43.4 million, according to the Anythink website. Fink says the design of the building is “environmentally friendly,” with geothermal energy providing heating and more than 300 solar panels that will generate electricity.
The library’s programming extends to outdoor spaces as well, including access to multiple gardens, an amphitheater, and a mud pit.
“Before we even had a design for the building, we knew we wanted an experience of muddy, dirty play,” Mayo-Peaseley said. “Our relationships with nature have gotten really tidy, especially for children. This will be a really special space in our community for hands-on play.”
The front entrance is marked by a column made of 40 pieces of steel that weigh around 18 tons, according to Fink.
Anythink is taking community suggestions for programming on its website right now. But library staff are already envisioning what could be.
“I imagine having an herb garden that our staff plant so that customers can come and just snip some herbs for dinner,” Mayo-Peaseley said. “Maybe we plant the three sisters in one of the plots to honor Indigenous gardening techniques. Just a really cool way to access gardening, which can feel inaccessible for many folks.”
Anythink leadership said they consulted with an Indigenous advisory council to design the library. There will be a book section dedicated to Indigenous voices.
“This library is all about building access points for our community no matter who they are, their experience in nature, no matter their background,” Mayo-Peaseley said. “We know that not everyone comes to a relationship with nature from the same place.”
Fink added that Anythink strives to provide resources that resonate with other minority populations.
“Adams County is a minority majority county, more than 40% of our residents identify as Latine,” he said. “We've really invested in a district-wide diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiative, which really started internally with our staff. And it's also being reflected in the programs and services that we offer.”
The library’s grand opening is slated for Aug. 8.
Chandra Thomas-Whitfield contributed reporting to this story.
Editor's note: A photo caption in this story has been updated to correctly identify the subjects.
