{"id":138538,"date":"2026-07-11T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/dolores-public-library-celebrates-70-years\/"},"modified":"2026-07-11T05:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T11:00:00","slug":"dolores-public-library-celebrates-70-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/dolores-public-library-celebrates-70-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Dolores Public Library celebrates 70 years"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Dolores
Dolores Public Library patrons sang \u201cHappy Birthday\u201d to ring in 70 years of the community institution that now has multiple children\u2019s storytimes a week, several different book clubs and yoga classes. (Ann Marie Vanderveen\/The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

The Dolores Public Library celebrated 70 years on Friday with live music, cupcakes and a display of the library\u2019s history. From its humble origins as an all volunteer, part time organization tucked in a small room in Town Hall to a fully staffed public institution in its own building, the library has grown immensely throughout its development.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very significant,\u201d Sandy Jumper, president of the library board, said. \u201cIt\u2019s a very active building that\u2019s used by the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the exhibit in the library community room that pays homage to its history, the library opened in 1956 with two staff members and a budget of $3,900. The first librarian, Mary Lee Larson, was paid $25 a month for her role, and the library had limited operating hours \u2013 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.<\/p>\n

The library became a district in 1986, which helped it secure funding after losing financial support from the town two years earlier. In 2001, after years of operating out of Town Hall, the library secured a land donation, hiring a team of architects to craft the building it\u2019s in today. In 2004, it opened in this now permanent space.<\/p>\n

Today, the library has a catalog of 22,000 items and offers children\u2019s storytimes twice weekly, various book clubs, technology assistance, dedicated hours for different games and movie nights.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s because of this space that Jumper became part of the library board five years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just a good place to be,\u201d Jumper said. \u201cI was retiring, and I saw the ad on the bulletin board that they were looking for board members, and I loved the library. I have for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The library, Jumper said, has also adapted to the shifting priorities of the digital age.<\/p>\n

\"\u201cIf
\u201cIf people come and say \u2018oh, I wish you did this\u2019, we say \u2018great give us a couple months,\u2019\u201d Cheyenne Baber, an employee of the Dolores Public Library, said. She credits community requests for the offering of technology help once a week at the library. (Ann Marie Vanderveen\/The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cA lot of people in the area do not have access to the internet or have computers or have a place that they can go to do research,\u201d Jumper said. \u201cWe have computer access, we have staff that are very knowledgeable on where to look and how to find it. And so technology hasn\u2019t slowed us down any. We\u2019ve grown with our needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the library board recently fired the library director<\/a> amid both complaints and support from community members and staff, Jumper said the institution\u2019s standing in the community has not shifted.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere hasn\u2019t been any slowdown,\u201d Jumper said.<\/p>\n

According to library employee Cheyenne Baber ,who has worked at the library for eight years, increased adult and kid programs have inspired expanded community engagement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I started working here we had maybe three people coming to storytime,\u201d Baber said.<\/p>\n

She credits, \u201cMs. Hannah\u201d also known as Hannah Carloni, with the influx of up to 100 attendees at storytime. Carloni knows each tot who comes to her readings by name and walked around the library\u2019s celebration greeting them.<\/p>\n

\u201cMs. Hannah is just a rockstar,\u201d Baber said.<\/p>\n

<\/p>