Frequently Asked Questions

For questions about the collection, see below.

 

Other frequently asked questions: Questions about ordering copies and using materials Questions about the digitization and cataloging process

FAQs about the collection

1. How many images and catalog records are in the database?
There are currently over 100,000 images and catalog records in the database. The majority of materials come from the Denver Public Library’s Western History Photograph Collection.  A growing number of photographs from the Colorado Historical Society photograph collection are also being added.

2. Is this the Denver Public Library’s entire collection?
No, the Denver Public Library has more than 600,000 photographs in its collection, including thousands of photographs that are not yet online. We have posted subject heading lists for loose photos from our Western States, Biography, General and Railroad collections. To find out more about these photographs, please email us at photosales@denver.lib.co.us, or call (720) 865-1818.

Many of our photo albums and collections have been cataloged and added to the Denver Public Library’s on-line catalog at: http: //www.denver.lib.co.us/

3. Does the Denver Public Library plan to put the entire collection online?
The digitization project is ongoing. We will continue to scan new items but we do not plan to scan our entire collection.  In some cases, items in our collection have been copyrighted; and we currently do not have permission to make them available on our site. In other cases, items in the collection do not warrant item level access.  For example, we have numerous collections documenting wildlife in the Rocky Mountains. These collections often contain hundreds of images of the same plant, taken on the same day.