It’s believed that Benjamin Franklin launched the first lending library in Philadelphia in 1731 while the first free public library opened in Franklin, Massachusetts, in 1790. The first nature library? Thornton, Colorado, August 2026.
The Anythink Nature Library bills itself as “a place where curiosity and care for the natural world take root.” The facility operates similarly to a traditional library, offering a collection of books for borrowing that are mostly centered on nature-related topics.
It also lends hundreds of outdoor items called “TryIts,” ranging from butterfly-catching kits to paddleboards and camping gear, all available to check out.
The only thing you need to check these items out is an Anythink library card, available for free with a photo ID at any Anythink Library location.
The system creates the perfect solution for amateur outdoor enthusiasts who may not want to invest hundreds of dollars in gear as they try out a hobby for the first time, take part in a hobby once or twice a year, or simply want to switch it up from their usual activity.
As the folks at RVtravel pointed out, TryIts are also great for travelers who need to be considerate about storage and weight in their vehicles.
Come for the TryIts, stay for the purposefully curated space itself. Shaped with insight from Indigenous and Native American leaders who serve on the Anythink Nature Library Advisory Council, the facility aims to create experiences in its 33,000-square-foot facility and the surrounding 15 acres.
The building includes indoor and outdoor programming spaces like a nature lab, a bright sunroom, and a calming dark room; an exterior garden that encourages hands-on engagement; an open-air kinship garden; a café with indoor and outdoor seating; and an onsite trail loop.
And for those explorers who want to take their TryIts out for some exploring, the Anythink Nature Library is located at a trailhead to the 140-acre Aylor trail systems. So whether you’re hanging out on the property or venturing out for an expedition, there’s no reason not to “try it.”
READ MORE: Here are Colorado’s 12 best places to camp, according to Hipcamp
