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First Legislative Assembly Creates Territorial Library
Photo of Colorado City, first capital of Colorado,1860. (All photographs are from the Denver Public Library Digital Collections unless otherwise noted). -
Period: to
Colorado State Library History
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Territorial Treasurer becomes Ex-Officio Territorial Librarian
George T. Clark was the first Territorial Treasurer for the State of Colorado, and was elected Mayor of Denver in 1865. -
Library opens to public
Newspaper text from Rocky Mountain News 2/24/1886. Text reads, "TERRITORIAL LIBRARY- We are informned by the Territorial Librarian that the Library has at last been set up, and will be thrown open for the service of knowledge seekers on Monday evening next, and every evening thereafter from 7 to 9 o'clock." -
Colorado becomes a state
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Legislature passes first mill levy for school libraries
Picture of Early Denver School, May 8th, 1868. -
Colorado Association of Libraries Formed
Newspaper article from Rocky Mountain News December 31, 1892. The beginning of the text reads, "LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. A New Organization Formed At The High School Building. A number of librarians from Denver and other parts of the state met at the High school building Thursday afternoon. After a brief discussion they resolved to organize a Library Association and adopted the following constituation: . . ." -
State Board of Library Commissioners Created
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State Library Moves to Capitol Building
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Traveling Library Association Created
Julia von der Leith Welles, founder of the first Traveling Library, which she ran out of her home. She served as the president of the Colorado State Library Commission for nine years. (Photo from http://books.google.com/books?id=sRUTAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA275&lpg=PA275&dq=julia+von+der+Leith+welles&source=bl&ots=PWEyHyicYN&sig=vVwWz-Tw8NhoVlPPpOsR_uzDRcI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=CUz9UuqpNamMygHPkoCICg&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=julia%20von%20der%20Leith%20welles&f=fals) -
Kissing Banned in State Library
Article from Denver Times, April 14,1903. Headline reads, NO MORE KISSING IN THE STATE LIBRARY. There Has Been So Much Loud Osculation Behind the Shelves that Prompt Action Had to Be Taken. COOING COUPLES MUST FIND SOME OTHER PLACE." -
State Board of Library Commissioners and Colorado Traveling Library Commission Merge
The traveling libraries were very popular. In my research I found several articles complaining when they were discontinued briefly due to financial constraints. Frequently this was the only service available to rural communities. (Photograph of 1917 Traveling Library Commission Ledger, found at http://www.jewishhistorymuseum.org/collections/artifacts/article/431-ledger-colorado-traveling-library-1st-entry) -
Colorado Library Commission transferred to Colorado State Library
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State Librarian created by new omnibus law
Picture shows Gordon Bennett (left) in one of the first city bookmobiles. Mr. Bennett was the Director of the Colorado State Library from 1943-1969. The omnibus law greatly expanded services in the state, including rural library and bookmobile service. -
Federal Library Services Bill allows State to expand services to rural patrons
Mail carrier in San Luis, Colorado 1950-1960. -
State opens library for blind and disabled patrons
Newspaper Article from Denver Post, August 31, 1969. Headline reads "Library Opens New Division to Assist Colo. Handicapped." The library was situated in an old branch of the Denver Public library, and had audio books, braille books, and other assistive devices. -
Colorado State Libary comes under direction of the Colorado Department of Education
The Department of Education Building, Colfax and Sherman, Denver, Colorado. The current home of the Colorado State Library offices.
(Photo found at https://www.google.com/maps/preview/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x876c792a90b59837:0xb25b66fddda8c51c!2m5!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i100!3m1!7e1!4shttps://plus.google.com/114778705022437038753/photos?hl%3Den%26socfid%3Dweb:lu:kp:placepageimage%26socpid%3D1!5scolorado+department+of+education+building+-+Google+Search&sa=X&ei=0Vv9Up-5Aur4yQGg2oDoBQ&ved=0CIEBEKIqMA4) -
Amendment allows regional library service systems
The Colorado Library Consortium (CLIC) offers a wide range of services allowing libraries to save money, including the library courier that transports book to other library systems,enabling patrons to return items at any library with a book drop. http://www.clicweb.org/
