For immediate release: June 22, 2021

Douglas County Libraries is pleased to offer customized birthday parties for kids ages 2-7 at its library locations and beyond, making birthday celebrations a breeze for busy parents. The library’s parties incorporate the love of stories and play in three fun themes: Once Upon a Time, Fantasy and Folklore, and Things That Roar. And dress-up is always encouraged.

Parents have options when choosing to celebrate with DCL, from the traditional in-library party to birthday party kits to go that are perfect for summer celebrations. The in-library parties, offered at DCL’s Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Parker, and Roxborough locations on Saturdays and Sundays, are two hours and cost $195 for up to 12 children (including the birthday child). DCL’s professional event planners handle all party planning, cleanup, and on-site coordination.

DCL’s to-go party kits are a handy option for parents who choose to celebrate at home or outdoors and may be picked up from any DCL location for $50. The kit offers an optional inflatable water slide rental (available through Labor Day) for an additional $70 fee, which includes delivery and on-site setup, and an optional decorate-it-yourself dessert from a local bakery for an additional $25 fee.

The in-library parties and to-go kits include the choice of three fun party themes and décor, a gift book for the birthday child, age-appropriate goody bags with snacks and toys, age-appropriate activities and crafts, thank-you notes for use after the party, and more.

Visit DCL.org/birthday-parties for more information on each option or to book a party, or call (303) 688-7605.

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

DCL birthday parties are stress-free and mess-free for parents, and extra fun for kids.

Inflatable water slide rental is an option with DCL's Birthday Celebrations to-go kit. This one is sized for ages 2-6.

The shark slide is a new water slide option that can be rented with the Birthday Celebrations kit. It is sized for ages 3-10.

For immediate release: June 8, 2021

You could hear the excitement and the glug-glug of faux automotive fluids flowing at the grand opening of the U-Fix-It Pit Stop auto shop at Douglas County Libraries in Parker (20105 East Mainstreet), the library’s newest interactive children’s playscape. The museum-quality installation, which opened in the children’s area June 3, features a standalone car and playful facets of a real-life auto shop.

Working out of the shop’s tool box and from the service desk, kids can act out all kinds of automotive servicing activities using their imaginations and provided play materials, equipment, and devices. If they can imagine car troubles, they can fix them!

Kids can trigger a variety of sound effects when they get under the hood of the lift-mounted car to add fluids (glug-glug), change the air filter, and check the battery and oil level. They can use the creeper to roll under the vehicle to replace the muffler and tailpipe, and they’ll have fun changing the tires using lug nuts and a realistic-sounding pneumatic drill.

There’s so much play work to be done! One mini mechanic was overheard saying, “OK, I think it’s time to repair the whole thing.”

Children will also enjoy the variety of colorful personalized license plates and bumper stickers they can add to the car.

The Parker library is the latest Douglas County Libraries location to install this type of self-guided play environment for children. Other playscapes at the libraries include The Market at Highlands Ranch, Playful Pets animal clinic and grooming spa at Lone Tree, Little Letters Post Office at Castle Pines, and Mission Control at Roxborough—all of which are now open for play, along with all Douglas County Libraries locations.

The play spaces at Douglas County Libraries offer a hands-on, interactive break from technology for kids, where their imaginations have no limits. Visit DCL.org or call (303) 791-7323 for more information.

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

U-Fix-It Pit Stop auto shop is now open in the children's area of the Parker library.

Kids can 'work' out of the provided tool box and from the service desk in the auto shop.

Imagine replacing a muffler or tailpipe at the library... Kids are getting a kick out of automotive repair work.

Kids can trigger a variety of sound effects when working on the car, like the glug-glug of adding fluids.

Changing a tire is a snap with the provided lug nuts and realistic-sounding pneumatic drill.

Little Letters Post Office at Castle Pines delivers fun when kids use their imagination.

Spacesuits, a rocket, and Mission Control...it's all the kids need for a fun day of exploration at DCL in Roxborough.

DCL's Playful Pets animal clinic at Lone Tree is a great source of discovery for kids who love pets.

The Market at Highlands Ranch is open. Today's special: fresh fun in the produce section.

For immediate release: May 12, 2021

The Douglas County Libraries (DCL) Foundation is racing in the 25^th annual Ducky Derby, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Castle Rock. The Foundation is competing in the virtual Ducky Race for a $1,000 prize against five other nonprofits. The nonprofit with the most cheers by June 13 (Ducky Derby day) wins!

The Foundation’s competitor is Duckleberry Finn, who is racing to inspire a love of reading, discovery and connection (special thanks to Amanda J. from Instagram, who suggested the name via @dclcolorado). This summer, Duckleberry’s taking his adventures into the galaxy, trading the Mississippi River for the Milky Way to inspire a space-themed summer reading program. Duckleberry also puts donations to good use by making sure that kiddos can attend seasonal camps on everything from physics to cooking and art; adults have the help they need to obtain their GEDs; and that the tiniest tots are welcomed to earth with new books and library cards.

People can cheer for Duckleberry Finn by purchasing raffle tickets online for the Ducky Derby, $5 per ticket, or by making a donation to the Castle Rock Rotary. Once the online purchase or donation is made, people may cheer for Duckleberry or any nonprofit in the race.

“It is exciting to be part of the derby and we want to get as many cheers as possible,” said Jaime Gotlieb, Community Services and Partnership Manager at DCL. “I hope people will cheer us on and spread the word. These cheers may help further support DCL’s mission as well as the Rotary.”

To cheer on Duckleberry Finn in support of the DCL Foundation, purchase a raffle ticket online by June 13.

About the Douglas County Libraries Foundation

The DCL Foundation delivers funding and resources to help sustain the Douglas County Libraries to positively impact our community members so they can grow and thrive. For more information, visit DCL.org/foundation.

About Rotary Club of Castle Rock

Rotary Club of Castle Rock is a local community service organization that believes in Service Above Self. The club has distributed an average of $50,000 per year to nonprofits to support basic needs, emergency support, victims assistance, education, and related projects. For more information, visit RotaryClubofCastleRock.org.

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

Camp DCL scholarships through the DCL Foundation give kids the chance to play and learn at the library's weeklong spring and summer day camps.

Cuddle Up & Read provides new parents with a fun and meaningful introduction to the library and its early literacy services, including small gifts for mom and baby and an invitation to get baby's first library card.

The Foundation provides financial support for programs like High School Equivalency testing, giving adults the chance to achieve their high school graduation goals.

DCL's annual summer reading celebration encourages kids to start reading at a young age, and keeps them reading during school breaks, so they grow up with a strong foundation in literacy.

Duckleberry Finn is racing in the Castle Rock Rotary’s 25th annual Ducky Derby for a $1,000 prize for the DCL Foundation. The Foundation supports library programs like Camp DCL, Cuddle Up & Read, High School Equivalency testing, and Summer Reading.

For immediate release: April 26, 2021

Douglas County Libraries’ annual summer reading celebration is going To Books & Beyond in 2021! Pre-registration for Galaxy DCL begins Saturday, May 1, at DCL.org and the program officially kicks off Saturday, June 5.

“We’re thrilled to be open for Summer Reading,” said DCL Special Events Supervisor Kristen Kallio. “It’s such a fun tradition for us, and a great way to spark new enjoyment of reading for all ages. This year we feel it’s especially important for kids and helping them maintain their educational achievements from a pretty unusual year of learning.”

Summer Reading kickoff celebrations will be held June 9-11 at various locations throughout Douglas County, including the libraries and other outdoor venues, with treats, activities, and special guests from the Space Foundation.

All participants who pre-register for Galaxy DCL will be entered into the library’s 10 Days of Giveaways prize drawings in June, and will receive other fun sign-up prizes, including coupons to Rocket Fizz and Parry’s Pizza, and goal-based prizes all summer. The annual school contest for the most sign-ups is back, and this year’s community reading goal of 8 million minutes read benefits the Douglas Land Conservancy with a $1,000 gift, courtesy of the Douglas County Libraries Foundation, if met.

Summer Reading joins Outdoor Storytime in welcoming DCL customers back to in-person events and experiences. Kids Corners in the libraries are now open, and playscapes will reopen this spring. DCL’s Parker location will debut its brand-new playscape, U-Fix-It Pit Stop, this summer.

For more information on Summer Reading and other library events, visit DCL.org or call (303) 791-7323.

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

Reading for fun is what DCL's Summer Reading celebration is all about!

For immediate release: March 24, 2021

The Archives & Local History department at Douglas County Libraries (DCL) is excited to launch HistoryGeo, an interactive database for mapping land patent recipients, Douglas County historic sites, and other resources that can aid genealogical and local history research. HistoryGeo is conveniently available to customers remotely as well as from any DCL location with the use of a library card.

Through HistoryGeo, users can search by surnames, geographical features, place names, or latitude and longitude. Search results are displayed on interactive maps with modern street overlays, and results are linked to Bureau of Land Management records, Google maps, and DCL Archives & Local History materials. A growing list of local history markers are available to aid research into Douglas County historical sites.

Visit DCL.org/research/all-databases to connect to this unique and free resource.

For more information, call DCL’s Archives & Local History department at (303) 688-7730 or email localhistory@dclibraries.org.

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

HistoryGeo search results are displayed on interactive maps with modern street overlays, as shown in this screen capture.

Archives & Local History staff are available by appointment to assist with local history research.