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. Several safety precautions and protocols have been implemented with our customers and staff in mind. Read on for important details.
Modified services are available at all DCL locations during our current operating hours:
- MON-THU 9AM-7PM
- FRI-SAT 9AM-5PM
- SUN 12-5PM
- Louviers only: TUE 3-7PM & SAT 9AM-12PM
- Archives & Local History services are available by appointment only; call (303) 688-7730.
- 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.
- Protocols and systems are in place to increase air circulation in our buildings.
- In-library modifications facilitate social distancing. Tables and individual seating are spaced at least 6 feet apart.
- 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.
- Increased signage throughout all libraries encourages social distancing and hand hygiene.
- Plexiglass partitions are in place at public service desks.
- Hand sanitizer stations are set up at library entrances, public service desks, cash-handling points, and other heavily used areas.
- Disposable masks are available for customers.
- Curbside Park & Pick-Up holds service will continue during normal library hours stated above. Note that the service location in our parking lots has changed, and there may be a longer wait for delivery to your car. Book Club Express kits may also be picked up using this service.
- Quarantine of returned materials is ongoing based on recommendations from local and state health authorities.
- Book donations will resume on October 12 on the following limited basis, with donations being accepted at our Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, and Parker locations only. If your donation fills more than two boxes, please schedule a donation for a time outside of these shifts.
- Castle Rock: Wednesdays, 3-7PM
- Highlands Ranch: Saturdays, 10AM-2PM
- Lone Tree: Mondays, 10AM-2PM
- Parker: Thursdays, 10AM-2PM
- Study and meeting rooms are available by reservation only with certain restrictions:
- Social distancing is required.
- Operators, employees, and attendees must wear face coverings unless doing so would inhibit the individual's health, in which case reasonable accommodations should be pursued to maintain the health of all parties.
- Each room's capacity is limited to 50% of fire department-stated capacity.
- 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.
Storytime, Events & Playscapes
- Virtual Storytime will continue each weekday at 10:30AM.
- In-person Storytimes and other library events remain unavailable.
- 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.
Park & Pick-Up Holds Service
Pick-Up Hours:
- MON-THU 9AM-7PM
- FRI-SAT 9AM-5PM
- SUN 12-5PM
- Louviers only: TUE 3-7PM & SAT 9AM-12PM
Use our curbside service to pick up holds at your preferred DCL location, following these instructions:
- 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.
- 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.
- Keep your phone handy. Once you are parked in a numbered space, call or text the number on the sign with the required information.
- Health regulations prevent us from touching your vehicle. Please be prepared to open and close your own trunk for delivery of held items.
Borrowing, Holds & Fines Updates
- Effective August 1, due dates on checked-out library items will revert to our standard borrowing timelines and fines on late returns will resume. Learn more about fines, fees and borrowing.
- Returned materials remain on your account for at least 24 hours in quarantine, but are not considered overdue during that time. No additional fines will accrue.
- All DCL book drops are open and accepting returns of checked-out items, except for our Louviers location. Due to DCL's quarantine protocols, Louviers residents may return items to any other DCL location for proper quarantine of materials.
- Our Park & Pick-Up curbside service is available for pick-up of holds at all DCL locations.
- Interlibrary Loan is available.
- Materials Request is available.
- Book Club Express kits may be picked up using our Park & Pick-Up service.
- Book donations will resume on October 12 on the following limited basis, with donations being accepted at our Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, and Parker locations only. If your donation fills more than two boxes, please schedule a donation for a time outside of these shifts.
- Castle Rock: Wednesdays, 3-7PM
- Highlands Ranch: Saturdays, 10AM-2PM
- Lone Tree: Mondays, 10AM-2PM
- Parker: Thursdays, 10AM-2PM
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.
- You may also access a variety of digital library perks, from audio-guided workouts, to crafting classes, to online learning and more.
- Join us for Virtual Storytime fun and activities! 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).
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.
