Call it a tale of two neighbors. Far from a Dickens reboot, this story is set in the modern-day Denver suburb of Centennial, Colorado. It combines two women with past professions among books and a present passion for reading. At Holly Creek Life Plan Community, connections and life-long learning for active older adults happens between the pages.
Meet Holly Creek’s Resident Librarian
Just ask Sue Cady, one resident who’s always in circulation. A retired academic librarian, Sue oversees three libraries in the retirement community. The Finch Haven Library in the Town Center (pictured right) houses about 60 shelves of books. Two companion libraries nearby offer curated collections, including paperbacks and Colorado history.
“We have a lot of readers here at Holly Creek. Many have their favorite types of books, but some come in and have nothing in mind. That’s when we have a chance to talk and we find something to inspire them,” she said.
Fiction and non-fiction to historical and biographies, the library offers something for everyone. Books by Danielle Steel, John Grisham, David Baldacci, and C.J. Box top the list of most popular. Magnifying devices and large-print works are available to residents with low vision.
One unique part of the library is the local authors section. It features works written by or contributed to by community residents.
To celebrate “Book Lovers Day” in 2025, Holly Creek hosted an Author Open House event featuring 19 published authors living in the community and the works they’ve published. More than 200 guests attended.
“There is never a shortage of books when it comes to Holly Creek authors,” Sue said. “Some were written during their professions, so we have a chance to see another part of their world. We like to recognize these residents and share their stories.”
One of Sue’s current priorities at the library is “weeding the collection” – removing older books and replacing them with new ones. It’s not a one-woman job, and Sue is quick to share credit with the rest of the five-resident library committee.
Books designated for weeding are donated to the Koelbel Library in Arapahoe County for its book sale. Koelbel also visits Holly Creek every two weeks with new books for residents to borrow.
Maintaining the library takes work, but it’s a process Sue knows well.
For most of her professional life, she served in a library capacity. In Indianapolis, she lobbied at the state legislature on behalf of the Indiana State Library and led a library co-op. For 30 years, she was among the leaders at one of the nation’s oldest university libraries, the Linderman Library at Lehigh University.
Holly Creek’s Book Club Sparks Conversation and Connection
Another Holly Creek resident well-versed in academia is Ann Ryan. A teacher for more than 30 years, Ann is a natural leader for the senior living community’s book club.
“There’s nothing like talking about a book to socialize and learn about new people,” she said. “We are a wonderful, inclusive, friendly, and very smart group of people who are voracious readers.”
Each month, the 15-member book club dives into a new book, which ranges from historical retellings to classic literature. Reading kits are provided by Koelbel Library, and Ann puts her own twist on club meetings.
“When we read Susan Wiggs’ The Apple Orchard, we all snacked on apple treats. When it came to reading about Ina Garten, cookbooks and aprons were raffled off,” she shared. “For Pioneers’ Day, I brought in old photos of my past students dressed in costumes and a Conestoga Covered Wagon model I kept all these years.”
No wonder then, the book club is a popular social activity among even those who are future Holly Creek residents.
“Anybody can come,” Ann said. “We have a couple of members who attend that are not yet residents. It helps mix things up, and it’s a very rewarding experience.”
Just as fulfilling were Ann’s years as a third-grade teacher at St. Mary’s Academy in Denver. She taught until the age of 70 before she said to herself, “I think I should stop.”
While she may have paused on a career, Ann is full-speed ahead on staying social. In her own words:
“Book club meets at 2:30 on the third Thursday of each month. We’re always on time because the all-inclusive happy hour starts right after.”
