The Denver Central Library is one of my favorites, both for the spectacular building and for the…read morehelpful staff and many resources found inside.
I have always found the staff knowledgeable, helpful, and very willing to seek out answers, no matter what my issue might be.
There are enormous resources available here, far beyond the physical books and media on the shelves. These include community rooms and study rooms, a constant series of seminars and events, the ideaLAB maker space, the children's library, passes for many local cultural institutions, and the Community Technology Center (computer lab, classes, and workshops).
There's a Healthy Snack program for children, extensive help to navigate social services for those in need, a number of book clubs, a book store, and a large collection of eBooks and audio books. There's a streaming resource for movies, music, and TV shows, a huge digital magazine collection, and digital access to The Denver Post and The New York Times.
Research resources include BizBoost (research services to formulate data for a business plan), Digital Navigators (help with acquiring electronics and using technology), Nonprofit assistance, the Patent & Trademark Resource Center, and student consulting.
There is a huge selection of research databases available online. The Western History collection is massive and comprehensive. There are extensive genealogy resources and a large collection of historic maps and geographic resources.
The library also has an outstanding art collection. Some of the most important pieces are on loan to the Denver Art Museum, but the seventh floor hallways and the Vida Ellison Gallery on the seventh floor are used to display pieces from the collection between periodic, formal art exhibits.
The fifth floor of the building is another highlight. There's a large lobby which is used for mostly historical exhibits. The Western History collection is on this floor. The Gates Reading Room sits within Symbol of the West, a sculpture of massive wooden beams designed by Michael Graves. The area usually features exhibits of photographs and artifacts from the Western History collection and is a spectacular study space.
The library started in a wing of the original Denver High School building at 19th and Stout Streets. It notably included the first children's library in the U.S. The facility moved to the iconic Carnegie building (now the McNichols Civic Center Building) in Civic Center Park in 1910 and remained there until the new Burnham Hoyt building at 14th and Broadway was completed in 1956.
Noted architect Michael Graves designed the current building which opened in 1995. It incorporates the 1956 structure quite seamlessly. I greatly admire the new building. I think it is one of Graves' best projects. Internally, it is very functional while the exterior is stunning.