Denver Public Library history

Only in 1891 did the City Council finally appropriate a monthly sum of $500 for the Library, half of which was allotted for book purchases.

After several thousand more dollars of City funds going to support the Library, in 1893 the name was changed from the Mercantile Library to the City Library, the former name being a misnomer anyway, since the Library had always been free.

In 1894, she started the Colorado Women's Club, a daring move for that time.

In 1895, the Library had expanded to occupy three floors of the building, allowing for separate reference and circulating departments, and an office for the Librarian.

In 1897, the General Assembly passed a comprehensive library law, which began a collaboration with the Department of Education, who had been running the library in the East Denver High School building for ten years, and whose collection would become part of the City Library.

On the 13th of August, 1898, the Council passed an ordinance establishing the Public Library of the City of Denver, and the consolidation, which took place the next year, required a new home, built at 15th and Court Place, under a five year lease.

American Woodmen’s Life was founded in Denver, Colorado in 1901 as a Fraternal Benefit Society established to provide life insurance for the “un-insurable” Black Community.

1902 - Library acquires La Veta Place Terraces to house collections

Decker was a forceful advocate in the establishment of Mesa Verde as a national park, and by 1904 was the national president of the nearly one million member Federation of Women's Clubs.

The building was completed in 1909, but the opening was delayed because of missed deadlines by the furniture makers and other interior finishing problems.

The library moved into its own building in 1910, a Greek revival design funded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie that was located in Civic Center Park downtown.

When she died on July 7, 1912, Denver City and County offices closed at noon with flags at half-mast, and three Colorado governors were among her pallbearers.

The Decker Branch was the second of the first four Carnegie branches, and opened in the summer of 1913, in its location at the northwest corner of Platte Park.

In April, 1914, the Valverde Branch was built as an addition to the Valverde Fire House.

1918 - Barnum Branch opens in Engine #20 Firehouse

The Rocky Mountain News reports in February, 1919, that "through the courtesy of Dewey C. Bailey, Manager of Safety, the firehouse of Engine #20, located at Knox Court and West 6th Avenue has become a neighborhood center."

Another Carnegie library, the Elyria Branch, was built in 1920 in the Spanish style, with a red tile roof, a fireplace, and paintings by Albert Olsen.

Anniversary of the Great Pueblo Flood of 1921

Denver Householder Directories date from 1924 and are arranged by address and show owners, residents, and business names.

1930 – Founded Adult Education Council

1934 – Bibliographical Center For Research - first of its kind, prototype of ILL

By 1935, when Malcolm Glenn Wyer, Denver’s fifth City Librarian, founded the Western History collection at the suggestion of novelist Willa Cather, the Denver Public Library had become a significant repository in the sparsely populated Rocky Mountain West.

The new building was financed through a $2.5 million bond issue passed by Denver voters in May, 1947, and $818,000 from the City for the purchase of the location.

The Ross-Broadway Branch, located at Lincoln Street and Bayaud Avenue, was dedicated on November 29, 1951, when City Librarian John Eastlick and Davis W. Moore of the Library Commission presented the new branch to Mayor Quigg Newton and the City of Denver.

1953 - John T. Eastlick appointed City Librarian

1954 - Ross-Barnum Branch Opens / Dickinson Branch decommissioned

Opened in 1956, the new structure provided more than twice the space of the Carnegie building, but was expected to meet Denver Public Library's needs for only a decade.

The Westwood Community Center was originally built as the Southwest Denver Community Center by Grace Methodist Church in 1957 on land donated by and purchased from Westwood residents.

1963 - Bear Valley Branch opens

1964 - Hadley Branch opens

1968 - Dahlia Branch opens

With the development of Hampden Heights, land had been given to the city for a library in 1969.

1970 - Eugene Field Branch opens on University

1971 - Bear Valley re-model opens

1972 - Ford-Warren Branch opens

In 1974, the complex was sold to the City and County of Denver and leased back to Southwest Denver Community Center Board.

1975 - Ford-Warren Branch Library opens

1976 was the first year of operation for the Westwood Branch.

In 1979, the Park Hill Branch started a toy and game library in the basement, which was a huge success.

1985 - Rick Ashton becomes the eighth City Librarian; CARL catalog is implemented

1990 - Bond issue passed by City of Denver for $91.6 million

In 1992, the SouthWest Improvement Council (SWIC) began operating the facility at 1000 South Lowell Boulevard and changed the name of the complex to the Westwood Community Center, under a leasehold agreement with the City and County of Denver.

It occupied various buildings and spaces after that before moving into its current location, a renovated former Prince of Peace Church, in November 1994.

At the February 20, 1995 dedication of the library branch named after her, Pauline Robinson said, "Of all the honors, the truest satisfaction that I've received throughout my career has been encouraging young people to continue their education and to prepare for their lifelong goals."

1996 - Valdez-Perry Branch Library opens

In 1998, Ted Hackworth, Councilman from District #2, donated computers and printers to Bear Valley and Hadley Branches, providing access to the fledgling Digital Collections of the Library's Western History Department.

2002 - Montclair Branch closes; Schlessman Branch opens, El Centro program begins

Before leaving office in 2003, Denver’s Mayor Wellington Webb facilitated the construction of the Blair-Caldwell Branch in the historic Five Points neighborhood.

2006 - Rick Ashton retires, Shirley Amore becomes ninth City Librarian June 19

In 2007, Denver voters supported a bond issue that enabled the Denver Public Library to build three new branch libraries in newly developed and underserved areas of the city, including Green Valley Ranch, Stapleton, and West Denver.

The $11.4 million Green Valley Ranch branch opened on March 12, 2011, with 26,000 square feet, a lounge and fireplace, 50 public computers and more than 100,000 materials.

The Branch was opened in 1996, part of the 1990 bond issue. It was later renovated and re-opened in May, 2012.

In 2015, the Library acquired the entire archives of the Rocky Mountain News, adding some 300,000 photographs to our Digital Collections, along with printed material that will take years to process.

In November 2017, Denver voters overwhelmingly approved measure 2E, which provides $69.3 million to renovate the Denver Central Library and 10 branch libraries as part of the Elevate Denver Bond program.