Denver Public Library: Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales Branch Library
For this week’s assignment, I had the opportunity to explore the 2020 and 2021 issues in American Libraries to delve into articles on how libraries have responded to the pandemic. In my search, after finding the article, “Serving the Community at All Times,” by Nicanor Diaz, Virginia Vassar Aggrey, and Naghem Swade, I came across the Denver Public Library in Denver, Colorado, and was able to take a look at the library’s virtual presence. I was initially drawn to learning more about this particular library after reading about their Plaza program, a program whose mission is to “collaborate with Denver’s multicultural community to create equitable opportunities for learning, discovery, and connection,” and especially how this program was adapted to continue serving the community and helping its immigrant community during the COVID-19 pandemic (Diaz, 2021, 43).
At the library’s website, I was able to find a vast collection of resources available listed physically and provided online such as databases, eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, as well as tabs for further help with research, finding events, recommendations, and a tab exclusively for the services they offer. In diving into their online catalog, they have a seemingly endless amount of options from their core collection of adult books, teenage books, and children books, and the books, DVDs, Blu-ray, music, graphic novels, and physical recommendations that are one-click away from their “on-order” option whether the patron choose to have the material for pick-up physically, or by download/pdf.
Perusing the services available on the Denver Public Library’s site, there is an option to phone the library, as well as an option to email, chat, and a 24/7 online reference available. (https://www.denverlibrary.org/ask)
The library also has a curbside hold pick-up available either for individual items, or a bundle of items, including books, movies, and music for library patrons. There is also further assistance with finding and borrowing materials in the Denver Public Library’s recommendation tab. In this tab, the library patron has the option to receive recommendations from the library’s core collections and specific staff picks, request a personalized reading list, and even join one of the DPL book clubs or browse the library’s event calendar for in-person and virtual opportunities they have available .
While reading Nicanor Diaz’s article, “Serving the Community at All Times,” I was thrilled to learn about the Plaza program in action at the Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales branch of the Denver Public library. The Plaza program is a weekly program designed to “build community and make immigrant refugee newcomers feel welcome at DPL” (Diaz, 2021, 43). Expanding on this program, which has been in place at the Denver Public library for ten years, and how it shifted to learning online amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, was a multicultural program initially aimed to help Spanish speakers find the resources they needed, and now has become a pivotal program to the community its cultivated representing more than 15 languages, and working on programming that includes “English conversation tables, naturalization support, immigration legal help,, job search assistance, and computer help” (Diaz, 2021, 43). On top of their cultural inclusivity programming, the Denver Public Library offers outdoor story time program, book clubs, and a slew of virtual events and learning opportunities geared towards the community.
As mentioned previously, as part of their online/digital catalog collection, media the Denver Public Library has available (but is not limited to) is the eBooks, DVDS, Blu-Ray, graphic novel, and music materials they have. They also have virtual presentations, videos, and a link to events provided that elucidate more options in regards to community programs and learning opportunities available.
Overall, the layout of the Denver Public Library’s home page on the website I found to be a bit dull, especially in comparison to the vibrancy of the article that mentions the Denver Public Library, but I still considered the layout to be inviting and very easy to navigate to whatever the library browser might be trying to find. I also believe that the Denver Public Library has some fantastic programs they have implemented for their own community and the online community at-large after taking steps to adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic.
References
Diaz, N., Aggrey, V. V., & Swade, N. (2021). SERVING THE COMMUNITY AT ALL TIMES: Cultural inclusivity programming during a pandemic. American Libraries, 52(5), 42–45. http://proxy.lib.odu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=150118900&scope=site
Graves, M. (1990). Denver Public Library [Photograph]. Michael Graves & Associates. United States. https://www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/denver-public-library-6741
