Columbine Library - Jefferson County Public Library — Attraction in Four Corners States

To the children's librarian at Columbine library in Littleton today: I was heartbroken when I witnessed you essentially shaming the mother of the young boy who threw a puzzle in what was very obviously an uncontrolled outburst. It broke my heart to hear her timid response "He has autism..." as she gently ushered him toward the door and tried to calm him. Your cold response that it didn't matter and his behavior was not acceptable was extremely unhelpful and cruel. It was obvious she was already leaving and that her son was extremely overwhelmed, which was only exacerbated by your insistence on trying to invade his personal space and lecture him.

I tried to gently and calmly approach you to tell you, as a mother, how unhelpful and harmful your response was but you absolutely refused to listen to what to had to say. I hope you will see this and take this to heart:

It is not acceptable for a children's librarian to shame a child or his mother because of the manifestation of a disability. It is completely possible for you to both do your job of keeping other patrons safe and still have compassion, empathy, and respect. I sincerely hope that the Jefferson County Public Library system revisits their policies on inclusiveness and dealing with difficult situations involving persons, especially children, with disabilities.

To the mother of that sweet young boy: I am so sorry for what you went through today. I know firsthand too well the feeling in the pit of your stomach when your child is ostracized or shamed for something they can't control. I know the battle of trying to shake off the feeling of judgement and the irrational feeling of failure that society inflicts upon us. There is nothing wrong with your child. There is so much wrong with our society that insists upon everybody conforming to a narrow standard that not even neurotypical people can live up to. I am so sorry that a space that should have been safe was not today. I hope you're stronger than me, and that you never for a moment doubt the decision to take your child out into the world to experience life. That you never hesitate to walk out the door. That you hold your head high as you raise a perfect, beautiful child. And that you know you are never, ever alone. Love, Another mom of a perfect...

The library was closed for remodeling for over half a year, and, as a regular of the facility, it felt like an eternity waiting for it to re-open. It's finally open, but I couldn't be more displeased with the direction they went.

There used to be a "quiet" section in the back corner of the building, equipped with numerous work stations and outlets. There is no such thing anymore; instead, it has been replaced by private study rooms that must be reserved. These rooms are grossly limited, and have effectively cut study space by at least 90%. There is a quiet reading area, but it does not have sufficient table space to double as a study area.

In addition to the foregone quiet area, the tables which once occupied the spaces in front of windows facing Johnson reservoir have been replaced by the world's smallest end tables, sufficient only for holding a cup of coffee and a single book.

The library is actually louder now than it was before, thanks to the shorter bookshelves and the manner in which things have been spread out. It's dumbfounding how inefficient the use of space is, and now feels more like a mall than a library.

And I really hope the "maker space" sees some improvement. A single 3D printer and some scrap wood? Ouch, that hurts the maker in me badly. It'd be better to remove it completely, and put some public, non-reserved study...

I love this library. It’s beautiful and stunning the facilities are top notch. I’ve been coming here for years. The reason I gave it 3 stars is because the lack of respect of libraries which is not imposed. Libraries are quiet places of study. I lived abroad for 4 years to come back to all this changed. People out in the open are having full on conversations on the phone to their parents, loud business calls, and video conferences without headphones, eating chips loudly and strewing their crumbs about. I was shocked. The sanctity and solitude of a library is assaulted on all fronts. I talk to bald librarian a few days if this is allowed and he says yes people are allowed to talk on the phone. I grew up with a parent as a librarian, even talking was a no no. This place has changed. I try to sit and read and work on something but there is a dull cacophony of disrespect. I write this sitting in the library. Saddened by the state. By the lack of respect for what libraries are. For the lack of gall from the librarians to keep it as it should be. A quiet place of work, study and reading. I hope the librarians read this, and I hope they take actions. Because it...