Branches
- Castle Rock - Philip S. Miller
- Castle Pines
- Lone Tree
- Louviers
- Highlands Ranch
- Parker
- Roxborough [12]
| Douglas County Libraries | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1966 |
| Location | Douglas County, Colorado, U.S. |
| Branches | 7 |
| Collection | |
| Size | 689,000 |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 8,055,060 |
| Population served | 292,167 |
| Other information | |
| Director | Robert (Bob) Pasicznyuk |
| Staff | 336 |
| Website | https://www.dcl.org |
Douglas County Libraries is a public library system created in 1966, serving Douglas County, Colorado, in the United States. It currently operates seven branches over a combined population of approximately 300,000 residents, and offers a variety of library services as well as public local archives for the county and education services. The library system also has partnered with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife system to offer state park passes which can be checked out with a library card.
Douglas County Libraries was established in November 1966, when the Douglas County Board of Commissioners appropriated $5,000 for library operations for the following year. [1] [ page needed ] Philanthropist Philip S. Miller and his wife, Jerri, donated $25,000 for library construction in May 1967. [2] [ page needed ] The library opened at a temporary space at 311 Third St, Castle Rock, Colorado in August 1967. [3] [ page needed ] On May 2, 1969, the library moved to a more permanent location at 303 N. Gilbert Street in Castle Rock. [4] [ page needed ]
The first book depository in Parker, Colorado opened in a small building, which no longer exists, on the north side of Main Street. The building was generously leased to the library volunteer staff by the late Charles O'Brien for $1. [5] [ page needed ] When a fire damaged the building which housed the Parker book depository, the library moved to the basement of the Ruth Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church; it officially became then part of the Douglas County Public Library System.
In June 1980, the Library Board announced plans to rename Castle Rock Library after Philip S. Miller. [6] [ page needed ] Formal dedication occurred on August 8, 1980.
The Parker branch moved to 19801 East Main Street with a dedication ceremony on June 7, 1985.
In March 1990, the Douglas County Public Library District was formed by voters, creating an independent taxing district to fund library operations. November 1990 saw the advent of patrons' ability to dial into the library from their computer modems to view the libraries' electronic catalog. By 1991, patrons were able to put holds on books through their home computers/modems.
In 1992, Douglas County Libraries became the first Dynix public library in Colorado to connect to the Internet.
Philip S. Miller died at age 99 in June 1995. The library district receives approximately $150,000 per year from its 10% share of the Miller Charitable Trust Fund. Also in 1995, the library district purchased Crossroads Lane Bowling Alley in Parker, which became the new Parker Library on December 16, 1995. [7] [ page needed ]
Douglas County Libraries launched its website in 1996. [8] [ page needed ]
The ability to notify patrons of holds and overdue notices by email was introduced in 1998. The Lone Tree Library opened on October 24, 1998, [9] [ page needed ] replacing an older branch library called Oakes Mill.
On July 15, 2000, the Highlands Ranch Library opened at 9292 Ridgeline Blvd in Highlands Ranch. [10] [ page needed ] The branch had been previously located in a retail space near Broadway and Plaza Drive.
In 2003, Douglas County Libraries received a branding redesign complete with new logo and website. In September 2003, the Philip S Miller Library moved to a new facility (100 S Wilcox Street, Castle Rock). [11] [ page needed ]
Douglas County Libraries became the third-largest library system in Colorado in 2007 and was ranked second in Colorado for circulation. Douglas County Libraries was awarded the 2007 John Cotton Dana Award, the American Library Association's "most prestigious award" that honors outstanding library public relations. The library district was recognized for the promotion of the Page to Stage Productions literary theater tour.
In 2008, Douglas County Libraries, in partnership with Douglas County School District RE-1, offered the first GED testing opportunities in the county. By the end of the year, 73 students had passed the GED.
In 2016 and through 2017, Douglas County Libraries expanded the Parker, Castle Pines and Lone Tree libraries, making them bigger and more modern to cope with higher numbers in circulation.
Douglas County Libraries has a stated mission of elevating the community by inspiring a love of reading, discovery, and connection. [13] All of its services tie back to its mission.
Bark for Books allows school-age children to improve their literacy skills by reading to a dog from Intermountain Therapy Animals.
Cuddle Up and Read, Douglas County Libraries provides books on parenting information and an application for a special baby library card to parents of newborns.
Adult Learning Center offers free GED preparation and live-online tutors to help prepare for the test. Citizenship Classes are offered twice a year to prepare candidates for the US Citizenship interview.
Douglas County Library participates in the Check Out Colorado State Parks program, offering state park passes and a kit that includes a backpack, binoculars, information about the parks, and field guides for education and exploration to library users. This program is available to Colorado libraries through a partnership between the Colorado State Library and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Parks passes can be used at any of Colorado's state parks. [14]
Douglas County Libraries Archives & Local History collects and preserves the history of Douglas County and assists the public with Douglas County history, Colorado history, and genealogy topics.
Douglas County Libraries is also a member of the Prospector Alliance, in partnership with other libraries throughout Colorado as well as Wyoming.
Douglas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 357,978. The county’s etymology is derived from the United States Senator Stephen A. Douglas. The county seat is Castle Rock.
Castle Rock is a home rule town that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Douglas County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 73,158 at the 2020 United States Census, a 51.68% increase since the 2010 United States Census. Castle Rock is the most populous Colorado town and the 16th most populous Colorado municipality. Castle Rock is a part of the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Front Range Urban Corridor.
Denver is the central city of a conurbation region in the U.S. state of Colorado. The conurbation includes one continuous region consisting of the six central counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson. The Denver region is part of the Front Range Urban Corridor.
Acres Green is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Douglas County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Acres Green CDP was 3,007 at the 2010 United States Census. The community lies in ZIP Code 80124.
Highlands Ranch is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Douglas County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Highlands Ranch CDP was 105,631 at the United States Census 2020, making it the most populous unincorporated community in the State of Colorado. The Highlands Ranch Metropolitan District provides services to the community, which lies in ZIP Codes 80126, 80129, 80130, and 80163.
The City of Lone Tree is a home rule municipality located in northern Douglas County, Colorado, United States. Lone Tree is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city population was 10,218 at the 2010 United States Census, with an estimated population of 13,082 in 2019.
Parker is a home rule municipality in Douglas County, Colorado, United States. As a self-declared "town" under the home rule statutes, Parker is the second most populous town in the county; Castle Rock is the most populous. In recent years, Parker has become a commuter town at the southeasternmost corner of the Denver metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census the town population was 58,512. Parker is now the 19th most populous municipality in the state of Colorado.
Perry Park is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in Douglas County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Perry Park CDP was 1,646 at the United States Census 2010. The Perry Park Metropolitan District and the Perry Park Water & Sanitation District provide services. The Larkspur post office serves the area.
Arapahoe Community College (ACC) is a public community college in Littleton, Colorado. It was founded in 1965 as the first community college to open in the Denver area.
Colorado's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Colorado. Located in the eastern part of the state, the district encompasses most of the rural Eastern Plains as well as the larger Colorado Front Range cities of Greeley, Longmont, Castle Rock, and Parker.
Mountain Vista High School is a public high school located in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. It is part of the Douglas County School District.
Douglas County School District Re. 1 is a school district that serves Douglas County, Colorado. The district was formed in 1958 by the consolidation of 17 smaller school districts, adding the "Re. 1" to its name to note the district's first reorganization.
The Rueter–Hess Reservoir, behind the Frank Jaeger Dam, is a major water management project for the Parker Water and Sanitation District PWSD. PWSD provides services for most of Parker and parts of Lone Tree, Castle Pines, and unincorporated Douglas County, Colorado. Originally an enterprise of the Town of Parker, PWSD is now an unaffiliated special District.
Highlands Ranch High School, commonly referred to as Ranch or HRHS, is a public high school in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. It is part of the Douglas County School District.
Douglas County High School, sometimes nicknamed as DCHS and locally identified as DC, is a public high school in Castle Rock, Colorado. It is the oldest school in the Douglas County School District.
Kevin Van Winkle is a Colorado politician and a member of the Colorado Senate, representing the 30th district in Douglas County. Previously, he served in the Colorado House of Representatives from the 43rd District, which encompassed Highlands Ranch, Colorado. A Republican, Van Winkle owns a small business based in Highlands Ranch.
South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) is a fire protection district which provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the municipalities of Bow Mar, Castle Pines, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, Columbine Valley, Foxfield, Greenwood Village, Littleton, Lone Tree, Parker, portions of Aurora and Lakewood, and unincorporated portions of Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson counties in Colorado. The area South Metro serves is 287 square miles in size with a population of more than 540,000.
Colorado's 30th Senate district is one of 35 districts in the Colorado Senate. It has been represented by Republican Kevin Van Winkle since June 2022, following the resignation of fellow Republican Chris Holbert.
Daniels Park, a former working ranch in Douglas County, Colorado near Sedalia, Colorado, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. The park is one of the Denver Mountain Parks. A herd of bison lives in the park, and the bison graze on the prairie grass in the park's upper elevations. Because of the presence of the Bison, most of the park is not open to the public. It is located along Douglas County Road 67 northeast of Sedalia.
Brandi Bradley is a state representative from Littleton, Colorado. A Republican, Bradley represents Colorado House of Representatives District 39, which chiefly includes the rural sections of Douglas County but includes part of Highlands Ranch, and all of Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Roxborough Park, and Meridian.