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.

For immediate release: November 21, 2019

Douglas County Libraries (DCL) and the DCL Foundation invite the Douglas County community to help fund the future of vital library programs and services that reach youth, adults and families in the county and beyond by donating to the Foundation on Colorado Gives Day, Tuesday, December 10.

Colorado Gives Day is a statewide movement that celebrates philanthropy through one amazing day of online giving. Thanks to Community First Foundation, FirstBank, and other community partners, this day of giving boasts a $1.5 million incentive fund, one of the largest in the country. That means that every nonprofit receiving a donation on Colorado Gives Day, including the DCL Foundation, also receives a portion of the incentive fund—which increases the value of every dollar donated.

For the DCL Foundation, donations are vital for supporting adult literacy programs and ESL tutoring; Operation Paperback; early literacy programs like Cuddle Up & Read; and scholarships for adults in the high school equivalency test prep program and for kids attending Camp DCL, among other programs and services.

Joan VanArsdale was able to send her daughter to Camp DCL’s Cooking Network camp this year on a Foundation scholarship. “Being a single mom, I don’t have the income that I would like to give her all the camps and all the things she would like. So this really gave her the opportunity to do something that she otherwise wouldn’t be able to do,” said VanArsdale.

This year, the Foundation awarded 17 Camp DCL scholarships, giving those families the opportunity to focus on other responsibilities without depriving their children the chance to expand their world. Since Camp DCL’s inception in 2017 more than 40 scholarships have been awarded to qualifying kids.

To schedule a donation to the DCL Foundation for December 10, visit DCL.org/donate. To learn more about the Foundation, visit DCL.org/foundation.

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

Adult literacy programs like ESL tutoring provide a pathway for adults in our community to develop their English literacy skills and thrive.

Camp DCL scholarships help kids ages 5-12 to grow, make new friends, gain confidence, and feel like every other kid.

Cuddle Up & Read provides new parents with a meaningful introduction to the library and its early literacy services.

The DCL Foundation provides scholarships for adults completing their high school equivalency testing, enabling them to achieve their high school graduation goals.

For immediate release: November 12, 2019

Nichole Walters began volunteering for Douglas County Libraries (DCL) at its Highlands Ranch location in 2014. DCL is proud to announce that Walters was recently honored with the 2019 Outstanding Library Volunteer award from the Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL) at its annual conference in Loveland.

CAL’s Outstanding Volunteer award recognizes a current library volunteer who has provided exemplary service over a span of several years. Nominees are evaluated based on their length of service with a library, the impact of their efforts on library staff and users, and the uniqueness of their contributions.

According to Highlands Ranch Branch Volunteer Coordinator Kim McClintock, Walters is well deserving of this award.

“Nichole is always among the first to offer her help,” said McClintock. “She has super-human stamina and is dauntless in the face of obstacles no matter how insurmountable they may seem. She does it all with a quiet dedication that touches lives but seeks no credit or recognition.”

When Walters first started volunteering at DCL, she helped with the Summer Reading Program, the library’s Simple Science series, Movin’ & Groovin’ Storytimes, the Technology Fair, and prepared crafts for library events. Her huge heart and giving spirit soon led her to become a lead volunteer with DCL’s Homebound Delivery program, which delivers library materials to those in the community who are unable to visit the library in person due to illness or injury.

“I love working with the staff at Douglas County Libraries to help support the programs and resources that are available at all of our libraries,” said Walters. “I especially love to deliver books to my homebound patrons. We share a passion for learning and literature, and I am grateful that I can provide materials to them through DCL.”

In 2018, Walters was also instrumental in processing donated materials for online sales through the library’s used book storefront on Amazon. And when the Highlands Ranch branch closed for renovations in late 2018-early 2019, Walters drove 42 miles roundtrip weekly for nearly six months to continue the operation out of another DCL location.

In addition, Walters’ volunteer efforts have helped support the DCL Foundation, which provides Camp DCL scholarships for qualified kids ages 5-12, as well as literacy-based programs like Cuddle Up & Read, which introduces new parents to the library’s early literacy services.

“We are truly honored to have Nichole as a DCL volunteer!” said McClintock.

For information on volunteering at DCL and available opportunities, visit DCL.org/volunteer or volunteerconnectdc.org.

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

DCL volunteer Nichole Walters was honored as the Outstanding Library Volunteer during the annual awards luncheon at CALCON 2019.