Welcome!

All Douglas County Libraries locations are open and operating under state and local health department guidelines for operations and events.

Masks are required at all times in the library, and we recommend that customers wash hands frequently, especially after handling materials and/or touching surfaces. Disposable masks are available for customers.

Library Operations

Hours

Modified services are available at all DCL locations during our current operating hours:
  • Monday-Thursday, 9AM-7PM
  • Friday-Saturday, 9AM-5PM
  • Sunday, 12-5PM
  • Louviers only: Tuesday, 3-7PM & Saturday 9AM-12PM
Archives & Local History services are available by appointment only; call (303) 688-7730.

Borrowing, Holds & Fines

Standard borrowing timelines and fines on late returns apply. Materials Request and Interlibrary Loan (ILL) are available. Learn more about fines, fees and borrowing.

Book Drops & Donations

All DCL book drops are open and accepting returns of checked-out items.
Book donations are important to us. Due to current restrictions and fewer volunteers to process donations, we've implemented some temporary changes. Book donations are accepted on a limited basis at our Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, and Parker locations during the times listed below. We are currently accepting donations of only two 18”x14”x12” boxes or less at a time.
  • Castle Rock: Wednesdays, 3-7PM
  • Highlands Ranch: Saturdays, 10AM-2PM
  • Lone Tree: Mondays, 10AM-2PM
  • Parker: Thursdays, 10AM-2PM

Storytime, Events & Playscapes

In-person Storytimes and other library events remain unavailable.
Virtual Storytime will continue with Storytime fun and activities each weekday at 10:30AM. Library staff will lead songs, rhymes, reading and fingerplays to keep nurturing those all-important emerging reading skills. Virtual Storytime also is available through Storyblocks, a project of Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLEL).
Playscapes and other interactive features at all libraries remain closed, including Little Letters Post Office at Castle Pines, The Market at Highlands Ranch, Playful Pets at Lone Tree, the Dino Wall at Parker, and Mission Control at Roxborough.

Spaces

Meeting rooms are currently unavailable for public use. Study rooms are available by reservation only and limited to one occupant per room. Drop-in use of empty meeting and study rooms is not permitted.
Contact Event & Hospitality Services at (303) 688-7605 for guidelines specific to DCL meeting rooms.

Library Services

Park & Pick-Up Holds Service

Pick-Up Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9AM-5PM & Sunday, 12-5PM.
Use our curbside service to pick up holds at your preferred DCL location*, following these instructions. Book Club Express kits may also be picked up using this service:
  1. Look for the flag denoting parking spaces set aside for this service. Note that the service location in our parking lots has changed, and there may be a longer wait for delivery to your car. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
  2. If all marked spots are full, please wait in your car for a space to become available. We will work as quickly as possible to serve you, but there may be a wait during busy times. Please be prepared.
  3. Keep your phone handy. Once you are parked in a numbered space, call or text the number on the sign with the required information.
  4. Health regulations prevent us from touching your vehicle. Please be prepared to open and close your own trunk for delivery of held items.
*Not available at Louviers.

Our Digital Library is Open

Our digital library is always open—and it's been enhanced to accommodate more digital checkouts (now up to 12 borrows per month) and less wait time (decreased ratio of holds to copies, now just 3:1). You may Skip the Line on OverDrive and through the Libby app for instant checkout of items, similar to Your Lucky Day items in our branches. And you'll see that familiar shamrock.
Access a variety of digital library perks, from audio-guided workouts, to crafting classes, to online learning and more.
Check out DCL Connect for a digital world of Family & Community resources.

Health & Safety

Protect Yourself & Others

Masks are required at all times in the library, and we recommend that customers wash hands frequently, especially after handling materials and/or touching surfaces. Disposable masks are available for customers.
Food is currently not permitted in the library in keeping with the state's Level Red mandate prohibiting indoor dining. Beverages are acceptable, keeping in mind mask mandates.
Hand sanitizer stations are set up at library entrances, public service desks, cash-handling points, and other heavily used areas.

Safety Precautions & Protocols

Enhanced in-library cleaning and disinfecting procedures are ongoing using EPA-registered disinfectants. Common areas; hard surfaces such as stair rails, door handles, and elevator buttons; reserved rooms; and restrooms are cleaned at least four times a day. Hard flooring is thoroughly cleaned once each day.
The Holds section in each library closes for 15 minutes at the top of each hour to allow social distancing for DCL staff as they shelve.
In-library modifications facilitate social distancing. Tables and individual seating are spaced at least 6 feet apart. Plexiglass partitions are in place at public service desks.
Increased signage throughout all libraries encourages social distancing and hand hygiene. Protocols and systems are in place to increase air circulation in library buildings.
Douglas County Community Response Logo
We're doing all we can to ensure the safety and health of DCL staff and our community. As the situation surrounding COVID-19 changes, we will continue to communicate with you via email and will post ongoing updates to this page and through our social media channels. Thank you for your support and understanding as we navigate this situation together. We wish you and your loved ones good health.

Community Safety Notice

Customer Service: (303) 791-7323

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