Denver voters passed measure 2i in November 2022 establishing the Denver Public Library Fund
The Denver Public Library (DPL) has already been able to invest in and accomplish much during quarter one of 2023 thanks to funding from Strong Library, Strong Denver supported by the Denver Public Library Fund. Denver voters passed measure 2i in November 2022, which established the DPL Fund, providing the library with an additional $32 million a year.
The additional funding is allowing the library to more fully meet the evolving needs of the community. The first year of funding is an implementation year and the library is taking a phased approach as it invests the funding.
Some new free resources that are now available for DPL cardholders thanks to Strong Library, Strong Denver, supported by the DPL Fund include:
- Reduced wait times for extremely popular eBooks: Previously, extremely popular titles ranged from approximately an eight month to year long wait time for customers, now wait times have been reduced by half to approximately three to four months.
- The addition of new databases including: Freegal Music+, an ad-free, unlimited streaming platform that gives customers access to millions of songs from 200+ genres; and Statista, an easy-to-use portal that integrates statistics and reports from thousands of sources on topics related to business, media, public policy, health, technology, and many others.
- A new learning platform: Craftsy and Craftsy en español offer on demand classes on a variety of topics that are suitable for beginners to those with more advanced skills. Craftsy is available via Libby.
- Reintroducing Lucky Day DVDs at nine locations plus the bookmobile: Lucky Day DVDs are extra copies of popular titles (like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and The Fabelmans) that can be checked out for seven days and are non-holdable/ non-renewable.
“We’re pleased that we are able to bring new resources to the community thanks to the generosity of Denver voters,” said Michelle Jeske, city librarian. “Our teams are working hard behind the scenes to deliver on the promises we made to the community to expand access and make even more resources available at our locations and online.”
During quarter one of 2023, the library worked to ensure the infrastructure is in place to launch some of the more publicly visible projects that customers will see at local branches and online. Some of this behind the scenes work includes hiring staff across the system, and the planning and design of some cosmetic refreshes to several branch libraries.
One of the main commitments that was made to Denver voters when they approved the DPL Fund was that the library would invest in staff to make sure they are appropriately compensated. The library is in the process of conducting a pay analysis for all employees as part of this commitment. During quarter one, the library was able to provide all DPL staff with a one-time bonus to provide some relief from rising costs as the pay analysis work is completed.
The work continues during this implementation year. Over the course of the year, the public can look forward to more open job opportunities at the library, expanded hours at branch libraries, additional improvements at Central Library, refreshed spaces at several branch locations, and more available resources for cardholders. Regular updates on Strong Library, Strong Denver supported by the DPL Fund are available at denlib.org/stronglibrary.