Golden Library – Jefferson County Public Library

The Jeffco library system is excellent in general. Their collection is shared across the state and beyond.
The problem is the Golden Library has become a community center and not a library. It is dedicated to children, internet use, vending machines, meeting areas and videos.
If you’re after a traditional quiet sanctuary with lots and lots of books to browse, go somewhere else. If you want to meet your friends and have a loud conversation and let the kids run wild for awhile, this place is for you.
One wierd note about the book collection. Instead of having lots of diversity in books, they have far fewer books. The books that they do have, are in groups of three copies or so. It’s really wierd but they have 3 copies of various books on the shelf like a bookstore or something.
Lastly, I’m glad the library has increased the hours of operation, that’s a nice touch. Also, on a positive note, the ability to borrow a book from other libraries is appreciated.

Seems after the remodel that they have less books and more computers/​media… It has the usual childrens hours and communty rooms etc. that all good libraries have. Only gave it four stars for not having as many books as it once did.

One of the best public library systems I have ever used. The one in Golden, and in Lakewood are my favorites. Really Denver and your suburbs are doing libraries right. It is also near an excellent rec center, and some lovely walking/​biking/​hiking trails.

I was in Golden for just a couple hours with my son waiting for my husband to do some work up there. We decided to stop into the library to occupy ourselves for a while. It is a crazy small library, probably the smallest I’ve ever been in. However, they have a great kids area in the middle. Toys, play areas, books, drawing materials, computers, an iPad, and plenty of seating. I can’t speak to what it’s like as far as book availability or anything like that, but it seems like a great place to take your kids. Just make sure they aren’t being too loud, though while we were there none of them were being distracting.

Library [lahy-​bruh-​ree,] Noun. A place set apart to contain books, periodicals, and other material for QUIET reading, viewing, listening, study, or reference.
Apparently this place has forgotten this definition since when I was here it was a loud child day care center, with a bunch of insolent brats running around yelling, screaming, crying and all manner of unruly behavior. Most libraries Ive been to have a separate room set aside for this, but this place had no such room, all the kids were in the middle of the library surrounded by their cossetting helicopter mothers hovering overhead. That and the loud vending machines and old men using the printer/​copying machines every 2 mins added more to the disturbances. If you need a quiet place to study or read, I suggest going somewhere else cause you wont get it here.

It’s funny how a library can be a place of solace, learning, and free wi-​fi, or an obtusely loud, ill-​overseen den of annoyance, without rhyme or reason as to when and why that barrier will be crossed.
We happened into tennis branch of the Jefferson County Public Library on a temperate Sunday afternoon in November, and after taking seats at a small, out-​of-​the-​way corner table to utilize the wi-​fi, we were told by the Least Actually Effective Library Nazi™ that we were in the «teens» section, which is apparently reserved for teens. There was, of course, a sign proclaiming «Teen» above the entrance to an area of shelves nearby, but one would assume that real persons would be allowed to sit in the «Fiction» section if they so desired; this manner of labeling sections and assuming everyone will automatically know that the nearby seating is off-​limits to those outside the designated age group the nearby literature is designed for is rather obtuse and unfriendly.
We packed up and moved ten feet to another table in the still-​empty library, and managed to sit for about twenty minutes before a group of over-​caffeinated youngsters below the age of ten tore through the previously-​peaceful aisles, completely unmoderated by the absentee parents or guardians that thrust them through the door to bother other people, apparently. Also curiously absent was the aforementioned Library Nazi, who apparently deems hundred-​decibel whoops and hollers appropriate for a library, but not sitting past a sign that says «teens» if you don’t happen to be one.
Long story short, there’s a lot more peace, quiet, and book selection at the somewhat-​nearby Lakewood JCPL branch, and we’ll be going there in the future.

This is the Golden library located right next to Clear Creek. Since moving here we use this library all the time!
It’s a very nice library inside and out. I think it is sort of small but it never seems to lack material we are looking for. My boyfriend and I frequent for their music and DVD collection. I have also come on occasion to use the printer. There are plenty of computers available for internet use.
I myself have been frequenting children story times this summer at multiple Jefferson County Libraries with the baby I nanny for. This is my personal favorite location of the ones we’ve visited. Mostly due to the instructors that lead Baby Time and Story Time. They are wonderful! Not that the other libraries don’t have great staff, but these ladies are especially engaging with the kids. They’re very enthusiastic and sweet. The story times are held in a meeting room and connect you to the main area of the library and also the children’s section. I love that the children’s section is somewhat tucked away from the rest of the library. It feels more private and away from patrons. Sometimes that many kiddos can be loud and this layout is helpful in containing the noise to the one area.
We’ve had a few encounters with other staff and everyone is always friendly.

Also known as the Golden Library, the location might be off the beaten-​path a bit, but it’s proximity to the Clear Creek makes for a relaxing environment. One can even enjoy the creek with a quick stroll.
Anyways, the library is not very big, so the selection may be limited. It is a cute little library, though.
Just to the east is the Golden History Museum. Never gone there myself, but it’s right next door.
During the summer on Saturday’s, there’s also a Farmer’s Market one can enjoy just to the west of the Library. Parking at the Library to go to the market is a no-​no, so you’ll have to find a spot for your car elsewhere. It might be easiest to park on the other side of Clear Creek (the south side). One can access this parking area if you go down to 11^th Street. You’ll have to go back on Washington to get to 11^th, but once parked just passed Illinois St. on 11^th there is a pedestrian bridge that one can take to get you to the north side of Clear Creek where the Library (and Market) is located.

It doesn’t have the architectural pizazz of Denver and Boulder libraries. It doesn’t have the broad selection of larger Jefferson County libraries. But the Golden Public Library has something more important– that elusive PEACE AND QUIET that is hard to find even in a library these days, particularly while school is out for summer.
The computers are generally either free or will be free if you browse for a few minutes, which is a refereshing change from the Belmar library, where, unless you make an advance reservation, your computer usage desires are likely to be usurped by teenagers. If you’re going internetless for any reason, you can get online here easily and for free– all you need is a library card.
If you’re a parent, you’ll love the Golden Library’s full calendar of events in the summer– they might range from story time with a librarian each week to airbrush T-​shirt painting to a workshop that teaches kids to write their own stories. All activities are at least borderline educational and very creative, and groups are usually small to mid-​size, making it an ideal activity choice for bored elementary school age children out of school (and giving their parents time to browse for books).