A library is classified as a “Tourism Community Library” if it meets two or more of the following criteria:
- The library’s expenditure per capita for their Legal Service Area (LSA) population is over $100. This number is derived from the most recent year of PLAR data found here and here.
- The library is located in a county in which 75% or more of the vacant homes are unoccupied due to seasonal use, which indicates second-home ownership. This number is derived from the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Table B25004.
- The library is located in a community in which 14% or more of the working population is employed arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services. This number is derived from the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Table S2403
- The library is located in a county in which .2% or more of the employed population holds a Summer Work Travel Visa. This number is derived from the U.S. Department of State: Bureau of Cultural Affairs
The following libraries are classified as Tourism Community Libraries as of July 1, 2024*:
- Basalt Regional Library District
- Buena Vista Public Library (Northern Chaffee County Regional Library District)
- Clear Creek County Library District
- Eagle Valley Library District
- East Routt Library District
- Estes Valley Public Library District
- Gilpin County Public Library
- Grand County Library District
- Gunnison County Public Library
- Lake City Public Library (Hinsdale Library District)
- Lake County Public Library
- Lone Cone Library District (Norwood)
- Mineral County School/Regional Library
- Ouray Library District
- Pitkin County Library
- Ridgway Public Library District
- Salida Regional Library (Southern Chaffee County Regional Library District)
- San Miguel Library District #1/Telluride
- Silverton Public Library
- South Routt Library District
- Summit County Library
- Upper San Juan Library District
- Vail Public Library
- West Routt Library District
*Note: Some archive reports available at LRS.org will still contain the prior, smaller group of libraries in the “Resort” category, as it was previously called.
Maps and Comparisons of Tourism Community Libraries
The below maps and tables were created to determine the best parameters to use to designate Tourism Community Libraries (TCL’s.) The libraries listed as “Currently designated TCL?” reflect the changes made as of July 1, 2024. The maps include red pins which indicated tourist attractions such as ski resorts and national parks, as well as airports. These tools were also designed to allow libraries to make visual comparisons with other libraries throughout the state.
