About Loveland Public Library

In 2024, Loveland residents paid, on average, $54.50 to support the Loveland Public Library. The return on investment for this $54.50 is extensive.

• The Loveland Public Library offers subscriptions to Career Online High School. This is not a GED program, but instead offers adult students the opportunity to virtually earn a high school diploma with a career focus, such as health care or a Colorado Commercial Driver’s License. We have 12 people currently enrolled, with 11 alumni. These students’ earning power increased on average $9,000 per year after earning their diplomas.
  
  
• The Library helps people to save money by providing digital and physical resources. In 2024, we saved our card holders an average of approximately $250 each. This impact could be life changing for a senior who is trying to make ends meet. They have access to a world of enrichment – books, videos, and board games – while saving money to put towards their bills.
  
  
• The Library provides opportunities for families during the summer. Over 1,200 children and teens registered for the Summer Learning Program. They had the opportunity to engage in programming, read for prizes, and have a safe space to spend their summers. Our completion rate was over 44%, the highest ever. Participation in summer learning programs and consistent reading during the summer months helps mitigate the "summer slide"—the decline in academic skills, particularly in reading and math, that students often experience during extended school breaks. For younger children, shared reading time with caregivers not only strengthens vocabulary and foundational literacy skills, but also enhances language development.
  
  
• In addition, the Library’s Summer Learning Program serves as a critical resource for low-income families who lack access to affordable summer childcare or enrichment camps. By offering free, structured activities, this initiative helps bridge the equity gap in summer learning opportunities. This not only keeps children engaged but also alleviates financial strain on parents who might otherwise struggle to secure safe and educational summer care.
  
  
• The Library’s Business Librarian has offered 663 hours of expert assistance—including consultations, market research, and consumer data—to 122 entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits. By partnering with the City of Loveland Economic Development Office and Loveland Business Development Center, these services, valued at over $27,000, help strengthen Loveland’s small business community.
  
  
• The Loveland Public Library helps community organizations achieve their goals. In 2024, the Library had over 45 community partners, ranging from the Larimer County Workforce to the Loveland Opera. Our partnership means these partners can reach community members that might otherwise be unaware of their services.
  
  
• For every dollar spent on public libraries in Colorado, approximately $5 is returned to the community, according to a study conducted by the Library Research Service (LRS). This includes local expenditures (what the library spends on goods and services in its community), lost staff compensation (salaries and wages that would not be paid without the Library), and “halo spending” (purchases made by patrons at businesses near the library). The overall return on investment to the community for the Loveland Public Library in 2024 was $16,019,600.