Curiosity: A Denver Public Library Value
Breanne Vailes
Curiosity is a scary concept. After all, it killed the cat, as the saying goes. Curiosity demands vulnerability and losing the comfort of the status quo. Yet, DPL values what curiosity can accomplish and states, “We foster a culture of exploration, innovation and forward thinking by creating environments that support learning and growth.”
Brené Brown writes in her book Rising Strong,“Choosing to be curious is choosing to be vulnerable because it requires us to surrender to uncertainty. It wasn’t always a choice; we were born curious. But over time, we learn that curiosity, like vulnerability, can lead to hurt. As a result, we turn to self-protecting—choosing certainty over curiosity, armor over vulnerability, and knowing over learning.”
Growth comes when we 1) admit what we do not know and 2) ask questions piercing enough to find answers. Plaza is an ideal community for fostering curiosity. Through exploring other cultures’ values and beliefs, innovating through news ways of engaging online, and thinking forward to eliminate bias and inequity, DPL Plaza staff and customers embrace curiosity to become a better community.
Additionally, getting curious takes effort, and we cannot grow without questioning the past and imagining better possibilities for the future. Denver’s diversity makes the city better. In order to take advantage of this richness, we must be curious about others’ lives and understand our own limitations. Learning from others’ perspectives is what makes Plaza special.
The Denver Public Library's Cultural Inclusivity department collaborates with Denver's multicultural community to create equitable opportunities for learning, discovery, and connection.
We offer Plazas, an open community space where people from all over the world connect with information and resources, building Denver’s global community. Come to practice a language, prepare for citizenship, pursue your goals, and create your future. Whatever you’re doing, we can help!
Please see our web page for more information.