Central Overview

Annually, over a million people visit the Central Library. Designed by world-renowned architect Michael Graves, it is the largest library between Los Angeles and Chicago. This hub of the Denver Public Library system houses the world-renowned Western history collection, an acclaimed children's library and a federal deposit library. Researchers can find over 2.4 million items and 495 public computers systemwide. Tours offered daily.

Openings
Graves/Klipp addition: March 25, 1995
Renovated 1956 Central Library: December 9, 1995

Square Footage
1956 Central Library: 134,000 s.f.
1995 Graves/Klipp addition: 404,450 s.f.
Total: 538,450 s.f.

Shelving
1956 Central Library: 152,476 linear feet (2 miles)
Graves/Klipp addition: 89,104 linear feet
Total: 241,580 linear feet

Funding
Construction & renovation cost: $49,119,658
Bond money used to purchase new items for the popular lending library: $600,000
Sources of funding: $71.7 million from the 1990 Library Bond
$6.5 million from private donors

For media inquiries please contact:
M. Celeste Jackson
Public Relations Manager
Phone: 720-865-2044
Fax: 720-865-2081
E-mail: cjackson@denverlibrary.org

All other inquiries