Red Feather Lakes Community Library
🏢 Red Feather Mountain Library District · Red Feather Lakes, Colorado
Red Feather Lakes Community Library
Perched at 8,300 feet in Colorado's Laramie Mountains, Red Feather Lakes Community Library has served eight mountain communities since 1969 — open seven days a week, fine-free, and powered by its own 16 kW solar microgrid for resilience during wildfires and storms.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–6pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–6pm |
| Sunday | 10am–6pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 71 Firehouse Lane, Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545
Phone: (970) 881-2664
Website: redfeather.colibraries.org
Plus Code: 85GPRC26+R2 (Red Feather Lakes, CO)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Red Feather Lakes Community Library
The Red Feather Lakes Community Library — the sole branch of the Red Feather Mountain Library District — sits at 8,300 feet in the Laramie Mountains of northern Larimer County, serving eight mountain communities across 37 square miles. It was founded in November 1969 by the Mountain Gals, a local women's service organization, after a Fort Collins bookmobile couldn't climb the unpaved McNey Hill; the group launched the library with 250 donated books and $240 from the Larimer County Commissioners. The current 3,163-square-foot building opened in 1987 through community donations of land, labor, and money, and a 2005 expansion added the Stenzel Community Room, a dedicated children's library, and Ruth's Gallery — a rotating art exhibit honoring community member Ruth Kevan. In 2023 the library completed a landmark resilience project: a 16 kW solar array, 60 kWh battery storage, and EV chargers funded in part by a $100,000 EBSCO grant (one of only three awarded from 78 applications nationwide), making it an emergency energy hub for the 74E corridor.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded November 1969 by the Mountain Gals; launched with 250 donated books and $240 from Larimer County Commissioners when the Fort Collins bookmobile couldn't reach the mountain community
- 3,163 sq ft building (1987/2005 expansion); includes Stenzel Community Room, dedicated children's library, and Ruth's Gallery rotating art exhibit
- 16 kW solar array + 60 kWh battery storage + 2 EV chargers installed 2023 — library serves as emergency resilience hub during wildfires and power outages on the 74E corridor
- Fine-free, no computer time limits, no card required for in-library internet; free cards for any Colorado resident via the Colorado LCL program
- SWIFT courier member since 2008: access to 300+ Colorado libraries via same-day courier; part of AspenCat shared catalog with 140 libraries statewide
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Red Feather cardholders access these digital resources free through AspenCat and Colorado state partnerships:
📚 Services
- Free photocopying (up to 20 pages), lamination, scanning, faxing, and notary services
- Email-to-print service: send to rflprintout@gmail.com (up to 20 pages free)
- Stenzel Community Room for meetings and media work; two privacy pods (first-come basis)
- SWIFT interlibrary loan — free courier delivery from 300+ Colorado libraries
- Outdoor playground with sandbox, hollow logs, and seating adjacent to the building
- Subscription box program — monthly curated book selections by reader preference
- Free library cards for all Colorado residents; no overdue fines; no internet time limits
- Emergency resilience center: solar + battery microgrid + EV chargers remain operational during grid outages
🎸 Programs
- Little Explorers Preschool Story Hour — Wednesdays 10:30–11:00 AM
- Red Feather Hikers Club — Mondays 9:30 AM (local trails)
- Knit & Stitch — 4th Wednesday of each month, 10 AM–noon
- Women's Book Group — 2nd Friday of each month
- Meet the Author Online webinars — 2–4 per month (in-person and virtual)
- Summer Reading Program — all ages (Collaborative Summer Library Program)
- Historical Walk around Red Feather Lakes (with Red Feather Historical Society)
- Ruth's Gallery — monthly rotating local art and craft exhibitions
📍 Nearby Libraries in Northern Colorado
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Red Feather Lakes · Browse all Colorado libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Red Feather Lakes Community Library get started, and why is the address on Firehouse Lane?
The library was founded in November 1969 by the Mountain Gals, a local women's service organization, after the Fort Collins bookmobile couldn't negotiate the steep, then-unpaved McNey Hill. The group launched in a property-owners' association basement with 250 donated books and $240 from Larimer County. The 1987 building was constructed on land donated adjacent to the Red Feather Volunteer Fire Department — hence the address on Firehouse Lane.
What is the Stenzel Community Room, and how do I reserve it?
The Stenzel Community Room was added in the 2005 expansion and is named for the Stenzel family, who contributed significantly to the 1987 building fund. It includes media and kitchen facilities and is available for small meetings and media production. Two privacy pods are also available on a first-come basis. Contact the library at (970) 881-2664 or help@redfeatherlibrary.org to check availability.
Why does the library have solar panels and a battery backup system?
After the 2012 High Park Fire and 2013 floods cut power to the isolated community, the library became a critical information hub for the 74E corridor. In 2018 the library won a $100,000 EBSCO Solar Grant (one of only three awarded from 78 national applicants) to fund the project. The full 16 kW solar array + 60 kWh battery storage + propane generator system was completed in fall 2023, allowing the library to remain operational and serve as a resilience center during grid outages.
Does the library charge overdue fines, and do I need a card to use the internet?
No on both counts. Red Feather Lakes Community Library charges no overdue fines, has no hidden fees, imposes no computer time limits, and does not require a library card to access the in-library internet. A free library card is available to any Colorado resident through the Colorado LCL program — just bring proof of Colorado residency.
📋 This library offers notary services. See what a library notary can do — what to bring, fees and appointments — and find other libraries with a notary notary services by state.
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