Before the last vote was cast in the Nov. 8 general election — in fact even in the weeks before the election — a nagging question ran through the minds of most Americans: What’s next?

The desire to understand and feel confident about the future isn’t restricted to election years. But the past several weeks have caused many of us to seek answers in hopes of understanding how to best move forward in a world with appreciable changes ahead.

For the past two weeks, Denver Public Library staff have asked important questions — questions to which I don’t always have answers. As the Denver city librarian, I believe we must build upon the foundation of the basic principle that has guided the library’s development: providing access to information, experiences and ideas that make Denver a better place to live, work and play.

Public libraries are drivers of civic health and engagement. If you haven’t visited the library recently, that statement may seem exaggerated. How could “buildings with books” carry such responsibility?

I answer: How could they not?

Libraries provide residents the tools they need to live better lives and strengthen communities. Here’s how we accomplish that:

The Denver Public Library strives to positively affect learning and literacy for our youngest citizens. Through Storytimes, after-school programs, teen workshops and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs, we help ensure that children are prepared for school and beyond.

We work with entrepreneurs to provide access to resources that help them start and grow their businesses. We give free entree to sophisticated technology and training that help people create websites, films, games and art.

We produce programs for the curious on topics such as urban farming, health and wellness, music and current events. And we act as so-called third places — gathering spots away from home and work — where people can collaborate, share or escape into an engaging book or project. Our facilities are safe and trusted places for those seeking resources, assistance, help and guidance.

We provide access to information and resources for immigrants, refugees and asylees who seek legal paths to citizenship. We provide materials in different languages and different media so that all members of our community have the opportunity to find the information they seek.

We are the first place citizens can go to learn more about how our government works. Our collections come from diverse sources so that many points of view can be researched, analyzed and understood. And we have trained professionals who can point people toward quality, reliable sources that provide context to the changes we’ll see in the coming months.

Behind our daily activities and underlying the work we do for Denver are our guiding principles. These tenets are foundational ingredients for a free and robust society and we have strengthened our resolve to carry out these principles daily. I share them to remind our neighbors, friends, relatives, elected officials and especially our customers that we are committed to Denver’s health and welfare:

We respect individual diversity. We welcome all members of our community.

We reject discrimination based on religion, race, gender, sexual orientation and ethnicity.

We do not judge our customers or their choices.

We make library services free whenever possible.

We strive to eliminate any barriers to library use.

We respect our customers’ privacy in the use of services.

We protect the privacy of personal information.

As librarians and service professionals, we take these ideals to heart. We believe them to be indispensable in our quest for enhancing the quality of life in Denver and especially as we begin to tackle the big question of “What’s next?”

Michelle Jeske is Denver’s city librarian.

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