Denver Public Library: Woodbury Branch Library — Attraction in Denver

This branch absolutely stole my heart. It’s charming, filled with natural sunlight, and has such a warm, welcoming energy the moment you walk in. The staff are some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met at a library — they genuinely care about their visitors and go out of their way to make everyone feel valued.

When my daughter, Emma, asked about two books that weren’t in stock, the staff treated her with the same respect and kindness they would an adult reader. They didn’t ask for my approval first — they just ordered the books for her directly, which meant so much. It was a wonderful moment for her to feel capable and independent, and for me to watch her confidence shine.

Every interaction we had was thoughtful. One staff member helped Emma find the graphic novels section and explained how it was organized, speaking directly to her instead of defaulting to me — such a small gesture, but one that says so much about how they respect young readers.

When we checked out, the staff member — who already knew Emma from her regular visits with Dad — addressed her directly, asking whether she wanted to have all of our books checked out on her account or use mine instead. They already had her account pulled up, which made her light up with pride. Emma happily said, “Sure, we can put them all on mine,” and it was the sweetest thing to see her take ownership like that. We all shared a smile — it was such a simple, joyful moment.

Between the friendly faces, the gorgeous sunlight, and the thoughtful way they engage with kids, this library turned an ordinary errand into the loveliest 45 minutes of my day. Emma and Dad have clearly been keeping this gem to themselves — but now I’m in on it too, and I can’t wait to start joining their library...

I was on a mission to collect a set of DVDs of a French television series and made my first visit to this amazing, elegant branch to find one of the volumes.

The Carnegie Corporation funded the construction of nine branches of the Denver Public Library. All of them are still standing, although only five retain their original function. This is one of them and it is an amazing building.

It was constructed in 1912 in the Renaissance Revival style and is named for the first president of the Denver Chamber of Commerce. It was added to the National Register for Historic Places in 1986 and listed as a Denver historic landmark in 1989.

The exterior of the building features extensive terracotta detailing, particularly around the dramatic clerestory windows; however, the most gorgeous feature is the striking, carved open truss ceiling in the main reading room. This looks like something out of Hampton Court (Henry VIII) and is just jaw-dropping.

An absolutely wonderful space to lose yourself in a good book. The library sits in the northeast corner of Highland Park. There's a very tiny, cramped parking lot, but there's also lots of street parking...

I've been taking students from the post graduate special education program at North High School (TIP Program), to volunteer at Woodbury Library for the past 2 years and I've yet to encountered a more warm and welcoming staff at a student volunteer site. The staff ALWAYS goes above and beyond to answer any questions the students may have, understand and help with any accommodations the students may need, and patiently guide them in learning all the skills needed for the jobs they do at the library. They're always ready and willing to help with anything we may need while we're there.

Thank you for your enduring kindness, inclusive attitude and community spirit - it's my favorite...