In 1966 a Board of Directors was chosen and development of the Park County Public Libraries began.  Books were borrowed from home libraries and purchased with the help of the Woman’s Club.  During the first year, volunteers donated 180 days of service to the new Park County Public Library.

 In 1966 a bookmobile was borrowed, and was then purchased in 1970 for $125.  The bookmobile continued service in Park County as the only library outside of Bailey until 1980 when the old courthouse in Fairplay was remodeled. 

 Beginning in 1967, Mason’s Grocery Store in Bailey, donated a small room where books could be checked out.  In 1970, having outgrown that space, Mr. George New donated space in Rustic Square.  Mr. Gordon Bennett, retired “State Librarian”, was hired as librarian in 1972 and again, the library expanded occupying half (744 sq. ft.) of the building in Bailey that now houses “Mountain Goodies”.  In 1987 the new library was build on Crow Hill on the lower level (3,200 sq. ft.) of the new county offices.  With continued growth the library again needed to expand, and in 1999 the next phase began.  The county offices moved out of the building, which made the upper level (2,950 sq. ft.) available to the library.     

 In 1980, Park County Public Libraries acquired a new bookmobile and parked the old one close to the Lake George Elementary School.  The Lake George community liked that and in 1981, a grant was acquired to help purchase a modular for 1/2 library and 1/2 classroom use. As the school grew, the library moved to a small room inside the school so two classes could use both sides of the modular.  In 1988, work started on the existing library building in Lake George that adjoins the Lake George Charter school.  It was dedicated on November 7,1988 and officially opened in February of 1989. 

 Guffey library was established in 1985 in a 12 x 40 sq. ft. modular building.  The modular was donated to the Re-2 School District of which half was used by the school and the other half by the library.  Following a successful passage of the Re-2 School District bond issue and subsequent plans to remodel the school, the library’s future was up in the air.  It was decided that a new library in Guffey was needed.  In 1998 a new 1,064 sq. ft. building was constructed. 

 By Colorado Library Law, public libraries are required to have a Library Board of Trustees.  Park County has seven members on this board with representation for each established library in the county.  The board’s purpose is to work with the library director in establishing library policy, advising the library director on matters of library direction and service to the communities.  The library board works with the Board of County Commissioners in making recommendations for the library budget and in personnel issues, such as employment of a library director and annual personnel reviews.

 The Board of County Commissioners is directly responsible for the Park County Public Libraries and supervision of the Library Director.

 Twelve part-time employees and the library director, who is a full-time employee with a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Services, staff the Libraries.

 As of the 2007 Colorado Public Library Annual Report there were 3,364 registered patrons, 43966 books and serials, 3767 videos (VHS and DVD), and 2212 audios (music and books on tape and CD).  The libraries offer consumer information, magazines, newspapers, and reference materials.  In addition all the libraries are automated, have Internet service for patrons, copy machines, typewriters, fax machines, and computers for children’s programs.

 The Park County Public Library is a member of the Colorado Library Card, the Colorado Virtual Library (interlibrary loan), and ASCC project (Automation System Consortia Colorado).   “Ask Colorado” is available through the Internet. The library’s on-line catalog allows patrons to renew and reserve books as well as to see what books are available in the libraries.  The library also offers access to the testing database called "Learning Express."