The Globeville Community House, site of Globeville's first library
Globeville's first library was housed in the Community House, which was built during the summer of 1920 and accepted by the city at the Denver City Council meeting on December 29, 1920.
The Community House became a welcome gathering place, with an auditorium for plays, movies, dances, social functions, meetings and the resident thirteen-piece orchestra. In addition to the library, there was the University of Colorado Extension, which offered classes in home economics and American history. Two part-time social workers were available to help residents with legal and family issues, as well as learn American ways.
During the Depression, Denver struggled with diminishing funds and reduced the hours of the city’s libraries to two nights and one day a week. On January 3, 1934, it closed the Globeville branch completely, posting a notice on the door. Immediately, Lad Felix and Adolph Anzich of the Globeville Voters Taxpayers Association organized the community, gathering signatures on petitions and demanding a meeting with the library’s board. At the meeting, Felix and Anzich explained that the library was used by foreign-born children and adults, and “played a great part in Americanizing residents.” The men pointed out that Globeville citizens paid a higher percentage of taxes than other areas of the city and were not receiving the same city services. The Rocky Mountain News kept the cause in the spotlight and the library was reopened on February 4, 1935. The News gladly proclaimed, “Globeville Branch Library Is Swamped as It Reopens.”
In 1950, the city again closed the neighborhood’s library, and, in 1952 the branch in nearby Elyria was closed as well. It would be more than seventy-five years before Globeville would have a library of its own.
The Valdez-Perry Branch Library opened at 47th and Vine March 18, 1996. Part of a major capital improvement project that began in 1990 when Denver voters approved $91.6 million in bond money. The library features a bilingual staff, meeting rooms, a large collection of children’s books, audio books, videos and magazines. There are computers, internet access and instruction in the use of both. But Globeville residents would have to walk more than a mile across busy streets and railroad tracks to get there. The nearby Bob Ragland Library at 1900 35th Street poses the same challenges.
Gil Herrera and Nola Miguel celebrate
Globeville residents have wished for a library for a long time. In 2021, Denver voters approved Rise Denver Bonds for more than 80 projects and a library for Globeville was included.
$12 million dollars were designated for Globeville's Library and neighborhood meetings were held to gather input from residents, including the site, the "look" of the structure and what would meet the needs of the community. The GES Coalition steered the effort through the many hurdles that arose.
Dedication day was a culmination of the work of many individuals and groups. The building will be five stories tall and feature 170 affordable apartments (particularly important to so many who have been displaced over the last 70 years). Also included is a youth space, study rooms, meeting spaces, IdeaLab, computers and tech assistance. There will also be community-run Cafe. The completion date is set to be spring of 2027. At last!
A rendering of the building at 4965 Washington Street.
John Ronan Architects and Gilmore Construction Group
listened to community input.
