PCCLD News

Pueblo library district chooses Gypsy Javas as new café vendor

Pueblo City-County Library District has chosen Gypsy Javas to operate the café inside of the Robert Hoag Rawlings Public Library.

Starting November 1, the Pueblo Library Café by Gypsy Javas will sell hot and cold beverages as well as food at the Rawlings Public Library, 100 E. Abriendo Ave. The café is located on the first floor and will be open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

Gypsy Javas is located down the street from the library district’s main branch at 119 Broadway Ave. Owner Mindy Collins has operated the local coffee shop since 2019 and has 20 years of experience in the food industry. She has owned and operated an upscale, fast casual restaurant in Boulder; worked as an independent restaurant consultant in Denver before moving to Pueblo in 2018.

“I am very excited and proud to enter into a joint venture between the Pueblo City-County Library District and my small business Gypsy Javas. It is our goal to provide on-site numerous blends of coffee, espresso and lattes. We hope this endeavor will be mutually beneficial for the many patrons of the library and Gypsy Javas,” Mindy Collins, Gypsy Javas owner said.

“We are thrilled about reopening the Pueblo Library Cafe at the Robert Hoag Rawlings Public Library. This is an amenity and service that we are committed to providing to our patrons and the community--everyone has missed it in the last few months,” Sherri Baca PCCLD’s executive director said.

The Pueblo Library Café by Gypsy Javas will also offer a catering menu and will be available to cater meetings throughout the library district. Items include coffee, tea and juice in addition to pastries, bagels and lunch sandwiches.

 “We will be serving several deli sandwiches and fresh baked pastries, all of which will be prepared on site,” Collins said.

“It is wonderful that Gypsy Javas will be providing their signature offerings at the library including grab and go items and limited catering for meetings and small events,” Baca said.

The café will employ two-part time and two full-time positions; hiring will be done by Gypsy Javas.

“We welcome everyone for morning coffee, an excellent food menu, and a wonderful space to gather by our beautiful water feature at the Rawlings Library's first floor,” Baca said.

PCCLD is dedicated to serving as a foundation for the Pueblo community by offering welcoming, well equipped and maintained facilities, outstanding collections, and well-trained employees who provide expert service encouraging the joy of reading, supporting lifelong learning and presenting access to information from around the world.

 

Barkman Branch Library renovations begin August 1

PUEBLO, Colo. — Renovations to the Barkman Branch Library are set to begin Tuesday, Aug. 1. The $4.2 million project will involve major improvements including an expanded community meeting room; a bridge connecting the library to an outdoor green space; dedicated spaces for children, teens and adults; and updated security systems.

Located at 1300 Jerry Murphy Rd., the Belmont-area branch is next in line for renovation, according to the Pueblo City-County Library District’s master facilities plan. The 7,063 square-foot branch has seen more than 1.6 million visitors come through its doors and more than 2.7 million materials have been checked out during the past 11 alone.

“I am pleased that the library district is able to continue investing in its facilities. The renovation of the Barkman Library is important for serving the neighborhood well,” Sherri Baca, PCCLD executive director said.

New and expanded public areas include:
 

  • An outdoor bridge will span across the existing drainage storm drain spillway, leading to the green space of the park.
  • Dedicated spaces inside the library for children, teens, adults.
  • A Maker Space for STEM programming.
  • An expanded meeting room. An additional 2,750 square-feet of space will allow meetings for up to 70 persons. The current meeting room capacity is eight persons.
  •  Two new study rooms.

Additional safety measures include:
  • Updated indoor CCTV will provide greater coverage of interior spaces.
  • New outdoor parking lot security cameras that will provide 24/7 monitoring.
  • Environmental sensors in both public restrooms.
  • Additional on-site PCCLD security staff.
  • More public parking and enhanced outdoor lighting.
  • Lower bookshelves that will provide better line of sight for library staff.
“The addition and renovation will increase the size of the library and offer updated spaces, new technology, an expanded parking lot and a beautiful pedestrian bridge connecting the library to the green space nearby. We are focusing on safety measures for the library as well as dedicated spaces for children, teens and adults,” Baca continued.

Funding for the project is provided through library funds and private funds raised.

Leading the renovation are HBM Architects and Interior Designers of Cleveland, Ohio. Pueblo’s own H. W. Houston Construction is charged with managing construction. HBM Architects, along with Denver-based Anderson Mason Dale (AMD), headed the recent renovations to the Robert Hoag Rawlings Public Library.

Barkman Library will remain closed during the renovations; construction is expected to be completed in late spring, early summer of 2024. The public is encouraged to visit PCCLD’s other locations, including:
  • Tom L. and Anna Marie Giodone Branch Library, 24655 U.S. Hwy 50 E.
  • Greenhorn Valley Branch Library, 4801 Cibola Drive, Colorado City
  • Lamb Branch Library, 2525 S. Pueblo Blvd.
  • Library at the Y, 3200 E. Spaulding Ave.
  • Patrick A. Lucero Branch Library, 1315 E. 7th St.
  •  Pueblo West Branch Library, 298 S. Joe Martinez Blvd., Pueblo West
  • Robert Hoag Rawlings Public Library, 100 E. Abriendo Ave.

Named after Frank and Marie Barkman, Pueblo’s first-north side library was constructed in 1990. The Pueblo couple helped fund library projects through a foundation set up to honor Marie Barkman’s first husband Frank I. Lamb. The south-side branch, Lamb Branch Library, is named in his honor.

PCCLD is dedicated to serving as a foundation for the Pueblo community by offering welcoming, well equipped and maintained facilities, outstanding collections, and well-trained employees who provide expert service encouraging the joy of reading, supporting lifelong learning and presenting access to information from around the world.

 

Certificate of Achievement awarded to library district

PUEBLO, Colo. — Pueblo City-County Library District (PCCLD) earned honors from the Government Finance Officers Association for excellence in financial reporting for the sixth year in a row.

PCCLD’s finance department received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its 2021 annual comprehensive financial report. The award is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

Judged by an impartial panel, the report meets the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to communicate the district’s financial story.

Government Finance Officers Association advances excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, resources and practical research for more than 21,000 members and the communities they serve.

 

PCCLD Takes Part in Multilingual Survey
The Library & Information Science Program, Morgridge College of Education, University of Denver, is
conducting a research study about reading and leisure practices of multilingual library patrons. The
study is conducted by Dr. Keren Dali (keren.dali@du.edu).
If you’d like to share your views and experience, we welcome your participation in this anonymous
survey.
 
 
PCCLD Board name new Executive Director
 
PUEBLO, Colo. — The Pueblo Library Board of Trustees named Sherri Baca as the new executive director and librarian for the Pueblo City-County Library District (PCCLD) by a unanimous vote. She takes over the position on October 1 after the retirement of long-time director Jon Walker.
 
Baca has spent seven years with the library district, most recently serving as the associate executive director. She previously served as the district’s chief financial officer and human resources manager. Baca also served as a library trustee. She is the first Hispanic woman to serve in the role. 
 
“This is a dream job for me. I am so happy and thankful to take on this new role and I am excited to work with the library trustees, library employees and our community partners as we work to serve our community. Pueblo loves its public library, we are proud of that relationship and we will work hard to provide exceptional library facilities, materials and programs,” Baca said.
 
Baca holds a master’s degree in library science from the University of Kentucky as well as a master of business administration from Colorado State University Pueblo. She previously served as the executive director for El Pueblo Boys and Girls Ranch and Roselawn Cemetery & Funeral Home.
 
Library board of trustees President Fredrick Quintana said, “The process of selecting PCCLD's next executive director was thorough, ensuring the best effort was made to select a leader who is highly qualified; steadfast and dedicated; committed to the continued success and growth of our libraries and community; a stalwart defender of open access to information and continued education; and who will be a leader committed to engaging with and empowering our amazing PCCLD team members. This board is confident in the selection of Sherri Baca and looks forward to the future of library services in our community. Baca holds a steady but unique vision for the future of our library and an unwavering commitment to the long-term success of our community." 
 
Walker, who retired September 30, served nearly 19 years as the district’s director, beginning shortly after the completion of the Robert Hoag Rawlings Public Library in 2004. During his tenure he oversaw the addition of three new libraries, championed the successful passing of Ballot Measure 6B in 2018, and elevated the library district to achieve state and national recognition. In 2018 alone, the district received the Institute of Museum and Library Services National Medal, was named Colorado Library of the Year and won the Engaging Local Government Leaders Lesley B. Knope award as the Best Public Library in America.
 
A retirement party for Walker will take place at 5:30 p.m. in the Heroes Pavilion at the Pueblo Convention Center, 320 Central Main St. Food, wine, beer and refreshments will be provided. To RSVP, call Rose at (719) 562-5633 or go online to www.pueblolibrary.org/retirementparty by October 21.
 
PCCLD is dedicated to serving as a foundation for the Pueblo community by offering welcoming, well equipped and maintained facilities, outstanding collections, and well-trained employees who provide expert service encouraging the joy of reading, supporting lifelong learning and presenting access to information from around the world.