Denver’s reimagined Children’s Library has opened

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DENVER – On Sunday, April 24, the Denver Public Library debuted the relocated and reimagined Children’s Library for the first time since it closed two years ago. 

The new Children’s Library is now located on the first floor of the Central Library. According to a recent Denver Public Library release, the Children’s Library holds a collection of over 50,000 physical print and media materials. 

Bookshelves with different shapes and heights at the new Children's Library, which opens April 24.

Rachel Fewell, Central Library administrator, highlighted the outdoor urban elements throughout the library. 

A blue river fixture along the ceiling winds its way to the back of the space. There are decals on the windows reminiscent of street signs and cars passing. On the floor of the project room is a map of downtown Denver with the library marked in white. 

“We were really trying to think about our families that come to this location as a destination,” Fewell said.

Fewell added that the new space was also designed to accommodate children of all developmental stages. Books, activities and materials for older kids sit towards the front while materials for babies and toddlers are in the back of the space, closer to the story time area. 

According to Ann Schwab, senior librarian at the Children's Library, staff members hope to have story time in May at least two times a week so that families can have story time anywhere in Denver every day of the week. 

“We try to be child-centered, child-led,” Schwab said. 

A row of dinosaur toys that kids can play with. There are interactive activities and toys throughout the library.

The Children’s Library staff are very excited to welcome families to the new Children’s Library, Fewell said, and they look forward to having community input on the activities that will happen at the library. 

“Two years of not being able to get into your regular story time … I think that’s tough on kids,” Fewell said. “We really want to get back to those relationship-building activities that we can do here and really create new connections with families that moved in during that interim.”

According to Fewell, the renovation is mostly funded the Elevate Denver Bond Program, which was Denver voters approved in 2017. The Elevate Denver Bond is a 10-year, $937 million program that will fund nearly 500 projects designed to enrich neighborhoods and improve the city. According to the Denver Public Library's website, $69.3 million was allocated to renovate the Denver Central Library and 10 branch libraries.

Theresa Ho is the RMPBS Kids digital content producer. You can reach her at theresaho@rmpbs.org.