Shelf Life - The Durango Herald

We work in local government to make meaningful contributions

When you walk into the Durango Public Library, what do you notice? Materials that are ready for you to check out. People meeting, talking, sharing a cup of coffee or attending an...

DATE: Mar 1, 2019 | CATEGORY: Shelf Life

Together, we can keep our communities resilient

Businesses and institutions, such as libraries, are facing major disruptions. Think of the products that are becoming obsolete as a result of just one of these disruptions – the smartphone: ...

DATE: Jan 4, 2019 | CATEGORY: Shelf Life

Dedicated space for teens and tweens is important

Libraries throughout the country make a concerted effort to reach their local teen audience. By fostering a lifelong love of learning, reading and libraries, our young people are empowered t...

DATE: Nov 30, 2018 | CATEGORY: Shelf Life

Library a place where diverse people come together to connect

Recently, I was on a trip to the Midwest to see family and I had the chance to enjoy some music on the drive. One song in particular spoke to me as I traveled. “Stranger” by the S...

DATE: Nov 2, 2018 | CATEGORY: Shelf Life

Democracy is thriving at your community library

It’s hard to open up a publication these days without seeing some article or opinion piece about the death of democracy. So, what does democracy mean? Democracy, which derives fr...

DATE: Oct 5, 2018 | CATEGORY: Shelf Life

Libraries can help you realize your dreams

It starts with a dream. A dream of creating something useful, of bringing needed goods or services to a community, of being your own boss and starting a business. Just knowing where to begin...

DATE: Aug 31, 2018 | CATEGORY: Shelf Life

Your local public library checks out more than just books

One of my favorite topics of discussion is what libraries offer. I often, almost on a daily basis, encounter people who don’t know what modern libraries are about. Hence, today’s...

DATE: Aug 3, 2018 | CATEGORY: Shelf Life

When combating summer slide, ‘Libraries Rock!’

Summer slide. No, it is not the phenomenon of navigating a burning hot slide on the playground! According to the Colorado Department of Education, summer slide is “ ... the tende...

DATE: Jun 1, 2018 | CATEGORY: Shelf Life

Remember that libraries are there for you

In recent “Shelf Life” columns, Sandy Irwin, Durango Public Library director, and Shelley Walchak, Pine River Library director, discussed how libraries impact communities and citizens. I’d l...

DATE: May 4, 2018 | CATEGORY: Shelf Life

A shoutout to the library’s hardworking volunteers

How do you define an engaged resident? As the city of Durango goes through our community engagement process, I am continually encouraged by the level of participation of our residents. ...

DATE: Apr 6, 2018 | CATEGORY: Shelf Life

Can libraries be considered neutral institutions?

Are libraries neutral? Should they be? What does neutrality mean in terms of a library? Neutrality in a library can be defined as “not denying access to library services and resou...

DATE: Mar 2, 2018 | CATEGORY: Shelf Life

Libraries help build community, connect people

When you stop in at your library, do you ever take a moment to consider the full value of the library, its services and materials? The Massachusetts Library Association created a...

DATE: Feb 2, 2018 | CATEGORY: Shelf Life