Free, licensed day care offered at El Paso County courthouse

In one corner of the Terry R. Harris Judicial Building in Colorado Springs, the phrase “Book ’em” carries a softer meaning.

It’s something of a feelgood rallying cry at Court Care for the Pikes Peak Region, a free, onsite day care service whose commitment to providing educational resources for its young visitors includes a free book to take home.

That perk is so popular, in fact, that it’s a little tough to sustain.

“We can’t keep them on the shelves,” said Jan Weiland, who co-created the licensed day care service and serves as its executive director.

The service, available to anyone with court business, has assisted more than 50,000 children since it was established in 2003. Its $250,000 annual budget is supported by El Paso County and by grants and donations. New and gently used books, especially for children 6 and younger, are in high demand throughout the year.

The free library is one element of the day care’s educational offerings.

Each of the two rooms is decorated to reflect a different book-of-the-month selection, and children are given materials for two craft projects — one to be completed in day care and one to take home and work on with parents.

The El Paso County courthouse is one of only two state courthouses in Colorado that offers free, licensed day care. The goal, administrators say, is to allow parents and family members to concentrate on court matters without distraction — and without worries about children being exposed to inappropriate material. Four full-time employees and one part-time employee are provided by the Early Connections Learning Center, which bills itself as the oldest nonprofit child care organization in Colorado.

Most of the parents who rely on the service are of low income, and threequarters are single mothers, Court Care said in a news release.