Our local librarians: Michael Carlson is the Director of the Gilpin County Public Library. [/caption]

Libraries are one the best places in the world. “In a library, one can travel the world through a book,” said Jessie Ansari, Assistant Director at the Nederland Community Library.

There are two fantastic libraries in the area with great books, programs, and people. These are the Gilpin County Public Library (GCPL) and the Nederland Community Library (NCL).

In addition to the great books and programs, the libraries have terrific and helpful staff. The staff help make the library a great place of community and friendship.

Michael Carlson, the director at GCPL, did not always see himself as a librarian, but he always loved libraries. Carlson has worked at libraries for about 22 years, eight of them at the GCPL.

As director, Carlson wears many hats for the library. Not only does he work with the county commissioners, the library board, and the finances; but he also orders the books and works at the front desk. Other services provided at the library are notarizing and faxing. There are currently two notaries on staff at the GCPL, Carlson being one of them.

Carlson’s favorite part of the job is getting to know everyone. The GCPL is a smaller county library and the staff sees many familiar faces from the area. The community library aids in building relationships and friendships with the guests. At the library, one could find a good book and a new friend.

The library offers many programs, as well. Leading many of the children's programs is Deb Benitez. Benitez, who has worked at the library for 12 years, is the children's librarian at GCPL. In addition to leading many of the children's activities for the library, she develops the collections and helps order the books. She will also work at the desk and assist guests on occasion.

Benitez started her career as a teacher and she has also been a principal. She has worked at the school in Gilpin County as well as at Nederland Elementary School. After she retired, a job at the library opened up. She loves being able to continue teaching kids through this job. “I get paid to read, sing, do crafts, and play with Legos,” she said emphatically.

Deb Benitez is the Children’s Librarian at the Gilpin County Public Library.[/caption]

Benitez leads a Lego robotics club three nights a week. She also holds a story time for younger kids that includes a craft. Coming soon, she will partner with the Gilpin County School to host story time for the younger students.

Benitez loves that she can still teach others at the library and work with all the kids, whether reading to them or leading a program.

The GCPL has a wide range of books and programs for kids and adults. These involve story time, summer reading programs, robotics club, and family movie night. The library also has a community room that guests can use for events. There is always art on display in the community room and the display case near the entrance.

For more information about the GCPL library visit the website at gilpinlibrary.org.

Another local library is the NCL. The director, Elektra Greer, said she started working there almost accidentally. She was told once that she would make a good librarian and began her career at the library, not realizing how dynamic the job would be.

Greer described the library as “a revolving door of fascinating people and stories.” Like the GCPL, the NCL is a smaller library and the staff can get to know the guests who come and go. Greer loves working with people in the community and being able to help. At the library, Greer and the staff provide guests with a great community, a quiet place to read, study, as well as a place to come for fellowship. Greer’s favorite part of the job is the people.

The Assistant Director for the NCL, Jessie Ansari, originally received her degree in English. However, she fell in love with the library after volunteering. Ansari loves working with the staff. She said the staff is kind, helpful, and thrives off helping others. She described the library as a place where people of all backgrounds are welcome.

Ansari is the Children’s Librarian for NCL and loves working with the kids and inspiring a love of reading. She believes it is an important skill that not all may be exposed to. NCL offers seasonal reading programs for all ages.

Coming soon is the biggest event of the year for the library: the Summer Reading Program kick-off. Ansari loves that programs through the summer continue the learning journey for kids. This year's theme is “Adventure Starts at Your Library.”

Ansari also volunteers at the local historical society and collaborates with them to bring fun and educational programs to the NCL. The library will also work with the rest of the town to celebrate Nederland’s 150th birthday in August.

The NCL offers a variety of services to the community, including a public notary, a community room for anyone to use, a place where local artists display their work, Experience Passes to visit the sites around the state, programs for all ages, organizing a high school exchange student program, and a great place for community and fellowship. For more information visit their website at nederland.colibraries.org.

One never stops learning. Libraries are a great place to continue the learning journey and have fun doing so. The librarians at our local libraries are amazing people and provide great services and community.