![]() ![]() Through that funding the branch will also have extended hours. Pay raises for existing staff are on the way, she added. ![]() With the 2I ordinance, Lewis said staffing has increased and new staff members are receiving higher pay. Recently, voters also passed Referred Question 2I, which slightly increased property taxes to add additional money to the Denver Public Library Fund. In 2017, voters passed the Elevate Denver Bond that allocated about $2.8 million toward renovating the space. that focuses on Black history through collection archives.īut since its opening, the building had not received any type of physical or design update. It’s one of five research libraries attached to the public library system in the U.S. Beaty/Denverite Blair-Caldwell opened in 2003 and is a nationally recognized public library that focuses on collecting and preserving African American history and culture. Jameka Lewis, branch supervisor of the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library. “When I first met with the architect I said this renovation has to represent Blackness with intention and that’s what we really wanted to accomplish.” “Once you were in this space, there was nothing that said this is a Black library,” said Lewis. at the Five Points branch located at 2401 Welton St. Lewis said the programming starts at 10 a.m. Intentionality, community mindfulness and Blackness were the three major components Jameka Lewis, branch manager of the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, and her team considered during the building’s renovation.īeyond the physical renovations like HVAC repair, adding accessibility components and design overhauling, the overall goal was to make the space intentionally Black history-centered with the surrounding community in mind.įrom the colors to the historical photos on bookshelves to the books on display, the new Blair-Caldwell space is steeped in Black culture, and folks can see it for themselves at a grand reopening planned for this Saturday. ![]()
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