FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 3, 2025
Contact:
Carla Bamesberger, PR & Marketing Manager
(719) 412-2646 | Cbamesberger@ppld.org
Denise M. Abbott, Chief Communications Officer
(310) 430-0496 | Dabbott@ppld.org
LIBRARY HAPPENINGS IN FEBRUARY
Annual Winter Adult Reading Program Begins, Homeschool Students Engage in Science Learning, Exhibitors Wanted for All Pikes Peak Makes, Submissions Open for Local Author Showcase, and 2024 PPLD Achievements
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:
The Winter Adult Reading Program engages people in brain-healthy reading habits
District-wide annual event; Community interest; Winter activities
Feb. 1 – March 31
All PPLD locations
More info: ppld.org/winter-reading
Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) kicks off its annual Winter Adult Reading Program on Sat., Feb. 1. This annual program engages adults ages 18 and up in activities and brain-healthy reading habits for a chance to win prizes. Last year, 5,071 people registered for the program, a 25% increase from 2023.
The theme of this year’s program is Color Our World. The Library has planned a variety of engaging programs based on this theme. Participants complete 30 days of reading and activities (such as attending a Library program) to earn this year's limited-edition Winter Adult Reading Program mug and a coupon for a free dessert from Crumbl, both while supplies last. They will also be entered into a Grand Prize Drawing for gift cards from Natural Grocers and Brush Crazy. Participants can earn additional entries for the grand prize for every additional five days of reading and activities completed.
The annual Homeschool Science Fair engages students in science learning opportunities
Homeschool program; Education; Science
Fri., Feb. 21 from 10 – 11:30 a.m.
The Venue at Library 21c (1175 Chapel Hills Dr.)
More info: ppld.org/homeschoolsciencefair
Local homeschool students (grades K – 12) will present a showcase of science projects at Pikes Peak Library District’s annual Homeschool Science Fair. The event will take place on Fri., Feb. 21 from 10 – 11:30 a.m. at Library 21c.This annual program provides homeschoolers with an enriching scientific environment to showcase their experiments and discoveries and provides them with an opportunity to practice their presentation skills. Students chose their own topics to explore with their projects. Attendance is open to anyone who would like to support the students’ learning by browsing the fair and listening to their project presentations.
Library Use Increases in 2024
2024 stats; Community interest; Library use
More info: ppld.org/Top-Checkouts-2024
Support from Library users throughout El Paso County and the surrounding areas helped PPLD achieve in 2024 as Library use increased. The Library saw increases in Library usage, digital checkouts, and registration for several of its annual programs. Every month in 2024, nearly 60 thousand people used their library cards, and the Library registered a total of 28,308 new library cardholders (1,000 more than in 2023).
When it came to programming for people of all ages, PPLD saw success in the number of people participating. More than 132,912 people attended the Library’s 4,120 programs. Registration was up by 27% for the annual Summer Adventure program (open to all ages for the first time, with 18,302 people registered) and up by 25% for the Winter Adult Reading Program (with 5,070 people registered).
Library users checked out a collective 2,175,331 items from PPLD’s physical collection and eLibrary checkouts were up by 15% from the prior year with 3,562,854 checkouts across OverDrive/Libby, Hoopla, and Kanopy. For the second year in a row, the Library reached over 3 million checkouts in a single year on OverDrive/Libby. The book Go As a River by Shelley Read, selected as the 2024 All Pikes Peak Reads community book, was the second most checked out book across the Library District. Anyone curious to know the top 10 most checked out books of 2024 can visit the Library’s website to learn more.
A combined 1,905,097 people visited PPLD locations throughout El Paso County, more than 30 thousand more visits than the prior year. Additionally, the Library’s meeting and study rooms hosted 32,630 users, Library computers hosted 224,751 user sessions, and Library cardholders checked out 3,588 Culture Passes to visit local museums and attractions (an increase of 12%).
Exhibitors in the arts and sciences wanted for the 2025 All Pikes Peak Makes
Community interest; Call for submissions; Art and science; Local arts
Submissions open now through Sat., April 12
More info: ppld.org/appm
Exhibitor submissions are open now through Sat., April 12 for the Library’s annual All Pikes Peak Makes event, taking place this year on Sat., April 26 at Library 21c. All Pikes Peak Makes is a celebration of creativity and ingenuity where tinkerers and crafters can introduce the community to new crafts, technology, problem-solving, and the world of “making.” In the past, exhibitors have helped kids build and launch paper rockets (which are still stuck in the ceiling at Library 21c today); inspired people with elaborate 3D printed creations; shown people how to make a working button-light using a watch battery, magnets, and a small LED bulb: introduced people to sewing square marshmallow plush animals from scrap fabric; and much more. Anyone interested in exhibiting should submit their application to ppld.org/APPM.
Local authors wanted for in-person author showcase at Mountain of Authors program
Annual program; Local authors; Community interest;
Applications open from Feb. 10 – March 3
More info: ppld.org/author-call-2025
Applications are open now for local authors in the Pikes Peak region and along the Front Range to be part of Pikes Peak Library District’s 2024 Mountain of Authors program. Applications will be open from Feb. 10 – March 3 and the program will take place on Sat., May 17 at Library 21c. A limited number of applicants will be invited to be part of the in-person Local Author Showcase where they will have a table and be able to sell their books and network with other authors and potential readers. Authors not selected for the in-person showcase will be invited to participate in the Virtual Author Showcase.