The Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library District sits on 14 acres, giving us a unique opportunity to think beyond the traditional “four walls of the library.” We believe a public library should be more than a building filled with books, computers, and meeting spaces. It can be a place where people learn, gather, explore, exercise, connect with nature, and build community.
Over the past several years, we have worked to transform our outdoor space into an extension of the library itself. Our library campus includes a Community Garden, Sensory Garden, Butterfly Garden, permanent fire pit, solar streetlights, and other outdoor amenities. Each project has been part of a larger vision: making full use of our 14-acre library campus while finding new and innovative ways to serve our communities.
We knew there was still more we could do.
That vision led us to the National Fitness Campaign (NFC) and the Fitness Court & Studio. We applied to participate in the initiative and were selected to join hundreds of NFC partners across the country. In doing so, the Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library District became the first public library in the United States to offer a National Fitness Campaign Fitness Court & Studio.
The Fitness Court & Studio represents a significant expansion of what library service can look like. It provides our residents, students, staff, and visitors with an accessible outdoor space dedicated to fitness, recreation, wellness, and community engagement. Someone can now visit the library to check out a book, attend a program, use a computer, tend a garden, enjoy the outdoors and exercise.
Public spaces and opportunities for health and wellness are increasingly important to strong communities. Encouraging people to get outdoors, stay active, and connect with one another complements the educational, cultural, and social role public libraries have always played. The Fitness Court & Studio allows us to bring those priorities together in one place.
Our partnership with NFC also extends beyond the physical equipment. NFC provided consulting and design services, educational and promotional resources, and complimentary public fitness programming, while supporting the Library District throughout the planning, funding, and activation of the project. Together, we are establishing the foundation for a culture of wellness that can benefit the Glenwood and Lynwood communities for generations.
The Fitness Court & Studio Is Only the Beginning
While we are proud to be the first public library in the country to offer this amenity, the Fitness Court & Studio is not the final destination for our outdoor library campus; it is the first major step in a much larger vision.
Future planning includes expanding our walking trails, growing our Community Garden, and developing an outdoor performance stage. These additions would create even more opportunities for fitness, recreation, gardening, performances, educational programming, community events, and simply enjoying the outdoors.
Ultimately, our goal is to create a library campus where traditional library services and outdoor experiences complement one another. We want our 14 acres to be a community destination where there is something for everyone, regardless of whether they originally came to borrow a book, attend a program, exercise, garden, see a performance, or spend time with family and neighbors.
Libraries have always evolved alongside the communities they serve. For us, that means continuing to ask a simple question: What else can a library be?
At the Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library District, the answer extends far beyond four walls.
- We are a place to read and learn.
- A place to exercise and play.
- A place to garden and explore.
- A place to gather and connect.
- And a place where our community can grow and thrive.
Our library isn't defined by the four walls of our building. It's defined by what we make possible within and beyond them.
by Brian Vagt, Library Director, Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library District