Calhan Library (CA)

Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) is excited to bring you Virtual Author Visits in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. Join us and hear from bestselling authors and thought leaders on a range of topics, from puzzling science to epic fantasy to decluttering your home. Whether you are an avid or occasional reader, there is nothing quite like listening to insightful talks by authors you have read or new ones you are just discovering. You never know what will catch your interest. Attend these events at no cost from the comfort of home. 

In September, join us on Tue., Sept. 10 at noon for a moving conversation with Garrett Graff. An expert at capturing the human drama, Graff will speak about his body of work with particular focus on his oral histories, The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 and When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day. Register for the access link.

Next, tune in on Wed., Sept. 18 at noon to explore pathways back to open-minded living with author Nate Klemp discussing the core tenets in his new book Open: Living with an Expansive Mind in a Distracted World. With the avalanche of information we get every day, closing down our minds and hearts seems to be the only way to survive. But what if there’s another way? Register for the access link.

For the last Virtual Author Visit in September, join us on Sat., Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. as we chat with mega-bestselling author Liane Moriarty about her newest novel Here One Moment. The book is a brilliantly constructed tale that looks at free will and destiny, grief and love, and the endless struggle to maintain certainty and control in an uncertain world. Register for the access link.

Learn more and see upcoming authors on our Virtual Author Visits page or check out past Virtual Author Visits here!  

More Upcoming Virtual Author Visits 

• Wed., Oct. 2 at noon: A Journey into the Hidden World of Tropical Bats with Scientists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
• Wed., Oct. 9 at 5 p.m.: Liberating Latina American Genre Fiction: In Conversation with Bestselling Author Silvia Moreno-Garcia
• Tue., Oct. 22 at noon: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: Examining the Truths and Fictions We Tell Ourselves with Lori Gottlieb 

Back to school season is upon us. As students prepare for academic success this year, they should keep Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) in mind as an essential tool. We have a wide variety of resources to support you in your education journey this year! Check out our Homework Resource Guide or read below to see how the Library supports students of all ages. 

First stop: get your card.

A library card is your key to access a world of homework help and academic resources. You can access the resources on this page from any PPLD location, but a library card will allow you to use them from anywhere. Anyone of any age can sign up for a card.

• Stop by your nearest or favorite Library location to sign up or print out an application ahead of time to bring with you. 
  OR 
• Apply for a card online! 
  • You must live within the Pikes Peak Library District, which is most of El Paso County, except for Security/Widefield. Residents of Security/Widefield and other counties can still obtain a Colorado Library Card to access PPLD resources but might not be able to access many of our resources outside of a Library location. See our Library Card Policy for more information.
  • You will need proof of your current address and a photo ID.
  • If you're 15-years-old or younger, you must be accompanied by a parent or guardian with the documentation listed above or an existing PPLD card.

Brainfuse

If you’ve ever felt like you were bad at science or could use some homework help, check out HelpHow from Brainfuse. This database offers live homework help and skills building online with expert tutors in math, science, social studies, and English, plus writing and reading assistance. Students of all ages will benefit, as this resource is designed for kindergarten through adult students. Tutors are available online daily from 2 – 11 p.m. 

Peterson's Test Prep

Students preparing for college or studying for standardized tests will benefit from Peterson's Test Prep. This database provides study guides and timed practice tests for all major college entrance exams and standardized tests, plus college planning, scholarship search, and career exploration tools. 

Databases

Library databases are a great place for learning for all ages. We have databases for kids to explore as they learn and develop internet search skills at the same time, and databases where older students can find references for essays, book reports, and other projects. Here are some of our databases that students will find useful (visit our databases page for more): 

• Academic Search Premier: Great for research, essays, and other projects, this database contains more than 2,000 journals, including more than 1,550 peer-reviewed titles. This multi-disciplinary database covers virtually every area of academic study.
• Consumer Health Complete: Students researching health-related topics will find many resources in this database. Find comprehensive full-text articles for consumer-oriented health content covering all areas of health and wellness from mainstream medicine to the many perspectives of complementary, holistic, and integrated medicine.
• CultureGrams: Explore countries and cultures around the world and find information about the diversity and history of each U.S. state and the District of Columbia. Designed for upper elementary-aged children.
• Gale Virtual Reference Library: Search our entire collection of Gale eBooks on a variety of subjects, including history, science, government, and more. For elementary schoolers, use Gale In Context: Elementary.  
• CustomGuide: Learn the basic technology skills you need for academic success. In this database you will find interactive online training for Microsoft Office software, including Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Windows, and Word.  
• LinkedIn Learning: Dive into a world of infinite possibilities. LinkedIn Learning offers online video tutorials to help you learn creative, computer, and professional skills. You can also find videos for helpful topics like essay writing.
• Opposing Viewpoints in Context: Explore current events and controversial issues by researching multiple sides of a topic. This database aids students in writing argumentative essays and developing analytical thinking skills.
• Poetry & Short Story Reference Center: Get a head start on English Language Arts classes with essays analyzing poems and short stories, as well as access to hundreds of poems and short stories. This database also helps with understanding themes, poetic forms, movements, and more.  
• Science Reference Center: Get easy access to hundreds of science articles. Designed to meet every student researcher's needs, Science Reference Center contains full text for more than 700 science encyclopedias and reference books, periodicals, science videos, and other sources. 

Mango Languages 

Ready to expand your horizons by learning a new language? Mango Languages features 70 language options, including 21 options for those learning English as a second language. Explore languages from Arabic to Yiddish in the comfort of your own home or download the app to learn on the go! Students can go at their own pace. 

Workforce Readiness Training

Get ready to get a job or go to college! Work your way through modules focused on professionalism, communication, social skills, and goal setting to prepare yourself for the next big step in your life. Individuals under age 15 are encouraged to focus on the “basic” training while older youth might find the “intermediate” training more appropriate. 

The Homeschool Hub

Our Homeschool Hub has a wealth of resources and tools to support homeschoolers. Click on “Resources” to find information on getting started; Colorado homeschool law, online courses, concurrent enrollment, and enrichment programs; tutoring; extracurricular activities; support organizations; and more. You can also sign up for our homeschool newsletter to find out about upcoming homeschool programs at the Library such as Homeschool Book Blast and Homeschool Science Fair. 

For Fun AND Learning!

eLibrary: More than Books!

Of course, the Library has books, music, movies, and more, both physical and digital, that students can access for school and fun. Browse Libby by OverDrive (eBooks and comics, eAudiobooks, eMagazines), Hoopla (music, TV shows and movies, eBooks and comics, eAudiobooks), AudioBookCloud (eAudiobooks), Freading (eBooks), Freegal (music), Kanopy (movies, TV shows, documentaries), Tumblebooks (eBooks for young readers), and more. 

PPLD Kids

Looking for more learning resources for kids? You can find plenty of PPLD resources on our PPLD Kids page! Explore: 

• Homework (search by subject to find databases, recommended websites, and more),
• Read (access booklists by grade level, genre, online resources, and more),
• Create (hands-on activities and websites),
• Parents & Educators (curated information source for adults).

PPLD Teens

Get homework help, book recommendations, virtual programs, research resources, and more on our PPLD Teens page! 

Caribbean American Heritage Month in June celebrates the rich culture and heritage of Caribbean Americans. Learn more about their many contributions and influences on the United States of America with the resources, booklists, and websites on this page. (You must have a library card that starts with a 4 to access databases on this page outside of a Library location.)

Booklists

• Adult Fiction and Nonfiction booklist
• Find booklists on Overdrive and the Libby app
• Children’s booklist

PPLD Resources

• Countries & Cultures Subject Guide

  Use this guide as a starting place for finding information about countries and cultures from around the world within our collection at Pikes Peak Library District.

• CultureGrams (all ages)

  Experience the diverse cultures of the world through information on more than 200 countries. 

• Cities of the World  

  A compilation of current information on cultural, geographic, and political conditions in 193 countries and their cities covering six continents, based on the Department of State's Post Reports. Maps and photos of many cities included. 

• Mango Languages  

  Celebrate the rich diversity of languages spoken throughout the Caribbean by learning a new language using Mango Languages. From Haitian Creole, Dutch, French, Spanish, and more! There are more than 70 languages to choose from including English as a Second Language (ESL).  

• Gale: Biography in Context  

  Discover and learn about influential people from the Caribbean.  

• Magazine & Newspaper Subject Guide 

  Research Caribbean American influence and history using one of PPLD’s many newspaper databases. Here are a few places you can start: 

• 19th Century U.S. Newspapers   

  Nineteenth Century U.S. Newspapers provides an as-it-happened window to events, culture, and daily life in nineteenth-century America. With 1.8 million pages available, the collection features publications of all kinds, from the political party newspapers at the beginning of the nineteenth century to the mammoth dailies that shaped the nation at the century's end. 

• Access World News 

  This comprehensive news collection covers issues and events at the local, regional, national, and international level. Its diverse source types include print and online-only newspapers, blogs, newswires, journals, broadcast transcripts, and videos.  

• Newspaper Archive 

  Newspaper Archive contains tens of millions of newspaper pages from 1607 to present. Every newspaper in the archive is fully searchable by keyword and date, making it easy for you to quickly explore historical content. 

• U.S. Major Dailies 

  U.S. Major Dailies provides access to The New York Times, Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, and Chicago Tribune. The current day’s content is available by 8 a.m. each day. 

Websites

• Caribbean Spirit (Google Arts and Culture) 

  In this engaging resource, scroll to explore some of the notable contributions and influences of Caribbean people on Black history and culture in America. 

• Caribbean American Heritage Month (National Archives) 

  The National Archives has a wide variety of records relating to the history of Caribbean Americans. Explore these records through the National Archives Catalog and additional resources on Archives.gov.  

• Caribbean American Heritage Month (Institute of Caribbean Studies) 

  Explore Caribbean American history, life, and culture through resources provided by the Institute of Caribbean Studies.  

• Caribbean American Heritage Month: Caribbean History and Culture (U.S. Department of Interior) 

  Learn about the history of Caribbean American Heritage Month and find an overview of Caribbean food and culture.