Contact: 

Amy Gillentine, Director of PR, Marketing & Promotions 

 (719) 482-5422 | agillentine@ppld.org 

Piper Vaughn, Social Media & PR Manager 

(719) 412-2646 | pvaughn@ppld.org 

 

MAY EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS 

PPLD announces May events, summer meals, and early Summer Adventure registration 

Colorado Springs, Co.  —  Pikes Peak Library District is highlighting several upcoming events and services in May, including community town halls, Mountain of Authors, the free summer lunch program at East Library, and early registration for the Summer Adventure reading program. 

PPLD Town Halls to Discuss Hybrid Locations, Budget, Library Vision. PPLD CEO Teona Shainidze-Krebs will talk about hybrid locations, a clear view of the Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) budget, and a plan for how tax dollars will be spent in the future during three town hall meetings in May. 

El Paso County residents must register to attend the meetings. They can also submit a question that will be answered during the meetings. Registration and question submission can be done at ppld.org/town-halls. There will also be a Zoom option for those unable to attend in person. Details will also be on the webpage.  

The three town halls are scheduled as follows:  

  • Palmer Lake Library Town Hall from 5:30 - 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, at Palmer Lake Town Hall, 42 Valley Crescent St. in Palmer Lake. 
  • Ute Pass Library Town Hall from 10:30 a.m. - noon on Monday, May 11 at Marcroft Hall, 9105 Chipita Park Rd. in Cascade. 
  • Calhan Library Town Hall from 5:30 – 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13 at the Calhan Town Hall, 556 Colorado Ave. in Calhan. 

Mountain of Authors Returns May 16. PPLD will host its annual Mountain of Authors event from noon – 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, at Library 21c. The event will feature 70 local authors from across Colorado.  

Author Randi Samuelson-Brown is the keynote speaker, and will discuss her novels and award-winning nonfiction books, both of which feature western history.  A native of Grand Junction, she now lives in Denver.  

Attendees can connect with authors, celebrate local writing, and listen to author panels. Teens and tweens are also invited to participate in writing and poetry classes specifically designed for them. The event is free to attend, and registration is not required. For more information about the program, go to ppld.org/mountain-of-authors. 

PPLD and D11 Provide Free Summer Lunch Program. In partnership with Colorado Springs School District 11, PPLD will offer free lunches for children and teens at East Library, 5550 N. Union Blvd., from Wednesday, May 27, through Friday, July 31, excluding July 3. 

Meals will be served Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. – noon through the school district’s mobile unit. Adults may purchase lunches for $5. Free books will also be available for children and teens to choose to take home. 

The program is part of the USDA-funded Summer Food Service Program and is open to youth ages 0 - 18 with no registration or income requirements. 

Summer Adventure Program Launches. For the first time, registration for PPLD’s Summer Adventure reading program presented by the Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District will open May 1. Early registration will be available online only.  

June 1 marks the official start of the reading program. In-person registration begins that day, and patrons who registered early may begin picking up registration prizes at their local library. Participants can officially start logging hours of reading and activities that day as well.   

East Library and Library 21c will mark the official launch with music, fun, and frozen treats. PPLD has also scheduled several concerts throughout the summer at several other Library locations, which will replace the large end-of-summer parties. 

For more information, go to ppld.org/summer. 

Play PPLD Bingo and other Games and Make a Colorado Flag as part of the Sesquisemiquincentennial Celebration.

A thumbprint collage of the Colorado flag, historic photos, scavenger hunt, and PPLD Bingo are all part of an open house at Library 21c from 2 - 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 9. The event is part of PPLD’s celebration of Colorado’s 150th anniversary and the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.  

Visitors can also pick up or bring their passport, presented by Colorado Springs Airport, to get it stamped for prizes throughout the year. This one-of-a-kind commemorative passport also celebrates each Library location and its history.  

Go to ppld.org/co150-usa250 to learn more.  

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Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) provides everyone with access to resources and opportunities so people can thrive and connect. The Library cultivates spaces for belonging, personal growth, and strong communities via 14 facilities, mobile library services, and a large online hub of resources. It is an internationally recognized system of public libraries serving a population of nearly 700,000 across 2,070 square miles in El Paso County, Colo. Learn more at ppld.org