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.

For immediate release August 5, 2016:

Douglas County Libraries (DCL) will host an evening with The New York Times’ bestselling author Sandra Brown at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, August 19, at its Castle Rock location (Philip S. Miller branch, 100 S. Wilcox St.). Brown will discuss and sign her latest thriller, Sting.

Brown has dominated the thriller market over the last 30 years, with over 80 million copies of her books in print worldwide. Her seductive, heart-pounding plotlines mixed with her developed, relatable characters have made her one of the best writers in the genre.

About the Author

Brown is the author of more than 65 New York Times bestsellers, including Mean Streak, Lethal, Tough Customer and Ricochet. Her work has been translated into 34 languages. In 2008, Brown was named Thriller Master by International Thriller Writers—it’s the organization’s top honor. In 2007, she received the Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America Lifetime Achievement Award. Brown was also the 2012 president of the Mystery Writers of America.

To register for Brown’s book talk and signing, visit DouglasCountyLibraries.org or call 303-791-7323. Books will be for sale at the event courtesy of Tattered Cover Book Store.

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

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. For more information, visit DouglasCountyLibraries.org.

For immediate release July 25, 2016:

Douglas County Libraries Seeks Storytellers

Douglas County Libraries is seeking volunteers to bridge the generation gap by helping children learn through oral storytelling.

Spellbinders are seasoned volunteers, ages 50 and up, who stay young at heart by telling stories to children in Douglas County schools. A four-session Spellbinders training will be held at Douglas County Libraries in Castle Rock (Philip S. Miller branch, 100 S. Wilcox St.) from 1-4 p.m. on: Tuesday, September 20; Thursday, September 22; Tuesday, September 27; and Thursday, September 29. This training will discuss the importance of storytelling and give participants many opportunities to practice telling.

No prior experience or special talent is required of these storytelling volunteers. “Stories are wonderful gifts to give children,” said Laura Olson, childhood literacy specialist for Douglas County Libraries. “As humans, we are all hard-wired to share these skills.”

Douglas County Libraries is a passionate advocate for literacy and lifelong learning. For more information or to register for Spellbinders training, contact Laura Olson at 303-791-7323 or visit DouglasCountyLibraries.org.