Jefferson County currently has 10 libraries. But if you live in and around Ken Caryl and other areas of South Jeffco, you don’t live very close to any of them.

But that won’t be the case for much longer as planning is underway for the Jefferson County Public Library to bring a new destination library to the southern portion of the county.

That planning effort began in 2015, when Jeffco voters approved an increase to the maximum mill levy to restore and expand library services.

Now, the library district is set to begin a new phase of that process that will seek to provide an answer to one of the most important questions that comes with opening a new library: where should it be located?

To that end, the library district has launched a new online citizen survey to solicit input about where the library should be located. The survey, which can be accessed at jcplsouthcountylibrary.com, asks residents to provide input on where they would like to see a library.

It also asks residents about where they perform basic activities like going to school and shopping for groceries in an attempt to identify a location that would be convenient. There are also several picture-based questions that are intended to solicit feedback about aesthetic preferences for a new library.

The launch of the survey comes a year after the effort to solicit input on the new library was paused as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We know the community has been waiting for a long time to share their opinions and perspectives about what a new destination Library in South Jefferson County looks like and what resources appeal to Jeffco residents, and we are committed to designing a Library that meets the community’s needs,” said Donna Walker, JCPL executive director, in a press release.

According to a fact posted on the JCPL website, the new library will serve a population residing east of the Conifer Library and south of the Columbine Library.

In addition to the survey, JCPL is hosting several virtual community meetings for residents to provide further input into the location of the new library.

A timeline states that once the community engagement process completes, JCPL estimates it will take 9-12 months to design the library followed by 3-6 months of permitting and 12-18 months of construction. Residents can register for those sessions at jeffcolibrary.org/south-county.