Arapahoe Libraries outlines sustainability, AI and mobile services in annual update to county commissioners

Arapahoe Libraries staff and trustees gave the Arapahoe County Board of County Commissioners an update on the district’s sustainability work, new facilities and digital initiatives during the commissioners’ meeting on April 15, 2025.

The library district highlighted energy- and water-saving upgrades, expanded recycling practices and community-focused programs. “We’ve recycled 44 tons of concrete and metal during construction and remodels for new buildings and materials,” said Sally Daigle, a member of the Arapahoe Libraries Board of Trustees. The district said it has been recognized three years running by the Colorado Green Business Network.

The update emphasized several service and facilities changes planned or underway. Steve Oliver, a longtime trustee, described a Support Services Building conversion that the district will brand as the “Space and Cafe by Arapahoe Libraries,” saying, “We expect to open to the public by the end of the year.” The district said the repurposed facility will offer meeting rooms and a café intended for community groups and recurring public use.

Trustees also described an expansion at the Eloise May branch, which they said serves a linguistically diverse neighborhood (the presentation cited roughly 47 languages in the area) and will add meeting and program space. Steve Oliver and others described a recent push to buy adjacent land and a house to expand the branch’s footprint.

The district previewed its new mobile library vehicle, called the rover, describing it as “a small motor home” configured to offer computer classes, makerspace activities and outreach for residents who cannot visit brick-and-mortar branches. “This is not a bookmobile,” Sally Daigle said, distinguishing the rover from traditional curbside book pickup; she said the vehicle will include hands-on and digital services and a large exterior screen for outdoor programming.

Board members emphasized the library’s work on community dialogue and programming. Katie Schroeder, board president, described a four-part community conversations series and a related set of smaller community roundtables meant to foster listening on hot-button topics. “We want to make sure we understand [AI],” Schroeder said, noting libraries are preparing staff to explain the technology’s pros and cons to patrons.

On technology, trustees said the district is exploring AI tools for staff and patrons. Schroeder said staff are piloting Microsoft Copilot and the district is “aiming to be the first library system nationwide to offer AI equipped PCs for checkout.” The district said it plans to offer “air-gapped” laptops that keep a patron’s data local and avoid training external models.

Trustees also described innovation aimed at public health and access: a pilot “Hope booth” at the Sheridan branch that connects users to live mental-health resources and automated encouragement, and examples of virtual health connections and 3-D printing at rural branches.

On collection governance, trustees said state law requires a formal challenge process for removal of materials and described the district’s written review and challenge procedure. Trustees said formal removal requests are rare and the district tries to minimize “performative disruption” while following due process.

Regarding finances, the district said it is funded primarily by a property tax mill levy and described a cautious projection approach: staff and trustees said they model conservatively and currently expect fiscal stability for roughly 10 years under current assumptions but will avoid asking voters for a mill-levy increase unless necessary.

Commissioners repeatedly praised the district’s outreach and invited tours of the rover. The trustees’ closing request to the board was continued advocacy and collaboration on policy and community needs.

The presentation was discussion only; no formal board action was recorded on library items during the meeting.