For immediate release: August 7, 2023

Douglas County Libraries is proud to announce that its Community Relations Liaison Lisa Casper received the 2023 Author Advocate Award presented by the Colorado Authors League at an awards presentation on July 30 at the Washington Park Boathouse. CAL members nominate Author Advocates from those who advance the careers of established and upcoming authors, promote literacy and reading, and facilitate access to books and learning.

With this award, Ms. Casper joins the ranks of past Author Advocates Kevin Simpson of the Colorado Sun, Nicole Sullivan of BookBar, and Tattered Cover founder Joyce Meskis.

“It is so special to be recognized by authors and peers, especially when it is a job that I love so much,” Casper said. “When I started working at the Tattered Cover under Joyce Meskis and her team, I knew I loved reading and telling stories, and doing events was a dream job. I’m passionate about advocating for authors and putting books into readers’ hands.”

When Casper began working at Douglas County Libraries 16 years ago, she started doing Book Lovers talks for library customers while continuing to work author events. Through this work and her affiliation with Mountains and Plains Independent Booksellers Association, Casper was inspired to start a service for local authors to share their work, hone their elevator speeches on their books, and network. Today, the library hosts three Local Author Showcase events each year thanks to her efforts.

“In her 16 years with DCL Lisa has exemplified passionate advocacy in her support of authors and their work,” said Douglas County Libraries’ Special Events Manager Kerri Morgan.

“She has helped launch careers, raise profiles, and expose authors to new audiences. One only needs to look at the long list of accomplished authors who consider her a friend to note the impact she has had on their lives and livelihoods,” added Morgan.

Douglas County Libraries will host its next Local Author Showcase on Saturday, November 18, at the library’s Parker location (20105 East Mainstreet). Authors interested in presenting their work are encouraged to fill out an application by emailing Ms. Casper at lcasper@dclibraries.org.

For more information on author and Book Lovers events, visit DCL.org/featured-events.

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

CAL's 2023 Author Advocate Award was presented to Lisa Casper of Douglas County Libraries, who joins past Author Advocates Kevin Simpson of the Colorado Sun, Nicole Sullivan of BookBar, and Tattered Cover founder Joyce Meskis with this award.

Lisa Casper received the 2023 Author Advocate Award presented by the Colorado Authors League at its award ceremony July 30.

Lisa Casper, Community Relations Liaison with Douglas County Libraries.

Colorado author Laurie Marr Wasmund, right, nominated Ms. Casper, for CAL’s 2023 Author Advocate Award.

Colorado author Sandra Dallas, right, attended the CAL awards ceremony on July 30, where Ms. Casper received her award.

For immediate release: August 3, 2023

Douglas County Libraries will celebrate the grand opening of its new Castle Rock library on Saturday, August 26, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., preceded by a Masonic Cornerstone Ceremony at 9:30 a.m. The new library is located at the same address as the former library, 100 South Wilcox Street, and guests are encouraged to park in downtown Castle Rock public parking lots and garages while work continues on the new building’s parking lot.

Grand opening events kick off at 10 a.m. on the outdoor Aloha Plaza East with remarks from library leaders and special guests, confetti cannons, and a breakaway banner as the doors officially open.

“We are back in Castle Rock! The grand opening event will be filled with special ceremonies, delicious treats, entertainment throughout the day, and fun surprises to highlight our beautiful new library and welcome the community in,” said Amber DeBerry, DCL’s Director of Community Engagement.

Guests are invited to browse the stacks, discover all the new and upgraded amenities, and enjoy children’s Storytimes throughout the day, along with light snacks, refreshments, and fun giveaways.

According to DCL Executive Library Director Bob Pasicznyuk, the new library prioritizes spaces for families, working adults, and keeping Douglas County history alive for generations.

The two-story building includes 42,000 square feet of dedicated library space and amenities on par with other DCL locations, such as a drive-through book return, 10 study rooms, five larger meeting and event spaces, two outdoor Aloha Plazas East and West, an interactive children’s playscape, The Ranch, sponsored by Castle Rock Rotary Club, and DCL’s Archives and Local History, its collections, and the new Sjostrom History Lounge reading room. The library also boasts a collection of colorful, nature-themed artwork throughout.

The new building will offer at least 220 parking spots for customers and staff once the parking lot is completed in November.

“This new facility has been paid for through library savings over the past decade and is part of an overall effort to provide our citizens with premium library service across Douglas County,” said Pasicznyuk.

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.

Landscaping and finishing touches are in the works on DCL's new Castle Rock library, opening August 26.

The spacious two-story library prioritizes spaces for families and working adults, including a Kids Corner and state-of-the-art meeting and study rooms.

Public computer station in the new library.

In the children's area, kids can put their imaginations to 'work' on The Ranch playscape, sponsored by Castle Rock Rotary Club.

For immediate release: July 31, 2023

Douglas County Libraries’ former Castle Rock – Philip S. Miller library is coming down to make way for a parking lot for DCL’s new library at the same address, 100 South Wilcox Street. Demolition on the old building has begun and is expected to take six weeks.

According to Rick O’Dell, DCL’s Interim Special Projects Manager, the old building should be a pile of rubble by the first weekend in August. The building’s exterior tilt-up wall panels and roof will be dropped and pushed into the building footprint using earth moving equipment starting at the northwest corner of the building.

The knocked down exterior and interior wall sections and roof debris will be scooped up using earth moving equipment and deposited into large trailers to be removed from the site. Demolition of the concrete floor slab will begin shortly after that.

O’Dell said the entire demolition process will take approximately six weeks. Once the demolition is complete and debris is removed, Fransen Pittman General Contractors will regrade the area to its new elevation, rough-in site improvements for the new parking lot, pour concrete curb and gutter sidewalks, roll asphalt, and put the finishing touches on the new 220-space parking lot, including striping, lighting and landscaping. Expected completion of the parking lot project is by Thanksgiving.

The Grand Opening of the new Castle Rock library is Saturday, August 26, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to use downtown Castle Rock public parking lots and garages while the new building’s parking lot is under construction.

Learn more about the Castle Rock building project and Grand Opening at DCL.org/build.

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

Demolition of DCL's former Castle Rock library has begun.

Demolition of the former library is to make way for a 220-space parking lot for DCL's new Castle Rock library at 100 South Wilcox Street.

For immediate release: July 11, 2023

Douglas County Libraries and Bellco Credit Union are partnering to present an event series designed to help community members build financial security. The 2023 Bellco Credit Union Presents series in August and September includes free seminars, hosted at DCL locations, covering identity theft and wills and trusts.

“This is our third year partnering with Bellco,” said Jaime Gotlieb, DCL’s Community Services and Partnerships Manager. “DCL and the Douglas County Libraries Foundation appreciate the value this partnership brings to our communities.”

DCL already offers dynamic programming for all ages, including diverse classes, seminars, and events. According to Gotlieb, the Bellco Credit Union event series builds on that established foundation by utilizing Bellco’s expertise in financial literacy to give library customers and community members the opportunity to connect and discover new tools for their financial security.

“We hope to reach and engage diverse audiences and promote both organizations’ business and services through this partnership,” said Gotlieb.

The August seminar, Recognizing and Protecting Yourself from Fraud, takes place Tuesday, August 8, at DCL’s Lone Tree location (10055 Library Way), and Tuesday, August 29, at DCL in Highlands Ranch (9292 S. Ridgeline Blvd.).

In September, Bellco Credit Union Presents two additional seminars, Wills and Trusts 101 with Hughes Law Firm, on Thursday, September 7, at DCL in Castle Pines (360 Village Square Lane) and Wednesday, September 20, in Parker (20105 East Mainstreet).

Bellco is Federally Insured by NCUA.

The Bellco event series is free to attend, but registration is required. For more information and to register, visit DCL.org/featured-events.

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

Douglas County Libraries has partnered with Bellco Credit Union to host a series of seminars that connect community members with financial literacy resources.

For immediate release: May 15, 2023

Current library to close May 22 until new library’s grand opening, August 26.

Douglas County Libraries in Castle Rock will soon begin moving into its newly constructed building at 100 S. Wilcox Street, in front of the existing library. The library’s Archives and Local History department closed on May 1 to prepare for its transition to the new building, and beginning May 22 the current library will be closed to the public until the new library opens, scheduled for August 26. There will be no access to ALH or the current or new library during that time.

Castle Rock library customers may visit any other open DCL location to enjoy the full range of library services, programs, and events during the closure. Alternate Storytimes and outdoor Storytime will be offered at substitute locations in Castle Rock. Detailed closure information is available at DCL.org/build.

Meanwhile, construction is progressing on the new building, inside and out.

“We anticipated supply chain issues during COVID and bought out the project’s materials, for things like HVAC, electrical components, roofing material, carpet, and so on,” said Rick O’Dell, Interim Special Projects Manager at DCL. “We warehoused those materials to avoid the risk of schedule delays due to something potentially sitting on a ship off the coast of California. That locked in material prices and allowed us to get ahead of the inflationary curve and availability challenges post-COVID.”

O’Dell said the library’s interior is 95% complete. Carpeting, ceilings and lights are in place, HVAC is running, restrooms are finished, and interior finishing details are being completed. Sorter installation is scheduled to start on June 1.

The exterior of the building is also coming together. All exterior windows are expected to be finished by mid-May, and the new Aloha Plazas East and West are taking shape as the work progresses toward the August 26 Grand Opening.

The new 62,000-square-foot building will include features consistent with DCL’s other library locations, including a drive-through book return, interactive children’s playscape, 10 study rooms, five larger meeting and event spaces, and outdoor Aloha Plazas East and West. The library will also continue to house DCL’s districtwide services teams and Archives and Local History, its collections, and the Sjostrom History Lounge reading room.

Demolition of the current library will begin in early summer to make way for the new library’s parking lot, which will provide a minimum of 220 spaces for customers and staff when completed.

In addition to working with Fransen Pittman General Contractors of Englewood, Colo., DCL has contracted with OPN Architects of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for library design.

Visit DCL.org/build for ongoing updates and information about the building project.

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

Window installation and exterior work are taking shape as construction progresses toward the August 26 Grand Opening.

Exterior work on the new building continues.

Finishing work on the outdoor Aloha Plazas East and West prior to the final concrete pour.

Interior carpeting is in place.