The roots of the Pine River Library can be traced back close to a century.

In 1930, the Bayfield Study Club was founded by a group of Bayfield women who wanted to have a wider range of reading material available. 

Six women formed the first Board of Directors of the Bayfield Public Library after it was approved by the Bayfield Town Board in 1934. 

The Board purchased the old Farmers and Merchants Bank building on Mill Street for $1,500 and set themselves to work raising money to furnish the building and buy books. 

The Library ran solely on the efforts of volunteers until 1941 when the Town Clerk was given a pay increase of five dollars per month to also act as Town Librarian. 

This arrangement lasted until 1976 when a full-time librarian was hired.

Library District formed in 1972

The Pine River Public Library District was formed in 1972, empowering the library to use tax money to fund operations and services. As the Bayfield population increased, the need for a larger and more modern building became apparent. 

A mill levy increase passed in November 1999, and funding for new facilities became available. Construction started in 2001 and was completed at the beginning of 2004. The Library moved from its Mill Street location into the current facility in March 2004 and the Library was expanded in 2012 with upgrades and additions to public spaces and the construction of a community garden. This 17,000 square-foot garden serves as a living library providing space for garden beds, classes, and growing food to serve community needs. A much-loved story walk was installed in 2020. 

Recent Developments

In 2014 Pine River Library won the coveted Best Small Library of the Year award from the Library Journal and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Built in 2017, the Bayfield Library Park is a dedicated acre of outdoor recreational opportunities including a playing field, a perimeter walking path, a playground, a combined basketball and pickleball court and a shaded picnic table area. The Park is a collaboration between the Town of Bayfield and the Pine River Library and was partially funded through grants from Go Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and the Colorado Health Foundation.

In 2019 the Library went back to the voters and were granted a mill levy increase to secure the future of the District.

Today’s Pine River Library

Today’s 12,000 square foot Pine River Library is home to almost 40,000 items including books, audiobooks, DVDs, laptops, and more. The Library includes more than 80 public computers, a Community Room, two smaller meeting rooms, a media hub, a children’s imagination room, comfortable chairs for reading, and a large selection of books, magazines, audio and video materials, online databases, and downloadable media including audio, video, and e-books. Library Staff also provide additional services such as: passport applications, notary services, hunting and fishing license applications, and more.

The Library is happy to be supported by a vibrant Friends of the Library group who meet quarterly and are the volunteer arm of the library.

Looking Ahead

 In 2022 Library Staff interviewed more than 70 local residents to help shape the library’s “next steps.” The information gathered has shaped the library’s new strategic plan.

We are proud to serve our community and would love to hear your comments and opinions.