How the Library Supports the City’s Most Pressing Needs: DPL’s Plaza Program

Photo by James Chance

Denver has received almost 40,000 immigrants and refugees over the past year. As the city works to support this population, Denver Public Library (DPL) has programs to provide additional support, including the Plaza program.

Founded in 2008, the program provides immigrants and refugees access to resources for learning a new language, preparing for citizenship exams, finding connections, and pursuing their goals.

With 40 Plaza staff members, nine branch libraries provide this service to library newcomers.

Each location has 1-2 weekly programs where people can drop in for help with various things targeted at newer city residents, including English conversation groups, citizenship study groups, Chromebooks, activities for kids, etc.

Plaza’s Program Manager, Virginia Vassar, states:

“Even if there isn’t a language barrier, there’s cultural barriers. They might not think of the library as something that belongs to them. … We’re creating spaces where that relationship building can happen where [a customer] can see someone even if they walk in the library and the staff doesn’t reflect their community. … Giving people a chance to come into the library and have somebody who speaks their language [helps] the library become a place for [people] to take ownership of that resource and access information.”