I’m a little late, but April 12 -18 is National Library Week. Here’s why I care:

Friends to parents and researchers, businesspeople and folks just plain killing time, libraries are often an underused and unappreciated asset to citizens in every town.  But Colorado’s commitment to good libraries is undisputed. From the main branch in Denver’s impressive downtown building to the small intimate branches in neighborhoods all over the Front Range and Western Slope, if you’ve got a library near you, I encourage you to get involved with it, even if it means borrowing an old classic you pretended to read in high school. (I’m reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn right now.)

For the most part, I have to hand it to the Colorado library system for keeping up with the times. Using most systems’ Web sites, you can hold or request materials, pay fines, renew materials, and sometimes browse resources right from your browser.  What can really make the difference in your library experience is that some libraries can navigate you to the places at their Web sites where you can gain access to exclusive databases that are otherwise inaccessible or expensive to use otherwise.  These kinds of databases can often make a big difference to job seekers looking for work, and businesspeople doing research.

Another library-related resource is Ask Colorado. It’s not officially a part of the library system; rather, it’s a cooperative that literally bridges the gap between librarians and information seekers. Ask Colorado facilitates one-on-one Internet chat rooms around the clock; using the Ask a Question button, anyone with an Internet connection can ask a reference librarian any number of questions about how to find information relevant to any kind of project.

Here are a few of my favorite library branches in Colorado:

Nederland Community Library–Most small mountain towns don’t have much in the way of amenities. But Nederland (just 20 minutes west of Boulder) not only boasts a grocery store, video rental store, hardware outlet, and fitness center, it’s got its own library. It’s a rare thing, and an appreciated one, especially one that’s managed and maintained with a lot of love. If you visit, say hello to Gretchen, the head librarian. She’s passionate about literature and the arts, and always considers special requests.

Rangeview Library System (formerly the Adams County Library), Pearl Mack branch–The Pearl Mack neighborhood is in Adams County, near Denver, in what could be described as an area that’s “underserved” by other arts and culture initiatives.  If ever there was a need for a library in Colorado, this area is one of them.

Boulder Public Library, Main branch–In downtown Boulder, on Arapahoe, just off Broadway (map of Broadway). Head librarian, Tony Tallent, keeps a blog. Say hello!   Also, this just in: During the course of writing this entry, I learned by way of the Downtown Boulder and Daily Camera Twitter streams that, “Roof leak closes second floor of Boulder Public Library.”

Denver Public Library, Ross-Cherry Creek branch–In the Cherry Creek area of southeast Denver, near the Cherry Creek Mall and the whole Glendale, Cranmer Park, Denver Country Club, Bonnie Brae area. When I lived in the neighborhood, it was one of my favorite locations for a library, as I was doing a lot of shopping then. Uh-hem.

Denver Public Library, Central branch–In the heart of Downtown Denver, you’ll find floors of materials, art, and meetings for people just like you and me…and her and him.  The only downside to the DPL central branch is the parking, but if you catch it on a slow day, you’ll find the visit worth it.

I just can’t say it enough: I love libraries. If you you, too, tell me why.