Jefferson County Public Library would like to thank you for your continued support of the Arvada Library. Some of you have been with us for a long time. The first discussion about building a new library that would meet the needs of a growing Arvada community began in 1999. Some of you joined the process in 2001, when the Library created a Citizens Advisory Committee to help with site selection. Most of you were with us as we broke ground for the new Arvada Library on June 15, 2005. And all of you have remained patient and understanding throughout the 13-month construction project.

The Arvada Library opened its doors on Sept. 16 to much celebration and fanfare with more than 3,200 community members, neighbors and library patrons helping us celebrate. The following day, more than 1,600 people explored the new library, and the number of visitors coming to the library each day remains high.

Large public library projects rarely happen these days without partnerships. And the Arvada Library project was no different. Without the important partnership forged between the Library, the City of Arvada, Jefferson County Board of Commissioners and the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority, the library would still be a rendering on a drawing board. Thankfully, these organizations clearly understood what a new library would mean for the adults, children, teens, grandparents and business people who until now did not have the same resources as offered elsewhere in the county.

All that changed on Sept. 16. Southern Arvada has the largest full-service library in Jefferson County. The Arvada Library offers a wide array of amenities and expanded library services. At 34,172 sq. ft., the library is more than three times larger than the former facility. It has two study rooms, a quiet reading room, a public meeting room for up to 55 people, special kids and teen areas, an Internet café, 60 percent more computers than the former Arvada Library and free wireless Internet access. The library also offers many conveniences, such as RFID self check-out, drive-up and walk-up book drops, and a concierge desk where staff members are ready to help you find just what you need.

A new parking lot, built by the City of Arvada, opened two days before the grand opening festivities. The new parking lot, located at the corner of W. 57th Avenue and Webster Street, has 103 spaces for use by library and Olde Town patrons and St. Anne’s Parish. Additionally, there are more than 450 available parking spaces within easy walking distance of the library.

Although the Arvada Update will no longer be used to share news about our newest library, we hope you will sign up for the Library's newsletter through eNews or in hard copy so you can continue to discover all that Jefferson County Public Library offers at the Arvada Library and our nine other libraries. https://www.formsite.com/jcplforms/enews/secure_index.html.