Overview:
The Pitkin County Library in Aspen is an example of how Colorado's library system is stepping up to assist citizens.
As culture and consumption practices continue to change, public libraries are no longer just quiet places for reading. They are transforming into critical third spaces that welcome people of all ages, identities and backgrounds—with the Pitkin County Library at the forefront of this revolution.
“Right now, we are focused on spaces of inclusiveness and diversity. Everybody is welcome; everyone can show up as they are,” said Genevieve Smith, who has served as the director of the Pitkin County Library since 2023 and has worked in various roles within the organization for 15 years. “It’s important for us that everyone feels safe here, that it’s a safe space for kids to be and be themselves, and that they feel like they belong and they can really show up authentically.”
Since its establishment in 1938, the Pitkin County Library has served as a pillar of public engagement in the mountain community of Aspen, Colorado. Nestled at 7,891 feet above sea level in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the library is impressive not only for its unique location but also for its community-driven initiatives, which have positively impacted both locals and visitors for decades.
Sofia Esteban, 18, is a lifelong Aspen resident who has been using the library as a space between home, work, and school since her youth.
“When I was little, my favorite part of being at the library was reading in the reading spots that were built into the wall,” Esteban said. “Me and my friends still go there, and we have been for as long as I can remember. When it is cold outside during winter, we all end up migrating to the library and [will] be there for hours. The library will always be my and my friends’ favorite hangout spot.”
Smith emphasized the importance of offering resources that support patrons not just in their leisure activities but also in their more serious goals.
“We try to support the workforce as much as possible,” Smith said. “We not only provide technology access, but we often hold people’s hands while they’re filling up their applications to give them the confidence that some people need more than others. We also provide scanning, copying [and] all those resources for people that don’t want to have that equipment in their house.”
Rooted in its mission to enrich the lives of community members, the organization aims to encourage lifelong learning and provide individuals access to new information and ideas.
This shift has allowed for these spaces to not only pivot from their initial purpose—as institutions to preserve, organize and facilitate the dispersion of information—but to capitalize on an emerging desire for individuals to find a place to connect in person with those outside of their immediate social or digital circles.
“There’s a lot of people out there looking to connect with each other,” Smith said. “So we try to provide that space for everybody too.”
Denison Levy, 77, has been a part of the Western Slope for nearly half a century, having moved to Aspen in 1978. Born and raised in Denver, with roots in the state stretching back over 100 years, Levy has experienced firsthand the effects of fostering community-centered spaces in Colorado.
Reflecting on her experience at the Pitkin County branch, Levy recalled the connections she has been able to build through the library. “I now have two of my very good friends, and that means a lot, because I am single,” Levy said. “The three of us, or just, you know, me one-on-one with each of those two, we laugh a lot, we enjoy the same things. I think it’s a friendship that will stand the test of time.”
Not only has the library system in Aspen, along with others across the state, acted as a conduit for continued connection for people of all ages, but these institutions are also on the frontlines of the fight against legislation aimed at censoring information, often in the form of book banning.
At the national level, legislation such as the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act, reintroduced on May 8, 2025, by Utah Senator Mike Lee, threatens the very nature of libraries as centers of free and uncensored information. The act seeks to amend the Communications Act of 1934 by introducing a new, broader definition of “obscene” speech.
Critics argue that, if passed, this act could pave the way for further sweeping censorship initiatives and disproportionately target vulnerable groups, such as the transgender community, by equating LGBTQ+ visibility with pornography.
In the face of these challenges, local libraries, such as Pitkin County, are stepping up.
“We have been lucky that our community seems to be supporting us,” Smith said. “We have not had any book challenges for censorship requests. We have just really been relying on our policies, including our collection development policy. We have a request for reconsideration policy that we have not had to employ yet, but of course, there’s something in place should that happen.”
Despite there being no need to take protective measures for the library now, one way the library actively pushes back against censorship is through its Banned Books Book Club, which meets every fourth Tuesday of the month. The club highlights literature that has been historically challenged or appears on the American Library Association’s current Challenge List, encouraging meaningful conversation around the politics of storytelling.
Levy is an active member of this club and shared how it has broadened her perspective, not just through the material, but through new people she’s been able to engage with.
“One of the things I’ve loved—it’s been a good lesson for me—is you sit down with a bunch of people you don’t know, so just learning to appreciate every person in there for what they bring to it and who they are,” Levy said.
From private meeting rooms and study spaces to an AV room for podcasting, community rooms and a makers lab, the library offers a wide range of physical spaces and free equipment—including a 3D printer, sewing machines, computers and even a grand piano. These resources support everything from creative and professional projects to services that help relieve financial or emotional burdens for users.
In addition to fully utilizing its 40,000-square-foot facility, the library partners with organizations across the Roaring Fork Valley and throughout Colorado to offer accessible programming for all who use its services.
A few such initiatives include:
- Partnering with the national nonprofit organization Raising a Reader to provide children from Aspen to Parachute with books
- Hosting an annual Summer Reading Program for kids, teens, and adults to get involved
- Organizing after-school programming with the Aspen Science Center
- Providing 300-plus pounds of food to those in need through Harvest for Hunger
- Digitizing and making accessible papers from the Aspen Daily News
- Working with the Aspen Historical Society to provide free storytimes for kids
- Archiving and documenting music for the Aspen Music Festival & School
The library also collaborates with organizations such as Theater Aspen, the Aspen Art Museum and the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies to provide patrons of all ages with diverse opportunities to explore new ideas and experiences.
With around 27 staff members across four departments and sustaining outside partnerships, administrators like Smith focus not only on the logistics of running the library and coordinating outreach but also on creating a positive environment that goes beyond books and programs.
“One of our main values is serving the public good and being equitable and available to our entire community,” Smith said. “We have to serve every political background, every religious background, the wealthy, the poor, everybody. By design, we’re diverse and inclusive, and it’s our mission to stay that way.”
