Annual Report 2025
Letter from the CEO
2025 started and ended on high notes for Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) with many significant achievements. It began with the launch of a new website, and the District received an award for its business resources. The year ended with a new Integrated Library System (ILS), plus more than 31,000 new library card holders.
PPLD celebrated the purchase of two Library locations, identified and planned the launch of a new library format to provide more access to the community, set records in community engagement with programs that captured the interests of thousands, and once again, brought in a balanced budget as fiscally responsible stewards of its community’s tax dollars.
Removing accessibility barriers to our resources is at the core of the Library’s Mission, Vision, and Values:
To cultivate spaces for belonging, personal growth, and strong communities by providing access to resources and opportunities that lead to thriving people and connected communities.
Day in and day out, PPLD strives to serve our patrons and communities by being responsible managers of Library resources. We make decisions for the good of the Library District and the nearly 700,000 people in its legal service area. And we inform patrons about the many programs, activities, updates, and happenings PPLD offers.
The information below presents the 2025 Annual Report for Pikes Peak Library District.
Included is a summary of the key financial findings for the year, key Library statistics reporting usage numbers and popular services, and a description of the year’s accomplishments and highlights. We want you to be aware of how PPLD is serving you and why you belong at the Library.
Teona Shainidze-Krebs
PPLD CEO
Quick Links
People of PPLD
In 2025 these individuals served the nearly 700,000 patrons within PPLD’s legal service area.
Patrons & Community
These figures show the number of active library cardholders (the card has been used in the last three years) versus the service population.
Circulation
These numbers represent the materials within PPLD’s immediate responsibility. Its Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service offers access to materials throughout Colorado, the U.S. and Canada, increasing these numbers exponentially.
Top Titles
These were the most popular titles for each age group based on circulation in 2025.
CHILDREN
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess
by Jeff Kinney
TEEN
Sunrise on the Reaping
by Suzanne Collins
ADULT
Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law
by Mary Roach
Buildings & Usage*
*Stats represent 14 locations
Revenue
Expenses
Premier Program Attendance Increases
Winter Adult Reading Program
For the fourth consecutive year, participation in the long-standing Winter Adult Reading Program increased, up 13.3 percent over 2024. Running from February 1 through March 31, the program engaged 5,756 individuals, with 3,336 completing its 30-day reading requirement.
Summer Adventure Reading Program
The official addition of adults to the 51-year-old summer reading program brought participation levels to more than 18,000 individuals as families read together over the two-month program. The 18,833 registrants were an increase of 529 over 2024. Their completion rate was 42 percent, a 6 percent increase over 2024. Children were the group with the highest completion rate at 45 percent. The community logged 389,008 days of reading. The program-ending outdoor celebrations included helicopters, soap suds parties, waterslides, and more. These events engaged more than 4,000 patrons, with over 3,500 people participating in the celebration at East Library. It was the largest celebration in history of PPLD’s signature event.
"What an amazing discovery!"
"I worked full-time and had occasionally enjoyed checking out books with my kids -- staff was always pleasant and available, but I never thought much of it.
I had to retire from work due to a disability and now fill my time with the full scope of the Library. What an amazing discovery! The Library has classes of all types, book clubs, Zoom lectures, author talks, computer availability, online databases, and of course, books in all formats. I thought retirement would close my world, but the Library opened it right back up - and then some! Thank you for the invaluable addition to my life!"
Campaign Successes
Library Card Sign-up Month Campaign
During September’s Library Card Sign-up Month, PPLD conducted a marketing campaign to attract new library card holders. 2025’s efforts resulted in 5,003 newly active patrons (3,507 new cards and 1,496 renewals). This is a new record for one month for the Library District. PPLD ended 2025 with 31,514 new library cardholders,
Successful Community Engagement Campaign
An excellent model of community engagement, the 2025 Library Card Design Contest kicked off in January and by the end of the two-month contest period, 814 designs had been submitted. The overwhelming response resulted in the Library selecting six innovative designs as new cards instead of the four to five planned. The contest became a college art class project; an elementary school of approximately 300 students submitted 50 of its students’ designs to the contest; and local artists’ creations flooded the submissions. The ceremony announcing the winning designs and 25 honorable mentions brought more than 200 patrons to the Library to applaud the winners.
Pikes Peak Regional History Symposium
Featuring the theme “History Beyond the Written Word,” the Pikes Peak Regional History Symposium enjoyed more than 240 attendees over the two-day event, an increase of 35 percent over 2024. The non-traditional theme garnered many new voices and age groups.
Rising Voices
2025 was the first year of Rising Voices, a series of programs that celebrate the accomplishments, successes, and cultural riches of the people of the Pikes Peak region, sharing the varied voices and experiences of our community. In August, two events took place – a Panel Discussion and a Festival Celebration. Luisa Graff, owner of Luisa Graff Jewelers, and Peter Choi, a reporter for KOAA were two of the individuals involved in the Panel Discussion. The events welcomed 216 individuals.
"...Help her fill her last days with the joy of reading."
“Finding out that the Mobile Library was available in my neighborhood helped me tremendously in the last two years of my mother's life. She was in hospice care, and I did not have the time to browse the Library or take the time to run halfway across the city to get her books. She was housebound, but through the online catalogue and the mobile library at Remington School, I was able to help her fill her last days with the joy of reading.”
Additional Achievements
Penrose Library Renovations
Phase two of the three-phase renovation plan for Penrose Library was completed. This phase included a redesigned children’s entrance, giving families a secure area within which their children can enjoy the toys, games, computers, books on newly lowered shelves, and myriad other special activities offered just for them. The renovations also included a reconfiguration of the Library’s computer lab and workspace, now providing more privacy at workstations where patrons can use their own computers or one of the 30 new Chromebooks that were added to the collection as part of this space’s enhancements.
Launch Of A New Integrated Library System
On December 12, 2025, PPLD launched its upgraded integrated library system (ILS) after an extensive, multi-year search and evaluation process. The previous ILS had been in place since 2001. The new system, Polaris, now provides patrons updated catalog features, modern search elements, and patron reading histories, among other valuable tools to enhance their online experience. It also assists the Library District in managing its expansive physical and electronic collection.
Mobile Library Services’ New Vehicle
After months of anticipation, PPLD received a new, state-of-the art bookmobile. The vehicle arrived in October 2025, replacing one that had been in service for 17 years, since 2008. This accomplishment was more than a year in the making.
Support from Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District
The Friends of PPLD fulfilled their vision of expanding and enhancing the Library District’s ability to positively impact our community by contributing more than $167,000 to the Library. Fundraising through book sales and community donations helped this group support the Winter Adult Reading Program, the Regional History Symposium and more. The 2025 Summer Adventure reading program alone received a total of $23,000 from each Library location’s Friends group.
Locations Purchased
With the help of $1.2 million from the PPLD Foundation, a result of the generosity of our community, the Library District was able to purchase its Ruth Holley Library on November 10, 2025. Barely two weeks later, on November 20, 2025, the District celebrated securing Ute Pass Library as well. After these purchases, PPLD now proudly owns 10 of its 14 Library locations.
Record-Breaking eResource Checkouts
While this resource has been experiencing increased usage for the last several years, PPLD’s eResource checkouts surpassed 4,000,000 in in 2025. The total of 4,089,426 was an increase of 15 percent over 2024.
Launch of a New Website
On January 13, 2025, PPLD launched its new website. The project was more than 15 months in the making. It launched with the mandated accessibility compliance requirements, updated navigation technology, a more efficient compilation of information for more intuitive access, and an engaging, artistic design. The last overhaul of the website took place in 2019.
Adult Education Programs Top State Rankings
PPLD ranked No. 1 in Colorado in the 2024-25 post-test results for all Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) funded adult education programs in the state. PPLD's post-test rate was 91.11 percent. A high post-test rate indicates effective instruction and measurable improvement in particular literacy and English language skills. Other Colorado institutions that were part of the 2024-25 AEFLA program included state and community colleges, school districts, a mental health and recovery program, and other libraries.
"...Now, cost isn't an issue..."
“I love to read and used to read for at least a few minutes every day, but when I became a mother, so much of my time was spoken for. For years I did not read, and it felt like I would never have time to read a whole grown-up book again.
However, as my children have grown and begun reading themselves, I was able to share my love of reading. Both of my children were reading at the age of 4. At times, it was a challenge to find books they would like and would present an appropriate reading challenge. I was buying lots of books, some would work out and others would flop.
Then we moved and ended up just a few minutes away from the Library. We come often. The kids have picked so many books. They can explore their interests and read so many different stories.
With the Library hold system, I have easily been able to get a particular book for them and began checking out books myself.
Sometimes at home, we have family reading time where we all sit in silence and read our own books. I'm back to reading nearly every day. I have said reading each day makes me a better mom and a worse mom at the same time. I feel more relaxed on the days I get to read (a relaxed mom is better for everyone) and if I have a real page turner, I'm a bit more absent.
Books were getting to be an expensive habit. I was always willing to spend money on children's books because it's clearly so good for them. But I have a harder time justifying the cost of each book for myself and now cost isn't a concern at all because, duh, Libraries exist and are awesome.”