The Douglas Public Library District was created by voters in November, 1990. Before then, we were a department of the county.

In 1991, we made the biggest change in our services. Our three full service libraries -- one in Castle Rock, one in Parker, one in the area now known as Lone Tree -- adopted a regular 7 day a week schedule. Before then, some of our libraries were open only 3 or 4 days a week, and all of them were closed on Fridays and Sundays. Not only that, our branches had different schedules depending upon the time of the year.

Some 20 years ago, my mother gave me my granddad's Hamilton watch. Back then, it wasn't quite my style: a square, gold face, small gold letters, a gold twisty band. This watch didn't even have a quartz. It was one of those old wind-ups, which I don't believe are even made in America any more.

But my mother knew how close I'd been to granddad -- one of the few genuinely wise men I have ever known.

Like a lot of imaginative but inexperienced high school students, I was sure I'd make a great actor. So in my freshman year, I tried out for a play. It was "Wind in the Willows," and I read for the part of Toad -- the lead.

To my utter astonishment, I got it. Excited, I went to the first rehearsal, where I picked up my script and ran some of the lines.

At the second rehearsal, I destroyed my high school acting career.

Among our most popular programs for adults are the ones put on by Johanna Harden, the library district's Local History Collection Archivist. Her "Second Sunday" series of historical programs has developed a strong following.

As well they should. Our speakers are always interesting, and the topics illuminating. In people, an interest in the past is one of the leading indicators of maturity. The same is true when a community looks to its history.