Background
The yet to be named branch is located at 3300 West Nevada Place within the Westwood Redeemer development. The property formerly housed the Lutheran Redeemer Church and is being developed by Lifespan Local, led by Dr. Lydia Prado. Construction on the facility is underway and the library hopes to open the new location in 2024.
The new branch will complement the existing Westwood Branch Library and its surrounding neighborhoods.
The 6,020 square-foot branch will provide the community with a larger collection of library materials, greater access to technology, community meeting spaces, and a wide variety of services. Additionally, the new branch will be a co-created space with other neighborhood organizations providing legal support, healthy food, and well-being resources. The project is part of the RISE Denver bond, which was approved by Denver voters in 2021 and is located in a neighborhood identified as needing additional library services as outlined in the Denver Public Library’s 2017 Facilities Master Plan.
Branch Naming Process
As part of the branch naming process, a Community Committee was formed in partnership with Councilwoman Jamie Torres and Library Commissioner Jennifer Wolf. The committee is composed of Westwood residents, local business owners, community partners and leaders, and DPL employees. The Community Committee is guiding this process and created the criteria for naming the new branch based on the Denver Public Library’s mission, vision, and values and in alignment with the library’s approved recognition policy.
Based on these considerations, the Community Committee created the following naming criteria:
A “Meaningful” Name (Non-Person)
If you are recommending any type of lyrical name for the branch, please consider the following:
Space and Place
Words that describe:
- Welcoming, safe, a refuge, belonging and connection.
- Multi-generational, all ages and abilities.
- Consider words in other languages to describe the space.
Neighborhood Culture and Intersectionality
Words that describe:
- Rich in cultural diversity- think of the values that we share that connect us and make us unique as a neighborhood.
- The sounds you hear around the neighborhood, the kind of music that fills the air, the aroma of different foods.
- Urban Relocation Program- consider the many tribes and individuals who have migrated through this area
Geographical Features
Words that describe:
- Landmarks or natural features that are unique to the neighborhood.
- Specific or special view sites or corridors.
Naming Branch After a Person:
If you are recommending the branch be named after a person, please consider the following:
- The person must be deceased.
- A Westwood resident or a champion of the Westwood community.
- A person who contributed significantly to the Westwood community and reflects the community’s values.
From August 25-September 29, Denver Public Library launched a naming survey that was distributed to the Westwood community through various partners and channels. All of the recommended names we received are researched and vetted by DPL’s Special Collections Team. The Community Committee will then convene in November to score and vote on name submissions. The final branch name will be presented to the Library Commission for approval at its Commission Meeting on December 21.
If you have any questions regarding the naming process or community engagement strategy, please reach out to DPL’s Community Engagement Manager, Victoria Nava-Watson, at vnavawatson@denverlibrary.org or 720-810-6619.