The Magic of Stories Is on Display at Douglas County Libraries

Posted on December 22, 2022 by melissa

For immediate release: December 21, 2022

Families looking for kid-friendly entertainment during winter break can find it at Douglas County Libraries’ Forest of Stories. The interactive exhibit at all DCL locations includes a twinkling display of trees decked in beloved children’s tales, classic literature, comedy, crime thrillers, mysteries, classic rock, manga, and more, plus life-sized trimmings. The exhibit is free and open during library operating hours through January 7, 2023; no ticket or registration required.

Each library features whimsical trees of all sizes trimmed in themed decor and memorabilia, plus specially coded ornaments that are part of an immersive districtwide scavenger hunt. Customers are invited to visit every DCL location, find the coded ornaments among the trees, and enter those codes online for a chance to win prizes. The more libraries visited and codes entered, the more chances to win.

Forest of Stories offers something for everyone to enjoy over winter break, from tree peeping to playing for prizes. Learn more at DCL.org/forest-of-stories.

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

The Great Gatsby is a highlight in Highlands Ranch.

Different themed Harry Potter trees can be seen at Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, and Parker. Here, the Sorting Hat tree.

Jane Austen, H.G. Wells, and A Christmas Carol add sparkle to Lone Tree.

Oh, what fun in Parker! Trees shown: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Despicable Me, and The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Forest of Stories Interactive Exhibit Shares the Joy of Stories

Posted on November 16, 2022 by melissa

For immediate release: November 16, 2022

Exhibit Opens Nov. 19 at all Douglas County Libraries Locations

Douglas County Libraries is thrilled to introduce Forest of Stories, a free, interactive exhibit of over 120 decorated trees, all dressed up in stories for the holiday season. The twinkling display of trees shares the joy of stories for all ages and includes trees decked in beloved children’s tales, classic literature, crime thrillers, comedy, mysteries, and more. The exhibit is open during library operating hours at all seven locations through the first week of January 2023; no ticket or registration required.

“This incredible effort is part of DCL’s five-year strategic plan to welcome people back into our libraries and to continue inspiring a love of reading, discovery and connection for our community,” said DCL Director of Community Engagement Amber DeBerry.

Each library features themed trees with creative decorations and memorabilia, such as World War II antiques and artifacts, special lighting effects, and large-scale and life-size trimmings, among other unique details and attractions. Customers are invited to visit every location to explore the wonder of stories through an immersive experience, including a scavenger hunt for ornaments with the chance to win prizes.

“Each division in DCL contributed to making this exhibit a success. It was shaped through hard work, collaboration, and a passion for our vision,” DeBerry said.

For more information on the free exhibit, visit DCL.org/forest-of-stories.

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

The wildly popular Harry Potter fantasy novels inspired some whimsical décor on trees at DCL’s four largest libraries.

Where will the Sorting Hat send you? To Douglas County Libraries, of course, and into a Forest of Stories.

Kids (and adults!) will love revisiting favorite Winnie-the-Pooh moments through fun décor and props.

Visit Douglas County Libraries in Castle Rock to experience some classic Winnie-the-Pooh nostalgia.

Summer Reading Unlocks Some Magic for Douglas County Schools and Local Nonprofit

Posted on October 26, 2022 by melissa

For immediate release: October 26, 2022

A little extra cash materialized for four Douglas County schools and local nonprofit AllHealth Network this fall courtesy of Douglas County Libraries Foundation and DCL Summer Reading. Northridge Elementary School, Ben Franklin Academy, Mesa Middle School, and ThunderRidge High School each earned $500 for securing the most Summer Reading sign-ups per school level in DCL’s Summer Reading school contest. AllHealth Network was awarded $1,000 as the nonprofit recipient of the program’s community reading goal.

“We love that we are able to do this for our community, and it’s so fun seeing the kids get excited about reading,” said DCL Special Events Supervisor Kristen Kallio. “The schools all do such a wonderful job, and our summer readers have such a heart for our nonprofit partners.”

Summer Reading encourages reading from a young age and helps to keep kids reading during school breaks, so they grow up with a strong foundation in literacy. Readers of all ages are also encouraged to participate.

Ben Franklin Academy Librarian Deb Williams said the students there will have a say in what new books will be added to the library. “Our students take great pride and get extremely excited knowing that because of them, our library will receive more books,” she said.

Teacher Librarian Stephanie Sjoland at ThunderRidge High School said her school’s prize money will go toward either new books or new seating for the library. “I love that there are reading programs for teens and even adults now, and I had so much fun promoting this with our students last spring,” she said.

Each year, DCL encourages communitywide participation in Summer Reading through the program’s community reading challenge, which benefits a local nonprofit if the reading goal is met. This year, participants exceeded the goal of 8.5 million minutes of reading.

AllHealth Network is a compassionate provider of mental health and substance use treatment, offering a full array of clinical services at 11 locations throughout the South Denver metro area. According to AllHealth Network Clinical Officer Jen Bock, the nonprofit’s prize money will go toward therapists working on evidence-based training and consultation for youth and families.

“In addition to sending therapists through training, we will utilize the money to expand consultation offerings to include more therapists as we currently have a waiting list for this consultation time,” Bock said.

Summer Reading will return in June 2023, along with the school contest and community reading challenge.

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

AllHealth Network was the nonprofit recipient for this year’s community reading goal. Readers logged more than 8.5 million minutes of reading to make this donation possible.

Ben Franklin Academy students love to read. Since school started, they’ve checked out more than 5,700 books, according to Assistant Principal Aric Gomez, pictured with Kristen Kallio and Joan Gandy of DCL.

Mesa Middle School was tops in the middle school category for most Summer Reading sign-ups, earning their $500 prize from the Douglas County Libraries Foundation.

Northridge Elementary students show off some favorite books while accepting their prize for the elementary school with the most sign-ups.

ThunderRidge Teacher Librarian Stephanie Sjoland said they are excited to have won the school contest. Accepting the check are enthusiastic readers and members of the Tabletop Game Club, Battle of the Books, and Book Club, along with librarians Sjoland and Karen DeBlock, teachers Anthonette Klinkerman and Gen Bennett, School Principal Sean Patterson, and SRO Josh Hayes.

New Castle Rock Library Marks Construction Milestone

Posted on September 6, 2022 by melissa

For immediate release: September 6, 2022

The existing Castle Rock library is open during construction.

Construction of Douglas County Libraries’ new building in Castle Rock is progressing, with the latest project milestone celebrated on Thursday, September 1. DCL’s leadership team and staff gathered to sign the last structural beam going up in the building, which was then set in place by construction partner Fransen Pittman. The milestone marks the end of the structural steel phase of the building project.

“It’s hard to believe it was just over one month ago, on August 1, that we set our first steel column, and look where we are today,” said DCL Interim Special Projects Manager Rick O’Dell.

Upcoming construction highlights include the delivery and installation of the library’s grand staircase and second-floor deck pan in early September, followed by installation of the roof deck pan and underground wet utilities.

The new 62,000-square-foot library is going up in front of the existing library at 100 South Wilcox Street and will be 17,000 square feet bigger, with 42,000 square feet of dedicated library space. DCL’s administrative offices and Archives & Local History department and its collections will also be housed in the building.

Features of the new library include 220 parking spaces; a drive-through book return; an interactive children’s play space; outdoor patios and community spaces; high-tech, multi-use meeting, event and study spaces; and other amenities that will serve customers in the growing Castle Rock community well into the future. Meanwhile, the existing Castle Rock library remains open during construction.

Construction by Fransen Pittman General Contractors of Englewood, Colo., is scheduled for completion in fall 2023. DCL has contracted with OPN Architects of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for library design.

Visit DCL.org/build for more information about the building project.

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

Douglas County Libraries’ Executive Library Director Bob Pasicznyuk addresses library staff and guests in celebration of the construction milestone.

Special thanks to sponsors Aloha Fund and the Sjostrom family for their generous contributions to the Castle Rock library build project.

DCL construction partner Fransen Pittman placed the signed beam, the last one up, following the beam signing event.

DCL Brew Tour Offers a Taste of Community and Local Businesses

Posted on August 10, 2022 by melissa

For immediate release: August 10, 2022

Douglas County Libraries is excited to introduce its 2022 Brew Tour, inviting Douglas County residents to connect with the library, each other, and local businesses in the community through September 30. The Brew Tour includes more than a dozen craft breweries and coffeehouses, as well as a number of exclusive events at select partner and library locations.

DCL Special Events Manager Kerri Morgan said the Brew Tour aims to reach Douglas County residents where they are.

“Libraries and breweries are more closely aligned than it might seem,” Morgan said. “Both are community-focused organizations that also serve as community gathering spaces. They both focus on supporting and developing the local economy, and both encourage customers to bond over a shared passion. For libraries, our passion is books; for breweries, it’s beer.”

Brew Tour participants can win prizes and rewards by logging visits to the different participating partner establishments during August and September, and they are automatically entered into DCL’s Grand Prize drawing for a Happy Brew Year, consisting of one premium stainless steel growler filled twice by each participating brewery plus free coffee. They can also earn points toward prizes by attending exclusive DCL-hosted Brew Tour events, like trivia night, craft and sip events, books and authors bingo, beer games, and more.

To date, the Brew Tour has generated more than 620 unique visits to breweries and coffee shops in Douglas County, according to Morgan. The first DCL-hosted event on August 5 at DCL’s Highlands Ranch location included nearly 100 guests ages 21-plus partaking in Harry Potter trivia, with Burly Brewing of Castle Rock on-site pouring craft brews.

Participating in the Brew Tour is a free and fun way to support local businesses and make community connections. For more information and to sign up, visit DCL.org/brew-tour. Must be over 21 to consume alcohol. Please drink responsibly.