Action for Libraries

              ACTION FOR
BCR WISHES DENVER PUBLIC
LIBRARY A HAPPY BIRTHDAY
The Denver Pnblic Library (DPL) is 100 years old
this year. Denver's Library and its predecessors
grew up with the city. A reading room at 16th and
Lawrence Streets was organized in 1874 by the
Denver Library Association, and although sup­ported
by memberships, the room was open to the
public. When it ran out of funds in 1878, its
creditors donated the book collection to the
Denver School Board with the hope that "at no
distant day it may become the nuclens of a grand
pnblic library for our city."
The day turned out to be 11 years distant. (This
collection was relocated in 1882 when the west
wing of the new Denver High School, 19th and
Stout Streets, was built. Unfortunately, the wing
was vacant for several more years.)
In the absence of a free circulating public library,
the Denver Chamber of Commerce founded a
subscription Library in their new building at 14th
and Lawrence Streets. This Mercantile Library
opened November 1,1986, with 3,000 volumes and
Charles R. Dudley as head librarian. Though
supported by subscriptions, the library extended
borrowing privileges also to people who were
guaranteed by a subscriber or who made a small
deposit.
In 1891, the Denver City Council began making
annual appropriations to the library, which was
appreciatively renamed City Library in 1893. By
1898, the collection amounted to 30,000 volumes
and annual circulation figures exceeded 160,000.
In 1889, the Denver High School at 19th and Stout
Streets was finally completed and occupied, and
the Public Library opened in the West Wing.
Funding for books came from a one-tenth mill
property tax levy. John Cotton Dana was hired as
librarian and secretary of the Denver School
MAYS 1989
Board. The Library ?r,~~~~,:J;' circulating books on l'
Forty six years later, the D
fourth city librarian, Malcolm
also created DPL's Western ttls[()TV
ment, founded BCR in 1935. The tSIIDIlC)grapmc:al
Center for Research was Wyer's premier ac11ieve­ment
in regional cooperation. He garnered the
support of colleges and universities of the Rocky
Mountain region and obtained a $35,000 Carnegie
grant to establish a center that provided a com­prehensive
collection of bibliographies and
catalogs, bibliographic verification, and a clearin·
ghouse for interlibrary loan. The "Bib Center"
was housed at the Denver Public Library until
1977 when BCR was relocated to separate
facilities.
The Denver Public Library is celebrating its 100
years of existence by hosting a birthday party for
the public. Festivities begin at 12:30 p.m. on
Sunday, June 18, at the Central Library, 1357
Broadway, and continue all afternoon.
Over the past century, people of all ethnic and
cultural backgrounds have contributed to
Denver's unique life style. Their talents will be
spotlighted by numerous groups of dancers,
musicians, singers, and other entertainment
during the party. From Barbershop Chorus to
Mestizo Dancers, Sons of Italy to Rocky Moun·
tain Highlands Dancers, each will pay tribute to
the Library'S birthday and to the people of
Denver.
Activities during the party will include historical
skits performed at the Greek Theater in Civic
Center; free admission to nearby museums; cro­quet
on the library lawn, music by the Denver
Municipal Band; gold panning, butter churning,
and story telling for children; and of course ice
cream and cake. The public is invited to attend
the party, dressed in Victorian, Western or his­torical
costume if desired.
A NON-PROFIT, MULTI-STATE LIBRARY SERVICES COOPERATIVE