“He was indeed a very special man, he had such a love of reading and of books, and he had an incredible collection of children’s books, most of which came here and were the basis of the children’s section.””

Judy Chasan

NEDERLAND - Seven months ago an artistic project was proposed before the current Nederland Community Library (NCL) Foundation Board. The idea was to honor Dr. Leo Hughes Moir III, beloved community leader and founding member of the NCL, with a seven foot sculpture of a man made of books. 

The artist wasn’t entirely sure how he was going to accomplish it, but the excitement from the Board and from NCL Director Elektra Greer was enough to make the ambitious project a main focus, and —with the help of the community and of friends of Hughes —  a glorious reality, for on Sunday, September 28, 2025, the impressive sight of Book Man was unveiled. 

During Hughes’ tenure as the first Chairperson of the NCL Board of Trustees, the Town of Nederland established the library in 2000. When NCL’s  doors first opened in 2001, it was run by one part-time librarian and a volunteer effort, led by Hughes and the Board. 

With a starting budget of only $36,000, Hughes, the Board, and a newly established NCL Foundation worked to establish the organization’s framework, raise additional funds, and source books for the library’s shelves.   

Officiant for the Book Man dedication and former Chairperson of the NCL Board, Rick Rudstrom, shared a few stories of his friend Hughes, who —along with wife Judy— were two of the first people Rudstrom and his wife met when they moved to Nederland.   

“He was a storyteller with an incredible memory of his teenage years and early youth, and he could weave some of those memories into great stories,” Rudstrom shared.

Local author, historian, journalist, and former owner/editor of The Mountain-Ear Kay Turnbaugh spoke of the early 2000’s, when Hughes was writing weekly columns to the community, keeping them detailed on the progress of Nederland’s first library. 

“They arranged for Boulder Public Library to donate shelving, and to fill those shelves they made a deal for a large donation of children’s books, and a rotating collection of books that our library could borrow at a monthly or bimonthly basis,” Turnbaugh said. 

“The library started with 2,000 donated books, by the time of grand opening on May 12, 2001, the library had grown that collection to 3,500 books. Last year the library circulated almost 42,000 items, both physical and digital.”

NCL Foundation President Susan Kelly shared quotes from some of Hughes’ favorite authors, including Emily Dickinson and Dr. Seuss. Greer read one of Hughes’ columns from August 31, 2000, which begins with the headline “Impact of library will outlast bluegrass.” 

“The lengthy discussion at Nederland Town Council last Tuesday night over the recent NedFest problems overshadowed what, in the long run, may be a more significant event to this community,” Hughes wrote about the night the resolution was passed that created the NCL. 

NCL Assistant Director and Youth Services Librarian Jessie Ansari spoke of Hughes’ understanding of the profound power of stories, and how he advocated for children’s education and literature.

“His legacy lives on in the children’s department at the library. On behalf of the children and countless families who have their love of reading ignited here, a sincere thanks to Hughes,” Ansari said.    

Judy Chasan, Hughes’ wife, was present for the ceremony, and gave her heartfelt thanks to all who attended. 

“He was indeed a very special man, he had such a love of reading and of books, and he had an incredible collection of children’s books, most of which came here and were the basis of the children’s section.”

Judy was joined by her children Debra and Michael, Debra’s husband Dan and son Griffin, and Michael’s partner Julie.   

Local artist Bill Ikler spoke of how Book Man came to life, and remembered Hughes for his sense of humor, particularly with musical tastes. 

Ikler thanked the many community members who helped make Book Man stand proudly and tall, as well as thanked Michelangelo for the statue of David, which served as the inspiration for Book Man’s stature.

With help from Kelly, the library’s archives were dug through in order to source books to make the man, which were arranged by size and then cut in order to make arms, legs, a torso, and a head. Encyclopedias, self-help guides, do-it-yourself manuals, and world atlases make up a lot of Book Man, who was described as a “fountain of knowledge,” and who is currently reading a French novel.

Guests were encouraged to speak to the crowd and share stories of Hughes. Griffin, Hughes’ grandson, mentioned a memory that had always stuck with him, about how his grandfather was also a great writer who once wrote: “If you can read, you can do anything.”