'Sacred place': Bozeman Children's Library to undergo $1 million renovation

“This room belongs to the children.”

That’s the ethos of the Children’s Room of the Bozeman Public Library. The space is a colorful combination of books, games, toys, crafts, and plenty of art on the walls and the ceilings.

And now this room will enter a new phase as it undergoes a $1 million renovation.

The design is being finalized over the next few months, then the library will put out a contract for bid. The team is hoping to “break carpet” in mid-fall. Library officials don’t have any firm dates, but the project will take roughly 12 weeks. A temporary space for children’s materials will be set up in the community room.

The footprint of the room will stay the same, but the interior will look entirely different.

Most of the $1 million price tag is coming from the Bozeman Library Friends and Foundation. The group has raised a little more than half and hopes to secure $100,000 through the Give Big campaign, set for April 30 and May 1 for 24 hours.

“We’re hoping that people will chip in because this is such a beloved space and used by so many families in the community,” said Janay Johnson, executive director of the Friends and Foundation.

In early November 2025, the library received public feedback about the renovation.

“Folks wanted a colorful, cheerful, bright children’s room,” said Head of Youth Services Ellie Newell.

The new room will reflect the colorful wildflowers of the Bridger Mountains with pops of pink, yellow, and purple alongside natural wood elements and lush greens.

“Intentional play” is an important part of the children’s room, and the new design will help encourage that, library officials said, adding that letting kids play and feel comfortable helps improve early childhood literacy.

Other new features will include an expansion and reorganization of the staff room, accessible changing tables for taller children, different furniture, better sight lines across the space, and improved acoustics.

There will also be designated space for STEAM activities, which stands for science, technology, engineering, art and math. “Big Kid STEAM Play” is a monthly event meant for older kids and their families, and Newell said they need a “flexible, durable space” for these activities.

{span class=”TextRun SCXW229274624 BCX0” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US” data-contrast=”auto”}The children’s room is a popular part of the library. Last year, it saw {/span}{span class=”TextRun SCXW229274624 BCX0” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US” data-contrast=”auto”}135,435 visitors. Some 42% of total library visitors entered the children’s room. {/span}{span class=”EOP Selected SCXW229274624 BCX0” data-ccp-props=”{“} {/span}

“This is a really sacred place. A lot of families have seen their kids grow up in this space,” said Newell.