For immediate release: February 19, 2019

Douglas County Libraries is pleased to welcome three members to its Board of Trustees. The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners appointed the three new board members on February 12, 2019. Louise Wood, Meghann Silverthorn, and incumbent Ron Cole round out the library’s seven-person board.

Louise Wood is a Highlands Ranch resident and will represent District III. She is a former financial planning and wealth management professional. Wood said she loves working with students and reading great literature, and now teaches at the high school and college levels.

Meghann Silverthorn, a Parker resident, has a diverse background in public and civil service, including 10 years with the Department of Defense and eight years serving on the Douglas County School District Board of Education. She will represent District I.

Ron Cole previously served as vice president on the DCL Board of Trustees. He is a former senior intelligence leader with extensive experience in the intelligence community and has served as a board member of the Colorado Space Business Roundtable and in roles with space-related organizations. He’ll continue to represent District II.

Volunteer trustees govern the library district, with authority given by Colorado library law. Wood, Silverthorn and Cole join current trustees Sean Duffy, Bob Morris, John Beckwith, and Lawrence Falter.

For more information, visit DCL.org/board.

Douglas County Libraries elevates our community by inspiring a love of reading, discovery and connection.

For immediate release: February 14, 2019

With spring break for Douglas County kids just around the corner, Douglas County Libraries is pleased to offer full-day spring break camps that give working parents an affordable child care option while school is out. Parents can register now for their choice of three camps being offered at the library’s Castle Rock, Parker and Lone Tree locations, March 18-22.

The budget-friendly day camps give kids ages 6-11 the chance to try new activities, express their creativity, and build confidence while having fun. In addition, Camp DCL scholarships may be available from the Douglas County Libraries Foundation for qualified applicants.

“Over the years, we’ve participated in several camps around town. The baking camps at Douglas County Libraries provide real cooking lessons, and as a parent, I appreciate that my daughter is getting exposure to new foods,” said Annette Hanowski, whose daughter has attended Camp DCL since its inception in 2017.

“There are so many camps out there that look interesting, but they fail our parental cost-benefit analysis. I’ve found DCL camps to be reasonably priced considering the impact they’ve had on our daughter and the lessons she’s learned. We love them!” said Hanowski.

Douglas County Libraries’ 2019 spring break camps include:

• Culture Camp, Lone Tree. Kids ages 6-10 can explore global cultures through cooking and art.
• Superhero Camp, Castle Rock – Philip S. Miller. Kids ages 7-11 will make a live-action superhero mini movie and engineer superhero vehicles and hideouts with LEGOs.
• Pop Art and Music Camp, Parker. Kids ages 7-11 can express themselves through pop-art projects and by working together to create an age-appropriate music video.

Spring break camps have been expanded to full days, from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, March 18-22, for $325 per camper. To register or learn more about the camps and scholarship opportunities, visit DCL.org/camp-dcl or call (303) 791-7323.

The library will also offer weeklong, half-day summer camps for kids ages 5-12 from June 3-August 2, 2019. Registration for those camps begins Friday, March 1, 2019.

Douglas County Libraries elevates our community by inspiring a love of reading, discovery and connection.

For immediate release: January 31, 2019

Douglas County Libraries has added Memory Care Kits to its collection of nontraditional items that library cardholders can check out. The self-contained kits are designed to engage individuals with memory-related issues and their caregivers, and include books, DVDs, puzzles, games and more.

Memory care is an important issue across the country. According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2018 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, “Millions of Americans have Alzheimer’s or other dementias. As the size and proportion of the U.S. population age 65 and older continue to increase, the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s or other dementias will grow. This number will escalate rapidly in coming years, as the population of Americans age 65 and older is projected to grow from 53 million in 2018 to 88 million by 2050. The baby boom generation has already begun to reach age 65 and beyond, the age range of greatest risk of Alzheimer’s; in fact, the oldest members of the baby boom generation turned age 72 in 2018.”

In Douglas County specifically, 11.1 percent of the population is age 65 or older, which translates to 38,469 citizens. (Source: DemographicsNOW database, Mature Market comparison report 2018A, as of Jan. 31, 2019)

Douglas County Libraries’ Operations Director Sheila Kerber said, “The Memory Care Kits are designed to trigger special memories of life experiences and encourage positive interactions between those affected by memory issues and their caregivers.”

The kits include an assortment of books, DVDs, books on CD, and hands-on activities such as puzzles and games that can help spark conversations and make reminiscing fun, despite any age or generational gaps that might otherwise make communication difficult between caregivers and those with memory issues.

“Each DCL kit is unique, with different resources in each one so caregivers have the opportunity to provide varied experiences for the people in their care,” Kerber said.

Books for caregivers are also included in the kits.

Each Memory Care Kit is self-contained within a sturdy canvas bag and can be checked out for three weeks at a time. The kits are a free resource available through the library’s holds service.

For more information, visit DCL.org or call (303) 791-7323.

Douglas County Libraries elevates our community by inspiring a love of reading, discovery and connection.

For immediate release: January 16, 2019

Douglas County Libraries Introduces Aaptiv Audio-Guided Workouts

The new year brings new active workout options for Douglas County Libraries cardholders. Through Douglas County Libraries’ new partnership with Aaptiv, the #1 audio-based fitness app on the Apple App Store, cardholders can now access trainer-led, music-driven audio workouts for free. Douglas County Libraries is currently the only library in the nation to offer Aaptiv.

Patrons look to public libraries to meet a variety of needs, including entertainment and informational fulfillment. With Aaptiv, Douglas County Libraries gives patrons one more way to use their library, especially at a time when resolutions are made to save money and get fit.

“Douglas County Libraries is about giving the community free access to premium products and services that enhance their lives,” said Collection Development Librarian Andrea Wyant. “The county is full of active people who have access to some of the most beautiful outdoor surroundings in the nation, as well as top-notch rec centers and fitness clubs. This 100-percent audio product complements all of that.”

Aaptiv provides audio fitness classes, guided by expert trainers, that let people make the most of their workouts—at home, the gym, or outdoors. Membership provides unlimited access to more than 2,500 workouts in 13 categories, including running, strength, boxing, yoga, indoor cycling, cardio machines, and meditation.

Every class features inspiring music by well-known artists, so members can move to the music they love. Programs help members prepare for races from 5K to marathon, improve strength or flexibility, lose weight, or reduce stress, while powerful filters let them find perfect workouts by trainer, duration, music genre, or intensity.

Wyant said she was looking to add a fitness app to the library’s digital collection and liked the ratings and reviews Aaptiv received. After trying out the product herself, she reached out to the company. “They were really responsive to our needs as a library, like authentication with library cards,” she said.

Douglas County Libraries cardholders get unlimited access to Aaptiv for three months, for free. Subscriptions are limited.

To learn more or to get started with Aaptiv, visit DCL.org/library-perks or call 303-791-7323.

Douglas County Libraries elevates our community by inspiring a love of reading, discovery and connection.