Election Day August 18, 2026
With 2 propositions for our library’s future
Actively supporting over 96,000 residents
Proudly serving residents at our main library in Cheyenne and our branches in Burns and Pine Bluffs, as well as our mobile library, and this website – our 24/7 virtual branch.
Since 1886, our libraries have been a staple in the community, supporting the needs of diverse populations.
Workforce
Families
Students
Seniors
Under-Resourced Citizens
Community Driven
The projects that make up the 6th Penny ballot items are community-driven.
Infrastructure
The library operates under a comprehensive strategic plan and master facilities plan looking out over the next several decades. From those plans, we have isolated the most critical, immediate infrastructure and service needs to be considered for the upcoming ballot.
Enhancement
The library actively listened to our communities through public surveys, focus groups, and community research. This feedback has given us valuable insight into what our community values and where we have opportunities to grow and improve to meet the needs of our residents.
Our community doesn’t stand still, and neither should our libraries.
We work hard to be a resource for traditional literacy (books and periodicals), as well as to provide access and knowledge about the things we all need to understand so we can function in today’s complex world:
Digital technology, data & AI Literacy
Job & Career Literacy
Health & Wellness Literacy
Financial Literacy
This is an important election, and it’s vital that you share your voice in response to these measures that address necessary and community-requested updates.
Prop 3
Prop 3 focuses heavily on structural care, facility repair, and essential maintenance for both Cheyenne and Pine Bluffs.
- Critical facility care for our facilities addressing structure wear and tear
- A new roof to address weather damage from 20 years of Wyoming wind and hail
- New carpets to replace worn carpeting in Cheyenne
- New furniture to replace worn, stained and broken pieces
- Necessary construction to the two buildings in Pine Bluffs to bring them up to code, make them ADA compliant, and make them accessible to the public
Prop 13
Community-requested improvements for both the Cheyenne library and Pine Bluffs branch to boost safety, accessibility and modern functionality.
Cheyenne
- More collaboration, study and meeting spaces
- Retail-like spaces to offer a library of things and non-traditional library collections to enhance resident quality of life (checking out tools, outdoor gear, tech equipment, kitchen and cooking tools, etc.)
- A makerspace (for skill-building, classes, and workshops)
- A creative studio (for local entrepreneurs)
- An enhanced outreach and workforce development center to share with local partners
- Separate newly developed “new adult” and tailored “tween” spaces for age-appropriate services and interactions
- A vibrant gallery to showcase local art alongside a community living room
- Parking lot safety improvements, upgraded outdoor lighting, and other outdoor enhancements
Pine Bluffs
- Fully connecting the two currently separate buildings and expanding up to right-size for current and growing community
- ADA accessibility
- Dedicated children’s and teen space to serve and retain working families who feed the economy
- Coworking, meeting and study space to support business, the workforce and the community
Background
The Community’s Vision and the 6th Penny
During community engagement, Laramie County residents shared their feedback about our facilities. About how our public buildings could help them meet their needs and enhance the quality of their lives. Because these facility projects support more than just traditional book lending, they expand the library’s ability to offer critical, modern skills to live and thrive in a complex world.
What did we hear?
Expanding the Modern Library: Serving as a critical hub for holistic growth—driving not just reading literacy, but digital, financial, civic, and professional development.
Creating Welcoming Spaces: Designing inclusive, and innovative facilities that adapt to our community’s evolving needs. They attract and retain families and talent.
Empowering the Workforce: Fueling the local economy by hosting critical job training, supporting entrepreneurs, and sparking innovation.
Stewardship: Responsibility managed public resources, providing safe spaces, with trained and responsive staff, and took care of and maintained our facilities and kept them up for years to come- they are the jewels of our communities.
Why do these projects matter?
Direct Community Benefits
Modern Literacy Skills: Strengthens community capabilities in digital technology, data management, and AI literacy.
Workforce and Career Readiness: Supports career and workforce readiness through dedicated learning centers, professional development training, and remote workspaces.
Life Skills: Provides resources focused on health and wellness literacy, as well as crucial financial literacy.
Resource Scaling: Allows the library system to scale up digital collections and resources, expand physical access to modern technologies, and provide better, more inclusive community spaces.
Understanding the "6th Penny"
The Specific Purpose Tax
What It Is: Under Wyoming state law, counties can partner with local municipalities to fund specific, long-term capital projects through a voluntary, temporary sales tax. It is not a permanent new tax; it is a mechanism to fund designated capital projects.
Strict Dollar Cap: For the 2026 ballot, Laramie County commissioners approved a total package cap of approximately $170 million across all county municipal projects. Timebound- takes about 4 years to collect the money and it can only be used for the items the voters approved.
Automatic Expiration: Once the specific voter-approved dollar amount for the projects is collected, the tax automatically stops.
Shared Responsibility: This tax is paid by anyone making a purchase in Laramie County—meaning visitors and tourists pay into this tax (40%), ensuring local property owners and residents don’t shoulder the cost alone.
Key Date: The 6th Penny ballot will be decided by voters during the primary election on August 18, 2026.
Great Value: About 40% of the total costs of 6th Penny projects are paid for by visitors and tourists and another 15-20% are paid for by industry. So, for every $1 of long-term investment into the well-being of our community through 6th Penny Projects about .60 cents are paid for by non-residents and non-property owners- That is a great deal!
