The Board of Trustees of Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL) voted unanimously at its November meeting to recognize Tom and Alice Atkins of Golden, Colorado for their years of outstanding service to the Library.
“We are pleased to recognize Tom and Alice Atkins for their sustained and distinguished service to the Library and the community over the past 20+ years,” said Brian DeLaet, chair, Library Board of Trustees. “The depth and breadth of their contributions are obvious and reflect a dedication and beneficence to the Library that deserves our deepest gratitude and our highest recognition.”
The Trustees unanimously voted to name the Golden Library Meeting Room in honor of Tom and Alice Atkins, and asked that the name remain in perpetuity as long as the library remains at its current location. Before bestowing the recognition, the Trustees reviewed many of the contributions the Atkins have made to JCPL, including but not limited to the following:
- Securing funding for the Golden Library in the early 1990s. In the early 1990s, when library funding was reduced, the Golden Library was put on a list of libraries to be downsized into limited service reading rooms, open only 20 hours a week. Tom played a principal role in maintaining services at the library when, as President of the Golden Area Branch Library Enthusiastic Supporters (GABLES), he organized and led a successful fight against the downsizing. In 1993, the downsizing was scrapped, saving not just the Golden Library, but all the county libraries slated for the same fate.
- Relocating the Golden Library to its current location. Next, GABLES worked to bring about the relocation of the Golden Library to its current location. A building swap was worked out with the City of Golden; the library vacated the building that now houses the Golden History Museums and moved into its current location – a renovated recreation center – giving the library a larger, permanent home.
- Serving as a Library Trustee. From 1994 – 2002, Tom served on Library Board of Trustees, where he served as secretary, vice-chair and chair. During his tenure on the Board, the Library accomplished a number of key initiatives including:
- Completion of the move & renovation of the Golden Library
- Opening of the Conifer Library
- Implementation of a shared collection
- Implementation of an ILS system
- A mill levy initiative (2000)
- The purchase of Fehringer Ranch
- Construction of the current Belmar Library, and
- Planning for the Arvada Library in Old Towne
- Helping to Secure the Future of JCPL. In protest against a budget cut in 2010, Tom and Alice started Save Jeffco Libraries, an initiative to make JCPL an independent Library district. Later, when JCPL began an investigation into the best way to secure the future of the Library, they supported every step of the process. When the Library decided to pursue a mill levy initiative instead of a district, they threw themselves into the effort, raising funds, walking precincts, delivering brochures and yard signs, and enthusiastically helping to ensure success.
Library Trustee Julia Hill-Nichols summed up their contributions with the following statement: “The Library is uniquely blessed with having people in our midst – like Tom and Alice – who move us forward to a brighter future – and who continue to believe in us even when we don’t believe in ourselves.”
JCPL created a naming rights program in conjunction with the recent Golden Library remodel, as a way of cultivating alternative sources of revenue for the Library. Naming rights opportunities are still available at the Golden Library; for additional information contact Rebecca Winning at 303-275-2203. JCPL’s Naming Rights Guidelines also allow for naming rights and name recognition opportunities when the Library Board desires to honor an individual, foundation or corporation for outstanding service contributions that are consistent with the nature and mission of the Library. This is only the second time the Library Board of Trustees has conferred this honor on a volunteer. The first was in 2003, when the Library Board named the Columbine Library Meeting Room after Former Trustee Don Estes.
About Jefferson County Public Library
Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL) is the third largest public library in the state of Colorado. Our mission is to help build an educated and vibrant community by providing equal access to information and opportunities. A JCPL library card is the smartest card in your wallet, giving you access to an online library that operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week, a network of 10 libraries, a Bookmobile, a Mobile Computer Training Classroom, and robust outreach programs, as well as books, periodicals, CDs and DVDs, audio and eBooks, and computer and Internet resources. For more information contact your local library or visit jeffcolibrary.org.