For immediate release: March 2, 2020

Douglas County Libraries in Roxborough (8357 N. Rampart Range Rd. #200) recently launched its new Mission Control playscape, offering kids an out of this world play experience! Located in the children’s area of the library, the interactive playscape invites kids to explore, discover and soar using their imaginations.

Mission Control is a museum-quality installation that features a standalone rocket and other playful facets of a mission control room. Kids can dress up in spacesuits, climb aboard the rocket, run a “systems check,” and prepare for blast-off using their imaginations and the provided play materials, equipment and devices.

“I’m impressed with how busy Mission Control has been in the short time since its installation. There’s an almost constant countdown going on, ‘10, 9, 8, …’” said Roxborough Branch Manager Amy Fischer. “The aerospace industry is such a big part of the heritage of our Roxborough community, and this fits right in with the families who visit our branch, those working in aerospace and other STEM industries.”

For kids, it’s an exciting addition to the children’s offerings at the library.

“It’s a rocketship! Oh, wow!” exclaimed one child, running into the library.

“Those aren’t astronauts, they’re aliens!” shrieked another child.

“Roxborough, we have a problem …” said another.

“There is no right way to play,” said Jaime Gotlieb, interim branch manager lead with Douglas County Libraries. “The playscapes at Douglas County Libraries give children a break from technology and get them back to free play. In Roxborough, kids can create what playing ‘astronaut’ means to them. We offer the pieces, and they show us how they want to use them.”

The Roxborough library is the latest branch of Douglas County Libraries to install this type of self-guided play environment. The Castle Pines branch is home to the Little Letters Post Office, Highlands Ranch features The Market, and Lone Tree offers the Playful Pets animal clinic and grooming spa.

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

For immediate release: February 25, 2020

While many Denver-area summer camps are already near capacity, opportunities abound at Camp DCL! Douglas County Libraries (DCL) is offering a variety of enriching camps all summer, June 1-July 31, at six locations—Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Parker, and Roxborough. Registration for the weeklong camps is open at DCL.org/camp-dcl.

The library’s summer camps give kids ages 5-12 rich learning experiences through a variety of hands-on activities. Campers can explore cooking and baking, coding and programming, experiments in science, art through a variety of mediums, and LEGO building adventures. They’ll not only have a great time, but they’ll also learn new skills, share experiences with new friends, gain confidence, and more!

Parents have the flexibility to choose from half-day camps or full-day camps (at a 10% discount) at select DCL locations. Half-day camps are offered in morning and afternoon sessions, and full-day camps take place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. All camps are facilitated by subject matter experts, and are supported by trained DCL staff and volunteers.

“We’re really proud of the options we offer parents, from the variety of camp subjects and convenient locations to the staff/counselor-to-campers ratio,” said DCL Special Events Coordinator Kristen Kallio. “We want every camper to have a great experience while learning new skills and also having fun.”

While Camp DCL is budget-friendly for families, scholarships may be available from the Douglas County Libraries Foundation for qualified campers.

To register for Camp DCL or to learn more about the summer camps and scholarship opportunities, visit DCL.org/camp-dcl.

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

For immediate release: February 12, 2020

Douglas County Libraries is pleased to present its second Human Library event Saturday, February 29, 1 p.m., at its Castle Rock location (100 S. Wilcox St.). This year’s Human Library features 15 “human books” that can be checked out for candid, personal conversations about unique life experiences.

The human books are members of the Douglas County community who will share their compelling stories, including stories of survival, experiencing judgment or prejudice, and learning to appreciate the present.

“The Human Library makes it easy to start a dialogue and create understanding among community members with different life experiences. Our human books and the people who sit with them one-on-one can share and better understand those diverse experiences,” said Douglas County Libraries Adult Literacy Specialist Tiffany Curtin.

The books for this event were chosen not only for their stories, but also for their willingness to talk candidly with “readers” about them. Readers can “check out” titles such as Aspie Girl, Caregiver, Tiger Mom Turned Youth Advocate, Rocket Scientist, Cocaine Addiction, Search and Rescue, 9/11 Survivor, Service Dog, Homeschooler, Youth Illness, Immigrant, Early Marriage, Homeless, Sustainable Living, and Cancer Survivor. The books will speak only to their own experiences and do not seek to represent others with similar life experiences.

The human books may be reserved for 20-minute, one-on-one sessions; pairs (friends, couples or other related pairs) may attend the same private session. Registration is recommended at DCL.org or (303) 791-7323. Readers who register in advance of the event will be contacted by library staff to schedule a preferred time and book choice.

In the event of a weather-related library closure on February 29, the Human Library will take place on Saturday, March 7, at 1 p.m.

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.

DCL invites the community to have a great summer reading and enjoying fun activities through its Splash Into Summer reading program for all ages!

For immediate release: January 28, 2020

Starting Friday, February 14, Douglas County Libraries (DCL) in Roxborough (8357 N. Rampart Range Rd., #200) will get some TLC in the form of scheduled maintenance and updates throughout the library. Due to those updates, the library will be closed from February 14 through Friday, February 21. The refreshed branch will reopen at 9 a.m. on Saturday, February 22.

During the library closure, customers will have options for managing their holds and returns, enjoying Storytime, and reserving meeting and study space.

• Holds – Library customers who normally pick up held items at Roxborough can send their holds to other DCL branches, or suspend them until the library reopens on February 22.
• Returns – Book drops will be closed during the closure. Customers can either keep their borrowed items until the library reopens or return them to another DCL location. No fines will be assessed for borrowed items during that week. Due dates for items checked out in late January will be extended to accommodate the closure.
• Storytime – Storytimes will be held at Atlas Coffee in Sterling Ranch (8155 Piney River Ave.) on Tuesday, February 18, at 10 a.m. (all ages) and Wednesday, February 19, at 9:30 a.m. (for babies 0-2), and at West Metro Fire Station 15 (6220 N. Roxborough Dr.) on Thursday, February 20, at 10 a.m. (for all ages). Customers may also attend Storytime at any other DCL location during the closure. Visit DCL.org/storytime for information.
• Meeting and Study Rooms – Our spaces in Roxborough will be closed February 14-21. Reservations may be made at other DCL locations via DCL.org/reserve-a-space.

Book donations will also be suspended during the closure. DCL in Roxborough will accept donations again upon the branch’s reopening, February 22.

For information on other DCL locations, visit DCL.org/locations or call (303) 791-7323.

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

For immediate release: January 21, 2020

Douglas County Libraries is once again offering fun and educational spring break camps for kids March 16-20, and more flexibility for parents with the new option to choose the half-day camps or a full-day camp that meets their needs. Registration is now open for the weeklong camps at Douglas County Libraries in Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree and Parker.

“In the past, we offered half-day camps or full-day camps, but this year we’re giving parents the chance to mix it up,” said Douglas County Libraries Special Events Coordinator Kristen Kallio. “We understand that choice is important, so parents now have the option to choose between the half-day camps or a full-day camp at our selected locations.”

The library’s spring day camps give kids ages 5-10 a rich learning experience as they explore cooking, LEGO engineering, and art with experts from Sticky Fingers, Snapology and KidzArt. Through a variety of hands-on activities, campers will have the chance to learn new skills, share experiences with new friends, gain confidence, and more!

Half-day camps are offered in morning and afternoon sessions and cost $175 per camper, and full-day camps are 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. each day for $315 per camper—a 10% discount. While Camp DCL is budget-friendly for families, scholarships may be available from the Douglas County Libraries Foundation for qualified applicants.

To register for Camp DCL or to learn more about the spring break camps and scholarship opportunities, visit DCL.org/camp-dcl or call (303) 688-7627.

Douglas County Libraries will also offer a variety of weeklong half- and full-day summer camps for kids ages 5-11 from June 1-July 31. Registration for summer camps begins Monday, March 2, 2020.

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