We’ve asked libraries across Colorado to submit program they’ve run in the last year that they’re proud of and they want the rest of us to see and celebrate. Sharing stories in books is great… but what about our stories? The stories of the ways our libraries bring the community together, enrich the lives of our neighbors, and serve the people who live and work in our cities and towns.
Cathy McCarthy answered our call and we’re excited to let them tell you about West Custer County Library’s DMV2GO Program in their own words.
Library Name: West Custer County Library
City/ Town: Westcliffe
Program Name: DMV2GO
Date/ Date Range of Program: Ongoing since March 2021
Intended Audience: The DMV2GO program serves any eligible community member who meets the DMV qualifications and has the appropriate paperwork.
Description:
Since March of 2021, the West Custer County Library has partnered with the Custer County Sheriff’s Office and the DMV to offer a DMV2GO Mobile Service to the community. The service is offered the third Thursday of the month from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. in the library’s Community Room. The DMV started this program to serve populations for whom traveling to a DMV office is difficult and online services may not be an option. Any Coloradan who needs a driver license or ID card services can take advantage of this mobile service. The DMV representative brings any necessary equipment to process customers.
How did you come up with the idea for this program?
The Sheriff’s Office staff reached out to the library staff to partner with us.
What partners (if any) did you work with in developing or implementing this program?
The DMV2GO representative, and the Custer County Sheriff’s Office partnered with us to get the program up and running.
What about this program did you find successful? How did you measure the success of this program?
Our measure of success is the number of people served through the program monthly. It averages 20 to 25 people served. We also receive quite a few phone calls to confirm it will take place in any particular month.
Cathy has permitted us to share their contact information so that anyone interested in reaching out to them about their program can do so. It is an incredibly generous offer of which you are invited to avail yourself if you’re inspired by their work and want to celebrate them or if you have questions about ways you can follow their lead.
To reach Cathy McCarthy, email them at cathy@westcusterlibrary.org
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Colorado State Library (and the readers of this point as well, no doubt) understands how time consuming, emotionally draining, costly (in so many ways), and challenging it can be to run a program or project. Sometimes they fail gloriously… sometimes they fail with barely a whisper. It can be hard to recover from that. You’ve worked so hard!… and it just didn’t work out. Be gentle with yourself. Self-reflect. Pick up the pieces. And then get to the next thing. It’ll be worth it.
For all those other times, be sure to celebrate. Brag about it! Feel good about yourself, the team that collaborated on your work, and the community members who participated with it. Celebrate your hard work and the value that you contribute to your community.
Tell us the story of your program just like this library did here. Submit your library’s program for a Program Spotlight featured here and shared as far as Colorado State Library news reaches.
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