Wilkinson Public Library
Youth Services Area Remodel
Prepared by Dominique Bruneau and Gloria Chavira
Project Overview
The Wilkinson Library was completed in 2000, with the last remodel of the Youth Services area occurring around 2013. This space is a cherished community hub, serving babies, children, tweens, and their caregivers. The library supports a diverse community that includes a Latinx population; approximately 30% of youth patrons come from Spanish speaking households. In 2024, the youth area averaged approximately 35 patrons per day, with usage patterns varying by season.
During the school year, the space sees an increase in activity after 3:00 PM as students visit the library to attend programs, socialize, or enjoy a safe space until their caregivers arrive. During this time, different age groups naturally gravitate toward separate areas to connect with their peers. In contrast, summer months bring all-day activity, with families and caregivers frequently using the space together. Rainy days often draw over 75 visitors, highlighting the need for a space that accommodates diverse and high-volume usage.
The goal of this remodel is to create a modern, inclusive, and welcoming space that reflects the library’s commitment to early literacy, access, creativity, and lifelong learning. The redesigned area will support a wide range of activities- such as storytime, play, reading, programming, gaming, group and individual work, eating, and socializing while incorporating the five early literacy practices: play, read, write, talk, and sing.
The estimated budget for the youth area remodel is $600,000, which includes design, construction, installation, and furnishings.
Target Users
Age groups: Babies, infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children, and tweens.
Caregivers: parents, guardians, grandparents, and educators who accompany children.
Languages: English and Spanish.
Areas to be considered for improvement
Total Square Footage: 3,194 Sq. FT
- Youth Hallway
- Youth Area
- Tween Room
- Craft Closet
- Cubicle Office
Remodel Objectives
1. Layout
- Flexible and Multi-Functional Design: Incorporate multi-use, modular furniture and layouts that adapt and accommodate various activities, programs, and abilities.
- Age-Appropriate Spaces: Design distinct zones to accommodate babies/infants, children, and tweens.
- Dedicated Baby Space: Offer a flexible, safe, and engaging area for infants and their caregivers with age-appropriate seating, interactive play elements and low shelving. A space where play, bond, and relaxation can happen.
- Tween Zone: a flexible tween zone that accommodates multi seating and gathering options.
2. Play & Programming
- Integrate multilevel elements that combine play and dramatic play features maximizing both vertical and horizontal space.
- Support a wide range of programming including storytimes, arts and crafts, cooking, STEM activities, class visits, performances, and family programs.
- Incorporate a designated, contained area for gaming that supports social interaction and entertainment for children and tweens.
3. Collection & Displays
- Include shelving that is accessible, flexible, and offers front face browsing. Shelving should be appropriately sized for each age group and allow for face-out display of books for our picture and nonfiction collections. The chapter book collection can be spine out with room for displaying books.
- Shelving that accommodates our growing read-along audio collection.
- Incorporate a space that highlights our unique collection of unusual items for checkout that include toys and storytime kits.
4. Comfort & Accessibility
- Include diverse, playful, cozy, and comfortable seating arrangements for gathering, socializing, breastfeeding, quiet moments for reading, studying, and eating that caters to individual and group needs.
- Ensure the space includes universal design elements that are welcoming, inclusive, and functional. Incorporate wayfinding, visual cues, sensory-friendly features that support neurodiverse users, full ADA compliance, and physical and digital accessibility.
5. Technology Integration
- Storage solutions for our iPads and laptops.
- Child safe charging stations and accessible power outlets.
6. Storage & Efficiency
- Revitalize the entrance hallway to include flexible storage solutions for strollers, backpacks, and library collections.
- Redesign the craft closet with organized storage and a cleanup area for dishwashing and materials. Include accessible, concealed storage for toys, games, and programming supplies.
- Technology Storage: for ipads and laptops.
7. Community Experience
- “Wow” Factor: Deliver a visually stunning and thoughtfully designed space that inspires pride and excitement among staff, library patrons, and visitors.
- Reflect Local Culture: Incorporate mountain culture, bilingual signage, and cultural representation that celebrates Telluride’s diverse community.
8. Aesthetic Vision
- Incorporate elements that withstand heavy use and are easy to clean.
- Color schemes that encourage calmness and joy.
- Soundproofing elements.
Current Space Assessment
1. Strengths
- Natural light
- Diverse collection of materials
- Access to play
2. Challenges
- Limited display space to showcase materials for browsing and discovering resources.
- A lack of seating options for families, caregivers, and groups of tweens, reducing the area’s usability and comfort during peak times.
- The current layout does not make the best use of available space, resulting in limited functionality.
- The absence of a designated, safe, and engaging area for babies and their caregivers.
- Lack of a cozy, quiet area where children can read, study, or do homework without distractions.
- Insufficient space to accommodate strollers, leading to clutter and accessibility challenges.
- A lack of storage solutions for backpacks and other belongings during busy afterschool hours.
- No designated space for social gaming.
- A need for a consolidated project and meeting space with privacy within the staff-only area that allows for privacy and collaborative work.
- The craft closet lacks sufficient organizations and functionality, including space for washing dishes, trays, and other materials after programs.
Collection Overview
The collection is an integral part of the space and takes up a significant amount of the wall area. Our materials are diverse in format and cater to a wide range of interests and needs. Our read-along audio books and unusual items present unique shelving challenges making it important to explore creative shelving solutions that both optimize space and highlight this popular collection.
Total youth materials: 11,751
Youth English collection: 9,978
Youth Spanish collection: 1,676
Youth Unusual items: 97
Technology Overview
At the moment our technology is not consolidated. Integrating it into one area with space for 3 more iPads and 2 more laptops would be ideal.
Total iPads: 22
Total Laptops: 13
RFQ Timeline
- Issued: July 14, 2025
- Walkthroughs: Available by appointment. Contact Peggy Parrish and Gloria
Chavira to schedule. - Submission Due: September 30, 2025
- Submit To:
- Peggy Parrish- pparrish@telluridelibrary.org
- Gloria Chavira- gchavira@telluridelibrary.org
- Format: PDF only
For additional information about library usage data, statistics or building documents, please contact:
Peggy Parrish
Email: pparrish@telluridelibrary.org
Phone: (970)728-4519 ext. 111
Proposals should include:
1. Name of firm
2. Address, contact person, telephone, email, website
3. General statement of qualifications relevant to project background
4. Personnel / Professional consultants proposed
5. List of related projects – status, references
6. Explanation of expertise and features of similar projects designed by firm
7. Description of cost control methods and how cost estimates are determined
8. Fees including information on fee structure, project costs and anticipated
reimbursable costs. Please consider the estimated total project budget of $600,000
when outlining your fee.