Denver Public Library
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“Libraries have always been places where barriers to access knowledge have been broken,” says Alvaro Sauceda Nuñez, Communications Coordinator for the Denver Public Library. “A modern library goes beyond books.”
And Denver’s public library system — right along with libraries across the state, courtesy of the forward-thinking Colorado statute that connects all its public libraries — is doing exactly that, day in and day out. Not just at the new and improved facility at the Denver Central branch, but at many of its satellite locations as well.
“The community that we serve is so diverse,” says Nuñez. “So we look at the needs and interests of the people we’re working to reach, and determine what’s good for the greatest number of people, what’s sustainable, what’s a wise use of our resources.”
And it’s not just books. The checking out of non-traditional materials goes back to the mid-1980s, according to DPL Creative Technology Program Manager Ashley Kazyaka. “There started to be libraries that would circulate typewriters. Some circulated artwork,” Kazyaka says. “Some of the mountain towns even checked out ski equipment.”
That same era saw library offerings diversify in a technological sense, too. Young people began to flock to the library not necessarily to check out books, but to have access to the new advent of personal computers, upon which millions of children could die of dysentery — digitally, of course — in the game Oregon Trail. “It was also around that time that databases became an important library resource,” Kazyaka says.
“Libraries in general can be a little risk-averse,” Kazyaka admits. “But Denver as a system has always been very focused on meeting the needs of our neighbors, connecting with the community. That can look very innovative, but what we’re really doing is just meeting people where they’re at.”
“It all comes back to community,” agrees Nuñez, who proceeds to provide a quick list of ten things available to users of Denver Public Libraries that might surprise them.
ideaLAB
The DPL calls their ideaLABs “makerspaces,” which is exactly what they are. These are free community spaces to make things — lots of things. Users can produce videos, create games, make music, use sewing machines or learn about electronics. Some facilities (Boulder and Greeley) even have woodworking facilities, and many locations offer tool lending as well. While availability does vary from lab to lab, anyone can check out the ideaLAB homepage to find the space that has what you need. And this is a resource that’s even more easily accessed than books — no library card necessary!
Genealogy
Ever see an Ancestry.com commercial and think “that might be fun, but I don’t know that I’d use it enough that it’s worth that subscription…”? Well, the DPL has an answer — its own library edition of Ancestry, available on-site only for the use of patrons to research their families’ past. “And it’s not just Ancestry,” adds Nuñez. “We offer so many databases having to do with genealogy and historical research. In addition to that, our Special Collections and Archives division is one of the best. You can really dive deep.”
Denver Public Library
Meeting and Study Spaces
One of the more esoteric offerings — but one of its more vital, in today’s increasingly office-less world — are the new meeting and study spaces, especially at the updated Denver Central branch. Reservations are required for all spaces, but a library card is required for only the community spaces, which are designed for four or more users at a time. The smaller study spaces — which support a solitary user up to each room’s specific capacity — are available to everyone. “Sometimes you need a quiet space,” says Kazyaka, who recalls witnessing someone trying — and sort of failing — to have a Zoom meeting with a client in the very busy Denver Central Market in RiNo. A great spot, for sure, but if you’re trying to conduct a meeting, the library might offer a better space, even if it’s a bring-your-own-coffee-drink situation.
New York Times Online Access
One of the best genealogical resources is also a benefit unto itself: the New York Times Online Access is available to all library card holders — including Kazyaka herself, who laughs and claims to be “probably one of the top ten users of that particular benefit.” While separate log-ins are required for news & opinion; cooking; games; and athletics, the bounty of coverage that is the New York Times is available — gratis — right here in Denver.
Museum Passes
Speaking of free stuff, the DPL also offers reservable passes to over a dozen local museums and cultural institutions: the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Butterfly Pavilion, History Colorado, and many more. The passes can only be reserved once per month, except for the Denver Botanic Gardens pass, which can be reserved twice per year, and generally don’t include special events. Still, a pretty sweet and little-known library offering that can save locals some scratch.
Xcel Power Check Meters
The DPL has teamed up with Xcel Energy to provide lendable power check meters, which measure the amount and rate of electricity used by home appliances and electronic devices. It’s a free resource that can mean serious savings on energy bills by identifying older and less efficient applicances, uncovering energy “vampires” that continue to draw power even when switched off and promoting efficiency to reduce overall consumption.
Udemy Learning Platform
Udemy is an instructional platform that can turbocharge students in high school or college — or just anyone looking to find a new job — in skills current employers find necessary. DPL users can learn and improve skills across business, tech, design, and more, with over 25,000 on-demand video courses in multiple languages. From improving your resumé to learning Drupal or SQL, this is a resource that can be truly life-changing.
BizBoost
The Denver Public Library offers a plethora of business reference materials, including print books, newspapers, periodicals and a vast collection of online databases — so much, in fact, that sometimes, the options are dizzying. This service offers aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to schedule an appointment with a reference librarian to enjoy personalized instruction on how to use the library’s databases to locate statistical data and other information vital for developing business plans.
Kanopy Streaming Service
Remember back in the day of Blockbuster, when the library had an impressive selection of DVDs and VHS movies from which to choose in order for a family to watch something fun and save a few bucks? In this streaming age (and with increased costs for platforms like Netflix), Kanopy is here to fill the gap, offering free access (with no ads!) to thousands of movies. This resource is available online and from home, but it’s for Denver users only, due to licensing restrictions. Still: pop some popcorn and settle in: it’s movie time.
Social Services
There are a lot of things that fall under this category, from bike repair tools available at every branch to Narcan kits available just in case. But it’s important to note that the DPL doesn’t just offer help in terms of education and literacy; it also offers real support for mental, physical and emotional health. The Community Resources team offers free, voluntary support for anyone facing challenges such as homelessness, poverty, mental health struggles or substance use. Librarians can connect the public to community services, help navigate complex systems and offer compassionate, nonjudgmental support. Just one more way that the Denver Public Library might be more than most think.
For more information on all the Denver Public Library has to offer, explore the services list on its website.
