Anti-Immigration Congressman Questions Denver PL Policies

-- Library Journal, 7/6/2005

Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO), a noted critic of illegal immigration, has caused a ruckus in Denver, querying whether the Denver Public Library is planning a Spanish-language-only library and otherwise has favored Spanish speakers. He said the questions were based on information from library employees and patrons. “Denver does not need further cultural balkanization,” Tancredo wrote in a letter to Mayor John Hickenlooper. In response, the mayor, citing input from City Librarian Rick Ashton, said that Denver PL “is not implementing any plan to convert its branch libraries to Spanish language centers” but simply aiming to provide additional Spanish-language materials and services. Moreover, the mayor wrote, there is no proposal to convert English-language materials to Spanish-only holdings for bilingual Latinos, nor is there any plan to give raises only to bilingual employees. While foreign driver’s licenses can be used to verify identity, they must be accompanied by proof of Denver residency to borrow materials.