Aurora officials unveiled a comprehensive master plan on Tuesday that includes new libraries and almost $13 million in maintenance costs over the next two decades.

The comprehensive plan, which has been in the works since January, includes five areas of focus chosen to guide the future of the city’s library system. It includes facilities evaluations, community feedback, staff input and city growth mapping, according to the Aurora Public Library.

Last month, Aurora closed two libraries in its system: Chambers Plaza at 1551 Chambers Road and Iliff Square at 2253 S. Peoria St. The city reassigned staffers to the Central and Martin Luther King Jr. libraries.

Closing the two libraries helped the city shift money and resources to the Martin Luther King Jr. Library located at 9898 E. Colfax Ave., according to Aurora Public Libraries Deputy Director Jo McNeal. The closed libraries were also in “close proximity” to bigger libraries with more resources, officials said.

Following the library closures, Martin Luther King Jr. Library opened up a new space upstairs in early November that doubled its size.

Aurora Central Library, which is located at 14949 E. Alameda Parkway, is up next on the renovation roster, with a $3 million in federal grant that will go toward expanding youth services and other amenities.

Aurora Public Library has a total of seven branches and one bookmobile. Last year, the system attracted 560,000 visits. 

Areas of focus for the library system’s future include resource and access navigation, comprehensive skills and literacy development, community building, digital equity and access, and passion and culture cultivation, the news release said.

Currently, libraries are short-staffed, have outdated technology and facing space constraints at some branches. They also lack outlets and chargers, findings in the master plan study showed.

A facilities assessment showed $12.8 million in financial need for the city’s five current libraries, including capital improvements and deferred maintenance.

The master plan also recommends new library construction in relation to planned city growth.

Aurora’s current population sits at 405,700 and is expected to increase to 423,900 by 2029 and exceed 500,000 by 2040, according to the master plan.

Library officials thought of several location options for future new libraries, including one in Adams County and two in Arapahoe County. The first proposed new library in northeast Aurora would cost about $18 million.

The master plan also provides guidance for Build Up Aurora Infrastructure Task Force, which was created to develop long-term solutions for maintaining city infrastructure and providing for Aurora’s future needs.

“Completing this Strategic and Facilities Master Plan marks a pivotal moment for Aurora Public Library,” Ginger White Brunetti, director of Library and Cultural Services, said in the release. “Our community showed up in extraordinary numbers to help shape this vision. This plan gives us a clear, long-term roadmap to ensure our libraries remain vibrant, equitable and future-ready spaces for all Aurora residents.”

A bilingual community survey sent out by library officials collected more than 2,700 responses.

“With a renewed vision and mission, we’re charting a path that expands access, deepens learning and strengthens community connections across Aurora,” McNeal said in the news release. “The facilities assessment makes clear that modern, flexible and welcoming library spaces are essential to meeting our residents’ expectations.”