More than books at Douglas County Libraries

You may be surprised at the variety of services o ered by the Douglas County Libraries. Learn what’s available at the Seniors’ Council of Douglas County meeting on ursday, July 6 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the library in Parker, 20105 Mainstreet. Seniors’ Council meetings are free and open to the public.

According to Ti any Curtain, Douglas County Libraries (DCL) Literacy Coordinator and Seniors’

Council Education Chair, we can trace the history of American public libraries back to Benjamin Franklin, who donated a collection of books to the Town of Franklin. e townspeople determined that these books should be made freely available to the residents of the town to enjoy. When aspiring librarians are working on their master’s degrees in Library Science, they are introduced to the S.R. Ranganathan’s 5 laws of Library Science (1931): 1) Books are for use 2) Every person has his or her book 3) Every book has a reader

4) Save the time of the reader 5) A library is a growing organism

Curtain states that as Douglas County grows in diversity, the library aims to provide access to books that are relevant and enjoyable to all patrons.

In keeping with the fth principle that a library is a living organism, libraries today engage with communities in innovative and surprising ways. In Douglas County, you may have participated in last year’s Brew Tour (and hopefully are looking forward to another one this fall!) or you may have brought your family to a Family Fete, or Storybook Holiday event, or enjoyed checking out the Forest of Stories decorations last winter. ese events are not only fun and creative, but provide opportunities to engage with local businesses and elevate our communities through partnerships.

Of course books remain the core of