Library Announces Expanded Hours to Begin April 4

Good times are coming to Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL)! Beginning April 4, JCPL will expand service hours at all 10 libraries. JCPL’s larger libraries (Arvada, Belmar, Columbine, Evergreen, Golden, Lakewood and Standley Lake) will be open 65 hours a week (up from 51), and the smaller libraries (Conifer, Edgewater and Wheat Ridge) will be open from 40.5 to 48 hours per week.

“We’ve been preparing for this expansion for weeks,” said Pam Nissler, executive director, JCPL. “We’ve been recruiting, interviewing, hiring and training new employees, adjusting work schedules and spaces, and planning mini expanded-hours celebrations at all 10 libraries.”

The expanded schedule will begin on Monday, April 4:

   SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT
Arvada 12 - 5 9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 5 9 - 5
Belmar 12 - 5 9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 5 9 - 5
Columbine 12 - 5  9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 5 9 - 5
Conifer 12 - 5 2:30 - 8 2:30 - 8 2:30 - 8 2:30 - 8 2:30 – 8 9 - 5
Edgewater closed 10 - 6 10 - 8 10 - 6 10 - 8 10 - 5 12 - 5
Evergreen 12 - 5 9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 5 9 - 5
Golden 12 - 5 9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 5 9 - 5
Lakewood 12 - 5 9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 5 9 - 5
Standley Lake 12 - 5 9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 8 9 - 5 9 - 5
Wheat Ridge 12 - 5 10 - 8 10 - 6 10 - 8 10 - 6 Closed 10 - 5

“Restoring hours is just the first of many enhancements Jeffco residents will see,” Nissler continued. “Thanks to a successful mill levy initiative in 2015, we can now begin to restore library services, better meet the needs of our residents and put JCPL back on a path to excellence.”

Nissler shared a number of other enhancements currently underway:

  • More books and materials. In 2016, JCPL is nearly doubling its investment in books and materials. By April, patrons should begin to notice increases in the Lucky Day collection, best-selling books and DVDs, children’s print materials, audio books and e-books.
  • More Story Times. The Library is adding 30 early-literacy Story Times to its monthly program schedule.
  • More bilingual staff. JCPL will now have at least one Spanish-speaking staff person available at the Library’s Call Center and the following libraries: Arvada, Belmar, Columbine, Edgewater, Lakewood and Wheat Ridge
  • Free meeting rooms. Beginning April 4, library meeting rooms may be reserved at no charge. Since residents and businesses are already paying for Library services through property taxes, Library management felt it was unfair to charge them twice.
  • Updated technology. JCPL has installed 92 new patron computers throughout the Library system, replacing patron computers that were old and outdated. Every library now has a number of state-of-the-art HP EliteDesk Mini Personal Computers available for patron use.

These enhancements are being made possible by a voter-approved increase in the Library’s mill levy, completed in November 2015.

“It’s so exciting to be restoring and enhancing Library services, instead of cutting them,” Nissler added. “We hope everyone will come see us in April to see what’s new!”