For immediate release December 8, 2016:

Douglas County Libraries (DCL) is looking for volunteer tutors for its English as a Second Language (ESL) program. The majority of students in this program, part of DCL’s Adult Literacy Program, are adult English-language learners with skill levels ranging from beginner to advanced.

In this learner-centered program, volunteers and their students work together to establish goals that fit the lives and interests of each unique student. Tutors are encouraged to build on each student’s current wisdom, interests and knowledge to help them communicate more effectively and confidently.

Tutors are matched with students who have compatible availability and skills, and are not required to speak the language of their students. Ideally, volunteer tutors have a passion for learning and can meet their students at one of DCL’s libraries during normal operating hours for at least one hour per week for six months. Tutors must be at least 21 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent and preferably some college. The need for tutors is highest at DCL’s Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree and Parker branches. Orientations for new volunteers are offered every other month, with optional training and workshops available periodically.

“English-language learners in our program have gained the confidence to enter the workforce and re-enter their professional careers,” says Tiffany Curtin, adult literacy specialist at DCL. “Some have gained the confidence to order meals on their own for the first time; become empowered to meet with their children’s teachers; and gained the confidence to speak in their children’s classrooms,” she adds.

DCL also seeks tutors to help adults working on completing their high school equivalency diplomas, such as the GED or TASC, as well as native English speakers who are learning to read and write.

Interested volunteers can register for an Adult Literacy Program Volunteer Orientation through VolunteerConnectDC.org. For more information, visit DCL.org/Volunteer or call 303-791-7323.

Douglas County Libraries is a passionate advocate for literacy and lifelong learning.

For immediate release November 17, 2016:

Tuesday, December 6, 2016, is Colorado Gives Day, an annual statewide celebration of philanthropy that benefits Colorado nonprofits through online giving. When Douglas County residents donate to the Douglas County Libraries (DCL) Foundation, they’re making a direct impact on funding for programs and services that reach youth, adults and families in Douglas County and across Colorado, including:

• Cuddle Up & Read, where we partner with area hospitals to introduce new parents and their babies to the library and early literacy, setting the stage for lifelong learning.
• Interactive Storytimes, which prepare youngsters to read.
• Battle of the Books, where kids in grades 3-6 engage in reading-based competitions that promote comprehension and knowledge.
• Kids’ camps that keep kids active and learning during school breaks.
• Summer Reading, which keeps kids mentally engaged all summer long.
• Programs for seniors, which help keep these individuals intellectually engaged and contributing to their communities well into their golden years.

Our seven libraries are critical to education, neighborhood development, workforce development, and economic development.

When residents schedule their donation to the DCL Foundation for Tuesday, December 6, the giving goes even further! DCL earns part of a $1 million incentive fund that’s based on the single day’s donations, and that helps DCL add the magic to our programs and services and build bright futures.

Visit the Douglas County Libraries Foundation profile on ColoradoGives.org to schedule a donation for Colorado Gives Day, Tuesday, December 6. For more information, visit DCL.org/Colorado-gives-day or call (303) 791-7323.

Colorado Gives Day is presented by Community First Foundation and FirstBank.

Douglas County Libraries is a passionate advocate for literacy and lifelong learning.

For immediate release October 21, 2016:

Castle Rock’s “lighting of the star,” presented by the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce, is a community event with a storied history dating back to 1936. This year’s Starlighting event takes place on Saturday, November 19, and Douglas County History Research Center (DCHRC) is seeking photos and other historical documentation of the star and this event from Douglas County residents for its Starlighting collection.

“The library is not just a place of learning, it’s also a place of history for all Douglas County residents,” says Adam Speirs, archivist with DCHRC, a service of Douglas County Libraries. “We want to build on that history by developing a more robust Starlighting collection.”

Of particular interest, says Speirs, are photos of the star following World War II. When the war ended on August 14, 1945, the star was converted into a V for victory—reportedly the first and only time it was lit as something other than a star. “We would love for residents to dig out their old photos, as well as their more current ones, and share them with us,” Speirs says.

Photos and other documents can be uploaded directly to the DCHRC’s website at DouglasCountyHistory.org beginning November 10. Residents can provide details on their photo/document submissions via an online form on the same page. They may also visit the DCHRC at Douglas County Libraries in Castle Rock (Philip S. Miller branch, 100 S. Wilcox St.) with their historical pieces as well.

The Douglas County History Research Center collects and preserves the history of Douglas County, the High Plains, the Divide area of the Front Range, and the State of Colorado in order to provide historical research resources to the public. For more information, call 303-688-7730.

Douglas County Libraries will host Starlighting Santa and Puppet Shows and History of the Castle Rock Star at its Castle Rock branch to coincide with the Castle Rock Starlighting. Visit the Castle Rock location page at DCL.org and click on Castle Rock Events Calendar for more information or to register.

Douglas County Libraries is a passionate advocate for literacy and lifelong learning.

For immediate release August 10, 2016:

Douglas County Libraries (DCL) will host its third annual Great Douglas County Brew Tour during the month of September, inviting Douglas County residents to experience their library in fresh ways. DCL is all about the brew this year, partnering with 10 craft breweries to promote local businesses and their products.

This year’s tour includes two new breweries, both in Castle Rock: 105 West Brewing Company and Castle Rock Beer Company. The tour’s featured events happen each Wednesday in September, including beer-themed author events, live music, brew-inspired crafts, and—of course—tappings. And DCL has added a bonus Tuesday-evening event this year, as well.

“September is a great time of year to be a craft-brew lover in Colorado,” says Kerri Morgan, program and events supervisor at DCL. “The number of stops on our Brew Tour has grown by more than 40 percent since the tour’s inception in 2014. We’re so fortunate to have such great places in Douglas County to enjoy these specialty brews.”

Joining the Brew Tour is free, requires visiting only five of the 10 participating breweries during September to complete the Brew Tour passport, and entitles the holder of a completed passport to a commemorative pint glass courtesy of DCL. Brewery visitors can enjoy locally brewed craft beers, the aforementioned events and attractions, and opportunities to win prizes.

Several of the participating breweries will craft special, limited-edition brews to be tapped in September specifically for the DCL Brew Tour, including a Belgian Dubbel from Elk Mountain Brewing. Library patrons can tap their creativity to help name these brews and win prizes, VIP treatment at the tapping parties, and library fame. The naming contest is currently underway on the DCL Facebook page at Facebook.com/DouglasCountyLibrariesColorado through August 28.

The Great Douglas County Brew Tour is DCL’s contribution to Outside the Lines, an annual Colorado library-led initiative to reintroduce libraries to their communities in creative and innovative ways. More than 200 libraries across the globe will participate in Outside the Lines during September, hosting events intended to get people thinking and talking about libraries in fresh ways.

Participating breweries include:

• 3 Freaks Brewery – 7140 E. County Line Rd., Highlands Ranch
• 105 West Brewing Company – 1043 Park St., Castle Rock
• Barnett & Son Brewing Company – 18425 Pony Express Dr., Parker
• Castle Rock Beer Company – 514 Perry St., Castle Rock
• Elk Mountain Brewing – 18921 Plaza Dr., Parker
• Grist Brewing Company – 9150 Commerce Center Cir., #300, Highlands Ranch
• Hall Brewing Company – 10970 S. Parker Rd., Parker
• Living the Dream Brewing Company – 12305 N. Dumont Way, Littleton
• Lone Tree Brewing Company – 8200 Park Meadows Dr., #8222, Lone Tree
• Rockyard Brewing Company – 880 Castleton Rd., Castle Rock

Scheduled events include:

• Toasted Coconut Brown Ale tapping and Brew Tour kickoff, featuring live music, at 6 p.m., Wednesday, August 31, at Lone Tree Brewing Company.
• Belgian Dubbel tapping and The Chocolate Therapist (beer and chocolate pairing), 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 7, Elk Mountain Brewing
• Saison tapping and author Ed Sealover (“Colorado Excursions With History, Hikes and Hops”), 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, September 13, 105 West Brewing Company
• Craft(y) brews: Pinterest- and brew-inspired crafts, 6 p.m., Wednesday, September 14, 3 Freaks Brewery
• Coffee Stout tapping and author Ed Sealover (“Colorado Excursions With History, Hikes and Hops”), 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 21, Barnett & Son Brewing Company
• Peach Cobbler Ale tapping and The Chocolate Therapist (beer and chocolate pairing), 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 28, Living the Dream Brewing Company

Douglas County Libraries is a passionate advocate for literacy and lifelong learning. For more information, visit DouglasCountyLibraries.org, or like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/DouglasCountyLibrariesColorado.

For immediate release August 3, 2016:

Douglas County Libraries (DCL) in Parker will celebrate its Grand Opening on Saturday, September 24, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The beautifully appointed new building, located at 20105 East Mainstreet, is the last of DCL’s three new locations to open — capping a successful campaign to launch dynamic new libraries and services that enhance lifelong learning.

The Grand Opening ceremony at 11 a.m. will include remarks from DCL Executive Director Bob Pasicznyuk, Parker Branch Manager Amy Long, and Town of Parker Mayor Mike Waid, as well as the hitching post dedication to Parker’s Kime family. A few other fun surprises are planned!

Prior to the library’s opening ceremony, a community bookworm will happen from 9-11 a.m. This human chain will help move the last books from the old location to the new one. Everyone in the community is invited to participate in this 0.8-mile chain, and registration is required at DouglasCountyLibraries.org/NewsEvents. We’ll use a drone to capture aerial photos and the bookworm’s progress along the route.

Once open, the library will host ongoing activities throughout the day, and light refreshments will be served. Three Storytimes are planned at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

“The Grand Opening will be an event to remember — the perfect opportunity for the community to build new memories in a more patron-friendly space,” says Branch Manager Amy Long. “We’ve added new materials to the collection, but more importantly, we’ve greatly expanded the space for patrons to sit, read, study and meet. We can’t wait to show them around!”

With nearly 42,000 square feet of space on two stories, there’s something for everyone at this library. Kids can enjoy a dedicated area for interactive play and Storytimes, all library cardholders can play (or work) in the digital creativity lab, and students and professionals can collaborate in high-tech study rooms and meeting spaces. The lounge features café-style seating and laptop vending, and the adjacent learning commons offers adults and students the space to engage in diverse learning activities. The upstairs den with fireplace offers a quiet respite from the more well-traveled areas of the building.

Patrons will also enjoy the library’s drive-through book drop and increased parking — approximately 163 spaces at the building, with more accessible in an adjoining park.

“The Parker community loves its library, but hasn’t always loved how difficult it’s been to get in and out of. We designed the new building with them in mind, providing much more parking; easier browsing of materials; nearly triple the space to sit and stay awhile; and more study rooms, meeting rooms and event space,” Long says.

The current library location will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 31, in preparation for the move to the new building. Storytimes during the closure will be held at the Parker Schoolhouse, 19650 E. Mainstreet, at 10:15 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, September 6-22.

Douglas County Libraries is a passionate advocate for literacy and lifelong learning.