Library Card Sign-Up Month, The Story Project, Solar Eclipse programs and viewing glasses, the Pikes Peak Poet Laureate Global Poetry Experience, and Latina Voices
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) presents many options to engage people of all ages and interests across El Paso County. Here are some upcoming opportunities this month:
Library Card Sign-up Month
District-wide initiative
Throughout September
More info: ppld.org/library-cards
September is Library Card Sign-up Month at Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD). This initiative is intended to connect new library cardholders with the wealth of resources a library card grants access to. In 2022, PPLD issued 2,769 new library cards in September, with 1,063 of those new library cardholders being children receiving their first library card. The Library aims to surpass last year’s Library Card Sign-up Month numbers this year.
Anyone who signs up for a new library card in September will automatically be entered to win a $200 gift card from SCHEELS (restrictions apply). Children and teens under age 18 who sign up for a new library card this month will be entered to win a separate $200 SCHEELS gift card, and will receive an “I got my library card” button and a certificate for a free child’s ice cream cone and a free Ferris wheel ride at SCHEELS (while supplies last). There will be one gift card drawing for adults (age 18 and older), and one for children (under age 18).
To sign up for a library card, bring a photo ID with current address, or photo ID and proof of current address such as a utility bill, to any PPLD library. A PPLD library card grants access to the Library’s eLibrary resources (including apps for access to digital books), checking out books and other media for productive and entertainment use, research databases for a wide variety of purposes, Library makerspaces and studios, eLearning resources, genealogy research resources, and more.
The Story Project: Stories from America’s Mountain
District-wide event
Fri., Sept. 8 from 7 - 9 p.m.
The Hall at PPLD, 20 W. Pikes Peak Ave.
More info: ppld.org/story-project
PPLD, in partnership with The Smokebrush Foundation for the Arts, will present the Story Project: Stories from America’s Mountain on Fri., Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. at The Hall at PPLD (formerly Knights of Columbus Hall), 20 W. Pikes Peak Ave. It will be the first Story Project event since 2019. Prior to its long absence, The Story Project was a well-attended event in the Pikes Peak region. The theme of this event will be stories about Pikes Peak told by storytellers with a connection to the mountain. Speakers include Traditional Ute Storyteller Larry Cesspooch, Smokebrush Foundation visionary Kat Tudor, and outdoor educator turned handyman Andrew Rudin.
Solar Eclipse Programs and Glasses
District-wide programing
September and October
More info: ppld.org/eclipse
Pikes Peak Library District is partnering with the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society to provide solar eclipse viewing glasses (while supplies last) and educational all-ages solar eclipse programming in September and October. On Oct. 14, 2023, a solar eclipse will be partially visible from Colorado Springs, and these programs and glasses will help the El Paso County community prepare for fun, safe viewing. Weather permitting, there will be a viewing party behind East Library on Sat., Oct. 14 from 9:30 a.m. - noon that all are welcome to attend.
Interested people should stop by any Library location during operating hours to pick up glasses while supplies last. Glasses are limited to two pairs per family. The Library has more information about upcoming solar eclipse programming, as well as resources and information to learn more about eclipses on its website at ppld.org/eclipse
Pikes Peak Poet Laureate Global Poetry Experience
District-wide event
Select Saturdays in September
Manitou Springs Library
More info: https://ppld.org/Global-Poetry-Experience
Pikes Peak Library District is celebrating poetry in collaboration with Pikes Peak Poet Laureate Ashley Cornelius and Imagination Celebration with the Pikes Peak Poet Laureate Global Poetry Experience throughout September. This interactive poetry project offers El Paso County a unique global experience through the “Sojourner” Portal, installed this month outside of Manitou Springs Library. The Portal will create a unique, immersive digital poetry experience for participants to explore poetry with people around the world.
Cornelius will host a series of poetry writing workshops exploring the concepts of home, belonging, connection, and joy on Saturdays throughout the month, and will create a collaborative poem drawing on participants’ collective experiences to be presented in October. Each workshop will connect participants with representatives at Portals in cities located around the world to explore poetry and ideas together. Registration for the workshops is required and space is limited.
The workshops run by the Pikes Peak Poet Laureate include:
- “Home” on Sat., Sept. 2 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. with Santos, Brazil
- “Belonging” on Sat., Sept. 9 from 9 - 11 a.m. with Erbil, Iraq
- “Connection” on Sat., Sept. 16 from 9 - 11 a.m. with Johannesburg, South Africa
- “Joy” on Sat., Sept. 30 from 9 - 11 a.m. with Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Imagination Celebration plans to host programs at the portal on weekdays throughout the month.
Friends of PPLD: ‘Latina Voices’ Showcases Talented, Successful Latinas
Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District event
Sat., Sept. 30 at 10:30 a.m.
Library 21c
More info: https://www.friendsofppld.org/
The Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District will present the 12th annual Latina Voices program on Sat, Sept. 30 at 10:30 a.m. at Library 21c, 1175 Chapel Hills Drive. This inspirational event is a showcase for local Latinas who have achieved success in their various career fields. This year’s presenters will include:
- Keeley Griego: Keeleyearned a degree in Women’s and Ethnic Studies and a certificate in Gender and Sexuality Studies from the University of Colorado. She is currently serving on the Women’s Foundation of Colorado’s first Women and Girls of Color Fund Advisory Council. Keeley works as the Digital and Community Educator for Inside Out Youth Services.
- Ginelle Curincita: A Latina entrepreneur and native Spanish speaker, Ginelle has combined experiences working in higher education, diversity and inclusion, and small business development to create her company, OroMar Consulting. Ginelle uses her knowledge and experience to cater to the needs of underserved, small business owners to help them turn their passion into profit.
- Mia Ramirez: A Colorado Springs native, Mia is a program manager at The Colorado Trust, a grantmaking foundation, where she works with Coloradans across the state to encourage and strengthen resident and community-led funding initiatives. She has supervised programs to prevent chronic disease at Kaiser Permanente Colorado and, at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, her roles included responding to infectious disease outbreaks and preventing teen dating violence. Mia holds a master’s degree in public health from Boston University and has advanced training in leadership. She received the Public Health Champion Award from El Paso County Public Health in 2015. Mia has served on several local nonprofit boards and done extensive volunteer work.
This year’s event will include a performance by Ballet de Folklorico de Barajas, who will perform traditional dances from different parts of Mexico. The group is directed by Leonor Gonzales and features dancers ages 5 to adult.
Following the presentations, there will be a light lunch served to all attendees. Because of this, reservations are requested. Reservations can be made online at www.friendsofppld.org. Click on events and the date to RSVP. Doors will open at 10 a.m. The event is free. For more information, call (719)531-6333, x1461.
NOTE: This event is sponsored by the Friends of PPLD, not the Library itself. Friends is a separate, nonprofit group that supports the Library District. Photos of the presenters are available on request. Contact linduval@comcast.net for images or interviews.