A world of adventure at the Grand Junction Library and 7 more locations in Mesa County

Guest Post by Ami Schiffbauer, Mesa County Libraries Development Director

Welcome to Grand Junction Colorado!

Anyone who’s moved to Grand Junction, Colorado from another part of the country knows that each place is unique. Public libraries across the country can vary significantly from one area to another. All libraries have books, of course, and many also offer audiobooks, DVDs, and video games to check out, too. Mesa County Libraries have all of these, but that’s only a small fraction of what’s available for free to Mesa County residents with their library card.

Library Card Holder Benefits

The 970West Studio, located at 5th and Ouray in Grand Junction, is a public multimedia production studio and Artist in Residence space.

In addition to the items mentioned above, library card holders can also check out board games, passes to local museums and parks (including the Colorado National Monument), and digital camera kits. The camera kits are offered through the library’s 970West Studio, a multimedia production studio where people can learn how to use digital recording equipment to create videos, edit digital photographs, and record podcasts. Right next to the studio, the library’s Discovery Garden offers an oasis of nature in downtown Grand Junction, a place where anyone can come to learn about different gardening techniques or just relax and enjoy the beauty of the garden, along with fresh produce in the summer and early fall.

Mesa County Libraries Programs and Online Resources

With eight branches around the county, Mesa County Libraries offer numerous programs each month for people of all ages to connect with one another, like storytime, Teen Time, local history talks, and book clubs. Programs are available whether you’re in Grand Junction or in a nearby town. You can also access an abundance of online materials from anywhere with an internet connection. That includes downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks, free streaming movies and TV on Kanopy and Hoopla, and national newspapers like the New York Times and Washington Post, among many other eResources. And if a patron wants an item that’s not in the Mesa County Libraries’ collection, it can usually be found through Marmot or Prospector, the regional and state-wide organizations that make it easy to get materials from other libraries delivered to your home library location.

Volunteer Opportunities

For new Mesa County residents who want to connect with their community, the library also offers several opportunities for volunteers throughout the year. This includes planting, weeding, and harvesting in the Discovery Garden, working with English learners and students preparing to take the GED through the Adult Learning Center, and helping in various capacities with our two large annual events, Comic Con and Culture Fest.

Friends of the Mesa County Libraries

Mesa County Libraries and Grand Junction Library

You get to choose the design of your Mesa County Library Card!

Volunteers are also welcome to join the Friends of MCL in their ongoing work of sorting and selling donated books to help support library programs throughout the year. The Friends are part of the Mesa County Libraries Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization created in 1994 to help support and expand library programs with donations, grants, and bequests.

Call Paul Aspelin at 612-306-9558 if you have books to donate to the Friends of Mesa County Libraries. He can pick up your donations and also help fill The Christi Reece Group’s Little Free Library located at The Christi Reece Group office in Grand Junction.

Get Your Library Card

All you need to sign up for a Mesa County Library card is a photo ID and proof of a Mesa County address. Visitors to Mesa County are also welcome to stop by and use one of our many public computers or free Wi-Fi, attend library programs, check out local art created by community members and our current Artist in Residence, or just enjoy a comfortable space to read and relax. The library’s friendly and knowledgeable staff are always happy to help with any questions you may have.

We hope to see you soon!