Englewood Public Library's History

The Beginning

The Englewood Public Library began its life in 1920 in a small, rented room on Broadway with a collection of 200 books.  It had a governing Board of Control with eleven members and operated with a single librarian who also lived on the premise. Through donations and the hard work of the Board and Librarian, the collection grew to almost 3000 books, with over 13,000 total checkouts in just a year. As the library grew, it relocated several times. First to the Chrysler Building on Broadway, and again in 1934 to the new city hall located at 3385 South Broadway.

The 60s & 70s

1959 was a landmark year for the library. It saw the beginning of both the Summer Reading and the Bookmobile programs. Summer Reading continues to be a community favorite, with hundreds of children participating each year. Although no longer active, the Bookmobile program saw several vehicles, including the Road Runner and the Rainbow Express, bringing books to the community in a program that boasted over 1 million checkouts by 1978.

In 1969, the Englewood Local History collection started with the “Share Your Heritage” program, which collected interview recordings, photos, and newspapers from longtime Englewood residents, including many key figures in the city’s history. Today the collection has expanded to include the records of many local clubs and organizations, a digital archive of photos, and a digital and microfilm collection of local newspapers.

The Present

The library has moved numerous times throughout its existence, typically following city hall. On June 12, 2000, the library opened the doors at its current location in the Englewood Civic Center. By then, the library had public computers, a digital catalog, and a collection of over 100,000 volumes. Today, the library provides Englewood and area residents with access to books and information resources of all types, fantastic programming for both children and adults, and a welcoming place to meet, learn, and work.